Bone Cold

Brom had chosen to build a traditional nest to live in with his youngster. He wanted Starseth to know how most dragons lived. To experience the traditional path, not expect the comfort of what this clan had build combining dragon and human ways. There was no need for more in the nest. That was his thought, in the beginning.

Starseth struggled to eat meat stripped from a fresh kill. Even when he made small chunks, she had trouble eating enough to keep her energy up. She needed fuel to grow, to think, to play with the others. The human food, cooked and smaller, was easier for her to eat. It gave her the energy she needed, kept her healthy. Learning to cook food she could eat seemed a reasonable adaptation. A small departure from tradition when she could always prepare her own food did not seem radicle.

During the dark days of winter, they lived closer to the fire in the nest. He knew the humans and other dragons had used a shield, spreading heat all through the living space. It seemed reasonable to let her experience this traditional time of drawing closer to the fire, living closer together.

That held until he saw his little girl shivering, holding her delicate hands out to the fire, putting on a brave face while the wind howled around his shields. Between one breath and the next, he decided they would study traditional living later, when Starseth had claws and fully grown wings to wrap around her body. Why should he let her suffer when he had the power to block out the howling wind, warm the nest, and bring comfort to his youngster? Tradition might have value, but it was not more important than safety, comfort, or progress.

He felt his wings relax on his back as the nest warmed, the sound from outside was blocked and Starseth looked at him curiously. *Modern shields, combining human and dragon understanding of the planet’s power. We will explore the old ways when you have your own power to shield. For now, we will be comfortable.* He smiled as she nodded to him, a gesture he knew she had learned from the other females.