Ceryleth and her Wyrmling

Ceryleth flew casually over the forest of her domain, enjoying the warm sun on her back. It wasn’t often she took time to just enjoy flying anymore. There was always just something else that required her attention. So when she did finally get the chance to just relax and enjoy being in the air watching the life below her as it passed her by. The animals in her domain had grown so accustomed to her presence the they barely paid her any mind. It was nice in a way that she wasn’t actively feared by the many small creatures that existed.

However the peace and quiet she had been enjoying wouldn’t last as Ceryleth heard a human scream. Humans weren’t uncommon in the forest of her domain. Some would use it as a place to hide hoping the stories of a mighty dragon would scare away any threats. Others used it as a place to hunt where they could find game plentiful since only the bravest would chance entering a dragon's domain.

The most interesting humans were the ones that sought her out specifically looking for some ancient wisdom or an arcane secret that only the dragons possessed. Ceryleth wasn’t as practiced in the arcane as some of her kind but she would always attempt to help in any way she could. What would be the point of collecting all that knowledge over the centuries if you didn’t share it with those eager to learn.

This scream however didn’t seem like it came from someone that fell into any of those groups. It sounded like one of those hatchling humans. No that wasn’t the right word. Babies! that's the word she was looking for. She adjusted her course toward the noise and landed as sofly as she could. Humans were fragile even as adults so they’re soft looking young ones must have been just the most fragile beings on the planet. Looking around she found the source of the noise. A tiny human sat on the ground in front of where she landed. It was crying loudly using all the noise its tiny body could produce to call for help.

Ceryleth regarded the child with curiosity. It was clearly scared and possibly hungry. From what she knew human hatchlings can’t do much of anything let alone attempt to take care of themselves. If this one was left alone it would surely die before the dawn of the next morning to either the elements or more likely a hungry predator that existed in her forest. She craned her head closer to the child to inspect it for any injuries. As she did the child quieted for a moment looking at her with curiosity, tears still flowing down its small face.

The child seemed unharmed so she decided to look around for any explanation as to how it got here. She saw a single set of tracks coming from a direction and then returning in that same direction. If she remembered right the direction of those tracks was in the direction of the small town closest to her forest. They were quiet folk who kept to themselves so she didn’t mind them near her territory. One of the villagers must have left the child here for any number of reasons.

By this point the hatchling had decided that Ceryleth was safe enough as it started to reach its fragile little arms toward her head as if trying to touch her. Amused, Ceryleth decided to humor the hatchling and brought her head closer to the child. She gently pressed her snout against the Hatchlings hands. Immediately the child began to giggle as it petted her scales enjoying the warmth of her breath. She obviously couldn’t leave the child here and the humans had proven they couldn’t be trusted with this child. It showed a kind of bravery to be able to giggle in the face of a dragon even if the hatchling didn’t understand the implications of that. If humanity couldn’t take care of one of their own then this hatchling would be hers since it clearly already had the courage of a dragon. She carefully scooped up the hatchling into one of her paws and gently flew back to her mountain cave, taking extra care to shield the child from the wind and any other dangers.

It had been 1 year since the Hatchling had first entered her cave. Ceryleth enjoyed these quiet days with her little one. She could just recline about the cave while her hatchling amused themselves swinging from her many spines or wrestling with her tail. Ceryleth had taken to calling him Narvoiross. It was a strong draconic name for a child who had proven to be brave even in the face of a mighty dragon.

Currently her little hatchling was curled up asleep on her arm quietly enjoying the warmth of her body. Norvoiross had spent the morning wandering around outside of her cave learning about the world around them. Ceryleth could tell her little hatchling had a curious mind that wanted to know everything it could as fast as possible.Norvoiross had already started picking up words that Ceryleth had been teaching them. Ceryleth couldn’t be more proud of her little one and their excitable mind.

As it turns out Ceryleth could be more proud of their wyrmling. Norvoiross had only been learning from her for about 2 years and they had already cast their first spell. Sure it was just a splash of water but magic is magic and any wyrmling using it that early in life was truly a wonder, especially a human wyrmling. As it turns out this Human really did have a dragon inside them after all. Ceryleth knew she had to cultivate this potential but she also knew her little wyrm would need more than just her own help. Humans were social creatures by their very nature and even if her wyrmling was a dragon at heart they still needed other humans in their life.

With that Ceryleth decided she’d find humans worthy of her wyrmling that would help them reach their full potential. Ceryleth had heard of a human city famous for its magic that welcomed all who wished to study ancient arcana. Dragons were welcome there as it was widely believed all dragons knew ancient magical secrets. They did but its weird that people just assumed that without ever actually confirming it. However it was useful in this case as it would let her be nearby these humans without having them panic at her presence like some humans would.

Thankfully the humans at this school were more than happy to let her carve a cave near their school. Norvoiross was welcomed as a hero in their eyes. Of course this made perfect sense to Ceryleth. A dragon in human form was truly a wonder and should be heralded as such. Norvoiross was taught by their best scholars in every field while she taught him the magic she knew. The only thing she had to do in return was occasionally offer her insight into the curiosities that humans would bring to her attention. They proved to be amusing enough and her little wyrmling would grow to be the best of both dragons and humans with their help.

Spending their years together allowed her little wyrmling a chance to make friends and play with their own kind. Occasionally children from the school would follow her wyrmling home. They’d go on epic quests, fighting big scary monsters and uncovering ancient treasure. All while using her as their means of entering these magical places. Whether she used her tail as the monster they fought or her claws the bars keeping them from their treasure or her spines as the vines for them to hang Ceryleth would humor these young humans in their games. It made her Norvoiross happy then she’d make sure that they would be able to go on all the epic quests they could possibly think of.

Norvoiross was turning out to be a strong Drake indeed. He and some of his many friends had decided to use their magic to better the world. They started taking jobs from nearby towns helping deal with dangerous beasts that stalked their farmland or guardian trade caravans between settlements.

Ceryleth worried like any parent does when their Drake enters the world but she had to let her make her own choices. That didn’t stop Cereleth from keeping an eye on her drake on those first few adventures. But as time went on she followed less and less. Norvoiross was proving to be a strong drake capable of defending themselves and others as a good dragon should.

Ceryleth couldn’t be prouder of her drake. Norvoiross took all her teachings and decided to use them for the world. Like any good dragon Norvoiross was strong and willful, but also compassionate and understanding. The world came to know Norvoiross the dragon speaker as one of the most greatest champions of the people. Norvoiross was known to help all whether it be a village struggling to get by or a kingdom falling to ruin as it was ravaged by war. Norvoiross was a symbol of peace, and recovery because everyone knew that when Norvoiross was nearby a dragon was there to provide shade with their wings from the oppressive nature of the world.