Don't Wake Up Mom!

 

            Drake and Levi were wrestling on the ground, each trying to pin the other down. It was important for young dragons to learn such skills as they grew up, but they took wrestling to the extreme. Growls and snorts issued from the tangle of talons and teeth as they rolled along the ground. Finally, Drake was able to get a good grip on his brother’s shoulders, and Levi lay still, panting. “Pinned you!” Drake crowed triumphantly.

            “All right, you win,” Levi said grudgingly. “Now let me up.”

            Drake smirked as he allowed Levi to get back on his feet.

            Dad flew on to the cliff top with a sheep in his mighty jaws. Drake and Levi immediately got ready to pounce as Dad released the sheep.

            Using their sharp teeth and powerful talons, the brothers quickly overcame the bleating sheep and ate their breakfast, which took a surprisingly short time.

            Dad looked at them with approval and said, “I think you boys are ready to do your own hunting. I can tell you’ve been practicing.”

            Drake licked his lips and said, “We’re going to be as fierce as you are. Nothing will be able to escape us.”

            “Yeah,” Levi piped in. “Nothing can beat me!”

            “Except me,” Drake said slyly.

            Levi headbutted Drake in the side, and they both rolled over, laughing.

            “Enough!” Dad said sternly. “Where’s your mother?”

            “Taking a nap,” Levi answered.

            Dad looked with concern at them and said, “I hope you haven’t been bothering her.”

            “Of course not,” Drake said with a laugh. He looked back toward the cave opening behind him. “We know better than that.”

            Just then, their older brother Crag landed on the cliff top and folded his great wings. He looked to Dad and asked, “So, are they ready?”

            Dad nodded and Crag let out an almighty roar. “All right! Let’s go then!”

            Suddenly there was an angry roar followed by a huge blast of flames that issued from the cave mouth. Mom came out of the cave looking distinctly disgruntled. She glared at all four dragons in front of her and asked, “Who woke me up?”

            Dad, Drake, and Levi didn’t say anything, but surreptitiously glanced at Crag. Crag seemed to shrink a little as he said, “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were sleeping.”

            “You’re lucky,” Mom said, her tone softening. “If you had been in the cave, you would have had a full fire bath.”

            “It’s not so bad,” Dad said. “We are dragons after all, and fire can’t hurt us.”

            “No, but it’s still really hot,” Levi muttered, remembering how he had once accidentally awoken Mom from her nap.

            Mom chuckled and shook the last of the sleep from her eyes. “I guess that’s why humans say to let sleeping dragons lie.” She stretched out her wings and asked, “So what’s with the celebratory roar, anyway?” She looked over at Crag.

            “Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “Dad says that Drake and Levi are ready to start hunting on their own.”

            “Excellent,” Mom said with a smile. “Let’s all go find some deer or something. I’m starved.”

            Drake and Levi couldn’t contain their excitement. Drake launched himself into the air and Levi followed. They set off down the mountainside, and Crag followed close behind them.

            Dad looked over at Mom and said, “Sorry about that, dear.”

            Mom shrugged her wings and said, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about me. I know you’ve had it worse. Remember when Drake ran into the cave, yelling about something? You were in a really deep sleep. Poor Drake had a hard time hearing for a few days after that. You definitely have the loudest roar.”

            Dad chuckled. “Well, everyone has to learn.” The two dragons took off to follow their kids, smiling happily.