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Once upon a time in a beautiful kingdom by the southern coast, a young prince, along with his father and a few of their most trusred guards, rode into the moorlands. It was early morning; the sun had barely began peeking over the rolling hills, the breeze hadn't yet warned. The small prince didn't expect it too warm much more, it was still very early in the season, the flowers and fruits wouldn't be returning to their land for a few more weeks, but he didn't care. Eventually they came to a slow, cresting the final hill. The small prince gasped. A large cave opening seemingly opened up from under them, he knew that wasn't possible, but the opening to the underground cave system was very well hidden amongst the rocky hills and fields, there was no wonder this place was an easily kept secret. The contents however, were still widely unknown to him, yet he had heard whisperings and rumors the entirety of his short life. The king climbed off his horse and signaled for a guard to help his son get off his own horse. The boy was still too small to safely get off the giant white horse and on to the cragged terrain on his own. Once he gained his footing he quickly thanked the guard, before going to meet with his father.
"Watch your step son, and stay quiet" the king said in his gruff tone, he began towards the cave entrance, the boy kept close to his father. The air in the cave caught the boy off guard, he'd heard rumors of the contents of the cave but no one had mentioned how it was inside! It was cold and the air was thick, it smelled like dirt, rocks, water, the night, and something else? He shivered, pressing against his father, in fear and for warmth. Eventually the cavern began to close in and it became darker than the darkest night, he could hear his father grunting as he had to duck down and his hands sliding across the walls. Although the boy was latched onto his fathers shirt, he reached out a free hand, he gasped as his hand touched the unnaturally smooth ice cold stone walls around him. They continued like this for a long while, well at least a long while for a boy who had only lived through seven Frostfalls. Eventually, to both his relief and terror, the air became breathable again. They rounded one last turn in the cave system and the boys jaw dropped. The tiny cave tunnel opened into an vastly different area, larger any room in the castle, bigger than the biggest ballroom he'd ever seen. In the dark a large figure loomed. The boy stumbled slightly and blazing amber eyes shot open. The immense creature huffed and steam rolled from his nostrils, warming the cavern significantly. It's glowing eyes narrowed at the pair, studying them. The young prince knew what was in the cave, but being face to face with the dragon was something he could never have imagined.
"Nathaniel," the beast grumbled, "it is time for you to be granted the gift of your bloodline." The dragon moved shockingly well for such a giant, as he grasped something form his golden horde. The dragon gentle placed the object in front of the boy, Nate knew what it was and his tiny body filled with joy, he placed his hand on the egg and it began to glow.
...
15 frostfalls later
...
The Red Moon would be rising soon and with it, the harvest of this seasons crops, and a migration of a feral dragonlings as they followed the Red Moon to their frostfall nesting area along the most southern cliffs. This year was a little less exciting for Nate, this Feast was one of the last before the frost came and he only had a few left before he would have to take the throne. He wasn't worried about the hardship of ruling the land or helping the common folks, he had been trained for this hid entire life. Yet he was still nervous, and becoming a king meant he would soon need a queen. The land he ruled was beautiful and his kingdom was extremely wealthy, mostly due to the dragon caverns and their immersion riches. Nate sometimes let himself wonder about how the Elder Dragon farmed precious gems and gold, but he usually came to the conclusion that it wasn't his problem. Sometimes the Royal Dragons took it up as a hobby, but even watching the entire process start to finish; Nate hadn't the slightest idea of how the dragons did it. It was probably magic, and that might explain why The Elder Dragon was much better at it than any other dragon.
