Storm pushed open the doors.
First thing he saw when entering the study, was the sheer amount of books and reports that were inside.
2 large bookracks lined both sides of the room.
All the books and reports were carefully arranged to ensure that they can be found quickly if necessary.
His father had his back to the door and seemed to be studying several maps of the surrounding area, as well as a detailed map of 'Twin Rivers' the nearest human settlement to the area, which was often used as a staging ground for hunter expeditions into the fringes.
Like his son, his scales were blue in color, but it was a darker shade than Storm's own scales and was a deep midnight blue color.
His eyes were two glowing purple orbs, and his mane was pitch black.
It started at the back of his head, before flowing down his neck and ending at his shoulders.
At his shoulders, the mane curled around his neck before meeting up and ending just above his chest.
Two ram like horns grew from the back of his head, before curling around and narrowing to sharp points at the side of his cheeks.
The tip of his tail swung back and forth, a sign that a dragon was in distress.
At nearly 3 centuries old, he was much larger than Storm and had to use size altering magic in order to fit in the cramped tunnels of the Nesting grounds.
He turned around and was suprised to see his son.
"Raijin? What are you doing here? Is everything alright? Did the eggs....?!"
Storm raised a claw to stop him.
"Everything is fine. The eggs haven't hatched yet. Mother told me to send you her regards and say your presence is missed."
His father seemed to relax a bit when he heard the news. He turned back to the maps pinned to the wall and continued staring at it.
Just when Storm thought his father wasn't going to acknowledge him further, he suddenly spoke up.
"I should be there with her! I should be with BOTH of you! Especially today!"
"It's alright, father. We know your duties are keeping you from doing what you want to do."
"Still doesn't make it right."
"What's troubling you, Father? Is it the response upgrade you're working on?"
"The upgrade is as hard to implement as before, but that's not what is troubling me."
His father seemed to hesitate before continuing.
"There.... might be a problem with the network. "
"Did you hear anything from one of the settlements?! Is it the hunters?!" Asked Storm with concern.
"I heard nothing. And 'that' is what is worrying me.
Green Springs had a deadline to send me a report, That was 2 days ago.
It's not like them to miss a deadline like that."
Green Springs was an small Elven settlement that was located dangerously close to Twin Rivers.
His father had tried to convince the elder to relocate his village on several occasions, but he refused every time.
Because they were so close, Green Spring would have almost no warning should humans decide to attack them.
Any message would arrive much too late to be of use to them.
Due to the danger, the settlement had to report in twice a week, that way should Green Springs ever get taken by suprise, the other settlements would realize something happened to them.
"What could have taken Green Springs though? There's over 100 elves living there?" Storm asked
"200, as per the last population count. Most of them are non combatants however. You know how elves struggle to go against their nature." His father corrected
Elves are a deeply pacifist race, who couldn't even tolerate the taste of meat, due to having to kill something in order to get it.
A few brave men and women in their race, willing go against this nature so that they can better protect their kin.
Taking up bows, these elves use their extensive knowledge of woodcraft to ambush threats to their settlements.
Their numbers are always few however, with maybe a 10th of the settlement's population serving as elven rangers.
The act of killing has a profound effect on an elf, they lose their ability to commune with nature forever, their skin turns a gray, colorless cast, their eyes blacken and their hair loses all color.
They become cold, emotionless individuals that often struggle to reintegrate back into their society once their service ends.
Storm's father hesitated.
"I... need a favor from you, son. Tomorrow morning, I want you to fly out to Green Springs and reestablish contact.
If the worst has happened, report back to me IMMEDIATELY.
I'd send another dragon with more experience, but you're the only one I can spare right now."
"I won't fail you, Father!" Storm replied excitedly.
"This is serious, son! So I need you to listen! If Green Springs is truly gone. You are NOT to engage with whatever destroyed it! You will investigate the village, then return.
Whatever may have harmed Green Springs will be much too dangerous for a single young dragon to handle.
Do you understand?!" Said his father.
Hurt crossed Storm's face.
"You doubt my ability to do this?"
Storm's father's gaze softened when he saw his son's reaction.
"I know you, Raijin. Your curiosity sometimes gets the better of you. But this is serious and that same curiosity could get you killed.
I did not spend half a century of my life raising you, just for you to lose your life a day after reaching adulthood. "
His father seemed to be pleading with him and that took away some of Storm's annoyance at his father's lack of trust.
He bowed his head to his father.
"You have my word, I'll be careful. "
"Good! If you show me that you can handle the responsibility, I might have additional tasks for you in the future.
You should say your goodbyes tonight. I want you to set off the moment the sun rises tomorrow morning. "
"I will."
Storm left his father's study soon afterwards and went to the clan's hotsprings to freshen up.
While digging through the tunnels that made up their home, the clan accidentally stumbled across a body of warm water deep underground that was heated by a layer of volcanic actually just below the surface.
Once it was deemed safe, the clan expanded the chamber and broke it up into two seperate springs.
One was reserved for the males, while the other was used by the females.
The water of these springs were rich in minerals and greatly assisted in healing and maintaining a dragon's body, and so was regularly used by the residents.
Storm floated through the soothing waters for half an hour before retiring to the attached vapor caves.
The volcanic activity pushed warm air out of the vapor caves and towards the surface through a narrow passage.
The residents used these to dry their bodies after a relaxing swim in the hotsprings.
As he left the chamber, one of the adult dragons came to him and told him that his mother requested his presence.
He knew that they had finished their 'secret ' preparations and that the celebration was about to start.
He walked to the location they had indicated and entered the pitch black room, although he couldn't see anything, he could hear several dragons breathing in the darkness.
Sudden bright light flooded Storm's vision followed by several dragons calling out 'Suprise' simultaneously.
"Damn it, Aurora!! I told you to light the crystal 'gently'. You blinded the poor guy!"