The Tale of Two Dragons

In a valley nestled between jagged peaks, where steam rose from hidden vents in the earth, lived two young dragons named Ember and Blaze. Though they were hatched in the same season and were as close as brothers, they were as different as a roaring flame and a flickering candle.

Ember was a thoughtful dragon. Each morning, he would rise with the sun to practice his skills. He would take deep breaths and exhale, not wild flames, but perfectly formed smoke rings that floated like crowns in the cool mountain air. He would then leap from the cliffs, stretching his wings, not to soar wildly, but to practice sharp turns and steady glides, just as the Elder Dragons had taught. He listened when the elders spoke of the Great Wind and the Long Cold, and heeded their advice to strengthen his wings and his fire.

Blaze, however, preferred a life of ease. While Ember practiced, Blaze would chase the mountain goats or roll in the soft, warm ash of the valley floor. "Why do you work so hard, Ember?" he would often say with a laugh. "There is so much fun to be had today! The sky is clear and the sun is warm. The future is far away." When the Elder Dragons offered their wisdom, Blaze would be too busy playing to listen, believing his natural strength was all he would ever need.

Years passed, and the two young dragons grew into their full size and strength. Their scales, once soft, were now like armor, and their wings were large enough to catch the strongest currents of wind. One year, a winter fell upon the valley unlike any before. The snows came early and piled deep, and a biting wind howled through the peaks. The mountain goats hid in deep caves, and the once-warm vents were sealed with ice.

Ember, who had practiced his fire-breathing for so long, found that he could produce a steady, hot flame that melted the thickest ice, giving him access to the warm caves and the tender roots that grew beneath the snow. His strong, disciplined wings allowed him to fly through the fierce gales to the sunnier slopes on the other side of the mountain, where he could find more food. He was warm, well-fed, and safe.

Blaze, however, was miserable. His fire-breathing, never practiced, was weak and sputtered out against the ice. His wings, though large, were not skilled enough to handle the treacherous winds, and he was tossed about in the sky, unable to travel far. He was cold, hungry, and regretful. Shivering, he went to Ember’s cave.

Seeing his friend’s plight, Ember welcomed him in and shared his food and the warmth of his powerful flame. Blaze looked at Ember’s roaring fire and his own smoky puffs, and understood. "You spent your youth preparing," Blaze said with a heavy heart. "I spent mine playing. I see now that the games of yesterday have cost me the comfort of today."

And so, the young dragons of the valley learned a valuable lesson: The discipline you build in your youth is the warmth and strength that will carry you through the winters of your life.