“File in, every creature, one at a time. I ain’t got all day!” Little Strongheart stomped her hoof against the vinyl floor of the classroom. The band of feathers atop her head indicated herself as the Star Kin of the Buffalo.
Creatures great and small filed into the room, some of them dashing to their seats. A few slackers meandered in the back, talking about their day.
“Did ya see that epic move I did in gym class?” Smolder asked, nudging Gallus’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I saw it alright,” Gallus groaned. “You’ve only bragged about it the whole way here.” He gave her a nudge of his own before filing to his own seat.
Little Strongheart stood beside her desk, carefully pushing her golden blonde mane further back against her ears. There was a time where she had stood behind it, but she had damaged the wood—more than a few times—and decided it was ultimately better for her not to stand like a traditional teacher.
“Alright, everyone settle down,” Little Strongheart said, picking up a paper on her desk, and started checking off each square on her sheet of the students present, each and every student off her list. “It appears every creature is here, this is good news, for today I have a very special lesson for all of you.”
“Ugh, just get on with it,” Smolder groaned from the back of the class, fidgeting back and forth in her seat.
Little Strongheart chuckled.
“It seems some dragon is eager to learn,” she said, she approached the first row of desks; it was difficult for a big strong buffalo like herself to fit through the small gaps between the seats.
“Our lesson today is all about dragons.” Little Strongheart said.
Smolder pushed her chair back, leaned on its back legs, letting out a long, and sighed.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Dragons have always been known for their stubbornness, a lot like the Buffalo too,” Little Strongheart said, lowering her gaze at Smolder. She then turned around and headed back to the chalkboard.
“Now, today’s lesson is all about strength, but not in the way you’d expect,” Little Strongheart began, picking up a piece of chalk and tapping the butt of it against the board.
It made a satisfying pop.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
“A long time ago, before Lord Ember was leader of the dragons, there was another,” Little Strongheart began.
“Yeah, his name was Lord Torch, every dragon knows about him!” Smolder belted from her seat, crossing her arms across her chest, and pretending to doze off. “BORING.”
A few creatures sitting near Smolder shifted; a mint green earth pony put his book up against himself and whimpered.
Then a changeling stood up. “There’s more non-dragons here than dragons,” the changeling declared, sticking her head up into the air. Murmurs among the fellow non-dragons circled throughout the classroom, like a fog filling the air.
“This story isn’t just about dragons.” Little Strongheart cleared her throat, stomping her hoof three times in quick succession to once again gather the attention of her students.
“Smolder, did Lord Torch ever tell you the story of how he met my father?” Little Strongheart asked.
“Nawh, Torch never liked telling stories; he much preferred shouting and making himself heard,” Smolder replied.
“I think you’ll be very invested in this story then,” Little Strongheart declared, taking a moment to gather herself. Lidding her eyes, she allowed her mind to wonder.
Each and every creature was unique, and she knew deep down how important it was to learn about other races, other traditions.
Deep breath.
“It all started long before my father was the Chief of the Buffalo,” Little Strongheart said, her big deep yellowish-orange coat blocking most of what she was scribbling onto the chalkboard.
Thunderhooves stood there in the center of uncharted territory, there was nothing in the land for him to see, not even dropping from other animals.
The land was harsh and unforgiving.
“Ugh,” Thunderhooves groaned, forcing himself to keep trotting forward, the sun was already beginning to set in the distance.
“Thunder, we should rest,” Eagle Eye proclaimed.
“No,” Thunderhooves replied, “we must find a place to call our own.”
The rest of the very small herd gathered behind the two stronger buffalo, most of them young female bison or children too small to even bellow.
“Our tribe is depending on me to lead.” Thunderhooves stomped.
“You aren’t even the Chief yet,” Eagle Eye reminded him.
“I know, but he’s hurt and someone has to ensure the safety and well-being of all of us.”
Eagle Eye just gawked at him, rolling his eyes.
“Any buffalo could lead, why you?”
“Because no other buffalo can say they made friends with a dragon!” he proclaimed proudly, his brown chest floof poofing up.
Staring into the horizon, watching the sunset, and admiring the mountains in the distance.
Torch was a mix of blue colorations with bits of diamond-like markings all over his body. He stood up from his resting spot upon a pile of various assortments of shiny treasures, anything from gold to rather large objects.
Yawning, he stirred walking around the top of the pile, stretching out his wingspan. He jumped down to the cave floor with a loud thump.
Sunlight blinded him as he sluggishly walked out onto the mountain.
“I hate mornings so much,” he groaned, shaking his head from one side to the other, desperately trying to shake that groggy feeling away.
He raised his claw and smacked himself three times on each side.
“Wake up!” He shouted. “Dragons are strong. I can’t allow any creature to see me looking like this.”
Torch spread his feet against the ground, a few small pebbles scattering off the edge of the cliff from his talons.
He stared out towards the sky, watching a few birds swiveling around a tree below him. He dusted off his wings, stretching out his wingspan to full mass, letting out a big bellow to scare off any wildlife that might be in his path.
Torch looked to the right, and then to the left once his path was clear.
Pebbles scattered against the ground behind him, he tilted his head towards the sound, but there was nothing anywhere in the vicinity to be seen.
“Argh, I must be hearing things.” He reprimanded himself, with a solid kick he lifted his entire weight off the cliff, and flew straight up into the sky.
“Ah, the morning breeze,” Torch said. “It remains something I both love and hate, the start of a new day. Another day to find new treasures to add to my collection. I wonder what I might find today.”
He flew up and down throughout the sky, doing a few spins and twirls just enjoying the feeling of how freeing the sky felt.
Soaring through the sky, moving his slender body up and down through the clouds, he spotted a twinkle of a glimmer of something shiny off in the distance. He let out a rather loud and obnoxious roar to let any dragon or other puny creatures know he was declaring whatever this shiny was, as his own.
Deep down way below the mountains and the clouds were a pair of Buffalo, cloud dust could be seen just barely visible to those above.
“We must find a place to settle; we have been roaming all day!” Thunderhooves shouted, running swiftly.
“Slow down, Chestnut!” Star Seeker panted as she caught up, brushing dirt from her pure white fur while she gasped for breath.
Thunderhooves grunted before snorting, “Hmphmh” He pushed his front legs back, angling himself for a full on break, causing cloud dust to kick up into a full burst as he skidded to a halt.
Star Seeker came running up from behind, sweat trickling down the sides of her face.
“I know it is hard for you,” Thunderhooves said, turning to face Star Seeker, looking far into her deep hazel eyes; he often felt like she was a star that had fallen from the night sky. “If we do not hasten ourselves, before we know it, it’ll be dark and that much harder for me to protect you from all the many dangers out there.”
Star seeker butted her forehead against his, gritting her teeth. Thunderhooves was rubbing his annoying forehead against her. She did not dare to back down.
“Chestnut, the sun hasn’t even set yet!” She proclaimed, pointing with one hoof towards the sky above them.
“We must find shelter,” Thunderhooves sighed. “We have nothing and everything to lose.”
“I know,” Star seeker said, nuzzling her forehead against his. She was careful of the horns on the sides of her head, wary not to accidentally jab him in the eye.
Tumbleweeds rolled by their hooves, neither of them budging. Thunderhooves reached his front leg towards hers, and she in return grabbed hold of his.
Silence.
“I’m sorry.” Stuttering, he felt a crackle in his voice.
“I forgive you, it’s just very hard for me to keep up.” Star Seeker nuzzled against him, giving him a few playful headbutts for good measure. “I am with a calf after all.”
“I could never forget the wonderful beauty of life within you,” Thunderhooves said, kissing the top of her hoof. “That is all the more reason for my distress.”
“I’ll try,” Star Seeker said.
Thunderhooves nodded his head, letting go of her and turning back to face the path ahead once more.
The earth scraped against the bottom of his hooves, solid, firm, unmoving.
He stomped forward, walking at a much steadier pace. She followed right beside him, eager to not get lost in his shadow.
“What kind of home are we even looking for?” Star Seeker asked.
“Something strong and sturdy, able to handle all that mother nature throws our way.”
“A warm place to lay our heads at night.” She leaned in against him, and bumped her entire weight of her body against his.
“Yes, a place near water, so that we can grow together,” Thunderhooves teased, lightly bumping her back.“Be careful, you are with a little one.”
The two of them trotted together side by side, nothing could separate them, no matter what. They were a force to be reckoned with.
“A place to raise our calves, and show them what it means to be a Buffalo.”
It began to rain, though at first it was not but a sprinkle coating both of their furs.
And then the clouds began to surround the sky, filling the air with a mix of dark and gray gloom. Then they saw a flash of lightning ignite the sky, and then the thunder rolled.
With a heavy thump, Torch’s claws dug firmly into the ground as he not so gracefully pulled in his wings against his sides, letting out a long and agonizing groan.
He stared intensely at the large amber gemstone half buried into the dirt of the earth beneath his claws.
“Hmm…this rock is mine now!” He shouted, lifting up his voice into a full roar, causing a small herd of cattle to scatter off in the distance.
His nostrils flared. He couldn’t smell any other creatures, no sense of greed or hunger from others like him. Blinking twice, he surveyed each and every crevice of the ground for any insignificant bugs to stomp beneath his feet.
“This is good, this is mine,” he claimed, digging his claws beneath the amber, Torch lifted the stone up like a buried treasure.
Torch tucked the gem under his neck, his eyes scanning the area back and forth.
“This amber is the most gorgeous rock I have ever seen.” He stroked his claws over it before placing it against his chest, then lifting himself up into the clouds once more.
Torch’s dull gray body blended in well with the dark clouds moving in. He swooped into the clouds, attempting to rise above it as the rain started to pour down onto the earth below.
“Argh, stupid weather patterns.” He groaned and grumbled, flapping his wings more rapidly to get past the current. “I hate getting wet.”
He shook his head from one side to the other, trying to ignore the rain as it continued to pelt down onto his scales.
Torch kept flying, keeping a firm hold on the gemstone, his ears picking up the low rumble of thunder.
“This is bothersome,” he muttered, snorting.
His wings flapped as he maneuvered his body up and down above the clouds, using the vantage from above to keep himself as dry as possible.
Torch closed his eyes, and focused on the sounds around him, listening to the way the wind pushed and flowed against the pelting drips and drops of rain.
He pushed himself forward, aligning himself with the wind current, clutching the gem close against his breast.
Snap. Crackle. Pop.
Torch felt a sudden snap vibrating throughout his entire body. He groggily pumped out his chest to realign his core.
It was like there was an opening in the sky, and there was a crackle of lightning that struck the ground below.
There was a crackle of lightning shooting down onto the ground with a roaring boom.
The corners of his lips lifted up into a huge grin as he saw the shadow of his cave in the distance.
Every day was always a chance to find new treasures, to fill a hunger in him, it was a push and pull just like the current of the wind.
He felt his muscles tightening, his grip on the gem slipping. The lightning shot down, striking the gem within his grasp. Clutching the shiny into his chest, he erratically flapped his wings for any sense of control of his body. He began to plummet down towards the earth.
Torch’s eye popped, unable to catch himself as he pulled his wings against his chest, desperately trying to keep the shiny safe from impact.
He hit the ground with an earth shattering thud, louder than any thunder in the nearby distance. Torch felt his whole body quivering as he attempted to stand up, but his knees buckled underneath him.
Staring right at him were two buffalo. He glared daggers at them. It was bad enough he fell from the sky, but for puny creatures such as them to see him like this, he felt his integrity shattering just like the damaged gem within his claws.
Star Seeker laid down onto the rough, clodded dirt ground. Shifting her front legs underneath her. She leaned her weight onto her front side, pushing herself down to the ground, in one swift motion, loafing.
Thunderhooves stood there in front of her. He spread out his rear legs, kicking up the dirt behind him. He positioned himself as a shield against the unknown threat. Kicking up a cloud of dust, with his back hoof, being cautious to not kick cloud dust in the direction of his Star-kin.
“Humpph.” Thunderhooves grunted. “No sudden movements.”
“Chestnut, I don’t think this creature is going anywhere.” Star Seeker pointed, seeing the jostle of sparks igniting all over his body; the dragon let out a cry of shock.
The dragon in front of them didn’t move, nor did it speak. It merely let out a cloud of smoke from its nostrils.
Thunderhooves breathed in and out, slowly. He had to consider his options. There was no telling what this dragon could do to either of them, and his wife was with child. Everything they had was on the line.
“Weak,” Torch mustered, staggering, struggling to force his body weight up off the ground. He got his top half up by a few feet before collapsing once more to the dirt.
Star Seeker whimpered.
“My love, what’s wrong?” Thunderhooves asked while keeping his stance firm, ready to attack the dragon at a moment’s notice.
“We need to help him.” She began panting, struggling to gasp for air. “And…the calf. It’s coming, hurry!”
Thunderhooves’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at the dragon, and it stared back at him.
The two males were unwavering, unmoving.
Star Seeker cried out in pain. “Please, Chestnut help him. He needs our help.”
Thunderhooves snorted, and trotted over to where the dragon was laying. Every muscle in his body was telling him to not touch a single scale on the dragon’s body, but his wife needed his strength.
Torch looked up to the buffalo now standing directly in front of him. Lava filled his dilated pupils, and he turned his head to the side.
“I don’t want help, go away!” Torch grumped. He pushed the broken amber closer to his chest, not wanting to risk his treasure being taken from him.
“Listen here, you big olaf,” Thunderhooves began as he stomped his front right hoof down firmly onto the ground. “I don’t have the luxury of time. You help me, and I help you, is that clear?
Torch huffed and puffed, sucking in a long deep breath: an emission of different shades of yellow, red, and just a bit of orange forming from his maw. He went to spit fire directly at Thunderhooves, but as he released the breath, only dust escaped his mouth.
Thunderhooves eyebrow narrowed, stomping his foot firmly onto the ground.
“You are a fool to refuse help,” Thunderhooves began, lowering his head down to the ground, his horns readied as he charged towards the dragon.
Torch didn’t budge an inch. He concealed the gem within his wingspan, leaning against it to attempt to protect it from the upcoming rush of nature.
Thunderhooves’s horns headbutted directly against the dragon’s torso, burying his horns underneath the belly of the beast in an attempt to merely budge him up into the air.
“You filthy, insignificant creature.” Torch scowled, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.
Thunderhooves didn’t back down. Digging his hindlegs further into the ground, he gave his front end more momentum, more push against the heaviness of the limp sack of potatoes laying in the dirt.
“Give up, you fool! You cannot lift a dragon.” Torch grunted as he felt the sharp horns underneath him, feeling the dirt shift around him.
Thunderhooves let out a war cry. Pain seared through his entire body as his grip on the dragon became firm enough to lift him off of the ground. He pushed the dragon into the mud.
“Help us. I will not ask again!” Thunderhooves growled out, slamming the full weight of his head against the dragon, pushing him further down.
Torch took a deep breath in, a puff of smoke emitting from his nostrils. “Fine.”
Thunderhooves assisted the dragon in standing upright, which allowed him to lean against his weight to drag him closer to his beloved. He despised the thought of trusting a random stranger with the birth of his first born, but fate had brought them together for a reason.
Torch looked at the female buffalo: Laying there on the ground was something unexpected, something precious, it sparkled like a treasure he had never seen before. He blinked, unable to take his stare off the shine coming out of her.
“You and I…, we aren’t so different, are we?,” She sputtered, gasping for staggered breaths of air. “Our strength is the same.”
Star Seeker stared right at him looking into his yellowish-orange hues. Her eyes gleamed full of life.. She noted the way he carried the amber like a precious child—no, cradling it like a newborn calf.
Torch belted out a hardly chuckle of amusement.
“You are nothing and will always be nothing.”
There was a little whimper that came from between Star Seeker’s hindlegs. Blood oozed out and something tiny and wonderful dropped onto the ground.
The clouds parted, leaving the pelting rain to dissipate, leaving the sun to shine down to the earth. A seed in the ground sprouted up beside Torch.The tiny life in front of him became something beautiful, a true wonder of nature.
A new treasure to hold.
Torch looked down at his broken fragmented gem, and then looked to the crying, breathing, living flesh that had come from nothing, and he felt something tug against his chest.
A thumping noise, a consistent one. One too familiar…
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“It was on that very day that a dragon learnt what it meant to have a heart, and the buffalo showed the dragon known as Torch how strong all creatures are, no matter what their size. Can anyone tell me what the measure of true strength is?” Little Strongheart asked the class.
The entire class was silent for a moment, light whispers among them from the knowledge they had absorbed, but it was Smolder who raised her claw up high into the air.
“Yes, Smolder!” Little Strongheart gestured for her to speak.
“Strength isn’t measured by size, it comes in how we relate to others, the compassion we share with them. That’s what makes us all strong: our bonds.”
Little Strongheart nodded. “You are correct, Smolder. What else have you learned today?”
“Uh... Buffaloes are cool!”
“Smolder, you’re not getting extra credit for saying that, but I appreciate it nonetheless.”
Little Strongheart chuckled in her head. There were always lessons to teach, morals to pass onto her students, but her greatest pleasure of all was sharing the history of her tribe with all creatures, including dragons.
“Anyway, class is dismissed. Thank you all for coming today! Please remember to care for one another,” Little Strongheart finished, tapping the chalkboard lightly with the end of her chalk.
One by one, each student filed their books and notes away into backpacks, and left the classroom. However, Smolder stayed behind, eyes beaming up at Little Strongheart.
“What else do you know about Torch, Little Strongheart? Torch never liked to talk about anything other than himself. But hearing about how soft and fragile he truly was... is inspiring to all of us here, even dragons.”
Little Strongheart chuckled, reaching out to pat the top of Smolder’s scales delicately.
“Oh, now that might take longer than my allowed time, but you are more than welcome to come visit our tribe whenever you wish. We keep plenty of gems around even now. You never know what a dragon will drop from the sky, or when a beautiful force of nature will appear from nothing but love.”
