...Hurt. This was one of the very first things that he learned about being under the tutelage of a rather unforgiving dragon. Especially when that dragon double as both one's teacher, and mother. Imagine as if one's life, was an unending trek of schooling, and survival.
Case in point, with every egregious mistake that he made in pronunciation, earned him a clobber over the side of his head. That, or the side of his body. Both, could send him rolling. Either way, it made for a great incentive to learn, and learn quickly. It could also be said that it was easier to learn the language, due to his previously fluent capability with another language. One that, of course, he'd never use again. Yet, the concepts stuck.
Months did pass, and it was no easy task. Aside from the core purpose of teaching him the language of the Dragons, his mother also showed him all the ways that he could sustain himself as a young hatchling, if they were to ever separate. And from what he'd been told, it was highly likely for that to happen at any moment... This world was unforgiving, and any chance the multitude of occupants could take to end the possibility of a future flying terror, they would. The biggest factor for a guaranteed separation in such an event, was his mother's lack of flight. Of which, it hadn't taken him too long to learn. The wings that adorned his back were leathery, and proportionally massive in comparison to his main body. He supposed that they would need such clearance, to lift something that didn't weigh less than a couple hundred pounds... That is, the largest flying creature from his old world's past, the Quetzalcoatlus. A prehistoric 'dinosaur' capable of flight, and the consumption of very large prey.
By his judgement, his mother probably outweighed the thing by... Factors. The obviously solidly built muscle structure, and tough hide alluded to a sturdy, everything but frail body. His future seemed bright enough, when it came to strength.
But for the moment, he was not anywhere close to the top of the food chain. Or, whatever cycle that his mother had previously referred to. It was all rather confusing, at times. Bringing another to the top of the chain, by consuming them? Perhaps in a spiritual sense, this could work. But not by flesh and blood.
-
It was around the time that he'd finally begun the task of learning flight, that his skill with words had become somewhat bearable to his mother, and she supposed that from here on, only time would fix his mistakes. Time, and perhaps a couple more tumbles. But... This did mean one thing.
It was time for a name.
-
"Come, little one. It is time for something most important." She ordered, her tone leaving no gaps to squeeze out of whatever he assumed would probably be an arduous task... But, she'd not led him where he'd guessed. Instead, they were trekking back to that original cave, where the remains of his potential brethren had once been broken. Over the time since he'd left it, he truly had grown. Perhaps it was difficult to realize, as he'd constantly been around those he could compare with... But with the nest that'd once been easily enough to fit him, he'd barely be able to curl up within its width now. From the estimate of old memories and rough measurements without the tools necessary... He'd probably started around the size of a small housecat, and progressed to something around a large canine. On the larger side of large, too.
This was an excellent perspective change, and he supposed that for a newly hatched creature that could grow to a size rivaling a house... That this was probably a fair size for his age. His mother hadn't thought his current size anything special, anyway.
His wandering thoughts were interrupted, like usual. By a slight clobber to his side.
"Pay attention." She commanded, as she reached in with a foreclaw, and began to dig out the center of that nest. It was merely a moment before a blue glow began to show from within the earth... And her claws pressed in and around that glow, before prying out its source.
His golden, glowing eyes widened as this marvel entered his sight. It was a blue crystal, by rough description. If you wanted to call an elephant an average sized animal. This visual treasure was not cut like a gemstone of the market, but instead it reigned supreme in purity, and luster. It glittered with both a light within the surface, and the sunlight fragmenting through its faceted surfaces. It was nearly the size of his head. Or perhaps, it was the size of his head.
His mother's claws were exceedingly gentle, around this priceless gem. Treating it as if it were her own life. To which, she commented.
"This, is more valuable to you and I, than often our own safety will ever be. This, is a Gemheart. It is what allows us to live on... Without it, we'd likely rot like those lower than us... Of course, this isn't the only one. Each of us is capable of producing one, in our lifetimes... Though, it will only ever leave our bodies upon death." She turned her head, and her eyes locked upon him. She pushed forward a claw, and nudged at the center of his chest. "Right... Here. Never let something take what is yours, little one." She warned, and he could only think of those long, torturous scars that ran across his mother's back.
"Now, it is time for you, to find your name." She stated, and laid the Gemheart before him, gingerly. "Press yourself to it, so that it might start your own heart of gems."
He did as she said, and leaned forward. As his head dipped to press his forehead to the smoothened surface of the Gemheart, he couldn't help but think of how this immense piece of crystal had once been the lifesource of a Dragon, like him.
As the tough, rocky hide of his scalp pressed into the crystal, it suddenly shone with an intense, blinding light of blue. His vision, even already covered by his shut lids, swam with the color. In fact, it felt as if a terribly strong energy was coursing through every little vein and fiber of his body... Racing within him and judging him. It slowed in some areas, and brushed past others... Before all convalescing within his chest. The energy was so clearly felt, that it was as if he could only think of that single section...
-
The Gemheart was perplexed, as it had reached the final point of its renewing journey. The seed that this hatchling had, was unstable. Fragmented. Clear fractures and weakness fraught within it... This simply could not do. It surged with a bit of reserve strengths, and forcefully binded the once weak seed together... The soul energies that had been before rather unstable, and barely in control, now truly solidified into a whole.
Satisfied, the Gemheart sent the last of the gifting energies, into that seed... Which finally now, broke the outer layers of its shell, and sprouted the tiniest piece of a crystal... Like the infant version of the one that'd laid before the hatchling.
The Gemheart withdrew, content in the baptism of another youngling.
-
The hatchling nearly collapsed, as he felt the energies finally leaving him... It was almost remorseful, to have to let it go. But, the hatchling finally knew something it hadn't before... And he opened his eyes, before raising his head to look upwards towards his mother.
"Speak your name, Little One." She commanded.
"Rizze."