"UMBER!" a large man with horns wearing a long leather apron yelled.
"How many times do I have to say it? If you fiddle with anything, put it back how you left it!"
Umber, now a young lad of 7 sat paralyzed on his knees, hands in the air.
"Sorry, Dad."
The man shook his head exasperated and said, "enough with the sorry get to cleaning. And don't do it again!"
The things Umber was "fiddling" with were his hammer, ingots, bellows, tongs, and other sundries from around his workshop being a blacksmith by trade. However, at the moment, things were scattered all about the place from hither to thither.
Upon entering, Umber cleaned up and ran about at speeds unthinkable for other children his age, but that was to be expected of a dragon kin. He picked up a pure iron ingot as though it were a pebble on the road side and flew with it to the correct spot.
Within minutes, all was back in order.
"Sorry, Dad." Umber head was hung low.
His dad huffed, put a palm on his head, and ruffled his hair.
"It's fine, lad. I knew you took more after your grandfather than I can even being to describe. Seriously though, don't do that again." Now we have work to do if we don't want to be late for the festival.
"Yes," Umber exclaimed.
It was the day wandering traders came to town. Not much of a reason to celebrate, but the people of the town liked to make a day of it nonetheless.
Umber helped his dad make several simple tools, spades, knives, hoes, shears, and finally, it was his turn.
Though he was only allowed to make simple nails, he loved doing it. He loved feeling the reverberation of the hammer striking metal, the sounds, the heat of the forge; he loved it all. It was the thing that made him most satisfied, though peace may be the best way to describe it.
He couldn't see it himself, but his father did; he could tell his son was born to create, and that worried him.
Eventually, it grew late. It was time for the festivities.
Father and son washed up and met up with her mother and daughter.
Elley was wearing a loose and rugged brown dress that contrasted greatly with her golden hair.
"Umber, Papa, you're late; they'll have started without us at this rate," Elley yelled at them as they approached.
"Huhuh Elly don't be too hard on them, they worked hard today," her mother said she was a tall woman with yellow scales and bright gold hair on her waist though were a pair of small, white, bat-like, wings. Though too small to fly with,
"But what if they run out of goods before we even get there? Or worse, Abigail gets something cool and won't stop bragging about it?"
"You don't need to worry, lassie; those traders carry enough for three towns and then some. There's plenty enough for everyone. Still though we can't just let the best stuff be taken, sooo-" The large man starts sprinting towards the town.
"Last one there is a rotten egg," the man keeps running with a childlike smile.
"No fair, Papa!" Elly yells as she also sprints off at an even greater speed than her father.
"My, those two are always so full of energy. Aren't you going after them, Umber?"
Umber shakes his head.
"No mama, I'd rather walk with you," He says shyly.
His mother stops,"Umber… is everything alright?"
Umber stops now too. "..."
"Umber, it's okay, you can tell me, is something wrong?" She squats down to get eye level, with a light smile.
Umber can feel her concern for him, and he melts.
"Mama lately… lately, I haven't felt right. Like I'm missing something important." He said with a frown
"Like there is something I should be doing, but I don't know what? I don't get it, but I don't like it." He quietly hugs his mother.
"It's okay. A lot of people feel like that, Umber, and usually those people wind up doing great things." She explained with a smile.
Umber lightened up as she heard what she said.
"Now, why don't you try to catch up with those two!" She gave him a gentle pat on the back and gave a smile and a nod.
He bolted off even faster than his dad or his sister with the aid of his wings.
After he was out of sight, his mother's smile faded. She thought to herself, "Those aren't worries and feelings a child should have. He's so clever and mature for his age that I can't help but worry." She put her hands together and said a small prayer, "May Vehafor and the other gods smile upon him and watch over his path. May he find what he seeks, even if he doesn't know what it is."