"Once upon a time, when the earth was flat and all that walked the earth was an animal, a weak, strange animal was unable to take care of itself. Gold, the earth, and the sky, all came together. They took pity on this poor animal, and decided to help.

The forces asked for champions, and three persons stepped forward. One by one, they received blessings.

The weak one asked the sky to allow him safe passage. He was given wings.

The greedy one asked for gold. He was given gold.

The bravest, strongest, and greatest of the three humbly asked for nothing, but asked earth for the means to bless himself. He was given all of the earth.

There isn't a particular moral to the story. It is simply a condensed version of history. However, do you understand, Ulkriekh?"

"I think the third one was an idiot."

I internally groaned. Here I am, the eldest of my clan. And I'm going to be lectured by a kid barely twenty winters old. At two-feet two-inches, he was by far the shortest of his age. In fact, many of the younger children had already outstripped him in height.

Ulkriekh gesticulated with his hands to illustrate his point. "I just don't get it. If the earth were to appear right now, and ask you for something, what would you ask for?"

I sighed, again, internally. "If it were up to me, I'd ask for a working back and an obedient student."

He continued, oblivious to the obvious hint. "Exactly! If your back didn't pain you for each step you took, then you could hunt again. Meanwhile, the so-called, 'bravest, strongest, and most moronic,' goes and, what? Asks for the means to bless himself? Isn't that just a roundabout way of asking for a spear to hunt with?"

A tiny bit of the massive groan I felt became audible. "Listen, Ulkriekh, you're missing the point. Had the third one asked for a spear, he would still have been weak. So by asking for the ability to take care of himself was the smartest thing to do."

He snorted. "Come on, Elder. The other two obviously got on fine, so what was the whole point? Even the greedy one, who asked for a heavy metal, somehow made it out alright! With a handicap like that, shouldn't the second one be the so-called, "bravest, whateverist, something-ist?"

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I stroked my white beard to contain the irritation with this young one. I pride myself on my patience, after all.

"Ulkriekh, you don't actually mean that, right? Our race is descended from the third one. If you favor another over your family, your clan, can you still proudly call yourself Dhugrin?"

He folded his arms that were proportionate to his body. In other words, short. "Perhaps being Dhugrin isn't something to be proud of."

I broke the table between us. I may pride myself on my patience, but sometimes pride must come second. "Ulkriekh Bheroahn! If that is what you truly think, perhaps you should vacate my presence!"

Ulkriekh flinched, and backed away. "W-wait, I-"

I took a step towards him. "I, Ghrengor, am glad I was born what I am. I love my clan, and if you no longer wish to be a part of it, perhaps I can give you a hand!"

He trembled, and shivered in fear. I ripped the door behind him open, and practically threw him out. For a minute, I breathed hard, adrenaline and rage hot in my blood. Then my back froze up, and my whole body became pained. But I did not make a sound. I bit my lip, and endured.

After the pain subsided, I made my way back to my rocking chair. I groaned loudly this time. I had been too quick to anger, and too hard on the boy. But what he'd said had struck a nerve.

I placed my head in my hands. I may love my clan, but sadly, it may not last the next decade.

I am ashamed to be an elder, because I cannot do the simple thing of saving my clan.

And then I laughed. Because I tried looking at the story from Ulkriekhs' point of view. And the third one really did seem like an idiot.

If I could ask the earth for anything, I would want my clan to be safe. And my clan includes Ulkriekh.

I got up, and went out the door. I called out several times, but heard no response. I walked around the whole of my village, but even his parents knew not where he'd gone. I came back to my step, and found a small message carved into slate.

I will see for myself.

I swore loudly.

"Youth and its' damned recklessness...!"