The sun was setting on a high snow covered mountain top, as a pair of elder dragons flew slowly overhead. They were a mated pair of ice dragons, the male a darker grey and the female a brilliant pale white. In their mouths, they each had the day’s kill. The male carried a large buck and the female carried a moose. They circled down slowly until they reached an outcropping that was the entrance to their cave. It was a relatively small cave system they had dug out themselves over the course of decades and contained several chambers.

	They landed on the outcropping, one after the other, with a loud thud that shook loose the fresh fallen snow around the cave. They headed down inside the cave, dragging their kills into a small chamber they used for eating. After dropping the meat onto the ground they yawned and stretched out.

	“Ah Geez. Seems like these hunts get longer and longer every season don’t they dear,” The male said grunting. 

	“Sure seems like that, but that’s probably to do with our age ,” the female said giggling.

	“True, very true. Even we dragons can’t escape the ravages of time forever. But at least I have you here with me,” He said, coming over to nuzzle her gently. The two pressed against each other and let our low happy rumbles for a minute. The male then noticed something in the chamber. 

	“Wait, aren’t those the cow and horse bones from yesterday? Didn’t we tell our son to take care of those for us,” he asked her. 

	“I think you’re right. He was supposed to take care of them before he left for his friends today,” She said, frowning. 

	“That boy, I swear, never listens to a thing we say. I am going to have to have a long talk with him when he gets home,” He said as he laid down to eat.

	Hours later, after the sun had long since gone down, a smaller form flew quickly over the shadowy mountains. It looked frantic as it flew closer and closer to the dragon's cave. As it passed under the moonlight, it could be seen what it was. A smaller ice dragon, much smaller than the two that had gone in before. He looked panicked as he looked up at the moon.

	“Ah Geez, I am so late. They are going to give me such a chewing out. Though I've heard it all before. “You need to be home by sundown.” “Send a raven messenger if you’re going to be late.” Ugh, I'm sick of hearing it. It’s like seriously guys get off my back,” He said in a mocking voice as he flew. “As if I could have found a Raven this time of night anyway. Ravens had been the messengers of the gods and dragons for centuries. He flew over the outcropping slowly and tried to land as quietly as he could. He still made a soft but noticeable thump as he landed, making him flinch and look into the cave. No lights yet, maybe they hadn’t noticed yet. He then started to walk slowly and carefully, flexing his claws upward so they didn’t click against the stone. He didn’t make it far into the main chamber before there was a loud click of flint and a fire lit up in the center of the room, revealing the Father.

	“It’s about time you got home,” He said, tapping his front claw against the stone.

	“Yes dad, I'm home now. I know what you’re gonna say, let's just skip it alright,” He said, sighing and looking away.

	“Your mother and I were worried about you. You could have sent a Raven you know. How many times…”

	“How many times do we have to have this conversation,” the son said, interrupting him. “I get it dad I get it. I’m a grown dragon now dad. Get off my back.”

	“Don’t you talk back to me boy! I am your father! And as long as you live in my cave you’re going to follow my rules,” The father said, raising his voice. He growled to emphasize his point. 

	The young dragon rolled his eyes and scoffed as his father growled, clearly not impressed or scared. 

	“Geez dad just growl me into submission why don’t you. You really think that’s going to work on me? I’m not a hatchling anymore.”

	“That’s right! You’re not a hatchling. So you should be more responsible,” the father said growling more. Around then, the mother came out from a side chamber to see what was going on. 

	“Oh son thank goodness, we were so worried. What happened? Where were you,” She said in concern. 

	“I’m fine mom, like I was telling dad,” He said, rolling his eyes again.

	“I know but, you could have sent a raven, or even a crow. Anything to let us…” She started to say.

	“I KNOW MOM! I GET IT! ALRIGHT GEEZ,” He said, raising his voice and snapping at her. 

	The father then let out a louder, threatening growl and rose to his feet, towering over his son. He was at least two heads higher then his son at his age, giving him a very very dominating presence. 

	“YOU DO NOT TALK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT YOUNG MAN! That’s it, I've been soft on you for too long! I’m going to do what I should have done a long time ago,” He shouted getting closer. The son backed up and bit and turned to run out of the cave. Before you could however, the father used the jaw to grab him by the tip of his tail and pull him back. He then pulled his son up, exposing his flanks fully to the air. The son struggled and clawed at the ground, trying to get any grip at all, but to no effect. 

“Hey! What are you doing! Are you crazy?! Put me down old man,” He shouted out, thrashing his rear legs around.

“I’m going to teach you to respect me in my cave,” He said through his clenched teeth. He then raised his huge front paw into the air and brought it down hard against his sons behind. The sound of scale on scale filled the chamber, as the son’s eyes went wide in surprise. He was stunned. His father had never done anything like this before. It took him a second to register the pain of it before his father brought his paw down again, and again, hitting the same area. Each time waiting for the area to redden before he hit it again. The young dragon yelped and roared out in pain as he was spanked for the first time in his whole life. He looked to his mother for support, but she did nothing. He began to cry, and cry heavily. He cried out after the tenth hit, his rump, tail base and tail hole red and swelling. 

“I’m sorry dad! I’m sorry! Please stop!I’m sorry,” He shouted, tears streaming down his face.

“Are you? Are you really,” His father said, raising his paw again. 

	“Yes! Yes! I’m sorry,” he said, sobbing.

His father raised his eyeridge before letting him go. He then growled softly and moved to the back of the chamber as the mother stepped up. She laid down next to her son and licked over his face gently. He sobbed and cried in pain as his tail base and flanks throbbed. He looked up at her and leaned in to the licking as she started talking to him.

“We both love you son. You know that. Your father is frustrated with how you’ve been behaving lately. Staying out late, not cleaning up the cave, the disrespect. We know that you’re better than that. I know the little hatchling I raised,” She said, stroking his head. 

The son looked up at her and sniffed gently before burying his face in her again. She petted his head gently and soothed him. As the night drifted onto dawn. 

In the morning, THe son was the first to wake, still in his mothers gentle grip. He slipped out gently, tail and rump still sore from the night before as he looked at his father. He sighed and hung his head. His mother was right, he was better than he’d been recently. He went over and carefully nudged his father awake. He snorted and grunted as he woke up. 

“Huh, what? How is it,” He said, his eyes slowly opening.

“It’s me, dad. Can we talk,” the son said gently. 

“Yeah sure, What it is,” The father said, stretching.

“I’m sorry about last night. I should have sent the raven. I should have cleaned up the bones before I left. You’re right, I haven’t been a very good son lately. I’m sorry, I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately,” He said looking away. 

“I’m glad to hear you're sorry. I’m sorry too. I hated doing that myself. But your mother’s right. We raised you better than that. And I too know you can do better. And you’re right, you’re not a hatchling anymore. I should treat you as such,” The father said, looking his son in the eyes. “Let's make a deal, I'll start treating you like an adult and you stop sneaking around like a teenager. Deal?”

“Deal dad,” the son said, smiling. 

The two smiled and embraced, sharing a father son hug as the sun’s light slowly filtered into the cave.