In a distant kingdom, where the sky turned golden and purple at sunset, lived two dragons—older Zephyr and younger Spark. Zephyr was big, strong, and thoughtful, with scales the color of the evening sky. Spark, on the other hand, was small, fiery, and restless, his scales flickering like the flames in a fireplace.
They lived in the same nest high in the mountains and spent their days flying, playing, and exploring the world together. But lately, Spark had been constantly trying to annoy his older brother—whipping him with his tail, scratching him with his tiny claws, even trying to bite him. At first, Zephyr endured it, knowing that little dragons hadn't yet learned to control their strength. But when the adult dragons were far away, Zephyr sometimes lost his patience—he would flip Spark over, pin him down, and once, he even covered him with his wing so tightly that the little one couldn't breathe.
"Why do you do that?" asked the wise Wind one day, swirling around their nest.
Zephyr frowned.
"He keeps bothering me! He bites me, scratches me, and I have to put up with it. But when no one's watching, I... I just can't hold it in anymore!"
The Wind circled around him thoughtfully.
"Have you told him that it hurts?"
Zephyr snorted.
"Why would I? He's just a little kid, he wouldn’t care!"
But the Wind only chuckled softly and drifted away.
The very next day, disaster struck their nest. Frustrated that Zephyr refused to play with him, Spark suddenly shot a real fireball straight at his older brother! Zephyr dodged at the last second, but the flames hit their nest. In an instant, the dry branches caught fire, and thick smoke filled the air.
Zephyr immediately sprang into action, flapping his wings to smother the flames. Spark stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear. When the fire was finally out, the little dragon sniffled and murmured:
"I didn’t mean to…"
Zephyr was breathing heavily, his heart pounding like a thunderstorm. He looked at his brother and suddenly realized—Spark hadn't wanted to hurt him. He simply didn't know any other way to get attention.
Zephyr sat down next to him and quietly said:
"You keep hitting me, and it hurts. Sometimes I get angry, but I hold it in. And when no one is around—I lash out. That’s not right."
Spark sniffled.
"I just want you to play with me... But you're always so big and serious, like I don’t matter to you."
Zephyr sighed. He suddenly realized he had never told his little brother how much he cared about him.
"You do matter to me, Spark. It’s just that sometimes things are hard for me too. Let’s make a deal: if you want to play, just say so. And if I don’t feel like playing, I’ll tell you, but I won’t just stay silent and bottle it up. Okay?"
Spark nodded and buried his nose into his brother’s wing.
From that day on, things began to change. Of course, Spark didn’t stop being playful, but now, when he wanted to wrestle, he’d say:
"Zephyr, let’s play fight!"
And if his older brother wasn’t in the mood, he’d reply:
"Not today, but let’s do something else instead!"
And together, they’d come up with a new game.
High above the nest, the Wind smiled—at last, the two dragons had learned to hear each other.
They lived in the same nest high in the mountains and spent their days flying, playing, and exploring the world together. But lately, Spark had been constantly trying to annoy his older brother—whipping him with his tail, scratching him with his tiny claws, even trying to bite him. At first, Zephyr endured it, knowing that little dragons hadn't yet learned to control their strength. But when the adult dragons were far away, Zephyr sometimes lost his patience—he would flip Spark over, pin him down, and once, he even covered him with his wing so tightly that the little one couldn't breathe.
"Why do you do that?" asked the wise Wind one day, swirling around their nest.
Zephyr frowned.
"He keeps bothering me! He bites me, scratches me, and I have to put up with it. But when no one's watching, I... I just can't hold it in anymore!"
The Wind circled around him thoughtfully.
"Have you told him that it hurts?"
Zephyr snorted.
"Why would I? He's just a little kid, he wouldn’t care!"
But the Wind only chuckled softly and drifted away.
The very next day, disaster struck their nest. Frustrated that Zephyr refused to play with him, Spark suddenly shot a real fireball straight at his older brother! Zephyr dodged at the last second, but the flames hit their nest. In an instant, the dry branches caught fire, and thick smoke filled the air.
Zephyr immediately sprang into action, flapping his wings to smother the flames. Spark stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear. When the fire was finally out, the little dragon sniffled and murmured:
"I didn’t mean to…"
Zephyr was breathing heavily, his heart pounding like a thunderstorm. He looked at his brother and suddenly realized—Spark hadn't wanted to hurt him. He simply didn't know any other way to get attention.
Zephyr sat down next to him and quietly said:
"You keep hitting me, and it hurts. Sometimes I get angry, but I hold it in. And when no one is around—I lash out. That’s not right."
Spark sniffled.
"I just want you to play with me... But you're always so big and serious, like I don’t matter to you."
Zephyr sighed. He suddenly realized he had never told his little brother how much he cared about him.
"You do matter to me, Spark. It’s just that sometimes things are hard for me too. Let’s make a deal: if you want to play, just say so. And if I don’t feel like playing, I’ll tell you, but I won’t just stay silent and bottle it up. Okay?"
Spark nodded and buried his nose into his brother’s wing.
From that day on, things began to change. Of course, Spark didn’t stop being playful, but now, when he wanted to wrestle, he’d say:
"Zephyr, let’s play fight!"
And if his older brother wasn’t in the mood, he’d reply:
"Not today, but let’s do something else instead!"
And together, they’d come up with a new game.
High above the nest, the Wind smiled—at last, the two dragons had learned to hear each other.
Sometimes younger siblings tease their older brothers and sisters not to hurt them, but simply because they don’t know any other way to get their attention. And older siblings endure it—until their patience turns into anger. But as soon as they start talking about their feelings, they can find a way to be together without pain or resentment.