Firestone: A mineral found naturally on Pern that is masticated by Thread-fighting dragons and stored in a special stomach, where it mixes with acids and reacts, producing a flammable gas (phosphine).

Golds and firestone: Contrary to popular legend and belief about infertility, gold dragons can chew firesone without any lingering effects – but they’ll simply disgorge it, which is quite painful for the dragon itself.

Teaching a dragon to chew firestone: This is a communicative process between the dragon and the weyrling, with the weyrling coaching the dragon along as he/she chews, and swallows – yet the swallowing is subtly different from the usual eating of, say, a herdbeast, and so the weyrling is necessary in this process to aid their dragonet in whatever ways possible. Also important is that the weyrling coach the dragon on how to regurgitate the residue – unless the weyrling has a great desire for a constipated dragon with a very thick tail.

Small chunks of firestone are necessary, at first, until the weyrling learns their dragon’s capacity and the dragon begins to understand the process. Slowly, larger and larger chunks can be used. After chewing, be sure to give the dragonet a point to flame at – we don’t want any singed weyrlings, or dragons plagued with guilt at hurting their lifemate.

The actual coaching: This can be as simple as a weyrling simply reminding the dragonet, “Second stomach, second stomach…” Dragons know what to do instinctually, but having the weyrling there, helping, will make the process much smoother.

How dragons actually chew firestone: It’s a simple method of the rider giving firestone to the dragon, who either catches it if it is thrown, or keeps in it his/her mouth if placed. The dragon will then tilt his/her head back when the mouth is full enough, stretching out the neck as the firestone is chewed, then a swallow and they will allow gravity to do the work of getting the firestone actually down to the second stomach.

Flaming: Control is necessary, and the dragonets must be taught the difference between a gout of flame and a short, quick burst – and which is better in which situation. While a gout of flame can be good if there’s a thickly spread curtain-like formation of Thread coming by, it’s a bit of overkill for a smaller clump of Thread, and wastes firestone supplies and forces the dragon to come back from fighting Thread earlier than necessary for a firestone refill. Also, be sure to caution the dragonets against turning their heads too much when flaming, and being aware of themselves and the dragons around them – it isn’t unheard of for a dragon to singe their own wingtip, or even the dragon beside them.

Dragons may have trouble producing a flame at first, and it may take several sevendays of practice before a dragon can produce a long, sustained flame. Others, of course, may pick it up right off. Weyrling pairs will practice firestone chewing and producing various types of flames until it is second-nature.

Regurgitating: Dragons must regurgitate the ash and other remnants of the firestone after flaming – this regurgitation will be a gloopy, slimey, rather disgusting pile that smells like the burnt embers after a bonfire. If they do not regurgitate, constipation is likely. Dragonets must not only learn to regurgitate, but must also learn where around the weyr it is appropriate to do so. When fighting Thread, most dragons will regurgitate the remains while in between.

Finally, after this lesson, the weyrlings and dragonets would do well to take a swim – for, more than likely, they will absolutely reek of ash, firestone, and other unpleasant smells, rather like clogged chimneys.