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“Dragons make homes in flower-covered valleys,” Sylus had once said.
You smiled at the memory, as you stood beneath an old tree. The warm breeze tugged at your loose hair, making you hold onto your sunhat as you looked out across the sea of wildflowers stretching to the horizon.
The soft pitter-patter of little feet drew your gaze to two small, white-haired girls racing across the field, giggling in their matching black dresses.
“Momma, look!” your eldest called, pausing to perform a cartwheel with all the flair of a performer. You adjusted the baby in your arms, nestling her closer as you gently guided her tiny hands to clap along with yours.
Your eldest beamed at your praise, clearly proud of her acrobatics. No doubt the twins had a hand in teaching her—she was always tumbling and climbing, never still for long.
The peace of this valley felt unreal sometimes—something borrowed from a dream. Back in your hunter days, it would have been impossible to imagine such peaceful days
You settled down beneath the shade of the tree, the baby curled warm against your chest, her small hands tugging at your hair. You hummed as you weaved wildflowers into a crown, remembering how you had once crowded the Onychinus leader with spring blossoms.
The old mechanical crow trailed faithfully behind the girls, clicking and whirring as it tried to keep pace. He let out a series of indignant squeaks when they reached for him, giggling as they tucked petals into his feathers despite his flustered protests. You chuckled, resting your cheek against your baby's soft curls.
Then you felt it—before you saw it—his aura brushing over you like a warm tide. The scent of fire and smoke, always so uniquely him, drifted to you in the breeze. You turned toward the open fields and for the briefest moment—just at the edge of where flowered meadow met sky—you thought you saw them.
Wings.
Large, dark, and leathery, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared, like a memory fading in sunlight.
“Papa!” the girls cried in unison, abandoning their petal games and racing toward him with squeals of delight.
With practiced ease, Sylus scooped them both into his arms and lifted them onto his shoulders, their laughter ringing through the valley like bells.
And there it was—that smile. The one that never lost its power over you, no matter how many years had passed. The one that said home.
He came to you walking with that effortless elegance, the one that always made your heart flutter no matter how many years passed. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone, the sleeves casually rolled up, his presence magnetic beneath the golden light.
Without a word, he settled the girls on the floor, he leaned down to take the baby from your arms. Your fingers brushed against his chest as you reached for a kiss. It was short, soft—but your lips lingered near his, your smile blooming as your eyes fluttered shut.
“We missed you,” you whispered, your voice barely louder than the breeze. The baby cooed in agreement, one tiny hand reaching for his jaw as if to claim her papa back.
Sylus chuckled, nuzzling into her curls before speaking, “Kieran and Luke have the area under control, there's no need for me to go back for a while"
You felt his breath warm against your skin as he tilted his head to your neck, his lips brushing just beneath your ear. And then—nibble.
You laughed softly, knowing that mischievous bite. “You never change,” you murmured.
“Wouldn’t dare,” he replied, his voice low, velvet smooth.
The baby yawned dramatically between the two of you, and he gently rocked her in his arms.
Mephisto fluttered down to Sylus’s shoulder, squawking contentedly as he nestled into place. The girls scampered over to your side, giggling as they opened a basket full of fruit. Soon, the peaceful air was filled with the never-ending chatter of daughters eager to tell their father everything he'd missed—every flower they picked, every game they invented, every silly little secret.
This dragon’s home in a valley of flowers was full of laughter, of love, of a future you had once only dared to dream about.
You leaned back, fingers brushing the soft grass, your eyes drifting from the lively chaos around you to the man who had always been your safe place.
Sylus caught your gaze, and though no words were exchanged, the love between you was overwhelming—quiet, deep, and ever-present.
You smiled with contentment, your heart full, certain of one thing—both of you had defied fate itself to carve out this life. A life of your choosing. A life full of light.
And as the sun dipped low, casting gold and rose across the sky, you looked at your family with grateful eyes—because this, right here, was everything.