"And I..." She thought about it, harder than she probably needed to before she smiled gently. "I do find you all amazing, and in some instances, I believe that may be love." She twisted a few loose strands of her braid, thinking about everything they had been through. "Some humans can be so cruel, but the same as their ability to be cruel was the same as their ability to love. And that, I think, is what could be said of most."
She turned her head, looking back to him from the imaginary dragon in the sky, watching him gently as she assessed him-- after all, he was one of the humans that she addressed.
"I have learned a lot, especially from you Gareth." A kind smile as she lightly squeezed his hand. "And I am thankful for every moment of it, good and bad."
Gareth nodded slowly. It was the answer he'd hoped for, and yet he found it didn't quite satisfy him. Why was that? He puzzled over it for a moment, then pushed it aside for later examination. She was still talking, after all, and he was interested in listening. "I think you're right," he sighed. "People have the capacity to be endlessly kind, or cruel, and some end up one way while others end up the other."
He met her eyes as she turned back, captivated by her cool yellow gaze. And he felt warmth from deep in his chest spread as she smiled at him. "So have I," he answered easily. "You've taught me more than just about dragons... you've shared a great deal with me about all sorts of things I never got the chance to figure out on my own. And it's been a pleasure to learn with you."
He looked deep into her eyes, forgetting almost everything but her. She was beautiful, almost unscathed from her tussle with the priest of the sun god--and still there was that naivete in her that he found so endearing. "I--" he might have been about to say, but just then he noticed her parents had started eavesdropping on their little conversation. Zagan was frowning and Eira... her expression was unreadable to him at least.
Winter took his silence at face value-- sometimes, she found, as wise as he could be... or as worldly as he was, Gareth just seemed to lack the words when they talked like this. But it didn't bother her, in fact, she took it to simply be how he was. Another part of him, charming as the rest. She smiled as she leaned in, hand slipping from his and easing up his arm before she tugged him into a hug. Perhaps unaware of their spectators, or perhaps she did not care. She held him tight, the squeeze brief before she pulled back, leaving the faint scent of wildflowers behind.
"I do look forward to learning so much more, together." She admitted openly, allowing her hand to slide back to his. Savoring the contact that she had longed for since she left home. Warm and close to her heart. Of course, it didn't last long, a clearing of the throat behind her was all too obviously her Fathers. Turning her head she huffed a little at his scowl; but fortunately, they didn't say much, even if it was hard to miss his lingering glance at their hands.
That said, it seemed her Mother's smile was a match to her own-- bright and full of life, and enough to make Winter smile. Eira was always better at moving on from awkward situations than any other in the family; her Father and eldest brother especially. "I was thinking of showing Gareth the younglings, since we have much time and he's always seemed quite interested in our kind." And the words were in earnest, even if they'd be awkward to anyone else.
Gareth froze for a moment as Winter pulled him into a hug, although it felt as good as it always did to be embraced by her. But if she wasn't worried about her parents, he supposed he shouldn't be either. He relaxed into the hug and wrapped his arms around her tight, feeling how good it was to just have a moment of intimacy between them. Although the kiss they'd shared did play in his mind once or twice.
He smiled openly at her offer, and he took it like it was water and he was drowning: "of course," he said emphatically. "There's so much more I'd like to learn with you. And I can't think of anyone I'd prefer to teach me." But Zagan cleared his throat and Gareth glanced up like he'd been caught making some kind of embarrassing confession--which, of course, he had.
"That's right," Gareth supplied to them. At least Eira was smiling, although he imagined the expression could mean just about anything. "I'm fascinated by Dragons, always have been. I'd love to hear anything and everything if you two have time."
The parents took to the statement as expected, one suspicious, the other kind. Though neither seemed inclined to stop them, as of right now. Instead, there was careful chiding about waking them if they weren't already awake-- and perhaps a reminder to be gentle; though it seemed that was more Zagan's warning for Gareth's sake than either of them worried about Winter hassling the young.
"Of course, of course." And in the moment it'd become apparent that it wasn't just for Gareth. There was a twinkle of excitement in seeing the young for Winter; her fondness for them not so expertly hidden. Not that any present would be terribly surprised about that. She had taken keenly to Zelly, the others, even the Vampire Children before they had turned on them-- it was in her nature. It's what made her a lovely Big Sister; if it was only to one of their brood. She still did her best, and the young were, by all of her accounts, adorable anyway.
Besides she was sure the longer they lingered the more unusual questions her father would press upon Gareth. She may have been naive as to why, but she was very familiar with his desire to interrogate humans for the safety of the brood.
Gripping him more firmly, she informed the pair they would be back to talk soon enough-- perhaps offering Gareth some time to adjust-- as she headed toward the great doors and away from the warm, sunning rock, her brother had been settled upon proudly.
"I'd never," Gareth assured her parents emphatically. Waking the little Dragon children seemed like a crime of the highest order to him--especially when they were being so kind to them already. And Zagan hadn't even tossed him off a cliff yet. Speaking of whom, he looked like he was gearing up to grill Gareth on any of a hundred things... but before he could, Winter tugged him away.
The two of them walked in a direction Gareth hadn't explored yet, instantly filling him with excitement... although soon it became evident why. They walked towards giant doors, about twice as tall as Winter at least, easily dwarfing both of them. "Is this..." he asked, not needing to finish the sentence: "the clutch." His eyes were wide and already bright at the expectation of meeting a real, baby dragon! Another milestone he never would have imagined.
"It is, sort of." She seemed to be thinking it over. She allowed her fingers to grasp at the door, the ice was thick and heavy; but witht he cold ground it slid against it easily. Pulled open and letting him see the tall shining walls of the inner castle. A temple fitting an elder like her mother; though she seemed unconcerned with it. "The younglings are kept below ground, odd as it might seem." She realized now, having seen human children, that keeping them underground seemed cruel; but she was sure when she shwoed him he would understand.
Leading him along she made for a set of stairs; carved of the earth and stone with many lights scattered along the way. "We don't really have locks like you humans do." She admitted. She allowed herself a moments pause as they found a curtain, something she pushed to the side slowly and what they found is not what one would imagine an underground clutch to be.
The area was huge, taking up much of the mountain, with large windows carved in-- the clear difference was the warmth. Something much more nurturing for the small ones; filled with dozens of what were probably mothers and more than that; dozens of nests. Warm, colorful fabrics and large branches wound together, filled with crystals of ice, pulsing with an odd magic and eggs tucked carefully away. Though not all of them were eggs; many little dragons curled up in the colored fabric; some looking like Winter might have, more human, others looking pure dragon. All of them more tinted purplish and lilac than blue.
"Ah..." She walked in, clearly excited as she snuck to the nearest nest, peering down at a sleeping wyrmling, watching it gently nibble on it's own tail in its bundle of furs and fabrics.
Gareth watched in wonder as she opened up the large, heavy doors. He wasn't sure what mechanism they worked on or if they were magic themselves, but relatively little exertion on Winter's part pulled them open effortlessly. "Not that odd," he replied to her as Gareth followed Winter inside. She seemed even more like a Dragon here, in some ways, than she had when she'd carried them on her back to and from her homeland. She was alien, strange and new. Fascinating. And it helped that the crystalline lights threw a beautiful light on her figure.
It grew warmer, not colder as they went deeper into the earth. And all at once they were in what must have been the main room, and he heard it as well as felt it: a warmth hung in the chamber, and a steady stream of small noises. Tiny wyrmlings cooed and yawned, while their parents breathed rhythmically. Winter went straight to a nearby sleeping baby, but there was too much for Gareth to take in at once.
He stood there, awed by the majesty of the chamber. His hand reached up, trembling, then falling. "It's..." he breathed, taking in the many crystal-like eggs and the vague shapes that floated within them, taking in the mother Dragons sleeping peacefully, taking in the carefully sculpted walls and the well-tended nests, taking in the winding white tree that grew from the base of the mountain. "...beautiful," he finished. And there were tears in his eyes.
Gareth's reaction was a surprise to her, but not an unpleasant one. Seeing something so pure, a reaction so honest, it took her breath from her-- not for the first time. A soft, fluttering breath escaping as she allowed a smile to bloom on her face. Something warm, soft and gentle. Approaching him, her touch is gentle as she lightly brushes against his shoulder, and then up, almost cupping his face before she thinks better of it and pulls back; nodding. "It's one of my favorite places, honestly."
She looked down, sheepish, before tucking some hair behind her ear. "I hoped you'd like it." She turned her gaze onto the nearby nest of already hatched wyrmlings. The little things all coiled around each other; tucked contentedly into a little messy pile with tiny, tired breaths puffing out. The occasional teeny yawn escaping here or there. One or two shifting to get better nestled amongst it's kin, the warmth shared between the little ones.
He was so absorbed in the scene, so drawn in by the mystical sights before his eyes that Winter's touch came as a complete surprise to him. He jumped a few inches and turned to her, willing his heart to slow down enough for him to breathe again. It must have been the surprise that made his heart race: it couldn't have been just how close Winter had come, just how far her hands had reached towards him. But whatever she'd intended to do with them was forgotten and he faced her with a soft smile.
"I do," he answered her, and excitement was evident in every part of him, from the set of his shoulders to the light in his eyes. "I'm surprised you'd ever venture outside, when it's like... this," he gestured at the room. At the sleeping babies, at the protective mothers, at the crystalline spires.
"Was it here you were born?" he asked quietly, not wanting to disturb any of the sleeping youngsters.
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no subject
She turned her head, looking back to him from the imaginary dragon in the sky, watching him gently as she assessed him-- after all, he was one of the humans that she addressed.
"I have learned a lot, especially from you Gareth." A kind smile as she lightly squeezed his hand. "And I am thankful for every moment of it, good and bad."
no subject
He met her eyes as she turned back, captivated by her cool yellow gaze. And he felt warmth from deep in his chest spread as she smiled at him. "So have I," he answered easily. "You've taught me more than just about dragons... you've shared a great deal with me about all sorts of things I never got the chance to figure out on my own. And it's been a pleasure to learn with you."
He looked deep into her eyes, forgetting almost everything but her. She was beautiful, almost unscathed from her tussle with the priest of the sun god--and still there was that naivete in her that he found so endearing. "I--" he might have been about to say, but just then he noticed her parents had started eavesdropping on their little conversation. Zagan was frowning and Eira... her expression was unreadable to him at least.
no subject
"I do look forward to learning so much more, together." She admitted openly, allowing her hand to slide back to his. Savoring the contact that she had longed for since she left home. Warm and close to her heart. Of course, it didn't last long, a clearing of the throat behind her was all too obviously her Fathers. Turning her head she huffed a little at his scowl; but fortunately, they didn't say much, even if it was hard to miss his lingering glance at their hands.
That said, it seemed her Mother's smile was a match to her own-- bright and full of life, and enough to make Winter smile. Eira was always better at moving on from awkward situations than any other in the family; her Father and eldest brother especially. "I was thinking of showing Gareth the younglings, since we have much time and he's always seemed quite interested in our kind." And the words were in earnest, even if they'd be awkward to anyone else.
no subject
He smiled openly at her offer, and he took it like it was water and he was drowning: "of course," he said emphatically. "There's so much more I'd like to learn with you. And I can't think of anyone I'd prefer to teach me." But Zagan cleared his throat and Gareth glanced up like he'd been caught making some kind of embarrassing confession--which, of course, he had.
"That's right," Gareth supplied to them. At least Eira was smiling, although he imagined the expression could mean just about anything. "I'm fascinated by Dragons, always have been. I'd love to hear anything and everything if you two have time."
no subject
"Of course, of course." And in the moment it'd become apparent that it wasn't just for Gareth. There was a twinkle of excitement in seeing the young for Winter; her fondness for them not so expertly hidden. Not that any present would be terribly surprised about that. She had taken keenly to Zelly, the others, even the Vampire Children before they had turned on them-- it was in her nature. It's what made her a lovely Big Sister; if it was only to one of their brood. She still did her best, and the young were, by all of her accounts, adorable anyway.
Besides she was sure the longer they lingered the more unusual questions her father would press upon Gareth. She may have been naive as to why, but she was very familiar with his desire to interrogate humans for the safety of the brood.
Gripping him more firmly, she informed the pair they would be back to talk soon enough-- perhaps offering Gareth some time to adjust-- as she headed toward the great doors and away from the warm, sunning rock, her brother had been settled upon proudly.
no subject
The two of them walked in a direction Gareth hadn't explored yet, instantly filling him with excitement... although soon it became evident why. They walked towards giant doors, about twice as tall as Winter at least, easily dwarfing both of them. "Is this..." he asked, not needing to finish the sentence: "the clutch." His eyes were wide and already bright at the expectation of meeting a real, baby dragon! Another milestone he never would have imagined.
"...How do we get in?"
no subject
Leading him along she made for a set of stairs; carved of the earth and stone with many lights scattered along the way. "We don't really have locks like you humans do." She admitted. She allowed herself a moments pause as they found a curtain, something she pushed to the side slowly and what they found is not what one would imagine an underground clutch to be.
The area was huge, taking up much of the mountain, with large windows carved in-- the clear difference was the warmth. Something much more nurturing for the small ones; filled with dozens of what were probably mothers and more than that; dozens of nests. Warm, colorful fabrics and large branches wound together, filled with crystals of ice, pulsing with an odd magic and eggs tucked carefully away. Though not all of them were eggs; many little dragons curled up in the colored fabric; some looking like Winter might have, more human, others looking pure dragon. All of them more tinted purplish and lilac than blue.
"Ah..." She walked in, clearly excited as she snuck to the nearest nest, peering down at a sleeping wyrmling, watching it gently nibble on it's own tail in its bundle of furs and fabrics.
no subject
And it helped that the crystalline lights threw a beautiful light on her figure.
It grew warmer, not colder as they went deeper into the earth. And all at once they were in what must have been the main room, and he heard it as well as felt it: a warmth hung in the chamber, and a steady stream of small noises. Tiny wyrmlings cooed and yawned, while their parents breathed rhythmically. Winter went straight to a nearby sleeping baby, but there was too much for Gareth to take in at once.
He stood there, awed by the majesty of the chamber. His hand reached up, trembling, then falling. "It's..." he breathed, taking in the many crystal-like eggs and the vague shapes that floated within them, taking in the mother Dragons sleeping peacefully, taking in the carefully sculpted walls and the well-tended nests, taking in the winding white tree that grew from the base of the mountain.
"...beautiful," he finished. And there were tears in his eyes.
no subject
She looked down, sheepish, before tucking some hair behind her ear. "I hoped you'd like it." She turned her gaze onto the nearby nest of already hatched wyrmlings. The little things all coiled around each other; tucked contentedly into a little messy pile with tiny, tired breaths puffing out. The occasional teeny yawn escaping here or there. One or two shifting to get better nestled amongst it's kin, the warmth shared between the little ones.
"It always felt most at home."
no subject
"I do," he answered her, and excitement was evident in every part of him, from the set of his shoulders to the light in his eyes. "I'm surprised you'd ever venture outside, when it's like... this," he gestured at the room. At the sleeping babies, at the protective mothers, at the crystalline spires.
"Was it here you were born?" he asked quietly, not wanting to disturb any of the sleeping youngsters.