Rian walked through the forest, his steps slow and deliberate. The baby Dragonoid was cradled gently in his arms now, her small body warm and delicate against his chest. She slept soundly, unaware of the weight Rian carried—not just in his arms, but in his heart. He wiped at his face, the remnants of tears he hadn't realized he was still shedding clinging to his skin. The memories of the Dragonoid father's final moments played over and over in his mind, the raw sorrow in his voice, the way he had reached out for his wife one last time.
Rian tightened his hold on the baby, brushing his thumb gently across her tiny, scaly forehead. He couldn't let himself break down now. This child needed him, and he had made a promise. Still, the quiet of the night around him only deepened his grief, and he found himself swiping at his eyes more than once as he made his way through the dark forest back to the cottage.
By the time he reached the house, the early morning light was starting to creep over the horizon, casting a pale glow across the clearing. The baby stirred slightly in his arms but didn't wake, her soft breathing steady. Rian paused at the front door, his hand hovering over the handle, trying to steel himself. He knew he would have to explain everything to Elara and Eli, and the weight of it pressed heavily on his chest. He took a deep breath and reached for the door.
But before he could open it, the door suddenly swung open, and Elara stood there, her face a mixture of frustration and worry. "Rian!" she started, her voice sharp with anger. "Where have you been? You've been gone all night, and we—"
She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as they fell on the small figure in Rian's arms. Her gaze shifted quickly, taking in the tiny Dragonoid, her delicate features, her small wings folded against her back. Then Elara's eyes traveled to Rian's face, and she froze. The tear streaks on his cheeks, the redness around his eyes—everything about his appearance told her that something had happened, something far more significant than just another fight in the forest.
"Rian… what happened?" Elara's voice softened, the anger slipping away as concern took over. She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Rian opened his mouth to speak, but for a moment, the words caught in his throat. He glanced down at the baby, then back to Elara, his chest tight. "I…" He swallowed hard, trying to push past the lump of emotion that still lingered. "I found… a Dragonoid family in the dungeon. The father... he—he gave her to me. They're both gone, Elara. He asked me to take care of her."
Elara's expression shifted, the concern deepening as she looked at the small creature again, then back to Rian. She could see the weight of what had happened written clearly in his eyes, the raw pain still fresh. Slowly, she reached out, placing a hand gently on his arm.
"And you…" She hesitated, noticing the way his hand trembled slightly as he held the baby. "You tried to save him, didn't you?"
Rian nodded, wiping at his face once more, his voice barely above a whisper. "I did. But it wasn't enough." He took a shaky breath, his shoulders sagging under the burden of it all. "He just… wanted to protect his daughter. And now… she's all that's left of them."
Elara's eyes softened, and without another word, she pulled Rian into a tight embrace, careful not to disturb the baby. She held him there for a moment, letting him lean into her, his exhaustion and grief evident in the way he sank into her arms. Rian closed his eyes, grateful for the comfort, even as the sadness lingered like a shadow over them both.
After a long moment, Elara pulled back, her gaze lingering on the small Dragonoid again. "Come inside," she said quietly. "We'll figure this out together."
As soon as Rian stepped inside the cottage, the soft sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Eli burst into the room, his face pale with guilt and worry. He skidded to a stop in front of Rian, his eyes wide as they took in the baby Dragonoid cradled in his mentor's arms, and the tear streaks still visible on Rian's face.
"Rian… I'm so sorry," Eli blurted, his voice trembling. He looked up at Rian, his guilt evident in his tear-filled eyes. "I didn't mean what I said before. I didn't understand… I was scared, and I—I didn't know what to say. Please, I didn't mean it!"
Rian looked down at Eli, his heart aching for the boy, but there was no anger in him now—only an understanding of the confusion and fear Eli had felt. He gave a small, weary nod, placing a reassuring hand on Eli's shoulder.
"It's okay, Eli," Rian said softly, his voice gentle despite his own exhaustion. "I know you didn't mean it."
Eli swallowed hard, his gaze shifting to the baby Dragonoid in Rian's arms. His expression softened as he stepped closer, his curiosity and concern mingling. "She can stay in my room," Eli said quickly, his voice almost pleading. "I'll take care of her, I promise."
Rian's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles at the boy's eagerness. "Thank you, Eli," he replied, his voice filled with gratitude. "She's going to need all of us."
With careful hands, Rian bent down and gently laid the baby on Eli's bed. The little Dragonoid stirred slightly, her tiny wings fluttering as she nestled into the soft blankets. Rian adjusted the blanket around her, making sure she was comfortable, before turning back to Eli.
"Look after her," Rian said softly, meeting Eli's eyes. "She's all that's left of her family. She needs us now more than ever."
Eli nodded vigorously, his small hands already moving to adjust the blanket around the baby. "I'll keep her safe, Rian. I promise."
Satisfied, Rian gave Eli a final nod before standing and making his way toward the hallway. His legs felt heavy, and the weight of the day's events pressed down on him like a crushing burden. He walked slowly toward Elara's bedroom, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed to see her—needed her to be his anchor in this storm of emotions.
When Rian reached the door, he found Elara sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting in her lap, her expression distant as she processed everything that had happened. She looked up as he entered, her eyes softening with concern.
Rian didn't say a word as he crossed the room. He just walked up to her and, without hesitation, pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her with a desperation he hadn't felt in years, holding her close as if she were the only thing keeping him grounded.
Elara's breath hitched in surprise, but she quickly returned the embrace, her hands gently stroking his back in comfort. "Rian?" she whispered, her voice filled with concern.
But Rian didn't respond. His body shook, and the dam he had been holding for so long—years of pain, of loss, of being the strong one—finally broke. He buried his face in her shoulder, his breath ragged, and the tears came. Silent at first, then stronger, until he was sobbing into her arms, unable to stop the flood of emotions he had kept locked away for so long.
Elara held him tightly, saying nothing as his tears soaked into her shirt. She simply held him, her heart breaking for the man who had always carried the world on his shoulders, now finally letting himself crumble in her arms.
Elara tightened her hold around Rian as his sobs grew more intense, his body shaking violently in her arms. She had never seen him like this—so raw, so vulnerable—and it broke her heart to see the man who was always so strong completely unravel. She gently stroked his back, whispering soothing words as he cried, her own emotions welling up as she tried to comfort him.
Then Rian's sobs turned into gasps. His breathing became erratic, and his body tensed as if he were fighting for air. He gripped onto her even tighter, his words broken and desperate. "Why… why is the world so cruel?" he choked out, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and despair. "Why does it have to be like this?"
Elara's heart ached for him, but she knew she had to stay calm for both of them. She broke the hug gently, cupping his face in her hands. "Rian, breathe," she said softly but firmly, her eyes locked onto his. "You need to breathe."
Rian's eyes were wide, frantic, but he tried to follow her words, his chest heaving as he struggled to steady his breath. Elara repeated the instruction, her voice soothing. "Breathe, Rian. Just breathe."
After a few moments, his breathing began to slow, though the tears still flowed down his cheeks, relentless and full of years of bottled-up pain. He was still crying, his body shaking with the weight of it all, but he wasn't gasping anymore.
Elara reached up, gently wiping the tears from his face, even though they kept coming. Her touch was tender, wiping away each tear with delicate care, as if hoping that somehow, she could take away his pain with each pass of her hand.
And then, without thinking, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a soft, passionate kiss. Rian froze for a moment, surprised, his mind too overwhelmed to process what was happening. But slowly, he found himself responding, his lips moving against hers, the taste of salt from his tears mingling between them.
When Elara finally pulled away, her breath was shaky, her forehead resting gently against his. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice full of concern as she looked into his eyes.
Rian didn't respond right away. Instead, he leaned forward and hugged her tightly, his face burying into the curve of her neck as another wave of emotion washed over him. "No," he whispered, his voice broken and muffled against her skin. "I'm not okay…"
Elara's eyes softened with understanding, and she wrapped her arms around him again, her fingers gently rubbing circles on his back. "It's okay, Rian," she whispered, her voice steady and comforting. "You don't have to be okay. Not right now."
They stayed like that for what felt like hours—Rian holding onto her as if she were the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely, and Elara, her heart full of quiet strength, holding him close, letting him release all the grief and anguish he had held inside for so long.
A few hours later, Rian slowly stirred awake, his body feeling heavy and drained from the hours of crying. His eyes, still puffy and red, blinked open, adjusting to the dim light in Elara's room. For a moment, he felt a calmness, an unusual peace settling over him—something he hadn't felt in a long time.
He became aware of Elara's soft, steady breathing beneath him, and as his mind cleared, he realized where he was. He had fallen asleep while holding her, his head resting gently against her chest, cradled between her breasts like the softest pillows. The warmth of her skin, the steady rise and fall of her breath, provided him with a sense of comfort he hadn't expected.
Rian felt her hand resting lightly on his back, her fingers still lazily tracing soft circles there even in her sleep. Her touch was gentle, protective, and calming, as though she had been guarding him while he slept, ensuring that his rest was peaceful after the storm of emotions he had gone through.
For a moment, Rian didn't move. He didn't want to. He let himself sink into the comfort of her body, her warmth wrapping around him like a protective shield from the world outside. The vulnerability he had shown earlier felt distant now, like a weight had been lifted from his soul, but he knew it was because of Elara. She had held him through it all, and even now, she was there, offering him the quiet support he desperately needed.
Elara stirred beneath him, her breathing changing slightly as she woke. She shifted, her hand moving slowly up his back, and Rian tilted his head to look up at her. Her eyes fluttered open, her expression soft as she gazed down at him, her lips curling into a gentle smile.
"Hey," she whispered, her voice quiet and filled with warmth.
Rian's voice was hoarse when he spoke, the emotions from earlier still lingering in his chest. "Hey," he whispered back, his face still nestled comfortably against her.
They stayed like that for a few moments longer, neither of them needing to say anything. The quiet was enough—an unspoken understanding between them, a sense of connection deeper than words.
Elara's hand continued to stroke his back, her touch soothing. "You feeling any better?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.
Rian nodded slightly, still not wanting to move. "Yeah," he whispered. "A little." He closed his eyes again, letting himself relax in the comfort of her presence. "Thank you... for everything."
Elara smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head. "Always."
After a few more minutes of quiet comfort, Rian finally stirred, his body feeling a little lighter, though still exhausted from everything he had been through. With a reluctant sigh, he gently lifted his head from Elara's chest and looked up at her. She smiled softly, her fingers still tracing soothing circles on his back.
"We should check on her," Rian murmured, his voice still quiet but steadier than before.
Elara nodded, her gaze filled with warmth and understanding. "Yeah, let's go see how she's doing."
Rian slowly pulled himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment to steady himself before offering Elara a hand to help her up. She took it, and the two stood side by side, sharing a quiet glance before heading toward Eli's room, where the baby Dragonoid had been left to rest.
As they approached the door, Rian felt a mixture of nervousness and responsibility settle in his chest. This child was now in their care, and the weight of that promise tugged at him. He had never been in a situation like this before, but somehow, having Elara by his side made it feel manageable.
When they reached the door, they opened it quietly, stepping inside to find Eli sitting beside the bed where the baby Dragonoid lay nestled in blankets. Eli's face lit up the moment he saw them, his expression soft as he glanced down at the sleeping infant.
"She's been quiet," Eli whispered, careful not to wake the baby. "I think she's comfortable."
Rian and Elara moved closer to the bed, standing over the small Dragonoid as she slept peacefully, her tiny wings tucked against her back, her breathing steady and soft. Rian couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he looked at her, remembering the plea from her father, the responsibility he had taken on.
"She's beautiful," Elara whispered, her hand resting on Rian's arm as they both watched the baby. "So small… so innocent."
Rian nodded, his heart aching with both sadness and hope. "She's the last of her kind," he murmured, his voice heavy with the weight of that truth. "We have to make sure she's safe… that she has a future."
Eli looked up at them, his face serious but filled with determination. "I'll help," he said quietly. "I promised I'd take care of her too."
Rian gave Eli a small, grateful smile, feeling a warmth spread through him as they stood together, united in this new purpose. The baby Dragonoid, though unaware of it, had brought them all closer—giving them something precious to protect.
They stood in silence for a few moments, watching over the small creature that had already changed their lives. The future felt uncertain, but in that moment, with Elara and Eli beside him, Rian knew they would face whatever came next together.