WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 59

Marko

In the meantime, the storm calmed down somewhat. Marko sat with Finn in front of the entrance to Blossom's cave. The two watched as the wind swirled shimmering sand through the many gorges of the mountains. He could smell all the dragons that lived here. His nose tingled warningly. Dragons meant danger. But here, they were safe.

Finn's light hair shimmered golden in the last light of the sun. As golden as the mountains, and the sky. He was beautiful. Between the cliffs of the Dragon Mountains, he seemed particularly fragile. As if made of gold-decorated glass.

Marko couldn't help it, he had to kiss him. His Finn. The most wonderful wolf of the pack. So he stroked Finn's cheek until Finn turned his head to him and Marko could carefully press his lips to Finn's. There was no rush with Finn. Every movement had to be well-considered so as not to hurt the younger wolf. Marko was not bothered by this. It was a small price to pay for being able to kiss Finn.

Finn sighed contentedly and returned the kiss. Marko let his hands wander under Finn's clothes and stroked his back. Finn whimpered softly and held on to Marko's clothes. But he did not stop him.

The two didn't notice Blossom watching them with a grin.

Julia

Julia liked Pelle.

The dragon was a very lively and headstrong personality. Now, he had just announced that he felt neither like a woman nor like a man. Maybe as a butterfly?

"Butterfly?", asked Alwin, frowning. "That's new."

Josefine rolled her eyes. She sat next to Fiete and leaned against her uncle, who spoke quietly to Peter.

"Yes." Pelle nodded meaningfully. "I am a butterfly among dragons!"

"Butterflies only live for two weeks", Alwin objected. "You're over 300 years old. That's more than two weeks."

Pelle sighed. "Beautiful and short-lived! That's poetic, isn't it?"

"If you think so." Alwin leaned yawning against Pelle. "The important part for me is that you are my butterfly."

"Of course!" Pelle took Alwin in his arms and kissed his cheek. Then, he looked at Julia. "And you, my dear? What are you? Maybe a nice little bird?"

"Uh... I like being human", she replied, amused. "Do you miss Josefine's mom? She was banished... That must have been bad."

Pelle nodded. "I miss her and our dear friend Vicky. She died before Saira. Just like Blossom's partner Armin. Blossom chose her daughter's names as a memento of them."

"Does Hanna have several names?" Hanna had gone a little deeper into the cave to be alone for a bit. She had never met her father. Julia thought of her own father. Was he really dead? She would never see him again...

"However. Hanna has three names. Alwin called her Buttyputty when she was still in her egg. He liked the name. He had no talent when it came to names. Blossom was terribly upset about it. But then Armin and Vicky died. Hanna never met her father. Her full name is Hanna Vicky Buttyputty", Pelle said.

But someone was not happy about it at all. While Julia looked at him in confusion, an angry scream echoed through the cave. "Pelle! You're not supposed to tell anyone my full name! It's embarrassing! ", shouted Hanna angrily. She rushed towards Pelle, who screamed and ran away from her. Alwin watched the chase across the cave unimpressed.

Buttyputty? Julia was very happy that this wasn't her name.

Leopold went to her and hugged her. "Juli?"

"Ja?"

He kissed her cheek. "There are a few... separate... places here in the mountains" He winked at her. He had walked along the cliffs. He refrained from flying due to the strong wind. But there were a few passable paths he could use. Julia didn't want to accompany him. "I found a few smaller caves. What do you think about us retiring to one of the caves later? Just us?"

Julia giggled softly and pushed him away with red cheeks. "Leo! What if I fall down!"

"Hm..." Leopold looked at the corridor from which Hanna had come. "There are also a few more rooms here."

"This is not our cave!" The two had to move to the side, as Pelle stumbled past them. Pursued by Hanna, who demanded that he stop running so that she could punish him.

"I know!" He winked at her with a grin. "That makes it more exciting!"

"Leo!", she protested. "That's not possible. Even if the offer is tempting. It doesn't work. I'll take a look at Marko and Finn, okay?"

"If you want to." Leopold sighed. "I'll find us a nice, shady spot!"

Giggling, Julia kissed him fleetingly, then she left the cave to sit down with Marko and Finn. The two talked quietly and gladly made room for her. She heard Josefine, Peter, and Fiete talking to Blossom and Alwin. And Hanna and Pelle could also be heard loud and clear.

The two wolves looked worried.

"How are you? Is everything alright?", she asked, hugging Finn.

"It is", Marko muttered. "Dragons smell weird, especially so many at once. I thought I had gotten used to the smell of dragons... My nose warns me all the time. This is not easy to ignore. But I enjoy being in a mountain."

"Our home village is high up in the mountains", Finn added. "Sitting here feels a bit like home. Even though I rarely enjoyed the view from the mountains. It's nostalgic..."

"I'm happy about that." Julia stroked Finn's soft hair. "I hope I will see your village one day."

"That would be nice!", Marko agreed, only to jump up in surprise. Pelle and Hanna ran past them. The angry Hanna almost ran Marko over. The two fighters turned into dragons. Rumbling, Hanna followed the screeching Pelle.

"What was that?", Marko asked, puzzled. "We could overhear them arguing, but not about what... That was too quiet."

Julia grinned. "Pelle told me Hanna's full name. She didn't like that."

"What's her full name?", Finn asked curiously.

„Hanna Vicky Buttyputty."

"Buttyputty?" Marko burst out laughing.

Fritz

Paula ran back and forth in the house and startled the staff. She wanted to pack bags and did not let the servants do the work for her. Fritz announced in the morning that he wanted to travel to the capital to settle a matter for the rebellion and to meet with Ingried and Adam. Paula insisted on accompanying him.

In the capital, a secret meeting of some rebels was to take place, to which Fritz and Ingried had been invited. Emmie and Peyo would also accompany him, as the capital was too far away to leave them in the estate.

Emmie was excited about the idea. However, this was not true for Peyo. The boy was afraid to encounter rebels. Could he leave him in the hotel? Alone? Fritz had clearly decided not to use his rooms in the castle, even though Schlossstadt was only a few hours away from the capital. It would be too complicated and he didn't want to see his two older children near Mr. Mühe.

Emmie and Peyo also packed their bags. He could hear Emmie excitedly talking to the shy elf. Paula told Fritz that she caught the two teenagers on the sofa. He was happy for them. After all, they had experienced, the two deserved some romance.

And it was sweet to watch how the two secretly threw amorous glances at each other.

(c: sasi)