Moon Rise

Warm Embrace

"Human!! It's time to go; it's getting late and we can't stay here anymore."

The child's voice was cheerful, but not any less concerned.

Nimble fingers patted his lap, motioning for the not-so-young dragon anymore to sit down.

Sitting so weakly on the rocking chair. His hair cascaded down his frame like a waterfall, blocking his features from view. However, it couldn't hide the unnaturally pale skin or the trembling of his body that increased with every breeze, Raon thought.

His human is weak. And he keeps getting weaker, and what scared Raon the most is that none of them can prevent it. His rapid decline in health couldn't be stopped. And to make matters worse, nobody is aware of what caused him be in such a bad condition.

Lounging on a rocking chair in a fairly plain but vast green area watching the sunset. Enjoying the small but meaningful moments like these, is what his human likes to do ever since he achieved peace.

"Come here Raon. Why can't we stay a little longer? It's not like there is anyone left for us to defeat. Let us enjoy the moment for now. The view is absolutely lovely from here."

His human whispered that, as if afraid to disturb the birds as they sang their final farewells before nesting with their families, like raising his voice will break the peaceful atmosphere that settled in the air. Before shifting his attention back to Raon once again, he cast a longing glance towards the horizon.

He smiled. And oh, his smile was so serene, so happy, so carefree. He appeared as though he belonged just right here, at this place, at this time, at this moment. Nothing else mattered other than now. Not the future. Not the past. Just now.

Raon hesitated, he despises refusing any of his human's wishes, especially considering he rarely asks for anything. But his growing concern made him doubt. It's Spring, not that chilly, despite that his human is shaking and quivering like a drenched cat and yet insists to stay. All for the sake of enjoying the present moment.

Raon is conflicted. He is unsure of what to do. He is a great and mighty dragon, such a minor issue shouldn't make him struggle. But he can't choose between the two, his human's health, or his human's happiness, considering both are as important to him. And this situation makes him want to cry in his human's embrace and do nothing else.

As if sensing his distress, Cale gazes Raon, peeling his eyes from admiring the view of the sun hiding behind the shadows of earth.

"Just a few minutes till the sun is completely set and then we'll go okay? You can hug me until then so I wouldn't get cold."

Cale extended his arms, and the dragon who had been saved in the arms of that man six years ago dived back into the weak but firm embrace once again.

Raon was aware that he should think about this carefully. He ought to debate the advantages and disadvantages. Despite warming up his human using magic he was still cold, and his added weight wouldn't do any better, he knew all of that. But at this moment, all he wanted to do is be selfish, to act like the child he is and not worry about any consequences. To briefly stop worrying about his human and simply treasure this precious moment with him.

And like he has always been warm, loving, and accepting. His human hugged him. And Raon wouldn't trade this for anything else.