Crown of Dahlias

Rescue

It was early in the morning. So early the moon was just starting to dip in the star spattered sky. Kieren drowsily woke up, tilting his head up to find Val sleeping quietly next to him. Soft breaths leaving his parted lips. The moonlight beautiful against his skin and hair. Rubbing at his eyes Kieren slowly got off the bed, wondering what had woken him.

It felt like someone was on the other side of the bedroom door. Curious but sleepy, Kieren opened the door. Nearly jerking back and fully awake now, Launie was just lifting his hand to knock. The two stood there for a moment, facing each other. Tilting his head a bit more, he could see the makings of dark circles under Launie's eyes. He was in a pale gold nightgown with cute peach colored slippers with pom poms on them.

"I... did I wake you?" Launie's voice was very soft. Kieren shook his head no, Launie placing his hands to wring against his chest. Kieren could feel his own nervousness grow at Launie's, but he genuinely liked Launie and Haelan. They felt like his brothers, like Ezra. Kieren felt his heart squeeze, lip trembling as he launched himself at Launie, hugging him. Launie crooned softly, arms tight around Kieren in turn.

"I'm sorry I upset you! I didn't mean to," Launie blubbered, Kieren sniffling and nodding against the soft silk covered shoulder, having to hunch a little since he was an inch or so taller than Launie.

"Why don't you come inside?"

Both whipped their heads over, Val having come over, ushering the two into the room. Launie hopped onto the bed, Val lifting Kieren bridal style for a moment. With several warm kisses, Val placed him onto the bed.

"I'll be working. You two talk," Val said gently, pinching Launie's cheek who scowled, slapping Val's hand away. Kieren shyly curled next to Launie, the Drakain scooching closer too.

"Oh, I think you two can have room for one more," Val suddenly said, almost sitting down behind his desk when he stood again. Heading towards the door he opened it, no one having to wait more than thirty seconds when Haelan came shuffling in. He was in pink silk shorts and night shirt with matching slippers.

"Come along little Drakain," Val tutted, Haelan pouting at him as he kicked off his slippers and pounced onto the large mattress on Kieren's other side.

The three didn't say anything for a long while, Kieren feeling the bond between them humming. Like creating a muscle memory. It was soothing, having the two Drakain next to him. They made him feel like everything would be okay.

"The skin underneath feels funny," Haelan commented, the Drakain having been doodling against Kieren's shiny skin at his wrist.

"Sometimes there's a pull underneath that makes me want to itch it, but then it goes away," Kieren said quietly. He was feeling very lethargic, the soft scratching sound of pen against paper from his Drake.

"Might start flaking soon."

Launie started to giggle, the two Drakain looking at him.

"Sorry, I just recalled how I met Xan," Launie smiled, Haelan and Kieren giving him their undivided attention; Haelan's smile already soft.

"I was traveling from the northwest, never having explored past my territory before. Dragons were still recovering from the war even years later. There was just an itch in my skin to explore outside my territory. I learned many funny human things and very bad human things. I nary came across a dragon in my travels, many of the territory lines were not agreed upon yet. However, when I came to the City of Yew, which has grown a lot over the past few decades, that's when I saw Xan. He was ordering guards for a patrol. He looked so regal, so dashing. I felt in my heart that he was my other half," Launie pressing his hand over his heart, "I had found these beautiful golden flowers that are only found in a certain part of the mountainside. They only bloom at night, but they reminded me of Xan. At the time, the citadel was just being built so there were a lot of empty or unfinished buildings. Xan was in a study in the palace every night, and every night I snuck in and left him a flower. Sometimes I left him little poems but mostly the flowers. I was too shy to talk to him. Drakes back home had fought each other for my affections, since I was one of the last Drakain, some trying to force me to be there's. None of them felt right in my heart. I wanted Xan to just like me. One night I was plucking the prettiest amongst the flowers when I just felt him."