The shot of hope

18

Days later

Kim

The sun broke through the trees and swept over the mountains in the distance as we approached the village as held rose to my chest as she had fallen asleep on her horse so I moved her onto mine instead so she wouldn't fall though I didn't blame her seeing as we left before sunrise. She stirred awake when the warm sun hit her face as I blocked it with my wing though she already woke up as she looked around confused on how she'd gotten into my arms as I laughed softly at her reaction as she rested her head back on my chest with a smile.

"We're here.." I smiled as she looked around as we made our way into the village, their was a small market place where people could trade or buy things, the heart of the village had a large fire pit where people usually gathered while houses were around, some in groups or separate.

"Your home!" I heard Alex speak as he walked over as we dismounted, "you must be rose, Jake informed me about you"

"Hello" she smiled as she shook his hand.

"Aunty Kim!" I heard a kid gasp before I was nearly tackled by the avian as the Kiki held onto me as I laughed softly until I was tackled as I landed into grass as the other one beamed at the sight of me.

"Ivy! Piper! Leave Kim alone!" Their mother yelled, Susan, we were related but we were close as she had been adopted by Alex only a week after me.

"Sorry ma!" The two kids called back before running back over to her, just like her kids she had soft brown hair as her wings were the pale colour except had splashed of white, her mate, David, walked over as he kissed her cheek, he had darker tanned skin and full black wings as he was the only other kiosk I knew of, he nodded as me as I did the same before guiding mine and roses horse to my cabin that was separate from other houses as it sat by the river as it was the same spirit river and I was praying that I would be able reform my bond with kian through it.

Rose soon came over as I opened my door, the cabin had a porch that wrapped around the whole place and when you walked in the kitchen was to the left and living room to the right as their were two doors ahead one into my room which was now ours and the bathroom to the left door. Their was deer antlers above my door with plants in the windowsills, the kitchen was a decent size as it overlooked our into the river which glistened under the sun, a bookshelf in the living room that filled with different books with a desk in front of one of the window that had carving and different tools with arrows I'd been crafting.

Heading into my room as their was another desk to the right next to the door as my bed was against the middle wall, a few books on my bedside table as the window overlooked the forested and let in a cool breeze when I opened it. The bedding with a soft dark navy as a bears fur sat in front and I still remember when I'd killed it, the female crouched down and felt the soft fur in wonder.

"It's a grizzly bear" I explained to her.

"It's huge!" She laughed.

"Yeah, was hard to take down" I hummed as I hung my cape onto the hook as she did the same as I set my boots underneath next to hers before laying down as she followed before curling into my side.

"Tired?" I questioned as I draped my wing over us while pulling the blanket to over us but when I looked down she was already passed out, pressing a kiss to the top of her head getting comfortable as I laid us on our side before closing my eyes as I slowly fell asleep.

Time skip

Blinking my eyes open to find the bed empty as I looked around for her as I slid out of bed, pulling on my boots and cape before heading out as I looked around the cabins for her but when I noticed her shoes missing I quickly left. Grabbing my spear incase as I walked out, looking out at the surrounding area before I spotted her by the river as she was knee deep as it gloves, the magic swirling around her in a soft blue and when I grew closer it's trail was led by fish that were the same bioluminescent as if the river had formed them.

"Your right! It is magic!" She beamed and I smiled softly while setting my spear down before pulling my boots off as I rolled up my pants before walking in as my freckles lit up with my wings following as swirls appeared on them like my dragon form, the tattooed swirls along my back did the same as I took her hands into mine as she looked at me in amazement.

"The river recognised its children and the pure... and being pure doesn't mean you didn't kill someone or have a child before marriage it recognises that you do not hold greed within your soul, it recognises that you deep down have a connection with its water" I smiled as I tucked her hair from her face.

"Well I am from the river back kingdom..." she chuckled as I leaned down before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Deepening it as I held onto her waist and the nape of her neck as she wrapped her arms around my neck though she soon pulled away as she panted as she couldn't hold her breath as long as I could though we were aquatic meaning we could form gills when underwater and our feet would turn into flippers with our hands turning webbed.

"Should we head back inside?.." I asked with hooded eyes as I stared down at her as she gulped before nodded.

"Yeah.. we should..."