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FROM THE ASHES
— 20. Daena

     On dragonback, Shaera rode through the sky, searching for her daughter

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On dragonback, Shaera rode through the sky, searching for her daughter. She squinted her eyes, hoping to see Vhagar in the midst. The large dragon was hard to miss, after all.

Watching dragon fire erupted into the sky just a distance away before hearing Caraxes' familiar screech, Shaera commanded Nightwing to head in the direction.

There, she found Vhagar rested on the ground, Caraxes not too far away.

Nightwing landed with a loud thud, allowing Shaera to slide off. She ran in the direction of Vhagar, the smoke in the air and the darkness making it hard for her see.

"Viserra? Viserra?" She cried out worriedly, coughing as she inhaled the smoke.

She froze as she found Daemon sitting on the ground, holding a newborn baby in his arms. She gasped, her hand finding its way to her mouth when her eyes fell upon the burnt corpse Daemon sat beside.

"She is gone," Daemon finally spoke, lifting his head with tears in his eyes, "I was too late. I came back to fetch her, to take her with me and I was too late."

"No." Shaera dropped to her knees in front of the burnt corpse. She cried out, her fingers lightly brushing over it. She hadn't even bothered to question the fact that Daemon held a baby.

As she screamed in grief, Nightwing let out a loud roar. He felt his rider's pain, just as Caraxes did. Their only daughter was gone.

"She did not wish to die on the childbed," Shaera spoke softly, turning to glance at Daemon. Her eyes were dead, even Daemon could see that.

"She died like a true dragon," Daemon continued, speaking in a low whisper, "And in the ashes of her corpse came forth a babe. Her child. A child that somehow remained untouched by the fire around her."

Shaera gasped at the news, never hearing such a thing occur. They were considered dragons, after all. But they were not immune to fire.

Shaera scooted closer Daemon, who tightly grasped the sleeping child in his arms. She brushed her fingers along the baby's dirty face, leading to her opening her eyes.

Shaera found glowing purple eyes staring up at her, much to her surprise. She glanced downward before turning to Daemon once more. "A girl," She sighed in relief, knowing it meant the baby's father wouldn't even try to fight to take her.

"I'll kill him!" Daemon roared out, fury in his eyes, "I'll kill him for what he's done."

"He is sure to have left the city by now," Shaera admitted, knowing after what happened at the castle, the man wouldn't be so foolish to stay. He wanted to cut Viserra open and failed. He knew Shaera and her family would want him dead.

Daemon didn't say a word. He simply nodded, holding the baby out to Shaera. "I can't," Shaera whispered, shaking her head. She couldn't bear to hold the child after what happened to its mother. How could she take on another child when she grieved its mother?

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