Arabella | totcf au

Chapter 11: A new child?

The black dragon couldn't help but to stare at the red head humans that look identical and the strong black haired human. The red male felt like death because he thought he was going to die at that moment. The black haired human was strong physically, his hair was the same as his scales.

But the red female... She was human, but at the same time, she was not. She was weak. Yet, she saved him. Her arms were so warm, that she couldn't help but just want to bask in her warmth.

"Baby, do you want to stay with us?" She said as she cradled him in her trembling arms. She was pale, and her body was a bit cold. Why is this human cold?

He wanted to say no. He hates humans! They hurt him. Why should he go under the care of a new human? But looking at her again. There was something interesting with this human.

She felt like something else—something ancient, like old magic. He could not explain it but there was something in her that didn't felt like human at all, it was weird.

He sniffed, cautiously. There was something familiar in her scent. Not like the ones who locked him away and hurt him. Not like the ones who threw rocks and magic at his scales just to watch them chip. She smelled... like the forest. Like old mountains. Like sorrow. Like home.

The red male human was speaking to her now, saying something about how this was a bad idea, how they already had too many things to deal with. But the red female—Arabella, that was her name, right?—held him tighter, as if she were afraid he would disappear. No one had ever held him like that.

"...stay with us?" she asked again, and her voice cracked, just slightly.

He looked at her face.

There was a look of understanding in her eyes, like she knew what it felt like to be chained down like him. But she still tried to smile at him. She still trembled as she held him like he was precious.

"...What's your name, baby?" she whispered.

He didn't know how to answer that. He didn't have one. His heart stung with the reminder.

"I see..." she said, her voice gentler now, as if she understood. "Then, how about we give you one? Would that be okay?"

He blinked.

A name?

A real name, not it, not simply dragon. A name, like how the wind had a name. Like how she called the other red human Cale and the strong one Choi Han.

He curled closer to her chest, burying his face into the curve of her neck. Her warmth was shaky. Uneven. Sick, even. But it was still warmer than anything he'd ever had.

"...Okay," he said. His voice was a whisper, like the rustling of autumn leaves.

Arabella froze.

Both Cale and Choi Han turned sharply toward him.

He could speak. He had spoken. He hadn't said a single word to the humans who chained him. But now he was whispering into a red-haired human's neck like he was meant to be there.

Arabella exhaled slowly, her voice breaking with emotion. "Okay, then. We'll choose one together."

"No way," Cale muttered. "We already have too many kids in this house."

"You say that like you don't spoil them because they're my children." Arabella replied with a smirk.

"Is Belle-nim a child whisperer?" Choi Han whispered to Cale jokingly.

"I wouldn't be surprised."

Arabella glared at the two with no real heat.

"Do you two mind?" she snapped softly, her voice hushed so as not to disturb the small dragon curled against her. "He just agreed to stay with us. Try not to ruin it."

The black dragon shifted a little in her arms, still not fully trusting the others, but... the way they bickered. It was strange. Not like how the mages and nobles argued. There was no cruelty. Just noise. Familiar noise.

Arabella sat down carefully, settling the dragon in her lap like he was made of glass. "Alright, little one," she murmured, brushing his messy black hair from his eyes. "Let's think of names."

He blinked slowly. "...Names?"

She nodded. "You're a dragon, so it should be something strong... something worthy."

Cale muttered, "Just not something dramatic like Flame Devourer of Midnight or whatever."

Arabella turned to him with the flattest stare she could manage. "Cale. You named your sword 'Chompy.'"

Choi Han bit the inside of his cheek to hold in a laugh.

The little dragon blinked again. "Chompy?"

"Don't get ideas," Cale warned, glaring half-heartedly. "And I was like what? Five?"

"Exactly."

Arabella adjusted the small dragon in her lap, still trying to get used to the weight of him in her arms. He was so light, so fragile-looking, despite the power that emanated from him when he was upset. But now, there was a calmness about him as he nuzzled into her, a contentedness she hadn't expected.

"Alright, Raon Miru," she whispered, using the name she had chosen for him after a moment's thought. "Do you like it?"

Raon blinked up at her, his bright eyes wide as he processed the name. There was a long pause before he whispered, "...Raon Miru. It sounds... good."

Cale raised an eyebrow from across the room, looking more exasperated than ever. "Are we seriously doing this right now? You're naming the dragon, and I'm not even allowed to name my sword 'Chompy'?"

Arabella shot him a look. "Don't act like you're not already attached to it, Cale."

"Don't bring that up," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "That was years ago."

Raon Miru shifted a little in her arms, his small body curling up more comfortably. "Raon... I like Raon," he murmured to himself, repeating the name quietly, as though tasting it for the first time.

Arabella's heart swelled. She held him a little tighter, letting him know, through the gesture, that he was safe with her. "Good, Raon. You're with us now. You'll never be alone again."

The black dragon, now Raon Miru, closed his eyes, finally feeling the comfort he had longed for all his life. And for the first time, he didn't feel like stuck in a cage. He felt like he belonged.

***

The newly named Raon Miru stares at his new siblings, and they all stare back. There were six of them. Ohn and Hong from the Cat Tribe, then there's Derya and Muir, twins apparently just like his new mom and uncle. Kyrin who was the second oldest. Agnar who was the same age as the twins. And then Leilah, who was two years old.

Meaning, Raon was the second youngest.

But he glanced at his new mom and then his siblings. They are all non-humans. His red haired uncle and the strong human are the only humans. Weird.

But he likes it here. He was welcomed, he was not shackled. He was well loved and cared for.

"Oppa!" He turned to the youngest.

Yes, this great and mighty him had found a family so quick.