°~《Chapter Twenty》~°

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We arrived on the planet's surface right on schedule. I was very glad that it was peaceful upon our return. The sky was dark with the birds still quietly asleep. I could see and smell the morning dew glistening like stars under the scattered moonlight as it covered the fresh green grass.

Breathing in, I started comparing Earth's atmosphere to the other planet's. If I had to call it anything, breathing on Earth felt fluffy while the other air felt thick or sharp.

My egg was safely tucked away inside the heat box that I still had no clue how to open. Knowing where it was plus the fact we were back home had me more naturally relaxed than I had been in a long time. If it wasn't for the oiling I received everyday, I could have possibly gone mad from all the stress a long time ago.

We just stood on the loading dock for a few minutes as I cherished the feeling of oxygen in my lungs. I could feel a cool breeze coming from the north, a possibility for a storm later on. A little bit of rain wouldn't be too bad right now.

Tuskon started walking as I continued to enjoy the scenery around me. The dark sky above us didn't look any different from the evening sky on the previous planet. However, I knew that in just a short amount of time the differences would show their true colors.

I wanted to look at the constellations I had missed for so long, though the cloudy sky prevented me from seeing much. Instead, I settled with simply admiring the dark clouds I could barely see. These were just a few of the many things I've been starved of through these many sightless years.

Noticing Tuskon's silence, I glanced down to watch him as he walked lost in thought. He seemed to do that a lot lately.

I shifted my weight on his shoulder, "Are you going to tell Marcy?"

Tuskon's expression didn't change as my mind voice suddenly entered his thoughts, "Would you rather her not know?"

I sat up straighter in surprise, "Oh, no! I'm actually all for it. In fact, I'd prefer it if she knew."

Tuskon nodded, "As long as you're alright with it."

Our conversation died down and I started humming as I took in my surroundings. It wasn't any particular song, but it felt like I knew the tune from somewhere. The wordless song carried my drifting mind all the way back home.

The tune had ended as we turned a corner and the house came into view. The pace was quickened and we arrived at the front door only a moment sooner. It was clear that Tuskon was just as relieved to be home as I was.

Tuskon reached out to the panel meaning to operate the door, but it slid open before he was able to even touch it. We both looked up to find Marcy standing in the opening. Smiles instantly grew on both of their faces.

A dragonet smile of my own spread over my tiny scales as I took off with a loud whistle. I was well aware that it wasn't enough to break the trance between them, though.

The sky was getting slightly brighter as it glowed a navy blue through the splotches of grey. I turned my attention to the two Kymari as I continued to dance freely in the early morning air. Marcy's smaller body embraced against her mate's as she stretched for her chin to reach over Tuskon's shoulder. They were unmoving for several long seconds that could have turned awkward if they hadn't already been a couple.

Ending their hug, Marcy called out to me in her sweet candy-like voice. I accepted the invitation and dove into her open arms for a hug of my own. The smell of apple tree leaves and sun warmed rocks flowed over me as I took in her scent. Her green skin was lighter than Tuskon's, but it felt just as warm.

Soon, we all were inside enjoying each other's company. Tuskon introduced Marcy to my egg before setting it under my heat lamp, then called me over to sit on his fist. He held out a piece of the precious blue fruit that I've only had a few times before and I accepted it greedily. The shia fruit tasted different from any earth fruit I've ever had, but it also tasted better than anything I'd eaten as well. I thrumbed pleasantly to the flavor as it coated my mouth.

Tuskon looked very relaxed as he turned to face Marcy, "There is something that you should know. About Aspen."

Marcy laughed as she didn't know where this small talk could be heading, "Well it's a little late to tell me she was pregnant."

Tuskon chuckled and tried to steer the conversation in the right direction, "No, it's not that. Do you know how smart she is?"

Marcy tried laughing again but was having a difficult time as things were only getting more confusing, "Yes? How else could she listen so well to everything we tell her?"

Tuskon reached out and scratched the scales behind my ear tufts, "I think you should tell her."

I turned my attention to the confused face Marcy had put on and went to climb into her lap. Her legs were warm and it was easy to keep my claws retracted as I rolled over to expose my belly to her, something I had never done with either of them.

I closed my eyes as I focused on extending the mind link to both of them, "You know I love you, right?"

I reopened my eyes to see Tuskon smiling and Marcy staring at me in shock.

She picked me up under my arms and brought me to her eye level, "You can talk?!"

I gave her an amused dragonet smile, "Surprise!"

She snapped her attention to Tuskon without releasing me, "How long have you known?"

"Only about an hour before I called you last night." Tuskon moved his hands around as he talked, only trying to defend himself against her onslaught of questions.

Marcy finally set me back on her lap, but didn't say anything. Instead she let out a large sigh and nodded, just barely coming to terms with what was being presented to her. If I was in her position, I probably would have walked out of the room thinking everyone had gone mad, including myself.

We sat silently for a while until questions for me started rolling in. Most of what I answered with was stuff Tasha had already told her handler. I was just repeating it to keep our story straight. Though, if a specific question wasn't asked, I didn't dive deeper. The less web I weaved, the better. [1]

Tuskon's last question was a repeat of what he asked on the ship. It was easier to answer now that most of the background had been filled in. I mostly summed it up with fear and not wanting the relationship between the Kymari and dragonets to change. Thankfully, it was all the truth. Well not the whole truth, but enough to drop the subject.

Eventually, I could start feeling the pull of the rising sun. It was stronger than I've ever felt it before. The conversation between the three of us didn't feel over, but this intense feeling wasn't something I could have easily set aside.

I had vanished through the little door installed for me before either of them could utter a sound. The door wasn't there before we left, but I was glad that it was there now. It helped to avoid the awkward situation I would have had if I had to wait for one of them to let me out.

The time had come. I was already airborne when it started and the faint sound of the other dragonets could be heard off in the distance. My own voice picked up to join the melodious theme decided by the rising sun.

I sang my own part, the notes rising and falling in flats making the tune sound sorrowful, but then quickly rose up to something more heart lifting. My dance in the netted yard was smooth and allowed me to admire the colors erupting from the east.

The sun wasn't even visible, yet the light it bathed the Earth in shone through the clouds creating a beautiful salmon pink color along the horizon and stretched overhead like a chain reaction. The orange flecks that highlighted the undersides of these bodies of mist were nearly unnoticeable, but created the perfect contrast for the eye.

Hardly any time had passed when I noticed all these details. I started flying lower to the ground just as the Morning Song told me to do and noticed something I hadn't seen before. Yet I knew exactly what it was right on sight.

My notes grew flat once again as I flew towards what stood as Dan's grave. Once close enough, I could hear the wind as it flowed into the intricately placed holes within the smooth rock. The low breeze passing through the stone created it's own song that seemed to intertwine perfectly with the Morning Song. I wanted badly to cut the song short so I could sit by the grave of my mate, but the pull of the sun was stronger, preventing me from having my wish.

I allowed the Morning Song to carry me back higher into the air and continued singing. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't push the image of Dan from my mind. Pretty soon I also started hearing his voice singing along to mine.

I must have really gone crazy when I finally saw Dan flying beside me as I danced to the Morning Song. He was so close that we were nearly brushing wings as we both sang. My voice rose once again just as Dan started singing the harmony.

I tried opening a mind link while we came to the end of the Morning Song. It felt different from any link I've opened before, as if I was opening a link with myself.

Dan flew down and landed right in front of the stone that marked where he was buried. I followed right after him. The slow breeze was still whistling through the stone even after the Morning Song was over.

Dan spoke first, his body looking transparent despite the sun reflecting off his silver scales, "You should really see how brightly your eyes shine in this light. It's more beautiful than anything in this world."

I tried to respond but he kept me quiet by pressing his nose against mine in our familiar embrace. Sparks flew through the tip of my muzzle and then all through the rest of my body.

He smiled sweetly, "Now nothing can stop you from creating the art you've been chained from."

My mind voice was as quiet as a whisper, "Are you sure you can't take me with you?"

Dan sent me a chuckle that told me he understood how I felt, "Not yet, love. I'll come when the time is right."

I smiled softly to hearing his reassuring words, "Why do I keep seeing you then?"

Dan sent me a strong feeling of love, "You don't."

I was confused and blinked my tired eyes only to find he was gone. I twisted my head from side to side to find I was truly alone apart from my silent watchers who stood by the door of the house. It was likely they had been there watching since the beginning of the Morning Song.

As a last minute thought, I quickly grabbed a mouthful of bluebells by their stems and laid them gently in front of the grave stone. Everything inside of me felt healed at last.

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[1] For some who may not know, this goes with the saying "Spinning a web of lies." And for those who don't know what that means, it's basically saying that the more lies you say and pile up the harder it is to keep the truth from being found out. But I'm sure most of you knew that. (Spinning a web of lies is creating your own demise)

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