-Here Without You-

She had come across him in a place she could hardly call special.

It was a simple clearing with a stream running through it, ringed with birch trees and rose bushes. He had looked up at her, eyes as vibrant as the sun, and smiled.

She had flown in circles, just watching him. After a moment, he looked back down at the dandelion in his claws, turning it this way and that. She had huffed and growled, smoke trailing out of her nostrils at the rude ignorance he had shown her.

So she had landed, intent on giving him a piece of her mind, but he had stood up and held the flower out to her, wordless. She had snorted, lifting a lip at him. He had just stared, blinking those golden eyes at her. After a few moments, she had calmed down slightly and taken the dandelion from him.

He had smiled and sat back, watching her twirl the flower in a circle.

"Your name, miss?"

Her heart had fluttered at the sound of his voice—deep and kind, full of life and energy and curiosity and intelligence. She had gaped at him for a good minute before swallowing and stuttering out her name.

"A-Agnus…"

"What a beautiful name," he had said, voice ringing with honesty. "May I let you know my name?"

He was so polite, too. She had nodded, tongue fumbling for words. And he had flashed that smile at her, making his eyes light up like a thousand suns.

"I am Solari, son of the demigod Jordan. And you?"

"Daughter of the sorcerer Seto."

His chest had rumbled in pleasure, and he had bobbed his head in a slight bow. "And why am I so blessed as to see you today?"

"I was…" She had trailed off, lost in those vibrant eyes. And suddenly she remembered why she was flying over this birch forest in the first place. "Oh! I was going to see Father! He told me to meet him in a forest, not too far from here. I am so sorry, Solari, but I must be going."

He looked alarmed for a moment, the fans running down his back rising slightly. "See me again Agnus? I will be here tomorrow at sun high."

"Yes," she had said, spreading her wings. "Yes, I will come see you if I can. Farewell, Solari. Pray meet again."

He had smiled and she had flown off, dandelion clutched gently in her claws.

[…]

"Solari?"

Agnus looked around the clearing, heart sinking when she didn't see the other dragon. She sighed, head drooping. "I should have known better than to get my hopes up," she murmured, heaving another sigh. But then there was a crash, and Solari came stumbling out of a tree, furiously beating one wing to keep himself upright.

Agnus jumped slightly and a wild grin spread across her face. The younger dragon smiled sheepishly, reaching back to pluck a branch out of the fan on his tail. "I was distracted, and I ran into a tree."

"Distracted by what?"

"You."

Agnus blinked in surprise at how smooth he had been, easily sliding the compliment into the strange greeting. But she smiled and chuckled, going over and pulling a leaf off of his head. "Is that so, Solari?"

"I would never lie to you, Agnus," he said, marking an X over his chest with a claw, smiling at her with those brilliant eyes. "Cross my heart."

Agnus giggled, taking a few steps back. "So why are you so late?"

He shrugged a wing, tail sweeping the tall grass. "I was helping Snowy with digging a hole. She wanted to have her own little room to hide her 'hoard' in."

"Ah, I remember her," Agnus said, sitting down. He nodded and padded over to the stream, lying next to it. His tail flicked through the clear water, splashing her slightly. Agnus snorted and stood, bending down and tensing her muscles.

Solari grinned at her, playfully splashing with his tail again. She pounced, jumping on him and shoving him into the stream.

He sat up, shaking water off his scales. Then he grinned and tackled her, playfully batting her head into the water. Agnus laughed, wrapping her tail around his back to feet and pulling him into the stream.

They played for a few hours, but when the sun started to set they bid their farewells and parted, hearts light with happiness.

[…]

"Agnus?"

Solari called, padding into the clearing. He glanced around, tail swishing. And suddenly Agnus dropped down on him from above, pinning him to the ground.

He laughed and rolled out from under her, doing hi little head-bow that he always did when greeting her. She smiled at him, sitting back. "So why have you called me here so late an hour?"

Solari grinned and turned his neck, grabbing out a bright sunflower from under his wing. "I wanted to show you something."

Agnus gently took the flower, holding it carefully. "Oh? What is it?"

"I can't tell you, it's a surprise."

She rolled her eyes and set the flower under her wing, curling around it protectively. "When can I have the surprise?"

Solari looked up at the night sky and shrugged. "A few minutes."

Agnus followed his gaze, lying down in the soft grass. After a few seconds, he laid down next to her, eyes still trained on the sky. But instead of watching the sky, Agnus was watching him.

Instead of the plain yellow she had once thought they were, she could now see the purple and green flecks bursting around his black, cat-like pupils. The brilliant yellow seemed soft, kind, matching his personality.

Then he spoke, and she was snapped out of her trance. "Here, look up."

Agnus did, watching the night sky. All of a sudden, there was a high whistling noise and a rocket spiraled upwards, trailing white sparks. With a loud clap and explosion, it exploded into an array of blue, green, and silver sparks. She gasped, sitting up. Two more fireworks were sent into the air, coloring the sky with red and yellow.

"What is…"

Solari grinned at her, sitting up. "Corari and I were working on these for the past two days. We just finished yesterday, that was why I was so late. Do you like them?"

Another rocket whistled into the sky, exploding into stars of violet.

"I love them."

[…]

Agnus landed in the clearing with a heavy heart. Almost instantly, she simply collapsed near the stream and buried her nose under her paws.

Seto was going to kill himself if he kept it up. It had been a month and a half since he had started to rebuild the Guild, and two months since she met Solari. She groaned, setting a paw in the cool water of the stream and clawing at the rocks. She should have been happy, because he had finally done something other than blink, but it saddened her that he had just told her to scram.

Solari landed in the clearing lightly, walking over to Agnus and lying down next to her wordlessly. She crooned and lifted her head, setting it on one of his forelegs. "I'm so worried, Sol. He could be killing himself and I wouldn't be able to do anything."

He warbled sadly, bending his neck to nudge the top of her head. "It will be okay, Agnus. Alright? Seto is strong, he would not kill himself by rebuilding a kingdom. Have faith in him. He'll be okay."

"But he won't," she whispered, closing her eyes against the tears that were starting to bubble up. She pressed her cheek against the steady rhythm of Solari's heartbeat. "He's going to hurt himself. It won't be okay."

"Hey." Solari lifted her chin, making her look him in the eyes. "Do not ever say that again, Agnus. It hurts me so when you do. Please? He will be okay."

"B-but what if he dies?" she said, finally breaking down. Solari hummed and draped a wing over her, pulling her close.

"He will not die, Agnus. I promise you. And if something does happen, I will go to the Nether and back to help you. I'm here, it's okay."

Agnus let out a shaky breath, leaning against Solari. "You're right," she whispered after a long silence. "You're here. It will be okay. It will."

[…]

Agnus sighed happily, curling closer to Solari, who had already outgrown her, even though he was two years younger than she was.

It had been six months since they had met, and they had grown almost inseparable. But it was growing harder and harder for both of them to sneak away without causing suspicion. But it didn't matter, as long as they were together. She wondered if she was starting to-

"Agnus? Why do you sigh?" Solari asked, lifting his head and setting it over her neck. "I hope I have not saddened you in any way."

"No, Solari. I am just happy."

He smiled, golden eyes lighting with that handsome joy. "That is fine; it is what I strive for."

Agnus rumbled a purr and closed her eyes, enjoying the sun's rays beaming down onto her scales. Solari twined his tail around hers, careful of the fan at the end of it.

Agnus smiled, pressing the side of her head against his shoulder. "Solari, do you think-"

"Agnus!"

"Solari?"

Both of them jerked up in surprise as both their names were called. They looked over to the edge of the clearing, paling underneath their scales at the sight of their fathers.

"Agnus, get away from him!"

"Solari, I told you to stay away from her!"

The two dragons jumped up, standing side by side. "But Papa," Solari started, only to be interrupted by Seto, who stomped over to him, magic whipped around.

"Get! Get out of here, you worm!"

"Father!"

"Get out! Leave her alone!"

Solari, stung by the spiteful insult, glanced at Agnus. But a tendril of magic whipped across his nose and he jumped away, wings half unfolding in surprise. Jordan grabbed Seto by the shoulder to stop him from doing anything else, but glared at Solari over the rim of his shades. "Solari, get back to the tree. Now."

"Papa, I-"

Seto made a sound akin to what Agnus could only describe as a growl, stomping his foot on the ground. Solari jumped and roared at him, full of pain and despair and heartbreak… and…. At that moment, Agnus knew.

She… She loved him.

And he loved her.

Seto ran over to Agnus, pushing her away. She tried to refuse, but suddenly the ground underneath her feet shifted, rolling her away. Solari roared again, jumping into the air when a whip of magic snapped at him. Lightning flashed and Jordan warped to the base of his neck, leading him back to the jungle.

"Come on, Agnus. Move. We're going to the Guild."

[…]

Once again, the Guild's stone towers spiraled upwards, reaching for the clouds. Its gates were carved back into place, detailed onyx metal gleaming in the sunlight. But those were the only similarities to the Guild that was seven years ago.

Now, the Guild was more like a kingdom, streets winding through neighborhoods and marketplaces that were built around the main building. The entire place was draped with a heavy spell, allowing only those that could use magic to see it. And of course, any other magical beings.

Already, there were sorcerers and magic-wielders from all over were moving in, settling down in the empty houses and starting their life anew. A mage from a faraway land had offered to start training potential sorcerers. Seto had gladly accepted the help, also appointing several other senior magic-users to start the Guild back up.

But as Agnus flew to the roof, landing with a heavy heart, she wanted nothing more than to fly back to the clearing.

Seto patted her snout. "Agnus, I'm sorry. But he doesn't love you, he only wants you," he said softly. She crooned and looked away, head drooping. He sighed and turned to the open window, sliding off the roof and into the giant corridor. "Please forgive me, dear. You'll get over him, okay?"

Agnus was silent.

[…]

That night, Solari was sitting up on the top of the tree, staring out at the horizon with sad eyes. Every few seconds, he would make a low keening noise, only adding to the pitiful sight. Jordan sighed and shook his head, trying to ignore the heartbroken noises from above his head. He warped to a nearby tree, making sure Corari was comfortable, then to another tree where Tiberi and Cherry were curled together, already asleep. With a glance over at Oteri's tree, Jordan could once again teleport back to Jerry's Tree, where Snowy was sitting patiently on a workbench.

She lifted her head up as Solari made a soft howling noise, then lowered it and made her way over to Jordan. She still had yet to reach over three feet long, only her wingspan had grown. Jordan let her crawl up his arm and perch on his shoulder, bumping her nose against his cheek.

The demigod sighed. "I hope he doesn't sit up there all night," he murmured. "I wish there was some way to take his mind off of Agnus."

[…]

Solari stared at the stars, wishing Agnus was next to him. He just wanted to see her again. It was as if someone had ripped out half his heart and tossed it away, leaving a gap that only she could fill.

He whined, turning in a circle and lying down again. It seemed that no matter what way he was lying, it still wasn't comfortable. He longed for the warmth of her next to him, safely curled under his wing. They had been so happy. But then their parents had to go and tear them apart.

"Agnus," he whispered to the stars, golden eyes dull with grief. "I am so sorry."

[…]

Agnus spent the night on the rooftop, staring at the same sky he was staring at. Maybe, if she craned her neck, squinted, and tilted her head to the left, she could see Jerry's Tree. Maybe she would e able to see Solari.

She swallowed against the giant lump in her throat and looked down at the new Guild. People had already started to settle in, and now the air was thick with the smell of magic. But she couldn't care less, not when she was so-

[…]

Alone.

He was alone. And nobody would be there, not even his siblings or his dad. They didn't matter, he just wanted her. He wanted her back, next to him, under the starry black canvas.

Solari stood up on his hind legs, staring out on the horizon. Was she there? Was she missing him as much as he was? Did she-

[…]

Long for him.

Agnus growled softly, sitting back, tail wrapping around the top of a spire. She wanted him back. She needed him back.

"I miss you," she whispered, voice heavy with sadness. "I want you here, with me. Can you-"

[…]

"Come back to me? Please? I need you again. I need you, with me. You need to be here."

[…]

"Solari, why couldn't I have seen this sooner?"

[…]

"I should have told you. I should have told you the moment I knew, but I didn't."

[…]

"I-I love you, Sol."

[…]

"Agnus, I love you. Please come back…"


So sad. I feel bad, now, after writing this. But I hope you enjoyed, guys. Sorry for any mistakes and all that. Let me know what you think, leave a favorite, follow, doesn't matter. Thanks for reading, guys.

-Cold