Dreamer leaned down to lap at the clear, refreshing water of the lake, wondering if Fleeting would find them this night. She had for most nights in the week or so since they'd properly met, but not every night, and the light rain running off his wings and back might deter-
Something warm and slick ran up the back of his tail, above his sub-wings, and he startled forwards with a yelp – splashing straight into the lake. He reflexively tried to back out and spin around at the same time, but only succeeded in tripping over the bank, his hindquarters following him into the water.
Fleeting stood on the grass, her tongue still out and face alight with glee and amusement while the rain dripped from her frills and chin. Dreamer growled, and she dropped into a crouch before leaping away. The heavy water surged and splashed as he hastily heaved himself upright and onto the bank, not even bothering to shake himself off before sprinting after her. She hurtled across the field, the tip of her tail flicking up and down while she ran, and he was following her into the shaded forest in mere moments.
The gentle rain had not made much sound on the grass, but it collected on the broad leaves of the forest and dripped through the canopy. The chorus of pattering almost muted the fleeing pawsteps, but he was close enough that it didn't matter. He raced after the flashes of movement beyond the trees and shrubs, a well-practised hunt, bearing down on his elusive prey. She liked to race, though she didn't so much enjoy being caught; while he was often content to humour her, this time she had earned retribution.
It became apparent she had planned this, including her escape, when she suddenly faltered, hesitating at a large tangle of twisted shrubs and vines. So far she had been swift and sure, as she had back in those tunnels when first eluding them, but she clearly hadn't planned to be running this far. He growled victoriously, it didn't matter which way she ran in the end-
Instead of running, she spun and dropped close to the ground, lowering her head and looking up at him with wide, innocent, hopeful eyes, her tail curled around against her side. Dreamer slowed, trotting up to her while she slowly blinked up at him – and pounced her anyway, dragging her to the wet ground while she roared and thrashed.
He didn't relent, grabbing her as she tried to lunge away, a heavy paw holding down her flank while he fought to hold the rest of her on her side, where she could not bite or claw at him. She yowled piteously when she realised he had succeeded in pinning her, then huffed into the grass.
"You should know," he purred over her while she stared up at him with a wide eye, "to not stalk someone with my life. I might think you are… bad hunter I need scare away!" He acted on impulse, figuring fair was fair, and she yelped and started thrashing again as he licked over her neck and frills. It was difficult with her desperate throes, she kept throwing her head back into his, but he quickly started taking the blows and chasing her with more licks as she pulled away to strike again.
His legs started going weak, the cool rain doing nothing to stifle his building inner warmth, so he hopped off and scooted just out of reach before she could somehow turn it around. They took a few moments to pant and catch their breaths, then Fleeting climbed to her paws and vigorously shook herself, her long ears flapping against her neck. "I only licked you once," she complained, glaring at him, before licking her wrist and primly wiping it over her neck and head.
"You not fell into lake," he grumbled back good-naturedly, shaking himself off as well. It wasn't as if he hadn't been wet already, but still.
"I also not had enough sleep," she whined, dropping back to her side and waving her forepaws at him, then yawned for emphasis. "Needed wake before you, but then also fly here, but I needed fly further now this is your territory."
"How far you needed fly?" he asked curiously, trying to remember how much progress they'd made in marking their territory. Most of the boundaries had been seen to, but there were a few gaps; part of him was uncomfortable with it, but relieving himself mid-flight was viscerally exhilarating, and fulfilling his instincts was very satisfying, so he wasn't having much trouble with it.
Fleeting rose to her forepaws, her hindlegs still resting out to the side, and churred suspicion at him. "You want know where I sleep?" she asked testingly, standing and stepping into him.
He purred as she rubbed against him, arching her smooth back into his neck as she walked past. "You can sleep in our territory if you want," he said quietly, leaning into her as his legs went weak. "I not mind…"
"You not mind?" she purred slowly, and Dreamer stifled a whimper as she ducked under his tail to walk around behind him, rubbing against the backs of his hindlegs; her very touch was like little bolts of lightning through his scales, and it was all he could do to stand there stiffly. "But you said you want know where I sleep," she continued purring, nuzzling the underside of his wing as she kept moving around him, "so I not think I should sleep somewhere you can find me…"
"But you know where we sleep," he tried to growl back, though it came out as closer to a petulant grumble.
"Why I would know that?" she asked, stepping away and giving him a wry look. "I not would follow you to where you sleep, I not stupid."
Dreamer rumbled to himself, thinking that it would be pretty stupid to follow a Nightstriker back to where they slept without them knowing, that could be seen as a very aggressive act; he supposed he was just used to sleeping lightly. "Wrrr, I not mind if you know where I sleep. Want see?" He had thought she'd known anyway, and if it made her more comfortable then even better.
Her eyes widened, ears and frills lifting, and he froze as he realised how that might be taken-
"I not want sleep somewhere I will intrude your sleeping," she hummed, a flash of mischief in her tone and eyes. He got the impression she was leaping on an opportunity that would normally come later. "You can show me your den."
Dreamer rolled his eyes with a sigh; it wasn't as if he often did things the normal way, but still. He looked around the forest, wondering where Wanderer had got to, then barked summons, thinking he should probably have a say in this. It was unlikely he would mind, he had taken a strong liking to Fleeting as well – a very strong liking, reminding Dreamer of why it was a good idea to be awake and out of the den early – but it would be presumptuous not to get his opinion.
There was no reply, but he'd only stepped off to relieve himself so he was probably already following them. Fleeting had resumed grooming, and Dreamer did the same, ridding himself of a few smears of mud from the lake. It wasn't long before Wanderer leaped from the trees, barked happily, and playfully chased Fleeting, not trying to catch her but just bounding after her while she ran around.
To Dreamer's surprise, she let Wanderer catch her, turning and rearing up but barely even fighting him as he pounced her and pulled her down to the wet grass, both of them purring happily. Wanderer sat on his haunches next to her, lightly batting and swatting at her while she pawed up at him from where she lay on her back, and Dreamer purred as he watched. "I said she could sleep in our territory," he hummed, "also show her where our den."
Wanderer lowered his paw and looked down at Fleeting, who stared up at him with wide, innocent eyes, before looking over to Dreamer. "Hrrr, you forget where our den?" he teased, then blinked as Fleeting bopped his snout.
"No," Dreamer huffed wryly, "I just forget I alpha and decide all myself." Wanderer and Fleeting shared a look, then both stared at him. "We can go now," Dreamer said nervously, shaking out his wings – and hastily lunged for the nearest tree to scramble up it, the sounds of pursuit hot on his tail.
He threw himself out of the trees and beat the sodden air with his wings to get airborne, first angling along the mountain to build up some speed before aiming up towards their den. They were going to try to cut him off, but he had a small head start and more speed, which he used to angle a bit higher than Wanderer was able to match, though sharp claws narrowly missed his tail as they passed each other.
For her part, Fleeting was matching him, and every time he glanced back her eyes were determined and wings working constantly. She made him work for it, she was fast, but in the end he ducked straight into the opening of his den ahead of her with a triumphant bark.
He stood there, panting and dripping water everywhere, while Fleeting almost hesitantly alighted in the opening and Wanderer landed beside her. They watched her as she took a few steps inside, looking around with wide eyes and her nose twitching. "When you tell me all you live through," she said, then paused a little to catch her breath, "I sometimes wonder… if you saying small fish is big." She ran her claws across the rock floor of the den and shuddered uncomfortably from nose to tail. "But sometimes I wonder if you saying big fish is small." She then hopped outside and dove out of sight.
Dreamer shared a confused look with Wanderer before leaping back out into the rain after her, following from a short distance. She dove to much lower down the mountain and then flitted back and forth, up and down, as if searching for something.
After a while, he and Wanderer drifted back a bit further, just coasting along her general path across the mountain but not actively following her semi-structured searching. Finally, she seemed to just vanish while Dreamer blinked, and they dove down to where they'd last seen her.
A wide, low cave yawned over a grassy lump, surrounded by ridges of grass and stone between which ran rivulets of rainwater. Some scraggly little trees, not even a body-length high, clung to unlikely surfaces. Dreamer alighted on the level grass with his friend, peering inside the cave and slowly walking forwards while his eyes adjusted.
The cave itself was framed by pale rock, strangely smooth compared to the jagged ones around it, almost out of place. Inside was unexpectedly spacious, a short rock tunnel leading down into a wide area. The ground was soft, dirt rather than stone, and surprisingly dry given the little streams of rainwater running down around the entrance outside. The crack in the stone roof made him a little nervous, but it had held this long…
Fleeting's scent was most prominent over the dirt and stone, for she lay on her side in the middle, but… there were other scents, faint and wispy. He stood a step forwards, wide eyes taking in the details-
"Not come inside," Fleeting hissed, leaping up and swiping at them, and Dreamer and Wanderer startled back. "I not will sleep if you bring your scents in here," she said with a huff, then started clawing up the ground, not digging but just disturbing it and turning over the top layer of dirt.
Dreamer backed up a bit, watching curiously, then looked around from the entrance. "This den," he said slowly. "It…"
Fleeting paused, staring at the loose dirt. "This was home for someone," she quietly agreed. "I not know where they went, but they not here now. Not here for much time. But they had nice den."
The scents were indeed ancient, years old at least, and only persisted for having been so deeply ingrained; though Dreamer doubted he'd still pick up on them after Fleeting had stayed a single light. But what had happened to them?
Wanderer warbled thoughtfully. "Then we are lucky. This is nice place for nest. Much food, good water."
"Yes," Fleeting chuffed, then flicked her wings aggressively and swatted at them until they backed outside into the light rain. "I claim this den now. Will find you later." Her long tail flicked out at them as she turned and disappeared back inside.
Wanderer huffed and took flight, and Dreamer followed, though he was lost to his thoughts. Nightstrikers could live forever… so why would they give up such a nice place?
With the hot-season waning, the nights gradually became longer again, the sky-fire slowly setting earlier and rising later. And with the earlier evenings, Dreamer started sneaking into the Long-Paw nest again to listen to the strange and evocative music. Little had changed in the two or three months since he'd last been – with Fleeting around, he completely lost track of the nights – but there were a pawful more buildings, and the big building at the top had progressed its construction.
None of it had impacted his route or hiding place, however, he could still lie there in the dying light of the sky-fire listening to the soothing music. He'd been a few times already, but the musician seemed to have added a pawful more songs to his repertoire, and this one was another new one, slow and deep…
A scrape of stone had him hastily turn his head – and then he scrambled to his paws at seeing Fleeting climbing up onto the roof with him, looking around curiously. As he moved, though, she glared at him, pointedly looked at his paws, then huffed silently and walked up to him.
He looked around, but the place was as safe as ever, hidden from most of the nest by a higher wall and from the ground by the wide roof they were on. It didn't feel that safe, with two large and likely very unwelcome dragons on it, but then she slinked up beside him and under his wing, lying against his side, and he felt a little better. Still, he gave her a small admonishing nudge with his snout as he settled back down to listen.
Lonely. That was how the music sounded, lost and forlorn. Dreamer looked back at Fleeting, with her head tucked against his shoulder, but her expression was unreadable, looking around through lidded eyes. He huffed quietly and rested his head on his paws, just taking in the music.
She had been alone for years, not so much as seeing another of her own kind. He'd never thought about that much before, never been alone for nearly that long, always having Wanderer by his side. They had been separated for more than a night only once, back when they were fledglings, and that had been torture in itself. Surely, in her circumstance, Fleeting could have always gone back to her parents, just to visit… but then again, perhaps she couldn't.
It was true that while they had only met the one Nightstriker since flying to this land, there had been signs of others. There was not even that for other dragons, they were absent entirely, as if wiped clean off the map. That had been Viggo's mission as well, in the Greater Archipelago, and had Dreamer, Wanderer, and the riders of Dragon's Nest not stopped him, other dragons might have disappeared entirely from the world. But he could not fight something he did not understand, and in all their months of travelling he had not found any evidence of anything that would explain the decline of their species.
Fleeting began purring, lightly rubbing her smooth forehead against him in little nuzzles, and he held her close with his wing, delighting in her warm body down the length of his side. "Why you come here?" she asked, the sounds barely audible even to him. "You like this… strange sound?"
"It not make you feel anything?" he asked curiously; there hadn't been any indication in her tone that it did.
"It just is sounds," she huffed, then purred into his side. "I just like lying here with you… But I would like do this somewhere that not smell this bad."
"We can leave," he hummed warmly, nuzzling her head and purring at her delighted little hum. "I would like that also." He stood, and she silently scooted off the roof, disappearing into the dark forgotten alley she had followed him here through.
He spared a last glance towards the lonely music. It wasn't finished yet, but that didn't matter, and he felt no regret in hopping off the roof and chasing Fleeting through and out of the town; he already had an ending for that particular song.
The clear night sky twinkled with countless sparks, the breeze cool and fresh under Wanderer's wings. Far below them, unfamiliar land slowly passed by, occasionally shadowed by low-flying clouds. It was a perfect night for flying, for exploring the land around their territory…
He sighed as he drifted aside, the plummeting shadow hissing through the air as it narrowly missed his tail. A few moments later, Dreamer swerved before yelping and getting yanked downwards, dropping a good few body-lengths before righting himself and catching up with a grumble.
"This is boring?" Wanderer called out to the shadow still flitting around them, and Fleeting darted around to pull up beside him. "We need know what around our territory," he reminded her, glancing stern, agitated at her over his wing.
"But I know all these lands already," she complained, rolling away, then darted back up beside him. "That way is many Long-Paw nests, no good places for hunting or sleeping. That way has some prey, but difficult to find water. If fly three nights that way, other Nightstrikers' territories… but they never answer me. Not want go there." She turned her nose away from it and flew stiffly for a pawful of wingbeats.
"That is good for know," Wanderer warbled, "but we still need see." He didn't mind some playing while they scouted, but she was a constant distraction that was beginning to become irritating, more trying to annoy them than actual play.
"You not needed come," Dreamer added, soaring over to her other side.
Fleeting huffed. "That would be more boring. Also you maybe not go back this night so then more boring next night…"
Wanderer's ears flicked at the subtle hopeful lilt in her voice. "Hrrr, if you not annoy us, we all can sleep somewhere out here. Fly back next night." It was reaching the point they'd need to turn around anyway, they were quite far from their territory and there wasn't a great deal of the night left before the sky-fire kindled.
"I not will be annoying," Fleeting agreed, settling her wings and flying more calmly; she also had a somewhat glazed expression, one that Dreamer often had while lost to his thoughts.
"Will be fun!" Dreamer shouted, rolling happily in the air. "Will be like sleep-over. I not do that before. Wrrr, I not think we will sleep much, but I not mind being tired next night."
Wanderer and Fleeting both looked across at him, and he tilted his head, mirroring their confusion. "Sleep… over?" Wanderer warbled; he hadn't heard that particular phrase before. "Sleep over what?"
"Sleep over someone's den," Dreamer clarified unhelpfully.
Confused, Fleeting growled. "You not would sleep in their den? Hrrr, but that is strange also…"
Wanderer groaned. "Not listen him. He has stupid thinking sometimes." Dreamer suddenly burst out laughing, dropping away, and Wanderer gave Fleeting a long-suffering look. Amusement, she huffed, watching Dreamer as he caught himself and soared back up to them. "We are scouting," Wanderer reminded him. "Not get distracted." Dreamer chuffed and returned his gaze to the land below.
It felt good to fly like this. He was focused on his objective, of course, making note of where they might find water or prey, and where the Long-Paw nests were so that he could keep track of if they took more territory. But just flying with others, not only Dreamer but the beginning of a real nest, was a wonderful feeling.
He stole a glance at Fleeting, who was subtly watching Dreamer. She was unlike anyone he'd met before… though that was not saying much if he only considered those since becoming a fireling, when he was able to get a reasonable impression of someone; that basically only included his own family, Dreamer, and the Lightstrikers. She was so honest, open, she spoke her mind and did what she wanted, so very wild compared to the Lightstrikers, even compared to Dreamer and himself in many ways.
The night progressed much more productively after their talk, making note of many little points of interest. It was reassuring, knowing there were so many places nearby he could survive; though many more places were inhabited by Long-Paws that would otherwise be suitable. And when the sky began to warm, they made use of those places, finding water and enjoying a quiet meal after a quick hunt.
At last, they pushed their tired wings for one last flight, towards a nearby rocky mountain…
"Wait," Wanderer rumbled to Fleeting, "you not like sleeping on rock…" He remembered that, long ago, he used to sleep on soft dirt with his family, and at some point become accustomed to the hardness of stone. But he'd napped on somewhat soft ground on occasion, and didn't have an opinion either way.
"But is safer to sleep on mountain," Dreamer countered. He had never known any different, his first experiences being in the rock cave on that beach, and even before then Long-Paws seemed to sleep on hard flat trees. "Long-Paws not can reach us up there." He seemed determined.
Fleeting looked between them. "We can sleep your way this light," she said reluctantly. Then her ears flicked, and she looked across at Wanderer. "If we can sleep my way next light…"
Dreamer rumbled thoughtfully. "I not mind that. But I want fly back to our territory next night. Can find somewhere there."
"Just try my den," Fleeting huffed, though Wanderer stared suspiciously at her tense ears and frills.
She was inviting them into the den she had claimed. Rather presumptuous to call it her den given it was in their territory, but… if that, or her invitation, was any indication of what she wanted… he found himself not wanting to argue. "We can do that," he agreed, flapping and then rolling in the air to let loose some of the tense giddiness suddenly gripping him.
Dreamer seemed content to just fly stiffly, though he didn't object either. "That will be real sleep-over," he barked, glancing furtively across at them. "This night not sleep-over, it, hrrr, we not have word…"
"But you not sleeping over my den!" Fleeting barked at him. "Not be stupid. Should be called sleep-in."
Dreamer snorted. "No, that mean you sleep long."
"Why you not talk sense!?" she roared angrily – Dreamer yelped as she tackled him mid-air, and they quickly fell away. Wanderer purred to himself, flying alone for the short time it took them to catch up again. Fleeting looked immensely satisfied, and Dreamer was pawing at his ear.
Wanderer huffed amusement, giving his head a shake, then beat his wings and angled down towards their destination, the mountain they were just coming up on. While Dreamer and Fleeting grumbled at each other, he picked out an appropriate ledge and aimed them all for it.
The sky-fire was just beginning to rise as they touched down, flaring their wings into a landing. Dreamer immediately bounded around the area, then rolled onto his back and writhed with a happy growl.
Fleeting looked uncertain, glaring sceptically at the ground, so Wanderer warbled reassurance and walked in a circle to flame the rock and lie on it. Mrrr, he didn't do this much in the warmer seasons, but he had to roll onto his shoulder to let the heat soothe the ache of a full night's flying.
He heard more fire, and looked over to find her rolling onto her back with deep purrs. "You not flame rock before?" he asked lethargically – his body was quickly relaxing, sinking to the hot ground.
"Not rock," she purred, "never thought do this before… Much warmer than flaming ground…"
"Warmer in sky-fire also," Dreamer chirped happily, still rolling around. "Also scratchy, mrrrr, feels good after flying…"
"How that happen?" she asked. "You just… started sleeping on rock?"
Wanderer huffed, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back against the ground. "I slept on ground when hatchling. But thought-rotted queen trap me, keep me at her nest. That nest all rock. Far north, lands there are small. Can fly all around pawful of times in one night. That land was all rock. No ground. But was warm."
"Land can be small?" Fleeting asked incredulously.
"I surprised land can be this big," Dreamer grumbled, rolling back onto his front and getting comfortable. "But we not know much about you," he said hopefully, "where you hatch?"
"Far east from here," she said, tipping her head towards the rising sky-fire now burning on the horizon. "Was nice place, very warm. Less water there, also prey, but we had enough. Sire tell me I should fly far, find nice place with much water… Sire disagreed with him, I also. I not wanted leave…" She briefly glanced up at them, then watched her claws as she lightly ran them over the rock. "I flew that nest, when I fireling. I was so happy… But I not found anyone. One night I flew back, but… they not there."
"Like with our territory?" Dreamer asked, and Fleeting tossed her head with a quiet affirmative huff. "I sorry for hear that," he whined. "I not know what happening to Nightstrikers… One light I will maybe find that. We are good at finding those fights." He purred at Wanderer, who huffed a dry agreement. "Also good at fighting. Fought many bad things."
"I prefer you are safe," Fleeting said quietly.
"I also," Dreamer agreed. "But if we not fought, would be bad for all."
"Fighting is dangerous," Wanderer growled, thinking of the bad wing-hunters probably still roaming somewhere around this land, "but some fights more dangerous if we not fight. I not fight that queen…"
Fleeting huffed, fidgeting on the rock. "I should fight you, get better. Can do that later, when not flying."
Thoughtful, Wanderer churred. "I can teach you. Dreamer… not is good at play-fighting."
"Who taught me play-fighting?" Dreamer barked indignantly, rolling upright to glare at him.
They bantered about fighting, and then Long-Paws, and talked about flying and fish and other stupid things. The sky-fire was flying high when they finally lapsed into an exhausted silence, and Wanderer could not have said what they had done in all that time, it had gone so quickly. But he was tired, and looking forward to some rest before flying back the next night…
He cracked open an eye as Fleeting fidgeted yet again, then growled and rolled to her paws. "I not like this hard sleeping-place," she grumbled, walking over to him, then stepped over him and just lay down, draping her chest over his. She quickly snuggled up to him, resting her flank on his hindleg with the backs of her claws brushing his tail, and nuzzled into his neck. "This much more comfortable," she purred.
"I not think this is trying sleeping on rock," he rumbled. Not that he was arguing, she was warm and cuddly, and he was enjoying the little licks she gave his neck.
"Maybe you can sleep on me next night, if you not like soft ground," she purred. "Maybe Dreamer would like that also, but he is sleeping now…"
"No he not," Wanderer huffed, nuzzling between her frills and basking in her scent. "He just is good at pretending."
Dreamer's even breathing turned into a light growl on the exhale. "Sleeping is just pretending to sleep until you sleep." Then he huffed. "But I also am listening for threats. You can sleep."
Wanderer warbled gratefully, then lightly clawed across Fleeting's back, finding her itchy places even as he felt himself dozing off. Although, he had a suspicion that he wasn't going to find much real sleep this light; that was fine by him.
Light filtered into the mouth of the den at unfamiliar angles, and birds chirped and twittered outside. Dreamer stared through a heavily lidded eye, inexplicably unable to place where he was, or anything really, his spatial awareness completely absent.
He shifted, feeling the ground crumble to his claws, and thought it strange until he remembered they had spent the night in Fleeting's den. After flying for so long, barely sleeping at all, then flying and playing some more, exhaustion was a potent motivator to sleep whatever the conditions. Not that sleeping in a female's warm, soft den was unpleasant; quite the opposite.
His gaze shifted across the den, locating her a body-length away, lying on her side and watching him sleepily. "Morning," he purred to her, appreciating her lithe, sleek form in her totally relaxed position.
"Mrrr, good," she purred deeply, briefly stretching her legs and arching her back before falling limp again. "Can sleep more…"
Dreamer chuckled. "It not morning," the sky-fire would be shining over the den if it were morning, "it just saying."
Fleeting cracked an eye again. "Morning is saying what?" she warbled, sounding sleepily confused.
"He just being Dreamer," Wanderer grumbled, apparently awake as well. "Not listen him…"
"I not care," Fleeting growled, "I want sleep more…" She groaned, then shuffled and clawed her way over to Wanderer, turning three steps into a painfully tedious process to snuggle in between his paws.
Dreamer closed his eyes again as their purring reached him, the sound making him feel lethargic and restful. "I want lie here all night," he murmured, stretching his forelegs and then tucking himself under his wing. The soft ground was a bit weird, but the scents floating around him were immensely comforting…
He'd also been getting up early, to give Wanderer some time… alone… but then again, Wanderer looked quite content to just curl up around Fleeting. He actually started snoring, though he then purred and tilted his head back when Fleeting slowly licked up his neck.
Dreamer shuddered, closing his eyes again and shuffling his hindlegs. He didn't know how Wanderer could take that so calmly; his own body was moving reflexively, and when merely aware it was happening, not even to himself.
She had fit surprisingly well into their lives. It was difficult to remember a time she hadn't been with them, though that was only a couple of months. And despite the… strangeness of how Nightstrikers apparently nested, it was all just so casual, so easy, a complete lack of stupid drama. They weren't fighting over her, vying for her attention, Dreamer didn't feel jealous when she snuggled up to Wanderer to lick his neck and presumably Wanderer didn't either when she did things with Dreamer. That was his biggest clue that she was right for them, that this was all just so normal.
Normal enough that Wanderer was snoring again, despite Fleeting trying to bait him into something; she leaned back into him, nudged his tail with hers, and nuzzled the head draped over her neck, but he was out cold. She huffed, then crawled out from under him and scooted over to Dreamer, and he wrapped her in his paws with happy, lethargic purrs as she collapsed against him.
Her scent filled his head, strong and musky for having just woken up, before she groomed herself. He could smell himself on her too, though it did nothing to dull her sharp availability. That would probably come later…
She squeaked delight as he held her tightly, nuzzling her head. "I think you like us sleeping here," he purred, and she crooned agreement, happy. "I like sleeping here also…" Not that it had been particularly restful sleep, but it wasn't as if he had any responsibilities to be awake for.
Moving in together… Everything was happening so quickly, but it all felt right, and she sounded so happy, making no argument against the veiled suggestion, and he was happy…
But on the other paw, he wasn't yet accustomed to being around females like this, and his hindquarters were smouldering like a lit forge, which reminded him that this was probably a very good evening to let Wanderer have his lie-in. "We should hunt," he said reluctantly, loosening his grip and trying to nudge her off, then rumbled amusement when she didn't budge. "You normally are up early," he admonished her.
"That because you were out there," she purred. "Now you in here… so I also want be in here…" He huffed, nudging her insistently until she groaned and shifted her head to glare at him through lidded eyes. "Grrr, we can fish… but should groom first."
Agreement, Dreamer chuffed – then squeaked as a long, firm lick ran up his shoulder and neck. "Not what I was thinking," he said breathlessly, but she just purred amusement while she worked, gradually working her way down his front…
He survived it, somehow. Even when he was reminded that dragons were shameless and had few to no boundaries, he managed to survive it, if only because it was nothing he and Wanderer did not do themselves or for each other nearly every night. She was fast, efficient, didn't linger, just got on with it as if it was all a perfectly normal thing to do for someone.
When he was allowed to stand, he inspected himself, finding she had done a good job, he was clean and shiny… and absolutely covered in her scent, but that was to be expected-
He startled a little as she sat on her haunches and glanced expectantly over her back at him. She wanted him to, but he, and then, oh man…
Wrrr… There was nothing to do but just get on with it, he supposed… She purred as he started with her back – it was easier than with Wanderer, he quickly found, because she didn't have any fiddly back-fins to work around. Though when she stretched out on her side, he suddenly found his reservations again.
No, he was determined to do this. He… He wanted to be her mate, for her to be his mate, and he wasn't going to let these stupid human inhibitions hold him back. He was a dragon, for Thor's sake, and it was time to start behaving like one!
Not that his resolve made it any easier, of course, but he vividly remembered her grooming him, every lick still tingling over his scales. He started at her neck and worked his way down, exactly as she had with him, matching what she had done, focusing on keeping the right pace and not the scents at his very snout…
He finished, eventually, stepping back and feeling pretty good about how well he'd managed and how outwardly calm he was keeping himself; inside was a different story, but that was just him being stupid. This was something he needed to get used to, that he wanted to get used to, and he knew that like everything else it would only get easier. It didn't matter that he felt lightheaded and couldn't stop himself from purring.
Fleeting inspected herself with a satisfied warble, then huffed at Wanderer. "Lazywings," she grumbled, padding over to him to settle down behind him and calmly lick at his neck. Dreamer purred at that too, thinking it was good that he would get his turn… even if he seemed half-asleep for it. Though if she was going to be occupied with that for the time being…
"I will catch fish," Dreamer announced, more hastily than he would have liked but calmer than he had any right to sound, and leapt out of the den, so energetic and unexpectedly light on his paws that it almost felt as if he'd been sucked outside. Fishing was the perfect excuse to go sit in the lake for a while… though he hoped that he would become comfortable enough with all this that it wouldn't be necessary for much longer. He was getting there.
Dreamer had a problem with the sleeping pile.
It wasn't that it was uncomfortable. Even just coming out of the hot-season it was very nice to be surrounded by so much warmth, and the soft ground had only taken a single night of exhaustion to adjust to.
It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it. If anything, he might be enjoying it too much; Fleeting's warm, alluring scent constantly at his nose was a perpetual distraction, but again, something he had more or less adjusted to over the last week or so.
It was that, as he roused to something lightly scratching the back of his neck, he could only huff surprise before needing to come to terms with that he wasn't getting any more sleep this light.
Fleeting's hindleg twitched against his head and neck at the sudden breath over her most sensitive scales, but she didn't rouse further. He wondered how they kept getting into this sort of tangle, particularly without him noticing, because this wasn't even the first time. He also wondered how her heady and immensely feminine scent hadn't woken him sooner.
He could only lie there, staring, because there was no point trying to sleep now, until it became too much to bear; he had no idea where the rest of her or most of Wanderer had ended up in the tangle of limbs, and no desire to disgrace himself. Quietly, carefully, he extracted himself from the pile, gradually wriggling out until he could stand.
Yawning widely, he padded out of the den, then shook himself off and took flight. It was still early, not even noon, so maybe he had a chance to get a bit of sleep later. Maybe he'd try catching some fish – heading to the lake was a requirement either way – and running around for a while or something to wear himself out.
He descended into a hard, lethargic landing on the grass by the lake, then started stretching, trying to properly wake up; if he wasn't going to sleep, he was going to be awake. Stupid body… At least he had control of himself, if that part of him worked as it had as a human then-
Distant wingbeats lifted his ears, and he froze at seeing a dark shape heading towards him from the direction he'd just come. In moments, Fleeting had swooped down into a landing and was confidently trotting up to him. Had he woken her? Did she know? What was with her expression…?
She trotted right up to him and nuzzled into his chest, and his legs nearly gave out completely as she rubbed her back against him, purring deeply. This isn't helping…!
Her nose insistently nudged his foreleg, and he hesitantly lifted it – without giving him time to react, she ducked under his torso and bucked, flipping him onto his side, then immediately pounced him, straddling him and digging her claws into his chest to roll him onto his back. "Strange time for catching fish," she growled lightly, glaring down at him.
She knew. Dreamer could only stare up at her, at her slit eyes. He probably could have thrown her off under normal circumstances, but the claws pressed to his chest were sharp, and he was paralysed anyway, frozen in mortification and dread.
"We first flew together sky-ice-cycles past," she said levelly, stern eyes fixed to his. "You are strange males, but… good strange. I know you are good Nightstrikers. I think you know me also." She stood tall and flared her wings, blocking out the sky-fire, her lean form silhouetted against the bright sky. "You seen all I am. All I have. But you," she bore down on him with a growl, "my male, hide from me. That not is fair." Her words put a hitch in his breath and a skip to his heart, but what was she-
Dreamer squeaked as she spun around, planting a hindpaw in the soft of his jaw and forcing his head back into the grass to pin him there. He flailed, but there was weight on his midsection holding him down, preventing him from rolling – and then he failed to stifle a whimper as her warm tongue ran down his underside, from his belly.
He yowled and struggled – this was sudden and unreasonable! – but he'd let himself get into a very precarious position, and his body was betraying him, giving in to her, the continued ministrations too slow and persistent to even pretend it was grooming, warm, sensual, lingering…
This wasn't how he'd wanted to do this, but he wasn't being given a choice, and his already waning control had its limits. He panted in short sharp breaths, defeated, staring at the blades of grass rising up around his head, heart hammering in his chest as her deep purr rumbled into his midsection. Although, admittedly, he didn't really have a plan, or even an idea, for how he would have started any of this.
Maybe she had been trying to get his attention for… wrrr, nights at least, now that he thought about it. The trouble was they were all so affectionate with each other anyway, so it could be difficult to tell the difference. He… hadn't been fair, he supposed – then shuddered as her hot breath blew over his hindquarters. His head was spinning, he felt delirious, exposed, while all he could see was the grass immediately around him, but-
He yelped again, hindlegs flailing, as she did a lot more than just look.
He couldn't think straight, but this was happening, and regardless of how they had got here, he did want this, very much. He clawed at the leg standing on him, she had made her point, he wasn't going to fight this any more and had his own desires to fulfil-! But the claws flexing against his throat reminded him that this wasn't supposed to be fair.
And then she started purring, and any remaining semblance of coherent thought fled his mind.
Wanderer roused to the sound of wingbeats, idly wondering where the warm bodies he'd fallen asleep with had gone; outside, apparently, if they were now returning.
A shadow passed over the entrance to the den, and Fleeting ducked inside a moment later, looking pleased with herself. He purred at her, lifting his head to lean into her nuzzle as she walked past-
He blinked, confused for a moment by his own heavy scent; he didn't remember doing… Then Dreamer staggered in after her, and Wanderer purred understanding. "Dreamer," he warbled mischievously, "I think you confused…" Dreamer paused to stare vacantly at him. "It goes in other end."
Dreamer blinked, uncomprehending. And then his eyes narrowed, and he lunged with a growl. Wanderer sniggered, hiding from the indolent swatting under his wing, then purred happily to himself. This was good. Fleeting would be a wonderful mate, had even just proven herself capable of getting through to Dreamer; that was no small feat. As he had hoped for a while, it was now all but assured.