"I told Soren to kill the princes."

Claudia froze.

A moment dragged past. Her eyes widened and then she spluttered, laughing. She waved her hand at him, as if she could banish the truth. "Oh, dad! That was just in your bad dreams! When you talked to Soren, y-"

"Claudia, I lied to and hurt the both of you." Viren had never seemed so vulnerable, so tired than that moment. Yet he stayed direct, every syllable weighted with guilt. "I wanted to take the throne, no matter what cost. You heard me right when I told you to retrieve the egg, even if it cost Soren's life. Soren heard me correctly when I told him to kill Callum and Ezran. I- I hurt you terribly, and now to correct the lie, I have to hurt you again. I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Claudia stared in horror. She covered her mouth, taking a step back. Lost, she looked to Aaravos, who inclined his head downwards. "Viren speaks the truth. I knew of most of that."

She even looked at Callum, helpless as she sniffled.

The news may as well have been that water was wet. Callum was unsurprised. "Gonna be honest, that definitely checks out."

"Dad…" Claudia sniffled again. "You should have told me the truth! I… might've come around."

Callum spluttered. "Uh, hey!?" He waved his hand in front of Claudia, between her and Viren's horrified face. "Hi, I'm right here!"

Guiding Callum's hand away, Viren shook his head. "I don't think so, Claudia," said Viren. "I know this journey has been long, and we've all done things we aren't proud of, but when faced with admitting how far I had fallen to try and keep power, I felt that the truth would have lost me you. Back then, I think it really would have."

"Okay, okay, I wouldn't have been alright with that. Sorry Callum." Claudia rubbed her face, wiping her eyes again. "I just wish you hadn't lied. We've only had each other! I've never been able to choose between my family members, though. Even when you created that army, I was so hurt that Soren left, even though I knew why he did."

The years of carrying the lie had been far worse than the impact of finally telling the truth. Viren stood up, weary but finally unburdened, resting a hand on her cheek. He smoothed her hair and brought her into a hug, holding her securely. "I'm so sorry, Claudia. You'll never have to choose between what's right and what's for your family again. I promise."

She hugged him so tightly that some bone in Viren's body cracked and popped. "I love you, dad."

Inwardly, Callum was sure that Claudia didn't really take much time to consider what was right versus what was for her family, but he wasn't going to address it.

He'd known Soren for a little while, and Soren had gotten to be pretty set on his opinion of Viren. Everyone had. Callum hmmed with consideration. "If you think that talking to Soren will help, it might, but I don't think it'll just fix everything. I mean, Soren was onto you before most of us. He finally made up his mind to leave, and now? No offense, but I had trouble not believing you were a different person now."

Claudia glared at Callum over Viren's shoulder. "You're judgy, that's why."

"No, Claudia, he's right." Viren gently squeezed her, stepping back but leaving a hand on her shoulder. "I've finally come to my senses, but Soren has known years of me being cruel. I don't expect to mend things, or even be forgiven, but I have to try. I can't rest until I try."

Terry put an arm around Viren. "You can't guarantee that someone will accept an apology, but you can definitely make it! I think it's a good idea."

Viren gestured to Callum, still guilty. "And, of course, I am sorry for what I've done to you and Ezran. You both were meant to be like family to me. Harrow was my oldest friend, someone I loved like a brother." He sighed. "I've dishonored every good piece of my life, yet I remain alive. All I can do is make better choices, here on out."

"Thanks. It's great to not be assassinated and stuff." Callum rubbed the back of his head. He held out a hand as if he wanted a handshake. "I know what I said about you forfeiting everything about Harrow, but you have been changing, and I don't want to spend my life hating you, not when things are better. After that talk the other day, I mean it's not like you can be Dad Three for me, but I don't hate you anymore, and I appreciate what you said. Uh… is hugging too weird?" He looked down at his extended hand. "Is this even weirder?"

A handshake after growing up around Viren was weird. Viren hesitated. "I admit that I got colder over the years, fearing what others would think of how corrupted I am if they sensed it at all, so I'm really no expert in embraces anymore."

Ah, so it was fear. Viren may as well have been part Moonshadow Elf with how he hid every fear he had until it exploded in his face. Callum could see how Soren had suffered from his father's newfound fear of showing affection after he was corrupted. Claudia was going down the same path herself and didn't mind it, which was in some ways worse. Always hiding the worst of himself, the "weak" spots, the fear, had hurt Viren and everyone around him. Callum could only guess at what kind of fractures his relationship with Harrow had sustained.

He took the lead and hugged Viren, who gasped. They'd never hugged as far as Callum could remember, but it wasn't a bad experience. "You died already. You've been punished enough. If you want to be better to Soren and aren't a threat to anyone, I'll take it."

Viren slowly embraced Callum back, expression still stricken. "Yes, I owe Soren many amends. King Ezran, as well. Even if they never know it, I'm supposed to have been all of you boys' protector and guardian when Harrow died. I'm sorry I wasn't." His arms closed around Callum, still as if he could barely believe the hug was happening.

Aaravos watched with a small smile. "Well, this is touching. The number of children we have to watch over is getting quite out of hand. No offense, teenagers."

"It isn't THAT many," protested Viren.

Terry raised his hand. "Am I included? Or is that too hopeful."

N'than, who had observed quietly the entire time, laughed. "Well, I actually have parents, so I'm good, but I would say you count, Terry."

"Wellllllll," Claudia grinned, eyes no longer moist. She counted on her fingers, "Soren, Terry, me, Callum, Ezran too I guess, just five!"

Viren blanched. "Five. Great."

Aaravos chuckled, warm and deep, as if he was in on some private joke. "You forgot our baby, Viren."

It was as if everyone in the room had their breath stolen.

Their expressions were all rather close, as if everyone was trying to do sudden math to find out how Viren and Aaravos had added up to produce a mystery child. Viren, the supposed father, found his voice again first, wrestling with the concept of having a baby with Aaravos, and at that, a baby he was totally unaware of. " Excuse me?"

"He's grown up so much," cooed Aaravos. "But even if he isn't a baby anymore, he's still ours." He held up Sir Sparklepuff who chittered and flapped his wings happily.

Viren stared, mouth agape. "Oh, OH, you m-meant it metaphorically-"

"No, no, he's biologically our child." Aaravos raised Sir Sparklepuff higher and leaned their heads together. Viren was shocked into silence. "Isn't he cute? He may be a homunculus, but he has a little of my blood, a little of your blood, some magic, and a healthy dose of his favorite grubs, so he's growing up wonderfully. He will start talking on his own soon."

Sir Sparklepuff gurgled.

Callum didn't mean to be rude, and he didn't know where it came from, but the roar of laughter that erupted from his chest overtook him and he cracked, almost keeling over. N'than giggled at Viren's face, but Claudia rushed forward, taking Sir Sparklepuff in her arms.

"No one told me you're my little brother!" She winced. "Oh, I have been sooooo irresponsible." Sir Sparklepuff chortled, long fingers curling around her forearms.

"He is cute!" agreed Terry. He gave Viren a thumbs up. "So six kids then. I believe Your Dadliness will succeed."

The years of isolation weren't healing any time soon. Aaravos still took whatever moments he could to sneak a touch with another living being. He put an arm around Callum's shoulders and chuckled. Callum was still wheezing with laughter. "What, don't you see the resemblance?" teased Aaravos, deep tone light with mirth.

"You waited until you could see all our faces react to that, didn't you?" asked Callum, finally able to compose himself.

Aaravos winked. "Perhaps."

A week prior, it would have been unimaginable to see them all acting like friends. Now, Callum supposed they were walking proof that miracles could happen.

N'than sighed, hands on his hips. "Well, since Viren is awake, I guess this is goodbye, unless you'd like further guidance through the treacherous, wild, untamed, maze of the Uncharted Forest."

Callum shrugged, looking to everyone else. "I mean, it's a long walk, and N'than is conveniently unemployed."

"We'll fly." Viren was pale like he was going to be ill. "It's faster and safer. If I just… get over my problem with it, we'll be fine."

"Woah there," said Terry, gentle as he held up his hands. "You've got a history of passing out a lot when it's about heights. I admire you facing your fears, but now isn't a good time to become a full time bird rider. It's okay that you can't just rush rush rush and be immune to all fears. We don't mind walking."

Callum shivered, remembering how Viren had froze and nearly fallen off his back to his death. "Yeah, we shouldn't do a big trip to start. Maybe we can spend a little time getting you used to flying?"

Aaravos pondered it. "We can practice this afternoon and plan to leave in the morning. It's no time out of our journey anyway."

Viren, who had faced apologizing and discussing his fear directly, still looked like he was going to be sick while standing still on the ground. "It could work. I'll make it work."

With a sly smile, Aaravos caressed Viren's jaw, angling his face up. "Do you trust me?"

"Not when you look like that."

"I'll fly with you. If you need me to land, I'll do so, no questions asked," reassured Aaravos.

Viren tensed his shoulders, scowling. "Fine. Let's get it over with." He followed Aaravos outside of their little camp, watching as Aaravos transformed into his huge bird form. His celestial colored feathers were beautiful in the sunshine, deep purple and almost like gemstones, the light catching off of him in dazzling patterns. He still had white star spots and his underside was like his lightest blue skin tone. He knelt for Viren to get on and held eye contact with Callum and Claudia.

Callum and Claudia heard Aaravos's voice in their minds. We'll be back soon. By the way, N'than may have something to show you.

After years of hearing Aaravos speak out of a caterpillar, Claudia took his disembodied voice in her mind remarkably well. "N'than? Do you have something for us to go see? I hope it's peanuts. I miss peanut butter."

Viren approached apprehensively, as though Aaravos was a skittish horse. He crawled onto Aaravos's back, worry across his face as he gripped a few sturdy feathers. There was room for at least three people on Aaravos's back, but he kept glancing around despite the extra room.

N'than snapped his fingers. "Oh, I do have something for you all! Come with me! It might kill you."

"What?!" Viren exclaimed. Aaravos chose that second to take off with a powerful stroke of his wings, soaring smoothly above the treeline of the forest, just the two of them leaving the others behind. Viren's knees locked, digging into Aaravos's sides and back. Viren's fists were sweaty around the feathers he was grasping and the sensation of movement under him and wind against his face as they flew made him tremble.

Viren laid down against Aaravos's back, heart pounding. Even though he was braced for it, even though he'd agreed to it, even though he knew he was with Aaravos and not just a wild creature that might throw him off for fun, Viren made a soft noise of distress, eyes screwed shut.

Viren. Aaravos spoke to him in his mind as they flew. I'm going to land.

Their landing was perfect and Viren grit his teeth, hating himself for not even lasting a minute. Aaravos had found a rocky plateau to land on near Umber Tor, somewhere flat and safe to walk around on if Viren desired.

"Damn it," muttered Viren. "Again."

This is useless if you don't relax first. Sit up and breathe.

Viren sat up, harshly exhaling. He adjusted his seat, making sure he wouldn't be in the way of Aaravos's wingbeats. He stared blankly ahead at the treetops. In. Out. In. Out. His heart calmed down as he physically forced himself to slow down. Aaravos preened under him, black beak and piercing eyes disappearing under a wing as he ruffled his own feathers. Viren watched, fascinated. "Do you enjoy being a bird?"

It's a nice change of pace. Aaravos mused in Viren's mind. Do you miss my handsome, beautiful face already?

He scowled, but even the small conversation had distracted him enough to feel calmer and ready to try flying again. "No need to remind me of how charismatic you are." If Aaravos ever found out about his presence in Viren's fever dream, he'd never live it down. "Let's go."

Another strong, seamless takeoff. Viren clung to Aaravos as they flew, barely keeping down a sudden influx of acid in his throat. His mind went back to the fall from the Stormspire against his will and he seized up, mouth open in a silent scream.

You cannot control how you feel. The deep voice in his mind cut through the flashback. Your physical reactions, the way your mind disobeys you, all of these things can't just be willed away. But you can push through and let others help. You know the Ocean. You know there are depths out of your control. It's okay.

Viren forced himself to breathe deeply. Vibrant trees passed below them, the hues of autumn beautiful from the sky. Greens and warm colors blended together and Viren closed his eyes, trying to hide his panicked tears.

It's okay. Aaravos was gentle, coasting on updrafts. Are you feeling better?

No.

He shook his head, eyes still shut. "You're making this as easy as possible and I still can't get over it. Stupid, stupid," Viren muttered.

Aaravos landed again, finding a grassy little knoll to settle down on. He knelt, letting Viren blindly slide off, fists balled with frustration, stress forcing bitter tears to his eyes. He was glad it was just the two of them, that Claudia and Callum weren't witnessing him break down over such a small thing as flying. Viren hid his face in his sleeve, gasping for breath.

Perhaps you have the wrong goal. Aaravos guided Viren under his wing, snuggling him close. Viren shakily sat down. He was in no position to argue or pretend he was alright. Aaravos rested his head in Viren's lap, curled around him protectively. You don't need to no longer feel or show fear. You need to not make it worse by berating yourself for it.

There were lots of things Viren hadn't had on his list of things to do that day. One of them was discover that he'd sort of had a child with Aaravos. The other was be cuddled by Aaravos as a giant bird. However, the private embrace was helping. Aaravos's feathers and warm body were comforting to lean into and Viren let his body go limp against him, the large wing like the coziest blanket over him. When Viren opened his eyes, he took in the blue sky above them, wishing that being in the clouds above didn't terrify him so badly.

"Do you have a fear you have to face?"

Aaravos didn't answer his query immediately. He made a demanding chirp. Pet me.

Viren laughed low in his chest, stroking Aaravos's head in his lap, smoothing down the feathers around the huge purple crest. "Well, what is it?"

Being alone.

Oh.

Ouch.

Viren frowned, hands still in Aaravos's soft feathers. "I'm sorry. You were tortured for centuries. Yet, you put on quite a convincing front."

Our entire arrangement is tentative. Everything I have is fragile. This fear is difficult to manage, but it cannot control my actions. It is also not something I can will away despite all of my power. You cope, Viren. You can scream, cry, curse, throw up, or do whatever else you need to do to get used to flying even if you're afraid. Bravery is facing fear, not eradicating it.

"Thank you for granting me permission to throw up." Sarcasm aside, Viren got serious again. "But you're right. I had to accept what used to drown me. It didn't go away, but I could breathe through it."

It wasn't enough to only address his own worries.

"Aaravos…" Viren felt awkward about it, but it seemed the right thing to do. He rested his forehead against Aaravos's, eyes locked on Aaravos's wilder ones in this form. "I don't know what the future will bring, but I don't want to leave. Never would I have guessed how happy I'd be with you, and how much I'm beginning to care for you in return." Aaravos pressed into Viren's touch.

I care for you too. Let me prove it.

Sometimes a family was… whatever this was.

He'd think about it more when Aaravos didn't look like a bird.

Viren stood back up and got situated on Aaravos's back again. He didn't force down the butterflies in his stomach or put on a brave face. He gulped, hanging on tight. "Alright."

Aaravos took off once again and Viren screeched. Screaming didn't offer much relief, and he got a flash of the sensation of falling despite being safely carried.

Focus on me. Focus on what you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. We're nowhere near the Stormspire. We are rising, not falling.

The colors of the forest under them came into focus. Viren didn't just cling to but absorbed the feeling of feathers in his hands and the strong but steady movements of the creature under him. He still sweated as they climbed higher in the sky. Viren took deep breaths of cool air, taking in the breeze whipping his hair and the sound it and Aaravos's wings made in his ears.

Well?

"I hate this." Viren sat up more comfortably, nervous but not in danger of passing out or getting sick. "But I can do it. If I ride with anyone else, I'll let them help me." He didn't want to admit he needed help, but Aaravos was right.

Aaravos leaned and banked into a wide turn, guiding them back towards camp. Good. It'll get easier with time.

Easier, but perhaps never not a barrier.

They overshot where camp was, but Aaravos was able to sense where Claudia and Callum were. They landed close by, coming into a clearing with the now familiar, huge drake inside of it.

N'than, Callum, Claudia, Terry, and Sir Sparklepuff were all gathered in a circle around a small object. The drake was near them, watching intently. She raised her head and growled as Viren and Aaravos approached, but once N'than waved Viren and Aaravos over she relaxed.

"Look!" said N'than. "It's starting."

The object of interest was sitting in a little nest on the ground.

An egg.

Cracks formed in the shell as everyone watched. They started small but grew as the baby inside got more and more determined to be free. It rocked back and forth until a tiny claw poked through, and with it more of the shell fell away as a leg protruded from the shell. Finally, the rest of the egg broke open, revealing the baby drake sitting on the ground. It made a squeaking sound and yawned, rolling onto the grass.

"Awwwwwwwwwww!" Claudia squeezed Terry's hand. "It's soooooo cute! You think we could keep it?"

Terry raised his eyebrows. "Well, I think we should ask his mother about that."

The drake apparently did have an opinion to give. She leaned close and nudged N'than towards the newborn. He stumbled a bit but stepped forward, looking down at the drake. "Oh, me? Maybe this is how things will be with drakes and Earthblood elves from now on. A new era of peace and friendship." He bent down and carefully picked up the baby dragon. It sniffed him, tail almost trying to wag. "He is very cute."

Callum had seen a dragon hatch before, but the experience never got old. "He's adorable. I wish Ez was here to get to see it." He carefully reached over and pet the dragonling, watching as it sniffed him too. "Hey, he likes me!"

"Here." N'than passed the drake to Callum, picking off a piece of eggshell.

The drake was mostly white with a green back. Its eyes were big and it moved clumsily, endearing in every way. Callum assumed that horns and more patterns would come later as it grew up. He hugged it, but then got an even better idea. Callum turned to Aaravos. "Hey, you should hold him too. I think you might change your mind about dragons."

"Hm." Aaravos took the tiny drake in his hands. "Well, little one?"

The baby bit him immediately.

Aaravos hissed, shoving the dragon back at Callum. Claudia and Terry both thought it was funny, trying not to laugh as Aaravos wiped his barely bleeding wrist on his clothes. "See? Hopeless."

"No no, he's just a baby, they're prone to bite anyone!" Callum gently bounced the drake in his arms. "Try again?" Callum held the baby so it faced Aaravos and gave Aaravos his biggest doe eyes. "Please? Make friend?"

Aaravos reluctantly took the drake again. It angled its head at him. Instead of biting, the dragonling pawed at Aaravos until he let it lean its head on his shoulder, dozing. Aaravos stared at it, as if the baby was somehow more foreign than his own presence in Xadia. He cautiously rubbed the top of its head and it made a soft cooing sound in response.

"See?" said Callum. "We all need time to get over first impressions."

"I suppose." Aaravos still sounded apprehensive.

"It's cute," insisted Callum. "Admit it's cute."

Claudia nodded eagerly. "You can't lie, right? You have to say it's so cute."

Viren sighed. "They're right. That is one of the cuter creatures I've ever seen."

Terry jumped up and down. "It's so precious!"

Aaravos carefully handed the baby back to N'than, caving with the pressure. "Fine, it is cute. The other dragons in this forest aren't so bad either."

Callum could settle with baby steps.

N'than held the drake close, looking to its mother and then back to the drake. "Well, it seems I have a drake to help raise now, and someday I'll be a rider. Works out, huh? I hope you don't die a horrible death from all the other hazards in this forest on your way out."

Viren exchanged a glance with Aaravos. "We'll fly. I know I can manage."

Sir Sparklepuff chittered and held out a bug in his hand to the baby drake. The drake snapped it up with a chirp. Sir Sparklepuff looked up at everyone. His voice was barely intelligible and more of a rasp or screech than anything, but he tried. "Cute!"

It was the least cute thing Callum had ever heard, but it was worth it to see the baffled look on Viren's face.

Claudia clapped her hands. "Let's go home."

Home.

Some of them could call Katolis, or at least somewhere, a home.