Chapter 80

"Oh, Good Goddess!" Calea covers her eyes as Nye and Aneth throw away the fabrics that bind them. For a moment, I forget how sensitive Calea is to such things, but it was how they were. They didn't shift constantly and wanted to feel more connected to the things around them. I gave Calea her furs, and Ryuu should wear one around his waist, at least. Calea's outfit covered her top and waist. "Is this necessary?!" Calea's cheeks flush, and she hides her face in Ryuu's chest.

Aneth knew how to sew things from animal hide. Of course, the things he caught were made into something for me. I had tons to pick from, so I gave a couple to Calea. "Yes. I'm showing how I lived all those months I was away. Everyone is used to this except you. You might as well experience it, right?" I smile, trying to draw her out a little more. I went to her and led her my hand, "Would you like to see the pool where Ryuu was born?" Calea turns to me, nods, and grabs my hand. I lead her through the trail I took a million times; I feel nostalgic, and I can't help but smile. The shimmering pool looked as beautiful as ever. "This is where I suffered my agonizing hours of labor with my firstborn."

Calea's eyes gleam as she looks in wonder. "Oh Kamari, this is gorgeous…" She steps forward. Koa's voice slips in at that moment: "She had some help." My head whips around to see Koa by my side with a smug smile.

"Ah!" Calea gets spooked and falls into the water. Ryuu calmly walks into the water and picks her up bridal style out of the water. Koa glances at me, "Were you going to tell me you were coming back, or did the thought of me hunting you down excite you?"

I put a finger to my lips, "Shh, don't let Nye hear you flirting with me." Koa unapologetically grabs me by the waist. "He could learn a thing or two," his face gets within inches from mine, "trust me," his smile just oozed trouble. But I couldn't help it, I wrap my arms around his neck if only for moment, "Are you alright?" I try hinting at the situation between him and Ryuu, and he gets what I'm hinting at by the look in his eyes. His gaze turns to Ryuu, a distance in his eyes.

"I won't stop Ryuu. The sea calls out to him. Although I'm not fond of his company." His gaze shifts to Calea, which leads to my next question. "Calea has never done anything to you guys; why are you so aggressive towards her?" He gazes forward as he answers me, "Dragons and Witches have bad blood. The first dragons, our ancestors, were born of elements. Fire, water, Earth, shade, and another, hydra, are all elements."

Hydra? I think to myself. I had never heard of a Hydra. "I'm assuming Hydra's are fairly rare?"

"Only a few. Not like other elements who are plenty." He goes back to my first question, "We had never heard of Magic as Witches had; we ruled over our domains, but soon witches thought it wise to invade our territories, claiming it for themselves. They sucked our breeding grounds dry of their natural essence, leaving us to bare the consequences of near extinction. Dragons retaliated, and a bitter taste for witches never went away."

I stop Koa, placing a hand on his shoulder, "That is awful, but there are two sides to a story, Koa. Calea probably doesn't know this. She wasn't quite fond of learning the ways of her people's magic. It was corrupted; that's why she left." Koa's eyes narrow as he leans into me, "They poisoned the waters on purpose and specifically towards my kind. That is my home, my whelp's home. I will not forgive." I could see the hardened expression in Koa's eyes. What he said was truly awful, and I hoped that maybe one day they could come to a truce because I knew Calea wasn't like those witches. I reach out to stroke his cheek, and grips it, stopping me in mid-motion, he looks me up and down, "Why do you not mate with Nye?" 

His question shortcircuits my brain, "Uh-I," I double-blink, realizing I knew the answer to his question, but Goddess, I didn't want to say it out loud. I sigh and tell him anyway, "I'm not looking forward to having my whelps for only a short time. You have no idea how it feels because it's so natural for you, but for me, I feel they get ripped from my arms far too soon. I hate the feeling. I dread it." I look towards the ground, maybe it was a sad excuse to others but for me it wasn't. Koa brings my wrist to cheek, "Nye's whelps are in your arms longer. Mine are not."

I look up at Koa."Wait, you never speak upon the benefit of Nye." I eye him suspiciously. Koa's face contorts into one of annoyance. "You have no idea the tyrant he's become because of your heat cycle. And frankly, I'm not enjoying being an outlet." I snort laughter, and Koa gives me a half-smile. I knew Nye's resolve would crack, but I thought he would have lasted much longer. "I'll talk to him about you being his "outlet." Maybe he'll punch a tree instead?"

"Doubt it. Nye likes to watch something squirm." As he crosses his arms, Koa says, "Now go, 'cause I'm tempted to snatch you from him." He winks. I turn away from him and go seek out the others. As I walk, my thoughts wander to how I could form alliances with supernatural creatures who have no idea who I am or my true intentions. Calea said it would be difficult, but that didn't deter me. Even though I was out here to relax and not think about this kind of stuff, it just kept hounding me. In the back of my head, I knew it was the Kingdom, the land. My hearthstone appeared without me having to sink my hand into the Earth, which said plenty. Everything I had done thus far was for my Kingdom, and frankly, I was starting to think it was my own Eden–No, I knew it was. It drove me up the wall to think someone got in and hurt someone I loved. Maybe that was a Shade's weakness, consistently thinking of how to protect their territory better. It never left my mind, and I had to bring it up with Mael when I saw him again.

Upon returning to shore, I see Calea lying on Ryuu's lap and Aneth reading something under a tree. The silence feels different here—peaceful, connected with the forest's heartbeat. I don't know where Nye had gone—probably on a flight. I sit on the cool grass, watching and listening to the waves crash upon the shores, and I let it take the hounding thoughts away for a moment.

"So you've healed Aneth, such a shame. I was looking forward to him bringing back your son's head."

The voice in my head makes my blood run cold. My eyes snap open, and I spin around, searching for his voice, my heart pounding like a drum. 

"No matter. I have ways to fix the problem. Does it unsettle you to know I can get in your head? How at any time I can disturb your peace?" His laugh makes my stomach knot up and lights my soul ablaze simultaneously. I dig my nails into the Earth. "Oh, Kamari, don't you know ignoring your guesses is rude?"

"You're not a guest. You're a damn tick that's feeding off decay and destruction. You have no place in the light of life." I spat out and thanked the Goddess that no one could hear me. "Is that so? Well, it seems I still have something to tie up," Javall pauses, "and watch you swing like a dead hog over my rafters." The pure sickness of this man made me want to cleanse the Earth of his existence. 

"You should know better than to come after my family, Javall," my voice turns sinister, "you remember what happened to your brother. And I had no sympathy for my father. And you have the gall to come after my whelps?" I chuckle darkly. "You have no idea what wrath you've just unleashed upon yourself, and you've underestimated the lengths I'd go to protect my own. Do you think you know Fury? You think you know pain?" I feel my blood rush, fueling a natural primal state, one that will kill for her young and show no remorse. "You know nothing of the nightmares I'll bring upon you."