Whitebark Stream The blurred world is filled with dust

A question formed on his tongue, slipping beyond the gates that were his lips and out into the air—

—is Salvatore their father?

The question stilled her, made the dragoness hesitate. She debated whether it was best to answer or allow him to merely assume what he wanted. Which would benefit her young…? Briefly, her gaze slipped from him and down towards her hatchlings, sorrow pooling in their depths as she stared at them. Two boys, her children—set to walk the same path as she and her sisters, a mother to call their own but a father absent. Only this time… this time he was not the one at fault.

Looking back to the leader, she found her voice to be missing. Rather, slowly did she nod her head, confirming that which she was sure he already knew. Only after did her body ease up and she sunk back down to comfort her hatchlings, drawing them close and sharing her warmth. But it was not until the male’s body was beyond her den’s mouth that she allowed her head to rest upon the ground beside them, exhaustion taking hold at last.