My dearest {Ghost/K'tar}

[Simile]

Chantrea understood that the war was a part of resolving the issues going on now... but that didn't mean she had to like it. In fact, quite the opposite. AS it were, she would rather not have such a thing separating her family - her real family. Her mate and their little boy. Chalitar was only six months old, but he didn't have a strong immune system. His mother was exceedingly careful with him at all times. And she took him to the infirmary regularly to be checked on. She was probably considered paranoid by now - especially considering that she was constantly taking him there for even the smallest possible thing that arose that was wrong. He sometimes had a hard time eating, but he was getting better, slowly. He was developing a bit more slowly and was oh so small for his age. There was always some concern... but she kept doing her best. There was no way she would let him be in the creche with the other children when they could so easily get him sick. So he spent his days almost continually with his mother, either in a sling held against her while she had to work, in the crib while they rested or somewhere nearby...

I think that they are returning, mine. her dragoness said, looking up from where she was curled. A little moonlight who still hadn't risen, which was not necessarily viewed as a bad thing in her rider's eyes.

Speaking of her rider, the woman looked down at her little son. "Your daddy is going to be home... we get to be together as a family tonight..." She smiled softly, stroking the sleepy little baby boy's head as she walked with him around the weyr, bouncing him gently up and down to keep him happy and soothed. He looked an awful lot like his father to her... She missed him right now. She really hoped that Valhauth was right.

Valhauth crooned. Viarht? the moonlight called, practically wriggling with excitement. Every time they came back was joyous and every time they left was heartbreaking... because one never knew what might happen.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

No one had woken up and expected an attack. No one had woken up and known that there would be fire and devastation and falling rocks in the sky. No one had woken up that morning and said ‘’today I intend to face death’. K’tar fancied he could still smell the smoke, though that could have been simply from the fact that his clothes were singed.

We come, Viarth assured Valhauth, although the words were low and slow with exhaustion. Like rider like dragon, both too tired to stand.

They are gone, for now, at least. Viarth backwinged carefully, though he still seemed to fall out of the sky and into the entrance to their weyr.

“Chantrea?” K’tar called, sliding off Viarth’s shoulder to nearly land in a heap and then staggering in, banged up, bloody bandages in place on his shoulder, and still smelling of smoke.

[Simile]

Valhauth crooned to her mate, moving over so that he could land, though he still seemed to fall. She moved closer, gently nudging and nuzzling him, licking his cheek gently, as if trying to give him some comfort. Good... Let us hope they do not return... Are you okay? she asked him, nuzzling him again, giving soft croons. 

Chantrea wasted no time, holding Chal carefully as she came to the entrance of their weyr. "I'm right here, K'tar," she said, stopping when she saw the shape he was in and gasping. "Oh... K'tar..." she didn't like seeing him looking so injured. Surely she had seen worse, and yet nothing scared her more than the possibility of losing him. She came closer to him more slowly, holding Chal carefully with one hand and reaching out to carefully touch his cheek with the other. "Oh K'tar..." she felt the tears in her eyes. "I missed you..." she said more softly, wishing deeply and sorely that he didn't have to go out and fight. This war... why did they have to start a war? Why? Why in Faranth's name?

"Come here and sit down..." She reached down for his hand to guide him along. She had to take care of him, which meant making sure he had been properly caring for his wounds. "Did you already report in...?" she asked him softly. "I'll see if someone can come look at your shoulder..." She gently touched his face again, still carefully cradling Chal in one arm. She wanted to hug him, but she was afraid of hurting him right now, but she couldn't hide the tears she fought to hold back. this was hard. It was as hard as when her family had captured her. When she had chosen to betray them... it didn't come close to the stillborn baby though... No... only a very few things could... and one of them was... No she would never allow herself to even think it. She swallowed, worry visible on her face before she could try to smooth it over all together. "K'tar. I love you," she said finally, leaning forward carefully to kiss him. "Very much."

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Viarth crooned quiet reassurance, settling in closer to Valhauth, almost seeming to make of his body a wall with which to protect his mate from the world. It felt good, to lay here close to her, to know that she was safe and well. Yes, I’m ok… now.

A smile stretched across K’tar’s face as Chantrea appeared, as she reached out to touch his cheek. This, this was what he fought for, bled for. This was what, if it came to that, he would die for. This and friends. Let his family and his friends be safe, and he would pay whatever price that took. Without his conscious intention, K’tar’s arm reached up and wrapped around Chantrea’s shoulders, as he followed her in, sat down where she directed. He was far too tired to do otherwise.

“Yeah, I did. You don’t have to worry, they already did.” His words were tired, his throat scratchy. The medical help had been triaging mostly. He could live with a scratchy throat. “I love you too,” he whispered, pulling her gently closer after she kissed him, cradling her against him. Slowly, he slipped a hand up and brushed her hair back. “We’re safe now,” he breathed.

[Simile]

Valhauth nuzzled him more, giving him gentle kisses every now and again. How could she ever say enough she had missed him so deeply and dearly. I don't want you to have to leave again... she said, giving a quiet little warble followed by another soft croon as she finally started to settle down, curling up tightly against her Viarth. She was so happy that he was here, but so worried about him leaving again - what if they didn't come back next time.

Chantrea felt the warmth of K'tar's arm, grateful for it, grateful he was here - he was home, safe. And she was crying again, still holding Chal carefully with one arm as she lead him to a bench with the other. She knew he was tired, but he needed to get cleaned up a bit or at least changed. The smell of smoke clung to him and she was almost certain his clothing looked singed. He would need a new flight jacket... She didn't know if she would be able to get him one before he had to leave again, but she hoped that he would be off duty at least for awhile. Able to stay here with her and their baby. "I missed you... I missed you so much," she said, her voice cracking a bit as she tried to stop the tears, wiping at them with her free hand, the other still holding their baby.

She swallowed and nodded. "Good... you don't need an infection." He was so tired... and his throat was scratchy. She should get him something to soothe it. She leaned against him, looking down at Chal who started to whine, reaching out to grab at his mother's hair, eyes looking up at his father wide-eyed and curious. Chan leaned into him, resting against him thankfully, feeling his hand brushing her hair was so soothing. "Yes... Please... stay safe.." she whispered quietly, looking up at him, her expression searching his fora moment before gently touching her lips to his. "I'm so glad you're home." she leaned into him again, one hand gently tickling the fussy little baby she held. She wished he hadn't been so fussy... or that he would sleep if she put him down, but he seemed to be very much awake right now.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

I don’t want to either, Viarth admitted, quietly. I like being here with you. He stretched out as much as possible. He and Valhauth were roughly of a size, but he was still determined to make the best blanket of himself that he could for her. Slowly, he extended the wing nearest her, making a shield of it.

K’tar’s eyes started to crinkle in a smile as Chalitar gazed up at him. Sure, the baby made for complications to those plans (say rather thoughts) that were never far from some parts of his mind, but there was still that sense of wonder, that this little human was part his.

For a moment, when Chan’s lips met his, K’tar gave in to temptation and deepened the kiss. He grinned as she tickled the baby and leaned into him again. “I’m glad to be home too,” he said.

“Should probably just go to bed,” he continued. “Won’t be the first time I’ve slept in my clothes.” A faint smile then, at some inner memory. That habit had used to drive to distraction his parents’ servants to distraction, and had been one of many things that Lord Holder Famoran had tried to get him to stop doing on the (extremely frequent) occasions when Kalitar had turned up essentially unannounced to spend the night hanging out with Jatheiron.

[Simile]

Valhauth crooned again, crushing herself more tightly to Viarth's side. Her eyes whirled as she quietly took in his presence - his nearness for the moment. I like you here with me... I know you're safe. I can feel safe. She gave him another little lick, humming softly a if singing to him.

While Chantrea often wished that she could have a break from caring for Chal, she never actually seemed to take one. The baby was precious and he needed the utmost care. His twin had been stillborn and it still hurt Chantrea deeply. She knew for awhile she had been distant towards K'tar... but that rift had healed with time, and with little Chal around... and now she had to sit by as her mate went off to the war. It was almost too much. She couldn't lose him. But maybe, maybe, while he was here, she would have to see about finding time for just hte two of them...

Chantrea couldn't help it, returning that deepened kiss, leaning into him a bit, but having to be careful of the baby. "I hope you get to stay for awhile... maybe tomorrow we should... take Chal down to the creche or have someone look after him... so we can have some time to ourselves?"she said softly.

She frowned. "At least take off your outer clothes..." she said with a sigh, looking up at him. She gently touched his lip. "What are you thinking about?"she asked him softly, curious. Chal gave another gurgle and started fussing again. He liked being held, but the smell of smoke was starting to bother him and Chan sighed. "Let me see if I can lay him down," she said softly, kissing her mate briefly once more before walking over to the cradle that they had gotten for him, rocking him quietly for a moment before laying him down and giving him a toy which he took from her, looking a bit wide eyed.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Viarth tried to stay awake, really he did, but it was so hard, and he was tired… Slowly, his wing settled, until it rested on Valhauth like a blanket of membrane and thin bone, as his blue-green whirling eyes were slowly hidden behind their lids. Somehow, even in sleep, he managed to croon.

“Sure, if you think he’d be ok,” K’tar replied, giving a slight smile to the tiny human. “No deep thoughts, really, just remembering back home… I used to head out after dark and just turn up at Jatheiron’s place. Lord Famoran just gave me a copy of the keys at one point, I was knocking on the door so often. It used to annoy him, that I didn’t ever want to just put on pajamas and go to bed.”

K’tar grinned. “Of course, I could sleep in the next day, since my parents didn’t really care where I was, whereas Jatheiron was supposed to get up early and do things.”

A soft laugh, muffled slightly by the tunic he was pulling over his head, exposing the undershirt, which… was just as dirty as the tunic. Sighing, K’tar pulled it off as well, then flopped out on the bed, watching Chan with little Chal. So strange, to think that he’d been that small once.