“Why are you so restless, my dear?”

Princess Alora’s voice was soft, carried away by the wind as she approached the edge of the cliff. Her dragon, Aero, sat perched on the craggy rock, gazing down at the glittering lights of the city below. Her wings, once proud and full of motion, now hung limp at her sides.

It had been years since they had flown together. Once, Aero had lived for the skies—a magnificent wind dragon who could soar faster than the eye could follow. But ever since that night, everything had changed. The night they both lost their children.

Alora stood beside her, her hand gently resting against the curve of her neck. “Do you remember that night?” she whispered, though she knew the answer. Dragons never forgot.

Her own memory was fragmented—screams, blood, pain. Then silence. Deafening, heart-wrenching silence. When she had awoken, pale and trembling, the King had sat beside her bed with a grave expression.

“The child was born grossly defective and full of wounds,” King Agustus had said. “It died as soon as it entered this world. You would have fallen ill at the sight.”

But she had fallen ill anyway. A sickness of the soul. Alora had wasted away in bed for months, unable to eat, unable to breathe without the weight of grief pressing down on her chest. She had never even held her baby—not for a second. Not even a glimpse.

They hadn’t even allowed her that.

Beside her, Aero let out a low, rumbling exhale. She hadn’t flown since. That same night, her egg had been taken from him.

Stolen, just like her child. And just like her, she had never seen it again.

Two mothers. One human, one dragon. Both robbed of the chance to love.

Alora looked up at the stars.

If there is a heaven, she thought, perhaps someone there is holding her…

Perhaps the angels kiss her temple as I never could. Perhaps a small dragon curls around her, warm and safe, as Aero once did to me.

Aero shifted slightly, her long tail curling around himself. Her silver-blue eyes were full of something ancient and aching. Loss.

She stepped closer and laid her head against her, “Do you think… somewhere out there, they found each other?” she murmured.

“Yours and mine? Maybe they’re not alone after all.”

The wind carried her words into the night. No answer came, but Aero leaned into her touch, and for the first time in a long time, Alora felt that perhaps the silence wasn’t empty.

Maybe, just maybe… their children played together in death as they were meant to in life.

Far in the distance, away from human or dragon eyes, Luna and Menorah trudged through the desert, tired and aching. However Menorah wanted to reach a cave that she knew was just a bit away.

“HALT!” A voice shouted, spooking both of them. They turned to find a patrol soldier on his horse, approach them.

“Identify yourself.” He ordered.

“I am Liverna.” Menorah lied, “And this is my daughter Elena. We are going for a vacation..”

“On foot?” he frowned.

“Horses are not cheap and we are poor.” She frowned back.

“At night?”

“It’s hot in the day.” Menorah shrugged, “Have you come to question our vacation itinerary sir?”

This irritated him but he simply got off the horse,“ I want to check your things.”

This brought a shiver to Luna who watched in horror as he began to rummage through Menorah’s bag and then came to her.

“Uh it's just clothing…” She hesitated.

“Bag. Now.” He barked.

Menorah glared at her, as if threatening her into giving the bag.

“Okay..” Luna gave up the bag but watched in growing fear as he rummaged in through it. She expected Chameleon to jump out at any moment but to her surprise, it did not.

“Okay you may leave.” The guard gave them the bags back and they restarted the walk.

Luna was happy to be safe but… if Chameleon wasn’t there… where was he?!