Ember of Hope

It was like being sucked into a whirlwind of colors and wind. First time Raegan entered the portal she wasn’t conscious but now she knew by experience exactly how it felt to travel between worlds or dimensions or whatever they were. Inside the portal was warm and there were beautiful shimmering colors whirling in smoke like patterns all around her. And suddenly she felt like she was pushed forward and found herself standing on a platform she remembered all too well from when she had left Evreux to go back to her old life.

The platform was a raised floor of a shining glass like substance she didn’t know about. And two pillars of the same substance were meant to make an entrance. She could still see the shimmer of the portal swirling in the space between the pillars like a veil. Two steps down the gravel path; lined with shady trees on both sides, lead into the first town of Evreux – her destination.

She was still nervous at the prospect of meeting Valiance. It seemed somehow monumental to her. She needed to hurry though, because Sarah was waiting for her. When she heard loud voices of vendors she realized with a jolt that she’d been walking all this time thinking about Valiance and didn’t even notice when she reached the market. She glanced around the market which was bustling with routine activity giving her a kind of solace she’d been missing.

Everything was same as Raegan had left it. Of course everything was same; it’s only been months since she was last here. But it felt like a lifetime to her. A lifetime away from home. This felt like home. The feeling of belonging had returned.

She needed to find someone who could bring Sarah in. she had just started towards one of Nina’s friends, when a high pitched squeal forced her to turn around. And surely, Nina was running towards her with eyes wide with disbelief.

“Is it really you Raegan? Or am I hallucinating”. Nina threw herself at her knocking the breath out of her.

“No silly, I sent my ghost to check in on you guys”. She hugged her back tightly making Nina gasp. “Raegan you’re chocking me”. She released her with a laugh. “Man you’re strong”.

“Nina where’s others? Damien and Val? I need to see them”.

“Sure you do” she said with a mischievous smirk “they must be in the arena. Let’s go. Master Valiance is going to be so happy to see you”. Raegan’s stomach turned into a nest of butterflies.

Nina grabbed her hand and started dragging her in the direction of the first carriage they could see.

“I still can’t believe you’re back. How was everything back in your world?”

“Oh everyone was out of their minds when they saw me. They had declared me dead after searching for me everywhere”.

The moment they entered the arena, her eyes had automatically started searching for the one she needed to see the most. There – there he was in all his dark glory – at the far end of the arena. Staring into space while next to him Damien and Fenrys were busy trying to flip each other. Nina ran towards them yelling her head off. “Master valiance, Master valiance look who’s here”. Nina was breathless by the time she reached them and yet Raegan couldn’t get her feet to move from the doorway.

Everyone’s head turned in her direction and Damien and Fenrys both started towards her. But still, Valiance sat there looking at her – disbelief etched in his eyes. She found herself walking towards him then.

“Valiance” she whispered once she reached him; looking in his eyes.

“You came back” there was disbelief in his voice too.

She touched his face to reassure herself more than him. “Yes – yes I came back”.

“I thought…” she didn’t get a chance to find out what he thought as a deep growl sounded just behind her. She whirled around to see a wild eyed Damien sniffing the air with his snout inches from her neck. She jumped back. “Damien what the hell are you doing?”

“Where is she?” Damien growled

“Where is who?” she was confused.

“I can smell her on you, where is she?” he almost looked like a feral beast. If she didn’t know better, her heart might have jumped out of her throat just yet. His words were hard to understand under the onslaught of his beast. Valiance was suddenly between her and his best friend pushing her back with a talon. She stumbled.

“Sarah” she mumbled as she remembered about her friend.

“Oh shit, I forgot. Valiance – my best friend – Sarah – she came with me. But I only had one talisman so I asked her to wait just outside the portal so I could send someone back to fetch her and then I totally forgot. She’s gonna be so angry, oh my God.”

“I’ll go” Damien started towards the doorway like there were hellhounds chasing him. Raegan couldn’t reach him so she yelled “Damien wait. Please stop”.

“You can’t go Damien. You’ll just scare her away. You can’t shift. Listen to me”. Valiance was standing in front of Damien blocking his way. Raegan reached him, “Damien please understand! she’ll just freak out at the sight of a dragon. Let Fenrys go in his human form. I’ve told her everything but she still hasn’t seen anything. Okay?” she put her hands on both sides of his face. “Calm down. Don’t rush her okay? First let her get accustomed to all of this. I promise I’ll help you. You won’t be alone.” Damien had closed his eyes and was breathing hard trying to control himself. By far Damien was the easiest dragon to deal with so this side of him had her heart ache for him.

“Don’t touch her” he growled at Fenrys who rolled his eyes in answer.

“Easy man, I don’t wish to, I got a beautiful mate waiting for me back at home. Besides I don’t have a death wish; either at your hands or my mate’s”. He grinned and stalked towards the clothes stands.

When Fenrys came back in his human form and clothed, Raegan handed him the talisman for Sarah and they all headed towards the portal.

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