[For Sam] Healer & Dragon

[carrythetorch]

It had all gone wrong this time. In retrospect, Lio thinks maybe he'd been going too hard. He was on the brink of exhaustion, and his latest raid on livestock had been met with more resistance than it should have, almost as if someone had known he was coming.

He'd gotten away, thankfully, but not before he'd taken a number of blows -- arrows shot from crossbows with enough power that they'd pierced even through his scales. He'd ripped them out in flight and set the better part of a fallow field on fire before he'd flapped high enough to disappear into the cloud cover. That had been what saved him. It wasn't long before he couldn't keep himself aloft any longer, too much pain, too much blood lost.

Even maintaining his full draconic form is too much, and as he plunges to the Earth and tries to slow his descent with his wings, he fizzles back into his human shape, a lithe, slender man. His clothes are dark enough that the blood soaking them isn't obvious from a distance. He lands in a crumpled pile not far from a road through the woods, just off the trail in the underbrush. And that's the last thing he knows.

...

When he opens his eyes next, he's warmer than he expects to be. There's soft blankets beneath him and over him. He can smell something clean and earthy, herbal maybe, and light spills in setting the whole room in a comforting brightness and-- wait. He's in a room. The last thing he remembers is falling, and, oh.

He sits up all at once, hissing at the way his body protests the movement. Where is he? Has he been captured? Except no, if he'd been captured he'd be bound. Or dead. Maybe staked through to the ground. Not wrapped in soft blankets and tended to. "Where am I?" He asks the question mostly to himself as he blinks against his bleary vision willing it to clear, willing his eyes to focus.

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[carrythetorch]

Lio risks a glance down to see Galo, to make sure that he's still safe. But that's as much as he can spare with Kray coming for him, and keeping Kray's attention is the most important thing he has to do.

"We'll see who's stronger." And maybe Kray's fire is stronger. The gods only know what he's done in draining so many of the other dragons of their fire. Has it affected him? What is he capable of? Lio doesn't know if he'll survive this fight, but that doesn't matter. If he can buy Galo enough time, that's all he needs to do.

"This isn't forward. This is murder!" And Kray is the real monster at the end of this fairy tail.

He's struck full on by the larger dragon, roaring out his frustration as he tumbles in the air before righting himself before he strikes ground and launching back at Kray. "I won't let you condemn this world!"

[barenakedspirit]

Kray streaks down like a blazing comet intent on getting a savage blow with the force of his body.

It never happens.

A web of wind and water wraps around him and binds him in place. The circle of fire blazes with light as Galo steps up the chains, the hood of his robe doing nothing to hide the determination of his face. “Kray Foresight, ancient dragon from before the present era, murderer of countless healers and mages, dragons, and elementals. Your judgement is at hand.”

He walks onto the air as if it were just more ground. It’s clear from the blaze of his eyes, it’s not Galo speaking anymore. His voice makes the earth shake beneath them. “You have proven you will only misuse the gifts given to you. For what you have done and what you could do the balance is addressed as thus,”

He rams the staff down and ancient words and lines spread out to form a vast blazing circle in the air. Lio in one small circle, himself at the heart, Kray in another. A smaller fourth circle. “Long it has been since such a thing must happen. But happen it must. Your judgement is a mortal, powerless, human life.”

Spears of light erupt from all directions and rip through Kray tearing the fire out of him. He is reduced to the man they always saw.

The fire blazes away in the fourth circle as Kray screams. The Voice that is Galo watches him as his hood is ripped back away from his face. His eyes are twin blazes of ruby red fire. “Dragons must be restored. The damage you did must be addressed as well.” The fire around Galo and the staff flows out away from him.

It is the staff that speaks this time in a soft voice. ‘Are you sure, young healer?’ Galo grins and nods. “Yeah. Best way to address this. Don’t you think?”

‘This too it has been a long time since such has happened.’ Galo looks at Lio as Kray is sent down to the earth still pinned by spears of light. “There’s too few dragons. He was an old dragon. There’s enough here to address the damage and address that too. But we need your permission.”

He looks out over the world then to Lio’s face. “I’m the healer your people need...if you’ll have me.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio is braced for the blow, and he is not ready for what comes in its place. His wings flare to bring himself up short as he watches Kray bound up in water and air. Then hears that Voice, speaking with Galo's mouth, but not the gentle, human healer that he met. The Voice is ancient, coming from somewhere deep within creation itself.

He watches the fire be torn from Kray, watches it roil in the fourth circle.

Lio can barely breathe as he watches, even more so when Galo finally speaks to him in his own voice. There's a flicker of relief as he sheds his full dragon form into his hybrid form, smaller and more human shaped, but wings still keeping him aloft. He chances moving closer to Galo to hear him.

He's... Ah. One hand settles at his own chest, where he can still feel the flame that Galo gifted him earlier. "You were already mine, Galo Thymos. But yes, I'll have you. My people will have you. We'll welcome you as one of our own."

[barenakedspirit]

Galo smiles and it lights up his eyes.

'Then Galo Thymos...your time as a human is setting.'

He grins. "Let's do it. Galo Thymos has always had a burning soul! We're just making sure everyone knows it!" The stone staff hits the circle with a bell like chime. All of the lines pulse as his pact tattoos unwind and touch the circle, adding more lines glowing their unique color. Only Lio's remains as he crosses his arms.

The fourth circle and his connect, the flames pouring into him in a blazing torrent. His human form shatters leaving a blue inferno in its place. It spins together into a long winding serpentine shape. He shakes himself once, his mane rippling with fire. His pact tattoos wind over him, adding new colors to the edges of his scales until he looks like the sky when dusk is falling.

Galo exhales flames and they slide through the lines to the opening circle. Flames condense into round eggs gleaming like the sun rise and sun set. The eggs float as the circle fades away. He flies forward and wraps himself around them, descending slowly. His horns look a lot like his old staff. A necklace that looks suspiciously like said staff in wooden beads form is wrapped around his neck. "Okay! This is different."

[carrythetorch]

Lio's wings flare open, drawing him back a couple feet as those changes begin, watching in rapt and undisguised awe as that fire pours in, as Galo's entire form changes. His eyes widen now, and he takes in the sight of him.

Beautiful, really. Lio can't look away from the colors of his scales.

And then he sees the eggs.

Still in his half-human form, Lio makes his way down to where Galo is descending as well. "Galo?" He approaches. "Are you okay? What are..." Those. The eggs. What are those.

Lio realizes Kray is still nearby, and they will need to do something about him. For the moment that can wait. The Voice that had spoken through Galo stripped the other man of his power, after all. Judgment has been passed.

[barenakedspirit]

“I’m fine! Feels weird but I’ll get used to it.” Galo rumbles as they finally land. Kray is staring at him but Galo ignores him, shifting his body to keep the eggs safe.

The Voice of the world ebbs but not without the answer he needs to tell Lio. “Once I became a dragon, world mixed the fire present and created these eggs. I didn’t get a say but I’m not complaining.”

He gently lays his hand against the top most egg and moves it gently to nestle among the others. “I barely remember mom but, I’ll do my best to teach them about their grandma and all that stuff.” He lifts his head and notices the town have gathered near his ward’s edge in open shock and awe.

Kray is still bound and the judgment passed. He peers at them warily, shifting his bulk so the eggs are protected and says, “Gonna leave Kray to these people and go back to the forest. Sound good?”

He made his pact with his forest and even bigger and an elemental he will keep it. He spots other members of the Burning Circle coming out into the open, working on his ward. “We’ll leave the rest to the captain.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio approaches, taking a slow walk around Galo, taking him in in his new form, his new shape. Oh it really does suit him, doesn't it? The newest dragon to join their flock. And those eggs, Lio reaches a hand out towards them before drawing it back.

He looks up to offer Galo a faint smile. "I'm sure you'll be a good father," he murmurs quietly, for Galo's ears only. Not for Kray. Not for the gathering crowd at all.

His gaze snaps to Kray at the mention of the other man, eyes narrowed. No longer a dragon. Powerless and laid bare for what he's done. "Yes. Let's go. Justice has been done here." It's astounding in a way. This is the moment everything changes. His people... they can start learning to live again. "I'm ready."

[barenakedspirit]

Galo holds up his hands and his necklace peels away from his neck to form a carrying basket. He transfers the eggs to it and secures it just as the other members of the Burning Circle reach them. He locks eyes with Ignis, Captain.

Better known as Archdruid. The man nods as the druids surround Kray. “Go home, Galo.”

“On it, sir.” He says as he secures the basket and launches into the sky. He tucks the basket up against himself and once Lio is with him he takes off for the Forest, winding through the air.

He doesn’t talk until they reach his clearing once more. “Home.” He murmurs as he descends down. The forest greets him with curling branches and gentle rustling. His home expands to accommodate to his new draconic self as he flows inside and gently sets the basket down in a depression made just for it. Then the basket slips away leaving the eggs to rest against the warm earth. He curls around them, fanning them with his flames.

“You know some of these look like you do now.” He points a claw at the eggs that mirror Lio’s current coloring.

[carrythetorch]

Lio follows Galo in silence. It's still hitting him that this happened, that Kray has been neutralized. This is real. His people have a future. The human healer, the human mage that took him in and saved his life has become one of them. A dragon.

And those eggs.

Lio steps inside to Galo's newly roomier house, stepping inside and looking around. He looks dazed, like it's impossible still to wrap his mind around what's happened. Galo's voice draws him back to the present. "Like me?" His wings flair open for a moment before tucking against his back and he steps in closer to look. "What does that mean?"

[barenakedspirit]

“It was our fire mixed in that circle.” Galo says as he changes to a mid-form himself. He still looks like the sky at sunset, all blues and purples edged in gold. His wings flare then settle.

He places one hand on the egg he mentioned. “Maybe these aren’t just my kids.” At the thought he looks to Lio while gently rubbing the egg’s surface. “Maybe the Earth interpreted the pact bond this way?”

He doesn’t know but these small lives are his to protect no matter what. Even as a human healer he would have sheltered and protected them. “Forest approves of them. It’s new life and the forest is over joyed to be part of that.” He smiles as he slips down and tucks himself up against the eggs.

He looks visibly unbothered by the idea it might be their kids and that Lio is here with him. It’s Lio. They’re bound by the pact and are partners. To him that’s alright. Their surroundings shift a little bit, as the forest fully accommodates for a dragon lair.

[carrythetorch]

"Our fire," Lio murmurs, an almost mystified echo. He moves in closer to look at the eggs, reaching out fingers to touch them. "You think... they're ours?"

That's amazing. And terrifying. And any children born Lio would have protected with his life, but this is... he looks up at Galo and smiles, tentative and hopeful, truly purely hopeful for the first time in so long. He has been surviving, fighting tooth and nail for the survival of his people, and now this.

With this formerly human mage, their newest dragon. Who stood up for them and let his humanity be burned away for them. Lio was already prepared to be bound to this man, to protect Galo with all he had, already.

"Galo?"

[barenakedspirit]

“Come here.” He pats the ground beside him, smiling back with a warmth that fills his whole being. This isn’t what he planned his life to be like. But he hadn’t really planned it at all besides healing.

His heart skips a beat at how much nicer Lio looks with hope in his eyes and a smile on his face. He will move mountains to keep that look on his face. This tells him that he did the right thing.

The Burning Circle will have to get used to their rookie healer being a fledgling dragon. He has no doubt they will. “You okay with this? I know the Earth is asking a lot.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio moves to where Galo has indicated, settling in close. He's still in his half-form and sees no reason to put on a more human face just yet. Settling in, he shifts closer to Galo, leaning into him after a moment. There's something warm about him, something that draws Lio in. Galo is a dragon now.

They bound their lives together when they went to confront Kray, and the world has responded by making that bond even deeper. The eggs are evidence of that. Galo's transformation is evidence of that.

"Yeah, I am. More than okay with it. Are you?"

[barenakedspirit]

The last tiny bit of tension eases away. Lio is okay with this. He is okay it’s their eggs. He relaxes and closes his eyes. “I’m more than okay with this too. Not what I expected but...Earth being balanced.”

He stares into the middle distance for a moment. “This time no one is taking my family from me.” He will fight to the death for their kids and Lio himself. He wraps an arm around Lio and rests his cheek on top of his head.

“I got to rest for a bit after all of that. Assuming you do too.” He asks, his voice soft. “But we can send a message out that it’s safe to come here. We can figure the rest out later.” He closes his eyes. He will wrap his dragon body around the eggs when he sleeps. The veins of hot sprints running under his home keeps the cave a constant warm temperature. But he will feel better giving them his warmth too.

[carrythetorch]

Lio sighs a soft, relieved sound as that arm comes around him. He's not entirely sure if he expected to be rejected or pushed away or what -- maybe he's just too used to always watching his back -- but he leans into Galo and exhaustion hits him like a wave crashing to the seashore.

"I'll keep you safe. All of you. No matter what it takes." This is his family now too, and Lio will incinerate anyone who thinks they can bring them harm.

"Rest. You did a lot today." And Lio, well, Lio will rest too. He reaches out to brush his fingertips along the closest of the eggs. This is the first time he's ever considered having a future, really. That's the last thought before he drifts off to sleep.

[barenakedspirit]

Morning comes soon enough, the light filtering through branches draped over the entrance to the cave. A deep rumbling sound rolls through the air and something scratches on stone. The sound turns out to be Galo.

He is very large and wrapped around the eggs and Lio himself. The sunlight shines on his sunset colored scales. The tip of his tail is over Lio like a blanket. A plume of pale smoke rises from his nostrils as he opens his eyes and peers down at Lio. He smiles and dips his head, brushing the edge of it against him.

“Morning.” He pauses and raises his head. The branches at the entrance whisper about a pair of dragons circling the forest. He nods. “There’s a pair of dragons circling the forest. Should I let them in?”

[carrythetorch]

Lio wakes in his fully human form -- still in many ways on the mend from his near brush with death that Galo nursed him back to health from. Of course, it may also be testament to just how safe he feels here with Galo that he slept quite so deep to begin with. He blinks his eyes open, turning into Galo with a sleepy murmur of, "Morning."

He sits up, stretching before looking back at Galo. Pair of dragons. "Meis and Gueira. Let them in. I want you to meet them."

He reaches over to brush his fingertips along the eggs. Morning, babies. With that he climbs to his feet, ready to be the Dragon Lord and explain what's going on.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo hums as he slides away from the eggs. They settle in the depression made for them and tree roots rise up to cradle them. His form ripples then he is fully human again, patterns of his scales running down his back and the edge of his shoulders like a new winding tattoo.

At first nothing happens then the area before the entrance darkens and a large black dragon edged in a dark pink lands before the gap. His wide wings spread out as he shouts, “Lord!” Right before he sees what is behind them.

His eyes go wide and his jaw drops. Galo grins a little. “Forest bids you welcome. Come in so your pal can come in too.” The dragon slowly ambles in as his form shrinks and he becomes a tall man with flame red hair. His eyes haven’t left the eggs. “How?”

[carrythetorch]

Lio looks over as Galo joins him in his human shape, taking note of the new markings on his skin. They're pretty, and it takes all his self control not to reach out and touch them. Easy does it, Lio. They might be raising eggs together, but that's not an invitation for anything more. Just because Galo is absurdly attractive -- as a human, as a dragon, as an anything.

His attention shifts to the door as Gueira appears. "Gueira," he greets, glancing back. "A lot has happened. We'll explain everything."

Another shadow drops from the sky, the sleek black and teal form quickly melting down to another tall, thin man who steps in behind Gueira and freezes for the exact same reason. He looks from the eggs to Lio and then the other man. "We saw the flames from the village yesterday. Everyone felt..." something. And clearly something happened.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo crosses his arms over his chest. “A Judgement happened.” He says and Gueira stares at him. He keeps going. “Lio landed in these woods a week ago. He was hurt pretty bad and the Earth called me to him. In the time since I learned the truth about dragons plight.”

He taps the dragon of flame’s tattoo on his chest. Like the whorls of wind and curves of water it is clearly- Gueira looks at Lio. “A pact?”

He doesn’t know what to say. He feels like words aren’t enough for the magnitude of what that means. A healer paid the due respect to dragons they should have. “...that doesn’t explain...” he stares at the eggs in wonder again. Eggs. Precious future dragons right here.

He swallows and Galo says softly, “The Judgment was on Kray. Turns out he was a dragon. Older than all of you and determined to open a way to some new place he could be a god.” He snarls and smoke rises from the edges of his mouth. He takes a breath in an attempt to tame it.

His fury is still there burning inside him. Kray has murdered so many to achieve his goals. He still hasn’t dealt with the fact Kray killed his parents for not following along with him.

[carrythetorch]

"One of our own," Lio murmurs, the anger still audible in his voice even as quiet as it is. "Draining the fire and life from our people for his own designs." Lio will never forgive him, but the Judgment has spoken and put right what was wrong. And what they've gained is... amazing. The eggs. But also, Galo. He reaches over to set a hand on Galo's arm gently given the fury he hears in the other man.

Lio looks at the healer-turned-dragon now with a dangerously fond expression, unguarded for a moment before he realizes it and schools his expression back to its usual Dragon Lord calm.

"The Judgment stripped Kray's magic. He's no longer a dragon. And it gave us Galo. And..." his gaze shifts to the eggs. "A future. Born out of my old flames and Galo's new ones."

Meis looks from the eggs to Galo to Lio and to Gueira. "Kray isn't a threat anymore." They'll have a lot of rebuilding to do, but if Kray is no longer capturing and murdering their kind, then they can do it.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo hits his fist against his open palm with a spark of fire in his eyes. "Kray is human now. He can't hurt any of you. I won't let him." Gueira raises an eyebrow. He didn't miss the fond expression on Lio's face. But the spark in Galo's eyes and the smoke before...that's personal. "Without Kray being a threat...we can find a home again."

One that they don't have to leave. All of the tension drains out of him and he leans against Meis. "We don't have to hide anymore." He breathes and Galo nods. "A lot of people saw the Judgment. They know what dragons really are and I'll keep spreading the word." Without a word, he lays his own hand over Lio's.

Gueira doesn't put together the fact that the eggs are Lio's just yet. But he will.

[carrythetorch]

Meis didn't miss it either. Clearly there's more to this healer than meets the eye if the boss is this close to him and trusts him this much in such a short time. He steps closer. "So you're one of us now. Welcome to the clan."

The more the merrier, especially if it's someone who helped eliminate Kray.

Lio nods in agreement. "We'll all keep spreading the truth. And mm... we can make a home again. For everyone." And they'll be safe to live their lives. Lio looks over at Galo as that hand settles atop his own, a flicker of a smile making its way over his lips.

It's Meis who asks. "But the eggs. Whose are they?" Please explain the eggs.

[barenakedspirit]

Gueira catches the shock on Galo's face before he hides it and smiles, it's warm and a little shy. "Yeah, I'm one of you. By choice. I got a lot of work as a healer to do to fix what Kray put wrong. But you can count on me!" He puffs up with pride and an eagerness Gueira hasn't seen in a dragon in a long time.

Then he pauses and looks to Lio. "Ah, like Lio said. Those eggs were made by the Earth mixing my new fire and Lio's together." Gueira chokes on air. "That means-!"

Galo nods again and a different sort of pride enters his eyes. It's fierce and protective, the shadow of the dragon he is within his eyes. "Yeah. They're our hatchlings. Anyone tries to hurt these eggs has to get through us," The branches at the edge of the cave rustle and shift, whispering and hissing. "And the Forest. It likes being the place for new life and the new place for dragons to train as healers if they want to." He hadn't mentioned that to Lio but it makes sense and he doubts he'll say no.

They need more than just him.

[carrythetorch]

Meis looks between Galo and Lio again. Ours, Galo said. And yeah, okay. The Dragon Lord apparently has heirs in the making. But the way that Galo answers, well, that's all Meis really needs to hear.

The entire clan will fight to protect new young. It's so rare, these days, as hunted as they've been. "Healers, huh?" They could use healers.

Lio is having a little trouble containing his pride -- and a shyer, softer feeling that he's trying not to think about too much -- as Galo says our hatchlings. "That's right. We won't let any harm come to them."

A breath, like he's finally remembering how to breathe again. "Careful. You'll be overrun at this rate." But this place, well, it is a place of new beginnings. He straightens up now, every bit the lord of the Dragons that he is. "We're reclaiming our place in this world, as part of the balance, as the beings of the fire that both creates and destroys."