[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]

Galo jerks up and Lio finds himself more awake as well, looking at him startled, ready to grump at him for wrecking a perfectly good sleep and cuddle, but when Galo says that, everything in Lio absolutely melts. That's right. They can feel them; he'd been half asleep before, but now the realization settles over him fully too.

He smiles and winds his arms around Galo tightly. "Me too. They know we're here." That awareness, that their children are going to be hatching soon. So soon. "That's quick. But... we'll be ready."

Whatever their babies need.

[barenakedspirit]

He wraps his arms around Lio and nuzzles his neck. Before it felt like a dream. A good dream but a dream. This is real. His children. Lio’s children are real.

He rumbles low in his chest as he says, “Yeah, we’ll be ready. Seems like we really need to talk to Gueira and Meis as soon as we can. They know all that prepping for hatchling stuff. Or know someone of the flight who does.”

And he has to consult with the Arch Druid. A baby druid is soon to be born. He lets out a happy noise. Yes, this is a good day already.

[carrythetorch]

"We have people who can tell us what we'll need, what the babies will need." Anything they need, Lio is sure he and Galo both would search the ends of the earth of it. But thankfully they should have all they need here, in Galo's forest, with the flight nearby.

A pause and Lio considers, hesitating only slightly before the next question. "Will you introduce me to your friends?"

Galo has met his clan, and even if Meis and Gueira were more than a little shocked, they've clearly accepted him as the dragon lord's mate. Lio hopes it will go similarly well. Hopefully.

[barenakedspirit]

If possible Galo grins wider and hugs Lio tighter. His grin is radiant as the sun coming out. “Of course! You need to know the circle anyway so we can work together to bring dragons back into pacts! And because dragon druids will be part of circles too!”

But not just that. He nuzzled Lio’s face with the side of his own with a low happy rumble of pleasure. “And they need to know my mate and partner anyway. It’s important to me for you all to know each other.”

He blushes as he ducks his head and steals a kiss from him. “How about that be the thing we do today? I was gonna go to them soon anyway. We got a druid to be that will hatch soon. And the others will want to know if I’m okay. I didn’t exactly talk to them since I dropped that bomb about Kray.”

He sort of fucked off after that. Galo coughs and looks to the side. “Ahh, I should have checked in.”

[carrythetorch]

It's a good reaction, Lio thinks. He considers squawking about being squeezed but instead just hugs Galo back, pressing his face into his neck. "Okay good. It'll be good to work together."

But it'll be even better to meet them as people who know and love Galo. And when the other dragon says as much, Lio lights up. His mate. His partner.

Tilting his chin to meet the kiss, he nods his agreement. "That sounds like a good plan." They were a little busy in the aftermath, Galo. But yes, friends should be told. "We can let Meis and Gueira know. They can stay here and make sure everyone is getting settled." It'll take some time to make the place home, but they'll build it together as a clan.

[barenakedspirit]

He can feel the forest’s joy at the idea of housing the dragon flight. The fire elementals will bring balance and it offers a vision of dragons growing in enough numbers new flights and circles exist spanning the world.

He sighs happily and sits up slowly. “I got to set up the call before we go visit. Arch druid Ignis is pretty busy all the time. He handles the rest of us.” He gives a big goofy grin.

Then he slips out from under Lio and climbs up out of the nest. He reaches for his clothes. Then considers something. He is a druid but he also in all senses of the word, a fire lord himself. He pulls on his clothes then touches the wooden beaded necklace on his neck. He pulls outward and it becomes his staff once more.

The wood feels different. He can feel his ties to the other elements but it feels different. Like he is standing in a circle with other druids instead of calling them for aid as a vessel. He taps the butt of the staff on the floor and lets himself be fully half dragon. Sunset wings, sharp horns, a glow of fire in his eyes.

[carrythetorch]

"If that includes you, that definitely sounds like a busy job," Lio teases, drawing up to a seat himself to watch Galo while he dresses. He needs to get his own clothes, but he doesn't want to pass up the show first. But before too long he's up too, finding his clothes and dressing as well.

"I'll let Meis and Gueira know the plan for today." If Galo and he are going any distance at all from their little home, Lio will make sure that someone is set to guard their children. The world may be safer now, but he isn't taking chances. Paranoia will take a while to fade.

His eyes widen as he takes in Galo in the full glory of his half form. "You're stunning," he murmurs softly. Galo knows, doesn't he?

[barenakedspirit]

"And you're gorgeous." Galo points out as he looks over his shoulder at him. He smiles then runs his hands over his staff. It has to be a sort of medium now. That...makes more sense. Galo nods to himself and says, "I'll go set up the call!"

Then he turns, pressing his lips to Lio's in a gentle kiss. "Meet back up in the main room?" He asks, and waits for an answer.

Once he gets it he bounces off, a bright energy in his steps. When they do meet back up again, Galo is grinning ear to ear. "Circle approves, come on! Let's go see them!"

[carrythetorch]

Lio can't help a smile back at that. It's nice to have someone look at him the way Galo does -- still new and still a rush every time he realizes it anew, that this is his mate. A quick nod after that quick kiss. "See you soon."

After he finishes dressing, Lio heads outside to find Meis and Gueira, lets them know what is going on. The Flight is settling in, and already the forest is providing for the newly arrived dragons. He tells them about meeting Galo's people, and Gueira is the one who volunteers to keep a guard over Galo's house and the eggs while Lio and Galo are gone.

When he meets back up with Galo, sees that smile, it's infectious. Cute. He ducks his head to hide a smile of his own, but decides there's no reason to hide it and nods, looking back up. "I'm ready. Let's not keep them waiting."

[barenakedspirit]

Galo flashes a bright sunny grin as he walks out into the bright sunlight. He exhales fire that pours out of his mouth and coils around him. The massive dragon he really is now takes shape and the man is replaced by sharp claws and a long winding body.

The sun makes him look like a faceted gem. He shakes himself once and launches into the sky. He clears the trees and goes higher, streaming upwards like water.

He shifts, tipping himself to come up in a gentle curve until the world seems so far beyond him. He can feel the temple in the far distance a thing of all elements at once nestled at the heart of the druid domains. He waits for Lio to catch up then drifts in that direction like something caught in the breeze.

He seems in no hurry but the winds fold around them, parting to let them in. Like a tunnel going only deep into the earth. Trees part, rocks shift, and water moves aside for them. Until they come out over a wide valley with a glittering lake at the center, edged by volcano vents, and delicate trees.

Galo descends as a bit of land rises up to serve as a landing. He shifts from dragon to half, dropping to land on the walkway forming as the elements shift things around. The lake’s borders shift to accommodate the changes. Fish swim in crystal clear waters. He hears birds and the distance croak of frogs.

He smiles at Lio and walks towards the temple made of thick trees and hanging vines. Galo nods to the vines as they part and standing at the center of the temple, staff in hand is Archdruid Ignis. He looks like he was precisely cut from stone and his companion, light blue haired and sharp looks much the same.

He can feel other members of the circle near by and drifting out of the trees. A pink haired woman in soft robes that look like they weather wind well settles on a stone. The whole of the circle closes in and Archdruid Ignis bows his head once in a small nod. “You chose a good time to visit. We were just wondering how to slowly reintroduce dragons to every part of the world. Some have gotten used to a lack of fire.”

Galo blinks then nods, “Big restoration project.”

“Indeed. And we will need the help of you and yours to make it work.” Then Ignis pauses as he says, “You seem better. Happier.” He looks at them as he says, “both of you.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio follows after, shifting into his full dragon form. His wings flare and he takes to the sky after Galo. It's always freeing to take wing, and to fly in the open without worrying about drawing attention, without worrying about an attack, it's freeing.

He drops to earth as well, shifting back to his half form halfway down so that he lands on silent feet, wings flaring before draping around himself like a cloak. He straightens up. Not that Lio would admit it, but he's a little nervous. These are Galo's friends, his family, if what he knows of druid circles is any indication. He wants them to be okay with him, with him being Galo's mate.

His gaze moves over each individual as he comes up to stand beside Galo. Lio looks startled at Ignis's observation, but smiles. "The sun rose brighter than it has in a long time this morning. Thanks to Galo."

[barenakedspirit]

"That it has. Good work." He tells Galo who beams with a flash of dragon fang. "Just doing my job sir!" He says as Ignis snorts. But blinks as Galo adds, "And I couldn't have done it without my mate." He smiles a little softer at Lio.

The rest of the circle blink then the pink-haired woman shrugs. "Seems like a good match to me. And those eggs?"

Galo puffs up a bit with pride. "Ours! The Earth's interpretation of the balance but would have happened one day anyway." He directs that soft smile at Lio as he adds, "And one of those eggs contains a healer to be." The blue-haired man raises an eyebrow. "Then we better start getting dragons slowly introduced. We can start by spreading the word to other circles. As they get people to see the truth, we can maybe enforce this by having dragon healers in the circles. Like we do other elementals," He says looking at the dark-skinned man that looks built like a boulder.

"Yeah, and I can help spread the word. Me and other Earth elementals."

[carrythetorch]

Oh. There goes Galo saying it right out loud. Lio is caught by that smile and his expression softens before he remembers himself and stands up straighter. That's right. Galo's mate. That's him. He's proud of this fact, and the casual acceptance is nice. A good sign, right?

...he will however be fighting a blush at would have happened one day anyway because, well, yeah. It would've. Ahem.

"The Flight has healers among us already, though they've been left to teach themselves in isolation. I'm sure they'd be willing to work with circles, to learn, to help spread the balance."

[barenakedspirit]

The blue haired man, Remi nods. “Would you allow us of the Burning Circle to help teach them more? We can teach them what was lost and in turn when more dragon druids are born, they will be able to pass those teachings on.” Galo looks to Lio. This is a good thing.

But Lio has to have the final say. The Forest will accept them but. Again. Fire lord. He almost vibrates. His circle could do this!

They trained him. “We’ll also start doing something about the stigma surrounding fire mages. That must end.”

[carrythetorch]

Lio nods without hesitation. "We'd welcome the knowledge, and the Healers in our Flight may have things to teach as well. We've been playing with fire all this time, after all." And fire had too long been absent or minimized in human circles. He looks over at Galo. These people are Galo's people, and they seem to share his determination to help, to do what is right.

Lio finds he likes them.

He nods his agreement with Galo's observation about fire mages. "The Flight can help with that too. Fire mages and dragons as fire elementals will be drawn to each other." ...Lio has felt that first hand. He went and mated the first fire mage he met. Oops.

[barenakedspirit]

Ignis nods, “It will be a mutual exchange,” Remi nods with a bit of a smile on his face. “Learning from each other, yes.”

Galo pipes up with a grin that’s all fangs. “We’ll learn what we’ve lost too.” The rest of the circle studies him then Aina says, “You look complete.” Remi nods too. “I wasn’t going to say it, but yes.”

Galo snorts. “Yeah, because I’m happy. We’re doing good work and my partner is everything I could ever want.” He beams and Ignis snorts. “Good. Fire Lord Lio by the grace of your flames, do you think there is anything that needs handled immediately aside from those issues?”

[carrythetorch]

Lio needs to not go and blush just because his mate is saying sweet things. He's the intimidating fearsome Fire Lord, right? Except he's also thoroughly smitten Lio who is head over heels for this beautiful, charming, brave idiot he's chosen as his mate.

Lio inclines his head at the question and acknowledgment. "Those are good starts. First and foremost, we need to heal. Dragons and humans both."

They'll manage it, and they'll do it together. "I'd like to introduce you to the Flight, and to my generals. They'll want to help as well."