a lot of people will look at you
Aria
Damien stayed where he was for a long breath, hatchet slowly lowering to his side, until the thrum of danger finally eased out of his muscles. Then he turned toward the cub.
“Easy,” he murmured, voice hoarse, "It's okay."
He crouched, slow and careful, one knee sinking to the frost-slick boards. Aria’s tail twitched, a nervous whip of movement, but she didn’t shrink back. Her wide eyes followed him, pupils still blown, body trembling with the leftover electricity of fear. Then, with a soft huff that sounded almost like a sigh, she inched closer.
He reached out, free hand open, and brushed his fingers lightly through the thick ruff at her neck. Her heartbeat thrummed beneath his touch—fast, wild—but steadying. She leaned into his palm, and it was enough to say what words couldn’t.
When he looked up, Flora and her dragon silhouetted the mouth of the alley. Spice perched on her shoulder like something carved of ice and breath, frost glittering along the edges of her wings. The sight of them, calm and whole, pulled some of the tightness from his chest.
“Guess we owe you both,” he said, a slight lift of the corner of one lip, though the smile didn't quite match his eyes.
Flora stepped forward then, the gold leaf of her ring catching what little light filtered through the slats above. The offer caught him off guard—kindness always did—but he nodded, sliding the hatchet back into its sheath before taking the ring. It was warm against his palm.
He slipped it on and gathered Aria into his arms. The cub let out a soft trill at Flora as he did—questioning, curious—as if she were trying to make sense of this bright, perfumed stranger. Whatever scrapes or bruises she’d earned in the chase, they faded fast under the ring’s warmth. The tension that had been choking him loosened as he stood, Aria settled against his chest. She blinked up at him, then leaned over his arm toward Flora and shortly after, a big fluffy paw reached out for her.
Damien huffed a short, quiet laugh through his nose. “She's feeling better already.”
He turned to offer the ring back to Flora, unceremonious but sincere. “Thank you. For this—and for showing up when you did. You too, Spice.” His tone carried an uncommon warmth. “Could’ve gone much worse.”
He glanced down at the cub. “But I think we’ll both remember it.”
Damien
but only a few will see you
