(( FADA........... ))

(( take your time! ♡ ))

around his head but kept her hands on his shoulders. Her gaze on Estinien stayed fixed with worried eyes. “No one should be ‘used to’ nightmares, Estinien. I do not mean to pry, though I feel concerned about the contents of your nightmares. Would you like to speak of them?”

Ratatoskr grew concerned when Estinien mentioned he had been having the same nightmare every eve, and wondered what his nightmares were about, and why they had been plaguing him. She gently stroked his hair while he spoke as she held him. After a pause, she withdrew her arms ↓

“My little Daja, all grown up…” she doted, her hand reaching up to ruffle her sister’s hair. “Would you show your big sister around this colourful city?”

Though still uncertain, Ratatoskr concluded that she shouldn’t spoil the mood. Perhaps she and her little sister could ponder about how the two were still present at another time. For now, Ratatoskr decided to treasure this time and catch up with Azdaja. ↓

‘He wouldn’t,’ Ratatoskr repeatedly thought to herself, against her rising doubt.

Her posture relaxed, her voice calm. “... I know not who you are, nor how my dear Nidhogg speaks through you. I… also know this is no trick, for I can sense my brother within you. Tell me your tale, dragoon.”

However, she also recalled times when Thordan would ask her questions about her kind that would make her uncomfortable, causing her to feign ignorance. She felt guilty for keeping secrets from Thordan, but his demeanor when inquiring felt unsettling. ↓

Ratatoskr stopped mid-sentence, beginning to recall a time when Nidhogg warned her not to share the powers within her eyes with mortals, much less, tell them about it. Ratatoskr insisted she wouldn’t, and even doubted time would come when such tremendous power would be needed to aid them. ↓

“Betrayal? Ambush? Stealing my eyes? His Majesty wouldn’t!” Ratatoskr declared, almost confidently, there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “His Majesty and I have been working together to maintain peace between dragon and man. Granted, he isn’t the most pious of kings, but…” ↓

She hid behind a tree, her body facing toward it. Before Estinien caught up to her, she was calming herself with breathing exercises while processing the information she learned. When she heard Estinien’s voice, she immediately turned around and stomped her foot. ↓

Ratatoskr unfolded her hand to show the hatchling her palm. In her palm were sweet and juicy rolanberries she had acquired. She continued to be patient with the hatchling and smiled nostalgically. Her own broodlings were much grown now, but she missed when they were this small.