Surprise Reunion in the City (Tundra, open)

["Cosmos"]

as the light of the afternoon sun shown down on the land, the Ancient Dragon City of Warfang stood lively in the middle of the forest that grew around it. with shops bustling and businesses booming, the citizens that lived in the city moved about their daily lives. having become peaceful since the Shadowseeker attacks outside the city have lessened to nearly nothing, the city has renewed its trading position as the city and point in the near center of the Dragon Realms. even the guard of the city has been able to become better, ever since the termination of the corrupt organization known as The Order.

on a large hill outside the large city, a dragon-like being stood with a similar-looking young child with its claw holding the younglings hand. looking down at the youngling, the female smiled at their child as she began to walk. a Dragonborn from beyond the Void, this female was, in sense, an anthro dragon through and through, but with a taint of corruption. picking up her child and placing it on her back, the Dragonborn used her wings to help to keep her child safely on her back, as she walked towards the entrance to Warfang.

after nearly half an hour of walking, she began walking through the gates of the City of Warfang. standing just inside the gates, she looked up towards the higher buildings and took a deep breath, getting the scents of the city. smiling as she thought of the reunion she came here for, she placed her claw to her chest as she got a sense for the energy that radiated off the collar that was around the neck of a particular dragoness, the energy sharing a near-identical signature as her own.

[Deleted]

This particular dragoness happened to be within Warfang, having long since returned form Dante's Freezer during her expedition to find herbs only within that realm. Their supply was stock full still from that time and so far Taiga and her mentor were not anywhere close to being short on herbs for some months to come. Anyone who came across this small building would easily catch the mixture of several herbs within, the building being one of the many handfuls of healers buildings to help with an influx of the population that was large and often needed a handful of healers on-hand should anything go wrong.

Today though Taiga had found the place being slow today, having taken care of some minor injuries and a broken leg that generally was healing well. Her mentor had stepped out to get some errands run while the young ice dragoness was handling the building, taking the moment to double check inventory and getting rid of any of those plants that had wilted, generally being far older than anything more recent. She was also checking the remedies that had already been made finding everything seemed in order but some poultices meant to sooth pain and relieve aching joints needed some extra made. "Well good time as any to start,"She murmured to herself as she went to the herbal storage and took what she needed before returning to her work station and began going to work in pulling off leaves, petals, or berries that could be crushed into the mixture and using the pestle to crush and mix into the mortar bowl.

What Taiga wasn't aware of was someone she had met only a few months previously was in the city. And the ice dragoness still wore the collar and leg braces as before, the green gems pulsating with her heart beat as Akrina's markings did with her own. In fact, Taiga was mostly focused on her current task with her back to the entrance as her tail tip flicked back and forth and occasionally listening for signs of someone coming in to which if one opened the smooth wooden door a bell would ring to alert her or her mentor a customer had arrive or a visitor.

["Cosmos"]

beginning to walk through the streets of the city, the Dragonborn was making good time in traveling the crowded streets. but this changed the moment she and her child entered one of the markets areas of the city, where her child now decided their pace. laughing as her child pulled her from market stall to market stall, she loved her child so much that she couldn't not buy the things she wanted. while she was buying things for her child, she noticed a cloak made of a frost-like silk. seeing that it was being sold in a pair set, she bought one that was her size, and another that was the size for an adult dragoness. buying a flame-like silk cloak for her daughter, she finally said that that was enough for no, which made her child sad a little, but she didn't throw a fit.

after the hour of her child leading the way, the Dragonborn placed her claw to her chest as she retrieved the energy she was searching for. taking fifteen minutes of walking through the streets of the city, she and her child came upon the door to a healers building. guessing the bell was a shop custom for shops in this city too, she smiled as she held her claw up. using her power to summon her arsenal of weapons, she had a dagger form so that the bell wouldn't ding. pushing open the door quietly, she smiled sweetly as she saw the back of the dragoness she had come to find. putting a finger to her lips at her daughter, she snuck up behind her and stood right behind her. "my dear pet, it is nice to see my toy has kept herself out of trouble," she said, her voice sounding seductive and a sweet smile on her face as she looked at her icy dragoness.

[Deleted]

For the several minutes that Akrina and her child went through the city Taiga was busy making the two medicines and making sure they were the right amount needed and putting them into their rightful containers. When she was certain all was needed for both she returned the now full containers back to the shelves alongside the many other remedies and double checking everything else was fine. Satisfied this was the case the icy dragoness grabbed the pestle and mortar and moved to a fountain of running water and was washing the two when the Dragonborn arrived but thanks to not hearing the bell Taiga hadn't even thought to look up.

That was when the familiar seductive voice made her perk up with surprise, her braces and collar pulsating with excitement and joy from her heart beat picking up. "Akrina your..."As she turned the smile on her face disappeared to shock when seeing the child beside her, their scents almost identical except for a different scent coming off the child. Since when did Akrina have a child? Was the only thing that crossed Taiga's mind at first before she looked a little taken aback by the fact she did have one and she knew what that meant or what it could mean. Now the young dragoness wondered if she had gotten her hopes up the first time they met which might have been all for nothing but Taiga quickly hid those emotions despite the pulsating returning to a more normal one. "It's good to see you Akrina." Taiga said, managing to smile though her previous excitement had noticeably diminished in tone.

Recalling Akrina's words just then Taiga wondered if that was all she would ever be to the Dragonborn, a simple play thing for her pleasure. Perhaps Tiaga was just jumping to conclusions or over thinking this but from her perspective it seemed someone was quite lucky to have been with the female dragon-like being since Akrina proved to be one of the few people she found quite kind and compassionate for a stranger compared to her previous experiences. But it just likely wasn't her who was that lucky.

["Cosmos"]

noticing the excitement from the pulsing of her collar and shackles, Akrina's smile faded when Taiga lost her excitement. able to sense a disappointment in the icy dragoness, the Dragonborn looked at her daughter in the corner of her eye. feeling bad as she looked back to Taiga, she gave her a weak smile. "would there be any place we can sit down? i would like to explain what happened before you drive to any conclusions, which you probably already have gotten," she asked, her voice showing that she didn't want to lose her over a misunderstanding. knowing that any kind of reunion wouldn't be right with these misunderstandings, she waited with lowered wings as she looked at the icy dragoness.

[Deleted]

Realizing the Dragonborn had caught onto her feelings Taiga set aside the pestle and mortar she had finished washing and nodded, "Er yes, in the back there's a lounging spot. We're pretty slow today so we should be fine to talk back there." Taiga told her, nodding for her to follow as she got up and moved through a doorway to head down a short hall and coming to a living room like space with a few seats large enough for dragons. Though Taiga didn't have a problem with the child she didn't know if this meant something had changed over the course of the few months they had not seen each other or not.

Settling on one of the seats and waiting for Akrina to do the same the ice dragoness finally spoke, "Akrina before you begin I do want to let you know I don't have anything against the child. I just..."Taiga paused to try and find the right words before she spoke again, "I just want to know if this changes anything."

["Cosmos"]

following Taiga into the back, Akrina picked up her daughter and sat her on her lap as she sat down. looking at the icy dragoness as she spoke, the Dragonborn felt hurt that the thought even could come up. "Taiga, my love, what happened hasn't changed my feelings for you. i love you with my very heart, and would never wish to cause you any sadness," she spoke, as she sympathetically placed her claw on the icy dragoness claw. "if my feelings did change, i couldn't bear to face you in shame for the betrayal," she added, her eyes showing the sadness of that possibility. sensing her mother's sadness, her daughter hopped off her lap and moved over to Taiga. taking her other claw into her small hands and looked up at her with eyes that wished for her mommy's sadness to go away.

watching her daughter act, Akrina closed her eyes to stop a tear from forming. "Taina, could you please go through the item i bought for you, so mommy and auntie can talk," she spoke softly, smiling at her daughter the best she could. nodding at her, she watched her daughter head off to the other room where she had left the packs of stuff she had bought on the way to the shop.

[Deleted]

"I'm sorry such thoughts came up Akrina, but I didn't know how else to react." Taiga said apologetically, now realizing for sure she had jumped to conclusions without really considering asking about what was going on. Perhaps it really had been nothing and something just happened by chance of the moment but she couldn't help to have at least inquired about it. "I don't want to hurt you either but just I didn't know how else to even ask you." She said, glancing down at Taina as she approached her, surprised the youngling had picked up on Akrina's feelings.

Looking away for a moment Taiga now wondered if her mistake just ruined their new relationship just now. "Akrina please forgive me for jumping to conclusions, I'm deeply sorry." The ice dragoness apologized, looking back at her sadly at what she had just done.

["Cosmos"]

listening to the icy dragoness, Akrina rubbed her eyes as the tear was about to escape her eye. staying silent for a few moments, the Dragonborn pushed herself off the seat, and walked over to stand right in front of Taiga. standing there and just looking at her for several more moments, she lowered herself and hugged the icy dragoness in a loving embrace. "i forgave you the moment you listened. you are my love, and that will never change," she spoke, recalling herself enough to bring her into a kiss. as the Dragonborn kissed the icy dragoness, she lifted her claw up and pressed it against her chest, while she placed her own claw against the icy scales of her chest.

breaking the kiss, Akrina smiled sweetly at her as she brought her tail around to rub it along her neck. pulling out a wrapped object on top of the other cloak she had bought, she smiled as she presented it to Taiga.

[Deleted]

When seeing Akrina quiet for a long moment Taiga began to become concerned at first until she embraced her and Taiga likewise held her into a close embrace, becoming relieved that she did forgive her. "I'm glad to hear that my dear Akrina."She said with a smile before she kissed back, the gems on her braces and collar beginning to pulsate with excitement again and happiness but she now was fully relaxed again. Luckily this all had turned into a big misunderstanding and Taiga knew better now than to jump to conclusions like that again. After a moment though she broke the kiss with a smile until Akrina pulled out a present making her tilt her head slightly.

"Something tells me you two have been enjoying the city,"Taiga said with a smile before she carefully used a claw to open the wrapping and pulled out the silk robe inside, making her eyes widen a bit.

["Cosmos"]

smiling as she spoke, the Dragonborn motion to her daughter. "little Taina kinda dragged me through half the shops on the way here. i found that along the way, and thought a gift would be nice. i got myself one too, since they were being sold as a pair," Akrina spoke, smiling sweetly as she unfolded the cloak and pulled out a sizable ring. "this, on the other hand, i has specially forged for you," she said, as she undid a set of beautifully crafted gem beads that hung off the ring by wires made of a weird material. standing up and running her claw along one of Taiga's horns, she slipped the ring down her horn, which fit perfectly at the base of the horn, and snugged onto her horn so it wouldn't slid off easily.

stepping back, Akrina smiled as she found the piece looked great on her. motioning for her to put on the cloak, her tail waved back and forth to see her in it, already wear her own when she entered the shop.

[Deleted]

Taiga chuckled softly before she gently lifted the rode up slightly, looking over the material and knowing it wasn't exactly something she could afford. Being a rookie healer and really just a student she didn't get paid as much as her mentor but she tended to try and save up to get anything nice or help those who needed it and the items Akrina brought made her speechless, but in a good way. Tilting her head slightly she let the Dragonborn slip on the ring but knew it took a bit thanks to the way her horns were. But once it was on she went to pulling on the robe, tying it at the collar of the robe so it fit comfortably.

"Akrina you keep this up people might not even think I'm part of the lower class here in Warfang." She chuckled teasingly, turning around a bit to look at much as she could. Though the icy dragoness knew many people and dragons who knew her might be shocked when they saw what she now wore and how much she looked different.

["Cosmos"]

giggling, she pulled a nearly empty pouch from her waist as she smiled at the icy dragoness. "i won't be able to buy much for a bit, cause someone decided to spend nearly all i had before we got here," Akrina spoke, looking towards the other room where her daughter was. hearing the giggle of her daughter as she continued to go through the stuff that she bought, the Dragonborn just let out a laughable sigh. lifting her head, she put the pouch back on her waist. stretching her arms and wings wide as she let out a yawn, her bandaged torso and limbs were easily seen now as she sat back down. closing her eyes as she groaned, Akrina let out a slightly pained sigh as she finally relaxed for the first time in a while.

[Deleted]

Smiling a bit Taiga went to sit back down until she noticed the bandages, concern replacing her smile there and then. It seemed not only had Akrina conceived a child she also had been harmed as well. "Akrina, what happened to you?" Taiga finally asked as she moved over to the Dragonborn, gently resting a paw on her shoulder as she surveyed the bandages with carefully trained eyes.

["Cosmos"]

looking at Taiga as she asked, then to her wounds, Akrina let out a sigh. "it happened right after my corruption accelerated my birthing of Taina. in my weakened state, i was attacked. you remember when i spoke of the monsters that captured me and destroyed my world? well, they came for me," she stopped speaking, as she straightened herself in the seat. lifting the bandages that covered the portion where her chest met her abdomen, the infected wounds were still not healing, despite being over two months old. "Daemons, nasty monsters. not even my healing skills has fully removed the poison they used, but i'm thankful i'm resistant to its effect," she spoke, holding back a pained groan as she put the bandages in place. looking at her love, she gave her a reassuring smile. "it was a good thing you didn't go with me, cause they would have gone after you in a heartbeat. i barely survived, thanks to an old friend," Akrina spoke, not even wanting to think about what would of happened if she had gone with her.