ASCENT

They had woken from the battle changed, and though two extra eyes were easy to get used to given the sheer number of them Ascent had, the fact that one of their forelimbs had straight-up turned into a giant, chitin-armored crab claw was NOT. AT. ALL. At least, they thought, they didn't have to figure out how to walk on it. For now, the dragon simply floated, wings flapping seemingly idly as they hovered in much the same manner as their stone-giver.

But the quest had made Ascent realize something else, too. Well, it wasn't so much a realization as a sort of... expanded awareness, maybe. There was something bigger than them out there: bigger than the extended family Carja and Attikias had built. That something included a crab named Farina with powerful disease magic who called herself Master, krakens, an entire city under the ocean--and who knew what else?

The something was a part of the world. A tremendously influential part, at that! Ascent had been unable to sit still since returning from the Black City, despite their best efforts at discipline. There were always the nagging thoughts and questions. Not at the back of their mind; nay, at the very forefront!

Staring at the surface of the gentle river, Ascent tried to call forth the ice magic that they shared with their mother. Perhaps some detailed work would bring back the focus to their thoughts. They considered: a flower of ice to drift on the surface, perhaps? Yes, that would do.

But the spell was as jumpy as they had been distracted lately, and what formed was a blobby, misshapen piece of ice that in no way resembled a flower. Ascent's face creased with a frown. Talking about it would help, maybe, though they weren't sure what to say yet. Rising higher into the air, they looked around for Carja.

@Carja

Carja could be found at the house. She'd made it big enough for her and her children, with a massive bed large enough for everyone to snuggle in with separate spaces if they didn't want to, but mom was still mom and she always wanted to cuddle with her beloved children.

The house was nearly fully done, with only some interior stuff needing to be set up, like shelves and the like. She was currently unrolling the skin of the massive meadow deer she'd caught, killed, and had Attikias skin for her, and had decided to use it as a rug. After she was done she made her way out of the house, the doorways big enough that she didn't have to duck or squeeze through. It was perfect!

She stretched out on their front lawn and craned her neck to check the deer pen, happy that the fawns were seemingly happy eating grass and hay. Good.

Carja spotted something up above and craned her neck, pleased to see her daughter flying.

"Hi dear!", she called out to her, smiling brightly, "What are you up to?!"

@Ascent

ASCENT

Mom wasn't out and flying about, so the next probable place to look was their new house. Covered with incinerated clay, it wasn't nearly as elaborate as the nearby palace. But the fact that the family had even managed to build it was impressive in itself. Looking across the river at the marble palace, Ascent wondered at how massive of an undertaking it must have been.

The dragon's wings shifted from their hovering pattern, beating in a more synchronized fashion as they set a course back home. There Carja was, checking on the new deer they'd acquired. Personally, Ascent preferred to observe them as they were in the wild--but while these fawns would live a different life, it was not worth any less to observe that life. At the very least, the difference itself made it worth their interest.

"Hey, mom," they greeted, descending in their usual hover several feet off the ground. They might have preferred to stand, or sit--but they still weren't quite sure what to do with that crabby arm. "Thinking about the recent quest underwater. The deer are doing well?"

@Carja

Carja purred softly, her throat puffing out as she chuffed a non-verbal greeting. She moved forward, tail swinging behind her as she moved to nudge Ascent with her nose, her eyes closing in happiness.

"The deer are splendid," she answered happily, "Eating, drinking... better than expected, actually."

She opened her eyes to peer curiously at her youngest child (by about two minutes as Vanyel so loved to tease), her head tilting to one side, "Did something remind you of the city?"

She herself had much better luck with mutations, having gained the ability to breathe underwater as well as fins along the rear of her tail, pelvis, and head to aid in swimming and emoting. Two new spells were also added to her arsenal, most likely a result of the quest as well.

"Have you used that, yet?", she asked, pointing with a finger towards Ascent's new leg, "Perhaps it could be useful with hunting or digging for roots and things."

@Ascent

ASCENT

Ascent leaned their head against Carja's neck, eyes closing briefly. "That's good." They had been afraid that captivity would stress the poor deers (ha), but it seemed that young fawns could get used to anything. It did make them feel a twinge of guilt about eating them later on, but that couldn't be avoided.

"Nothing in particular did. I've just been thinking a lot about everything that's been happening lately." Well, there was also the constant reminder from their mutated arm, but that was beside the point. Ascent tilted their head at the limb, lifting it up. "I have. It was not as strong as Farina's claws." This was said with a note of disappointment. Of course they'd tried snapping a rock in half. Who wouldn't have, after seeing the sheer awesomeness of Farina's strength?

"It's useful for cracking open animal shells, though. I tried eating one of the crabs we've been seeing in the river. Pretty good, but the texture is different from deer or rabbit." Ascent clicked the pincers together, a small grin crossing their face. "Anyway, the reason I've been thinking about the city..."

They paused for a moment, trying to put the right sentences together. "It seems like there's a lot of influential events happening. Farina and Artio. A new city. And I've heard rumors about loud noises and extravagant lights in Orion... something about a Deathmatch?" The dragon grimaced slightly. What a name. They had a feeling they weren't going to like whatever that was. "I feel like... there's history being made here. And I want to go out there and witness these events, and see how everything's changing and shaping the world around us."

"But it would mean leaving home for now," they admitted. "Maybe for a long time. I'm not sure." And that had been their biggest hang-up about the whole thing. They had always been with Carja and Vanyel and everyone else, and didn't quite know what life would be like not living with them all the time. And the unknown was, of course, intimidating.

@Carja

Carja sat down and started to preen Ascent's feathers much like she would her own scales, running her teeth over them to straighten their wings and pull free any debris still lingering. She listened but didn't speak, offering comfort while Ascent got whatever was on their chest off.

"Ah," she said finally, pulling away to stare across the rolling hills of Cepheus, her eyes sad.

"... Your brother just left when he decided to leave the nest," she said softly, "No goodbye, no 'I'm off, mum'. When it was time, he took it, and I haven't seen him in a while."

She sounded sad as her wings drooped, a sigh leaving her mouth, "But I cannot ask you to stay. Dragons are meant to fly, to be free. But that's the thing, isn't it? We have wings and can travel faster than anyone in these caves, so..."

Carja turned to look at her only daughter, a gently smile on her face, "Promise to visit? And if you see your brother, smack him for me and tell him to come home. I'm worried sick about him."

She peered back at the house and rubbed her shoulder gently, tail flicking behind her, "My door will always be open, Ascent. If you want to leave then I will not stop you... but stay safe. Don't do anything stupid without thinking about it first."

@Ascent

ASCENT

Ah.

This was it. This was what had almost stopped them from having this conversation, even if they hadn't been aware of the reason at the time. The sadness of goodbye was something Ascent hadn't wanted to deal with, even if Carja was okay with it. Even if they could come back and visit. It had been easier just to stay around.

But. They supposed they had to learn how to accept it sometime. And now the time had come. "I will," they promised, laying their wings around Carja in a sort of hug. "I promise for both these things." They grinned briefly, thinking of their mischievous brother.

"I'll stay for another day or so," Ascent decided, touching down on the ground. "To say bye to the others, too, before leaving. Any housework I can help with last-minute?"

@Carja fade to exit?

Carja sniffed and rubbed her eyes, leaning into her daughter and hugging her tight, burying her face into soft white feathers. She cried softly for just a moment and then pulled away, her tears rolling down her face.

"I love you," she sniffed, "Thank you, daughter."

She rubbed her eyes and headed towards the house, her tail waving behind her idly, "Ah, yes. Just a few things, cleanup mostly, and organization. I could use some advice on the décor"

She ducked into the house, a smile on her face despite her watery eyes. She had to remember her daughter wasn't leaving forever, and it helped a little bit to know she wasn't leaving just yet.

@Ascent yeah! fade to black