Storm sat in his mindscape as he confessed all his troubles to Mimereus.
The ancient dragon listened in silence as Storm laid bare all his concerns.
Once he was done, Mimereus said nothing as he considered the problem.
"Do you love her?" Asked Mimereus
"With all my heart!"
"And do you believe she feels the same way?" Asks Mimereus.
"I think so."
Mimereus shook his head.
"No!!! You either know, or you do not?!
There is no 'thinking '!! So I ask again. Does she love you!?"
Storm considered what he knew about her. As well as analyzed her actions.
"Yes!! She does!!" Exclaimed Storm confidently.
Mimereus nodded his head with approval.
"Then it sounds to me like you already know what you need to do!"
"How could I consider such a thing when we risk our lives every day in a fight?!
What would happen to our child if me or Aurora died?!
What kind of life would I give a child running from battle to battle every day?!" Asked Storm
"If you feel this way? You could always leave it all behind!
Take Aurora, find some quiet corner of the world and raise your family there?" Offered Mimereus.
"I can't do that!! Too many people are depending on me to turn my back on them now!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"And Aurora doesn't expect you to do so either!! Despite the risks, she still choose you!"
Storm had no counter argument to that.
"Look, Storm. It's commendable that you are so concerned about your future child's well being. It tells me that you will make a fine father.
But the world is dangerous. Getting out of your nest every morning is dangerous. You can't change that no matter how hard you try.
If you want to wait until there isn't danger for your child! You will never find the correct time to do so.
Having one requires a certain degree of gambling. You cannot protect them from every danger.
All you can do is ensure that they are trained and prepares for hardship when it inevitably comes. That's what it means to be a good parent." Explained Mimereus.
Storm considered Mimereus's words.
"Thank you!! I feel more confident about my ability now!" Said Storm.
"You and Aurora will make fine parents some day. This war isn't everything! Don't forget to live your life too!"
Storm was just about to cut his connection and return to his own body, when Mimereus called out.
"Ohh!! And Storm!! Would you please do me a favor!!?"
"Of course!! What do you need?!!"
"If you do plan to go ahead with this!! Please warn me beforehand!!
I'd like to make sure I'm nowhere NEAR your senses when you decide to do this!!" Asked Mimereus.
Storm glared at him as he severed his connection to Mimereus.
Storm continued working throughout the remainder of the day, more confident and eager than he had been in the morning.
As evening came, he eagerly returned to his dwelling to give Aurora the news.
As expected, she was already there waiting for him, and more nervous than he had ever seen her before.
"You've returned?! Have you come to a decision then?!"
"I have!"
He walked forward until he was right in front of her, then raised a claw and gently stroked her cheek.
"Nothing would please me more that to take the next step with you and start an family of our own!" Answered Storm.
Visible relief showed on Aurora's face as Storm made his declaration.
"You're not just saying this to placate me?" Asked Aurora.
Storm shook his head.
"I would never say it if I didn't mean every word."
"But?... you seemed so hesitant before?..." she asked.
"I've thought on it and you were right. There will always be danger. I can't prepare for all of it.
But what I can do is ensure that our child is ready to face every challenge they might encounter.
This is what I will be dedicating myself to. And I will have you by my side if I ever stumbled.
Tears formed in Aurora's eyes.
"Thank you Storm!! You have no idea what this means to me!!"
They embraced again.
"So.... Do we do this right now, or...?" Asked Storm.
Aurora stiffened in his grip.
"R-R-Right N-n-now?!" Stammered Aurora.
"You were the one eager to begin, weren't you?!" Asked Storm with a grin.
"I.. I just wanted to know your commitment!! We could wait until...!!"
"I thought you said 'no more waiting'?" Teased Storm.
Aurora swallowed nervously.
"All right!! But give me some time to freshen up!! We'll meet here again in 1 hour!!" Aurora replied.
They went their seperate ways and prepared for the night's activities.
Storm bathed in the hot spring, then waited for the scheduled time.
At the exact time they had agreed, Aurora returned.
The hair of her mane and the scales covering her body was still dripping wet from washing.
Her silver scales shined in the dim light of the lighting crystal that illuminated the cave. A pleasant smell clung to her body.
As she approached the nest, timid and shy. Storm got up and after taking one of her claws, slowly started guiding her to the nest.
Once they reached the edge of the nest though.
She suddenly turned to Storm.
"If you want to reschedule, I'm fine with it!! We can do this some other...."
Before she could finish her sentence, Storm grabbed her and tossed her into the nest.
He jumped in after her a moment later.
Storm pinned her as she laid on her back in the nest, before dimming the light crystals in the room.
....
Pyrite and Lapis was currenty sharing a large cavern.
Auntie Aurora offered them the residence for the night and promised that she would arrange for them to be returned to the Hatching grounds the next day if they wished to do so.
Pyrite was staring at the cavern in wonder.
"I can't believe we're in our clan's ancestral home!!" He Exclaimed.
A whimper from his younger sister was his only reply.
He looked to see her starring at her surroundings fearfully.
"What's wrong?"
"We shouldn't be disturbing the grave site of our clan!! It seems disrespectful!!" Said Lapis.
"We're not disturbing anything, little sister!! This is as much our home, as it was their's!!"
"But.... what if the caves are haunted?" Asked Lapis.
Pyrite burst out laughing.
"Your imagination did always get the better of you!! There's absolutely nothing here to....
A series of knocking noises interrupted him and his blood ran cold.
"I.... I'm sure there's a perfectly normal explanation for that..." Pyrite started.
A deep mournful moan echoed down the tunnels as the sound of the knocking increased their pace.
"You know what?!! I feel like sleeping under the stars tonight?" Exclaimed Pyrite.
He got to his feet and prepared to leave.
"Wait for me!!!" Shouted his sister.
She scrambled to her feet and rushed after her brother.
The Siblings quickened their pace when a gutteral roar echoed down the tunnels.