One Year Ago:-     Everything is going good between Ash and Bright, and their was a peace between White dragon Gang and Black dragon Clan. Everything is going good and everyone is happy. Until one day.   With Bright out of realm on business for the week and no way to contact him, Ash had thrown himself into his work at the White dragon base. Not only that, but he had been eating nearly every meal at the base and volunteering for as many extra duties as he could fit into his schedule. He was not pining, no matter what Man said. He was just making sure that he was doing his part and maybe a little more so that when Bright came back he could go back to working at their home on occasion without the others saying anything. That was why he had been the first to volunteer to go out when they had received an alert about an attack on a local alley even

Seth and Sammy worked together to find the cure for the curse, and Ash did that thing where he paced the room. Ray watched them all from where he had been sentenced to the couch. He was much more alert than earlier, but his body still felt weaker than it should.“Are you certain there’s no way to reach Bright?” Ash asked. He spun his wedding band with his thumb in what was a definite habit.“If anyone would know a way to reach him, I’m certain it would be you,” Seth reminded him. “Now, why don’t you fix some juice for Ray while Sammy and I finish working on this.” It wasn’t a bad suggestion.Ray  bit back a remark about being coddled. There was a child present and besides that, Brought wouldn’t be back for a few days yet to save him if he ticked off everyone else. Both Seth and Ash had a strong gift for passive aggressiveness when the situation called for it, and he did not want to be on the

There were seven cats on the bed which meant everyone was accounted for. They surrounded Ray, except for the spot claimed by Ash, who had not moved from Ray side since his nightmare. The young boy had finally fallen into a dreamless sleep, thanks to one particularly potent medicine Seth had given them. He had also given a strong warning to not use it more than necessary, saying that Ray would not be pleased with some of the side effects which could include minor hallucinations among other unpleasant but thankfully mild things. However, after the nightmare, Ash had deemed it necessary. It had taken surprisingly little effort to convince Ray of the same.Only once he was completely convinced that Ray would continue sleeping peacefully did Ash start getting ready for dinner. The events of the day were catching up to him, and Ash suddenly realized that he had not slept since well before he had ever gone out on the patrol that had led to his discovering Ray early that morning. He

“And what would you like to talk about, Papa?” Ray asked with forced calm. The way Bright knowing eyes bore into him made him feel like a teenager again. “There are many things I would like to talk about. How you are really doing for one thing? I know you do not always enjoy discussing personal matters in front of others. Now that it’s only the two of us.” “And seven cats.” “And seven cats,” Bright admitted. “I’m fine,” Ray replied after a moment. “Hm…and how many times do you think you’ve had said that today? You have been missing for two years and during that time you have been tortured in a horribly brutal manner. No one would be fine after something like that.” “Maybe I’m not, but there’s nothing I can do about that right now other than just&

Ray wasn’t ready. He found that out right in front of the door when his heart suddenly felt as if it had come back to life and was trying to jump right out of his chest. Bright was supporting him because his body was still refusing to fully cooperate. He was actually walking like the seventy plus years he was rather than the fifteen that he looked.“Small steps,” Bright whispered in his ear, and Ray was very glad that they were alone because he didn’t think he could stand anyone else seeing what a mess he had become. “I’m here. I can easily stop any problems that might occur, but we both know Ash would never risk your safety.”Ray released a long unnecessary breath. “It has been a long time since I have felt the like this, going outside by my own.”“I know.”Ray nodded. “I believe I am ready now.”“Then we will go.” Bright  opened the door revealing