☾ ᴍᴏᴏɴʟɪɢʜᴛ.

( SPOILERS ) Shin-ah using his eyes to save his brothers from their imprisonment. Shin-ah facing the world to protect them. 

A new blue dragon being born and Shin-ah going through the motions of realizing his own mortality and saying goodbye to his family. 

       He did not like the crowds of villages or cities. He was much more content to stay in the dark, hidden in brambles and deep set forests that consumed him with shadows. Strange how he had always dreamed of going beyond the caves of the Seiryuu village and yet now he cannot bring himself to step foot into one without being crushed with fear. Monster. He is a weak and ugly monster. 

       In the dark there was a gargle, a rattle of a beast that lifted the youngest dragon’s head. Truly Shin-ah didn’t even need to throw his eyes to the side to find the source of the demanding gurgles, his pallid fingers already diving into a canvas bag and producing a small handful of berries wrapped delicately in a cloth stained with the juices. 

“Shin ah…”

Shin ah’s story seemed amazing. As Ao thought, his life in the village was difficult. But what happened a few month ago, Ao and couldn’t dream for Seiryuu. He was able to find those people who accepted him no matter what. Those people whom he could call friends. Ao would like to see this girl - Yona, the girl that did not get scared of the sword aimed at her and managed to find the right words to Shin ah believe her. She gave him not only a name, she gave him a family and a purpose in life. Ao also would like to meet his dragon brothers, Hak and Yun. He even regretted there wasn’t squirrel with Shin ah, which he called his, Ao, name.

Maybe there was something symbolic about their meeting in full moon? Ao could not hold back tears.

“I’m… so happy for you… Shin ah. I’m so glad you’re not alone. What a pity that I haven’t chance to meet your friends.”

     Shin-ah did not believe his name could sound as special as it did coming from Yona, but hearing Ao say these words, he felt a pang in his chest and it was almost hard to breathe. His eyes shimmered with tears behind his mask and his shoulders gave the faintest of tremors, betraying him and showing the emotions suddenly surging through him and consuming him. He reached out for Ao’s hand, fingers wanting to touch but fearing he would not be able to feel anything. Ao was dead. Wasn’t he?

     Though Hak hasn’t spent a lot of time speaking to Shin-ah ( a strange thing for people who pass every day together ), he has learned a thing or two. Like how quiet the man is, how one must sometimes pay close attention to make out the snow-soft lull of his tone. Like how often he pauses, as if assembling his words before offering them. It takes a little patience, getting to know this person. Hak is patient. He’s just never taken the time to fully understand. He’d thought, long as the dragons defended Yona, he wouldn’t need or want to get close to them.

     “…I understand that. It must feel strange to have a power but be unable to use it for the ones you…” Love. He was going to say the ones you love. Does Shin-ah love them? Hak subsides, shifting and settling into a more comfortable cross-legged position, and glances at his companion. “Hm? Ask away.”

     Words were so hard to grasp, to find them coherent enough to pass from thought to mouth. Most of the time is quiet because so many years in silence he doesn’t know how to, forgets how to string them together long enough. He is grateful he is not prodded so much for more words, frightened by the notion he might say something wrong to those he cares so deeply for. They are family, like Ao was, they are special and need protected. He wouldn’t dare stray a moment for any of them. But there is a worry that stays locked in his head. A worry perhaps Hak could alleviate for him. 

Kija couldn’t help but continue to feel worried for the one he called his brother, unsure if ‘i’m fine’ was meant genuinely or not. Though of course, he was never one to push the subject, as this wasn’t the first time he saw Shin-Ah gazing at the stars above. The look of worry was replaced with a soft smile as the deity sat down beside the other, shaking his head at Shin-Ah’s question as the albino remembered what had happened before he was woken up just moments ago. 

“You need not worry over me, Shin-Ah. I’ve only got… things on my mind is all… It should come to pass soon, though. I just needed to wander, clear my head a bit.”

Well… that wasn’t a complete lie, at least. But Kija had a feeling that shin-ah was not fully convinced of what he said. The ‘things’ he’d been thinking over were related to his childhood, something he could never easily shove aside. The white dragon wasn’t at all mad at his father, but the scars would still forever remain, yet he’d always managed to keep a positive attitude.

“The stars are quite beautiful, aren’t they?”

     Kija was always so worried over him, the most protective of his older brothers and Shin-ah liked that. He liked that the white dragon seemed to care so deeply but he also worried for him. He would so easily throw his own care aside for others. Kija was something good. Shin-ah didn’t believe he was fine but he was also never so good at words to be able to delve further into what might just be bothering him. He could only hope the shared space in the night could help alleviate his worries. 

Hak carefully eyed at the snarling bear, pointing his glaive at it in the hopes that it’d raise its caution. However, the huge grizzly creature sprang up with not a hint of fear in its eyes, and though Hak was quick on his feet, its claw left a mark on his right shoulder. Normally there wouldn’t be any fuss since putting down a bear was no difficult task. But, the fact that it was the mother of the little cub brought forth a sort of hesitation, resulting in a wounded shoulder. Swiftly positioning the glaive in his hands, he injured one of its fore limbs. 

Well, it’d be best to escape now. 

            it was rare that shin-ah would speak to him ( at least, words that weren’t give it back after he had taken his mask ), so even after settling down near him, intentions fully set on engrossing himself in the book in his hands, he still stopped mid-action to listen to him. he had taken little notice of the heat before he brought his attention to it. he was used to the cool sea breeze that awa was known for and that would cool him down even on the warmest of days, so he supposed this was a little much.

            he gave a nod of his head as a soft hum pushed past his lips. ❝ah, a bit. that’s why i tie it back.❞ this ribbon was a bit more than a fashion statement. ❝you should probably take off that fur if you’re hot, shin-ah. it makes it worse, does it not?❞