semi-plotted starter for : @baelabond
The sigh of the shifting sea did little to calm Jace who had been a bundle of nerves and anxiety since returning to Driftmark. Dragonstone had been occupied by Baratheon forces, leaving Jace to assume that Lord Borros had taken the castle by force. How he bested Syrax, Moondancer, and the plentiful dragons that roamed there was a mystery. His heart ached at the thought of whatever misfortune befell his mother, and his betrothed. Baela wouldn't have gone down without a fight. He was a ferocious warrior, skilled with a multitude of weapons, and made even deadlier on Moondancer. But there had been no remnants of a bloody battle, or scorched bodies lining the shores. So what had happened? It truly felt as if everybody vanished in the blink of an eye.
Jace had slept beside Vermax, tucked beneath his wing. Driftmark's ancestral castle, while ruined, had acted as a temporary refuge to the dragon prince. When he woke he would venture inside, determining if the structure was fit to act as a base of temporary operation. Vermax stirred, waking up his rider in the process. Jace had used his cape as a temporary bedroll, affording him a few hours of much needed rest. Lifting his head, he was surprised to see Vermax running toward the shore. Jace followed the dragon's gaze upward to catch the familiar sight of pale green scales decorated with stripes. Baela! He jumps up and onto his feet, gathering his cape so he can clasp it back to his tunic. Jace runs to join Vermax who excitedly chitters at the sight of Moondancer. When Baela touches down, he scoops him up and into his arms, squeezing them tightly. "Oh, Baela!" Jace cries, pressing his face into his chest. "You're alive!" Tears shimmered at the edges of his vision while relief blossoms in his chest. Finally setting Baela down, Jace takes a moment to gather his bearings. "Where is my mother?"
