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Asha gazed over the ocean, the vast horizon sprawled out in front of her like a painting. Waves crashed at the cliffside below, and saltwater sprayed up into the air like a fine mist. The wind carried it to her in a gentle breeze. She had grown to love the scent of the brine and the feeling of the mist clinging to her feathers. It brought a cool, relaxing sensation to her while she bathed in the hot desert sunlight.

When she was here, it felt as if time stopped. The only indication she had of it passing was the ships sailing out to sea or coming into the harbor to dock. If she stayed long enough, then she would watch the moon rise over the ocean until the sun had set behind her, or if she was here early enough, she'd watch the sunrise instead--though she preferred watching the moon.

This was her place of solitude, somewhere that she could feel free. It was at least a league away from the city: far enough that she couldn't hear the crowds of people, the hustling of feet, the yelling, shouting, and fighting, or her three younger brothers that constantly bickered between one another--none of that. All she could hear in this place was the quiet serenity of the ocean waves, and sometimes the cawing of the gulls. Here, she belonged in her thoughts.

She found this treasure almost by fate. It was if it called to her from the sky one day, like a beckoning embrace from a loved one. She didn't understand why she felt so content here, but she dared not to question it. This was her escape to another world, a less chaotic one.

"Asha."

She stirred awake at a gentle nudge to her shoulder and gave a big yawn.

Did I really fall asleep again?

When she looked up, she saw Terrin's fiery red scales standing above her, a smile curling his lips while his green eyes looked as soft as ever. She smiled back at him and stretched out before rising to her feet.

"How long have I been gone?" she asked. Her friend bumped into her and chuckled before his gaze wandered over the ocean, then down to the storm of crashing waves below. His toes clenched the edge of the rock she had been sleeping on.

"Oh, not very long. Maybe an hour. I came looking for you because I missed you," he replied with a toothy grin. He always had a charming aura about him that Asha really liked. It was half a decade ago when they first met, and even then he had been confident, charming, and most certainly cute. Now, when she looked at him, she saw a mature dragon with brawny muscles and a handsome face to compliment them. He was a good potential mate, yet he never asked her to be with him. Truly, he was the perfect mate for her.

Asha giggled and nuzzled his snout. "Well, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." Her tail curled around his as she leaned against his flank. A warm wing wrapped around her and tucked her close.

A deep rumble came from him. "Mmm... Well, that's a shame," he teased, "I wanted to go flying with you, but I guess this is okay, too."

"And where would we go flying to?"

"Just... around," he said absently.

A wide grin spread her lips. "Is there something you wanted to show me?" She could always tell when Terrin was hiding something from her. He didn't hide things very well, and she almost saw the excitement in his eyes while his tail tended to sway a little faster. She guessed that he wanted to take her someplace private so they could have a little fun.

"Uhm... maybe! But I can't tell you... You'd just have to uhm... find out, I guess," he finished as he glanced away.

She laughed brightly and bumped into him. "Then why don't you take the lead?"

He nodded and nuzzled her before stepping forward and leaping off the cliffside. Asha followed behind him and dropped down into the light mist below. For a brief moment, she felt weightless. When his red wings flared out, so did her feathery wings. They caught the wind and drastically slowed her descent until she skimmed across the water and surged forward, the momentum from her fall carrying her swiftly over the water. Then, Terrin banked upward to the left, so she did too, and she felt her weight shift to her tail end as she whirled around.

Their wings flapped almost in unison as they made the climb into the clear, deep-blue sky. The world beneath them seemed to grow smaller the higher they went toward the bright sun. A vast, sandy desert opened up to the western horizon, covering the land as far as the eye could see. To the north was the Scar, a deep gouge cut into the Earth by one of the gods' crooked swords. A river split apart the land to the south, and it slithered like a snake far off into the distance, with small settlements speckling the riverside.

An hour passed as Asha and Terrin flew deeper into the desert. The shimmering ocean was barely visible behind them because of some tall rocks and sand dunes rising over the horizon. It seemed as if the whole world was covered in nothing but sand now. Without a strong sense of direction, it was very easy to get lost in the desert. Many inexperienced travelers fell victim to their own ignorance.

Every time she asked how much longer it would be, he would answer, "Just a little further." That went on for about another couple leagues before he said, "Almost there!" He tilted his wings and dove down.

Asha glided behind him with her black-feathered wings outstretched. Below them a patch of green broke the monotony of the white sand. It was a rare color in the desert, and the only time Asha ever saw anything green was when she flew over the palace district, where there were small trees and gardens planted there. Here, it was a cluster of dense foliage that crept in as close to the source of water as it possibly could, thriving beautifully.

They landed just outside of it over a large rock. Sand squished beneath Asha's toes before she stepped on solid but soft ground and pushed her way through the dense undergrowth behind Terrin. She was surprised this oasis didn't get buried in the sand, but the rock behind them must have protected it from the harsh winds that usually came from the east.

A large pool of crystal-clear water opened up in the center of the oasis, the only source for the plants' survival. Leaves from the tall trees shaded the area. Compared to the searing wasteland surrounding them, the oasis felt rather cool: a welcoming feeling. Asha stepped up to the pool and looked down to see her reflection smiling back at her.

Two silver-blue eyes stared curiously at her, surrounded by tiny, silvery feathers lining her eye-sockets. Her crest of silver feathers trailed between her two white horns down her neck. From her snout to her silver-feathered tail-tip was nothing but soft, black feathers that covered her body. Not once in her life had Asha met another feathered-dragon. Her mother, Vespera, said that she and her father were the only ones she ever saw, too.

My father...

"Pretty cool, huh?" Terrin asked, beaming. "I found it when I was out playing with my friends."

Asha swiped away her reflection before she got caught up in her thoughts again and splashed water at him. He flinched and covered himself with his wings, chuckling.

"Yes, it is pretty _cool._It's actually very beautiful..." She looked around at all of the vibrant colors from the different species of plants and flowers. It was hard to imagine that there were other places in the world that looked like this all of the time. Oases were truly gems in the rough.

"Not as beautiful as you," he said, stepping closer to her. It felt like his green eyes were looking into her soul, an invasion of privacy that she didn't mind. Not when it was him. She reached up and touched the spotted black scales of his cheek and smiled back at him.

Whenever they were alone together like this, she always felt this warmth in the back of her mind. It was comforting--relaxing. She felt like she could put all of her trust into him and be happy... truly happy. Terrin would never hurt her, and he would always be her solid rock. He was her best-friend.

Just her best-friend.

She sighed and turned her head away, taking a step back as she looked into the clear water again. Now that she was older, she wanted more than just a friendship. She wanted a mate. She wanted someone she could spend the majority of her life with, if not her entire life. Terrin always seemed like more than a friend to her, but he never asked her to be his mate, as tradition followed.

Maybe I should ask him myself. Damn traditions.

"Is something wrong, Ash?"

But she was scared to. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if she ruined their friendship because of it? She shook her head and bared a fake smile at him. "No, everything's fine. Why don't we go explore for a bit?"

He scrutinized her before nuzzling into her neck. "You can tell me."

"No, really. I'm feeling just f--"

"Asha..."

She sighed and turned her head the other way. "What are we, Terrin?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we aren't mates, then what are we?" she asked and looked at him. It was a question that had been eating at her for some time.

He stared silently at the ground next to her.

"Every time I look at you, I don't see a friend or a best-friend; I see my mate. I see someone who genuinely cares about me and someone I genuinely care about. I feel giddy when I'm around you. You make me happy... And I hope I do the same for you. But I just..."

Terrin glanced at her and took another step closer. "You 'just' what?"

She clenched her claws into the dirt and let out a deep breath. "I'm just tired of not knowing how you feel about me... Am I just another dragoness to you?"

He bumped snouts and then wrapped his wings around her. Asha clenched her teeth and pinched back tears that threatened to spill, and then she nuzzled down his neck and buried her muzzle into his shoulder.

"Far from it, Asha. I love you."

It felt like Asha's world suddenly crumbled to pieces before it reformed itself anew. It felt like a thousand waves thrashed against her chest before there was a sudden calm in the storm. There was a long silence. Her throat felt like it would burst from all the words she wanted and tried to say, but nothing would come out.

All it takes is three words to rattle my mind, she mused.

And finally, the only words she managed to squeeze past her tight throat were, "Y-you do?" She felt like an idiot. Out of everything she wanted to say, the feelings she wanted to reciprocate by telling him she loved him too, she asked, 'you do?'

She wanted to scream.

Terrin giggled and affectionately rubbed his snout with hers. "You don't believe me?" Their eyes met, and in that brief moment she saw that he was vulnerable, that his heart was laid open before her.

Before Asha could explain her stupidity, he pressed their lips together, and she melted. He kissed her and mouthed over her lips as she started to mouth back. Her eyes shut as she lost all cognitive thought and reacted purely on instinct. Their maws locked together after he tilted his head, and his tongue pushed into her muzzle. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, too, and they half-curled together while sliding against another.

Asha lost herself in their kiss. They had never once kissed before--it was something that mates would do. It was a special moment that was meant to be shared between two lovers, a physical display of love.

And we're finally kissing...

His paws guided her body down onto her back. She tucked her wings in close and laid herself down into the thick grass next to the pool. Terrin lay between her inviting, open legs and pressed his underbelly against hers, his warm scales sliding against her soft feathers. She held him against her and wrapped her forearms around his torso while closing her hind legs over his rump with her thighs gripping his flanks. When he rolled his hips into her, she sucked in a shuddering breath and felt his hard flesh grind between her legs.

Over the last couple of years, she and Terrin had mated countless times. They did it for the fun and pleasure, to enjoy one another. She knew how he felt against her and how good it was to share her body with him. She was comfortable with him.

But here and now, it felt different. It felt too good to be true, like the stars had aligned perfectly for this moment. Her emotions were calm yet excited, her body relaxed yet tingling with anticipation. She wanted this more than anything, and it appeared that he did too.

It's like we're mating for the first time again.

Terrin could hardly contain himself as he pushed his hips firmly against hers and groaned into their passionate kiss. His arousal smeared over her delicate feathers while his flesh rubbed against her hot, wet slit. His thick scent filled his nostrils and drove her senses wild, and she imagined that her aroma was doing the same for him.

Asha's paws stroked up and down his neck as they kissed, sometimes caressing his cheeks and holding his head. With a soft gasp, she felt him gently push his flesh inside her and spread her open. He quickly slid deep inside her until he bottomed out, his cock buried in her velvety depths. They tied at the hips, bodies entwined. A hot blush warmed her face as she shared her love with him, kissing him and embracing him.

Their breaths unified with their moans of pleasure. They fit perfectly together like two pieces to a puzzle, conjoined at the hips. And then Terrin started rolling his hips again, grinding against her in the throes of his passion. Asha sucked in a lusty breath and felt her feathers puff out as her body shuddered. She felt his length push and slide against her soft, slick folds, a familiar pressure nestling into her. Her toes curled with pleasure, and she groaned into their kiss.

They exchanged soft, tender pants through their locked maws, both of them lost in arousal while their tongues wrestled. Terrin started to slowly push in and out of her, and their bodies rocked together against the ground. With a deep moan, Asha felt pleasure building inside her as his cock rubbed against her sensitive walls, stretching them as they clenched around his flesh. Warmth flowed through her loins and traveled up her spine to build in the back of her skull.

Terrin finally broke their kiss after letting it linger another moment longer. He nuzzled her cheek and moaned into her ear before kissing down her neck. She stretched her neck out to him with a quiet groan and felt his lips suckling on her soft feathers, trailing down to the base of her neck. She grasped his shoulders tightly and kneaded into them while he rocked into her body.

"O-ooh, Terrin," she softly moaned.

His cock slipped in and out of her vent. It spread her open as he pushed in, and her muscles would squeeze around him as he pulled out. The ridges on the underside of his shaft dragged across her entrance and made her tail swish rapidly back and forth. Moans elicited from her lips in encouragement while Terrin moved faster and harder. He kissed and slathered his tongue up and down her neck as his hips patted against hers.

It was a constant ride of pleasure. Each thrust would send trembles through her, and she would elicit her pleasure to him in a soft moan or coo. He would grunt and groan back to her while he took her body.

"Don't... don't stop..." she moaned between breaths. "It feels so good..."

"I--mmmm--don't plan... on it..."

Then, Asha felt her orgasm building. It started in her hind paws, her toes flexing and curling tightly before it trailed up her legs and through her thighs. Her loins felt so warm and hot as a small pressure welled just past her clitoris inside her passage.

"Aa-aah, T-Terrin! I'm close..."

Terrin grunted and continued at his steady pace of thrusting into her, pushing her body into the grass. "Gwwrrrrrrr! I am t-too..."

Asha sucked in a deep breath and moaned loudly, that pressure nearly ready to burst as warmth tingled through her body. She listened to his pants, grunts and growls, knowing that he was almost ready to cum inside her. She laid her head back and submitted to him, eagerly receiving every thrust he made until she let her orgasm trickle through her like a stream of ecstasy.

"Oooohhh! Terrin!" she moaned. Her walls clamped down on his cock and started milking it, pulsating rapidly around his flesh that continued to slide in and out of her. Her muscles tugged on it and tried to coax his seed to fill her with his virile essence. Undulating waves of burning pleasure washed over her and drowned her in bliss.

Terrin gave a low, lustful growl and shoved his flesh deep inside her. "A-Ash... Rwrrrrr!"

She felt the powerful throbs of his length before warmth seeped into her passage. Mixed with the finale of her orgasm, it sent her mind in a world of sheer delight. His snout rested against hers as he panted and gasped for breath. He spent his load inside her, his seed painting her walls and filling her more with each throb.

Asha tried to catch her breath, too, with her chest rising and falling. Her paws caressed his smooth scales as she rode out the rest of her climax, her head swimming with pleasure. His hard cock rested inside her, spilling the last of his cum.

"Mmmmm... that felt amazing, Ash," he said between breaths.

"It... it did," she agreed. She kissed his cheek, and then he kissed her lips. With a coo, she kissed him and twined her tongue with his. Terrin pulled away soon after and nuzzled into her neck with a content sigh.

Asha purred and hugged around him, basking in the afterglow with him. "I love you, too," she finally said, and she full-heartedly meant it. "Does this mean... that we're mates now?"

He chuckled and pushed his hips into her, making her grunt as his softening length moved inside her. "I kind of thought we already were," he admitted. He looked into her eyes with a soft expression. "Titles are just titles... I didn't know you were worrying about that or I would have said something much sooner."

"You thought we were already mates!?"

He grinned sheepishly and nodded. "You remember when I got you this ring?" he asked and touched the silver band that matched two anklets above her hind paws. "That's when I considered you my mate."

"But we never kissed or anything, and that was almost a year ago! Why didn't you say anything? Like, 'Hey, I love you and want to be your mate'? Or 'Hey, let's be mates'?" she teased. "You thought giving me a ring would signify our courtship?"

He laughed and nodded again as he pulled away from her. His flesh returned to his sheath, but Asha still felt warm and wet between her legs. He cooed into her ear and lay behind her before wrapping her in his wings and tucking her against his underbelly. She purred deeper and held the forepaw grasping her chest while their tails curled together.

"When humans desire a mate, they provide a piece of dowry to the one they love, typically a ring."

"They also get down on one knee and profess their love to their loved one as they present it!" she added.

"I've said that I love you before..."

"I thought you meant it in a friendly way!"

"Well, I uhm... didn't really know how to ask you! I thought the gesture would be enough."

Asha giggled, a bright smile painted across her lips. "You're ridiculous. I seriously can't believe you right now."

"Happy one-year anniversary?" he said hopefully and nuzzled into the back of her neck.

"Oh goodness, you're lucky I'm too content right now to kick your scaly ass."

He chuckled and squeezed around her tightly. "Love you, too!"

Asha grumbled but she couldn't break the smile across her muzzle. She let out a hefty sigh and looked around the lush oasis while she was snuggled tight in his arms. She wished she could stay like this forever. It was quiet except for the insects she could hear chirping or buzzing, and the water was completely still. She wondered if anyone else knew about this place.

"I should get back to my mother soon," Terrin said. He stroked her soft feathers and squeezed her tail with his. "I've been gone too long."

"It's only been a few hours," she replied. "Don't worry so much."

"She needs me, Ash. By the time I get back it'll be longer than a few hours." He shifted and let go of her, much to her disappointment. She stood up and nuzzled him as they walked out of the oasis and back into the arid desert. The evening sun beamed down on them, just as hot as it was at noon.

They took off together and angled back to the east. What looked to be a sandstorm brewed ahead of them on their right, and she hoped it wouldn't hit their city. Sandstorms were vicious for those who couldn't fly above them, and they were usually devastating. The feral district was always hit with the worst because there weren't any walls to protect the homes. But thankfully, the winds rarely came from the desert and most often came from across the sea.

The giant city soon came into sight. From the sky, it was easy to see each of the seven districts: the palace district was in the center of it all, and directly east of it was the market district; surrounding those two districts were the south, west, and north housing districts; and then the harbor district rested on the coast, with the feral district set off to the side of it. In the recent years, small, thin walls had been built to help segregate the districts even more. Stronger walls were built around the market district, surrounding it completely so the only way in by foot was through a guarded gate, to help deal with thieves--though to any one that could fly, they were hardly a deterrent.

The feral district was the poorest district, and that much was evident even from the sky. Housing conditions were deteriorating at best, and many ferals lived in tents along the outskirts of the district because it was all they could afford. To most of the two-legs and humans, ferals were just beasts, so finding occupations were nearly impossible, if it wasn't for the hard dock-work labor that was available, which only paid a couple silvers for a whole day of labor; and even then, not everyone could work.

Asha considered herself lucky because her mother had received a small fortune from her father that has kept their family alive and well-fed ever since she was a hatchling.

Asha grimaced as her thoughts roamed to her father again.

"Asha?" Terrin nudged her snout. Worry-lines were etched into his brow. They were standing together just outside his house, in the heart of the feral district. It was a stone building made out of thin, solid slabs of sandstone, much like all of the other homes in the district.

"Oh, sorry... Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around," she said absently.

"You were thinking about him again," he said. He nuzzled her and hugged her with his wings.

"How do you not think about your father?" she asked. She leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Because I know he's a slimy scumbag who deserves the worst kind of misfortune to befall him," he answered with a bitter taste. "It's easier for me to forget about him when I believe that full-heartedly."

Asha frowned and nodded. She hated her father too. She hated him for leaving her and her mother alone. She hated his guts and almost wished he was dead, like her mother believed.

Almost...

But she truly wanted to see him... to ask him why he left. She wanted to know the truth, and she wanted to know who he really was. If he wanted to leave them, then why did he leave a satchel filled with gold and a toy plushy she still had from when she was just a hatchling. Was it guilt? Did he feel bad about leaving them? If that was true, why didn't he just stay?

"Try to talk to your mother," Terrin said. "I know she has refused to explain anything to you in the past, but maybe now that you're older she'll tell you something."

"Maybe. Thanks, Terrin." She rubbed her snout with his, and then he kissed her. She smiled when their muzzles parted and looked at him adoringly. "I'll come back later?"

He met her smile and nodded. "See you soon."

Asha turned and began her walk home. It wasn't very far, and her wings were rather sore, but she mostly wanted the time to think of questions to ask her mother. She passed by dragons, gryphons, wolves, and felines, but she didn't pay them any attention.

When she finally returned home, dusk had settled, and the horizon was painted with a brilliant, orange glow. She could already hear her brothers wrestling around before she even stepped inside.

Her mother was lying on her bed, resting her eyes as she curled up in the corner--Asha was impressed with how she could relax when her siblings were always so loud and rambunctious. The three of her younger brothers seemed to be fighting over who got to play with which toy. From oldest of six years to the youngest of three and two, it went Rikon, Mikal, and Silo.

Mikal and Silo shared the same father, her mother's current mate, Neil. They looked similar to each other, the color of their scales a shimmering gold mixed with stripes and blotches of black from her mother. Rikon had an emerald shade of color except for his black snout-tip and socks, as well as some silver etchings along his haunches.

Vespera opened her eyes and looked up at Asha. "Welcome home, sweetheart." She yawned widely and stretched out like a cat before sleepily ambling over to her daughter. "How was your day? Did you spend it with Terrin again? He came around looking for you, but I didn't know where you were. I hope he found you!"

Asha nodded and nuzzled her mother. "He did find me. He showed me an oasis way out in the desert that he had found."

"Oh, I bet that was exciting! Was it big? What did you do there?" Another big yawn escaped her maw.

Asha grinned and glanced away. It wasn't like her mother didn't know that she and Terrin were intimately close with one another, but it was still hard to talk about. "We explored around and looked at all of the plants. There were some really beautiful flowers."

"I wish I could have been there," she said. "I bet it smelled wonderful and full of life. Makes me wish sometimes that we lived elsewhere, in a big forest or something. That would be nice, wouldn't it, Ash?"

She nodded vaguely and fidgeted on her paws. "Terrin and I are mates now. Well, I guess we kind of were already, according to him," she quickly added.

"Oooh, gross!" Rikon shouted, the oldest brother. The three siblings had stopped fighting and were now staring at them, in a cluster of scales, tails, and wings. "You guys were doing it!?"

Asha's face flushed as she turned her head toward the whelp. "Hey! You're not supposed to know about that stuff yet!" she scolded.

"What they doing?" Silo asked curiously. He was at the bottom of the pile, wiggling on his back.

"Sis wrestled with Terry like your dad does with our mom a lot," he explained.

"Spirits, Mother! You've done it in front of them?" Asha asked incredulously.

Her mother was wide-eyed and shaking her head. "N-no! Well... not on purpose! He must have caught us in our bedroom... I mean, there was this one time when Neil started to get frisky, but we took it to the bedroom and finished in there!"

"Aahh, I don't need to know that!" Asha shook her head free from that mental image and held her paws against her ears.

"So you guys did do it!" Rikon accused and confidently nodded his head as he looked at his siblings. "She did it with Terry!" A tiny, white claw jabbed at Asha.

"Rikon!" Asha shouted, flustered. She looked to her mother with an expectation, who was giggling and trying to hide the fact with her wing.

"What? You guys did do it, right?"

"Mom!" Asha whined and hid under her feathered wings. "You're not helping!"

"It's only natural!" she assured. "Besides, I like Terrin. He's a sweetheart and I'm glad you two are mates; he's good for you."

"Asha and Terry, flying over the sea, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Rikon sang, which caused the other two siblings to giggle and join in.

"You shut your maws before I shut them for you!" Asha growled and hunched over like she was ready to pounce on them. The three of them squeaked and scrambled away before jumping through the open windows. She sighed and turned back to her mother as they went outside.

"Before you ask: no, we are not planning on having any hatchlings yet," she said with a grin. "These three are already too much."

Her mother chuckled and sat down next to Asha. "I don't blame you, sweetie. Only Mikal and Silo were planned, but I'm glad I have Rikon too. He's a good older brother."

Asha squinted at her. "What about me? Was I planned?"

She glanced at her and then looked at the ground with a pause. "Yes, more or less."

Asha hoped her mother would say more so she didn't have to ask, but for once Vespera was short for words. A gnawing feeling ate at Asha's gut.

"I uhm... I wanted to know... Terrin said I should ask you about--you know," she said and shifted her wings. "You've never told me the full story."

Vespera gave a heavy sigh and bared a weak smile at her. "Your father?"

She nodded her head. "What was his name? What did he look like? Was he nice?"

She chuckled and looked her up and down. "His name was Blade. He looked a lot like you: black feathers all over, brilliant, stunning eyes, white claws and horns. But he had a lot of golden feathers instead of your beautiful silver coloring." She touched Asha's shoulder and traced over a swirling, silvery design etched into her feathers. "These markings were from him and not me, even though I'd like to take credit. He was a sweetheart, that's for sure."

"Is that what made you like him so much?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I thought he was rather exotic, and it was a lot of fun watching him come out of his shell... but he and I weren't lovers like Neil is to me. He uhh... He had a different lover." Her mother looked guiltily down between her paws.

"Oh, so..." Asha searched for what her mother meant, but no words came to mind.

"You had two fathers, Ash," her mother stated. "I was never meant to be your guardian... I was a surrogate."

Asha's eyes widened at the realization. "O-oh... I had two dads?"

It wasn't a common thing for two of the same gender to become mates like that. She was aware that sometimes people would fool around with the same sex, but she had never done that herself and couldn't imagine herself doing it. For her to have two dads... It was hard to believe!

Her mother nodded and laughed nervously. "I was actually in love with your father's mate. It's how we met. I'll spare you the details of how you were conceived, but Akir was just as much of a father to you as Blade was."

Asha made a face and tried not to picture that.

"Akir? Why didn't you ever tell me this?" she questioned. "Did he abandon me too, then? I might not have ever been your daughter if I didn't get abandoned?"

More and more questions filled her mind, each one growing more pressing by the second until she was desperate for an answer.

Vespera shook her head. "They didn't abandon you... at least, I don't believe they did. They loved you, Ash--I believe that. I love you too, and I'm happy that you're in my life, despite the circumstance." She looked at her daughter with a soft, adoring expression and laid a forepaw on top of hers.

"Are either of them alive?" Asha asked urgently.

Her mother grimaced and shook her head. "I don't think so... There's a lot I need to tell you, Ash. Let's lie down. Thinking and remembering this stuff makes my legs weak."

Asha followed her mother and lay down beside her. At the same time that she was excited to learn more about her fathers, the way her mother sounded and looked was discouraging. A paw closed around Asha's again as their eyes met. Her dark-blue eyes were missing that vibrant glow that was usually there.

Asha gulped.

"I don't know what happened, Asha. Honestly. That night that you were returned to me... It was... heart-wrenching. You were covered in blood, and I'm not sure whose. It was storming and I heard a loud knock at the door. I opened it only to find you there, crying, soaked in blood and rain. There wasn't anyone else."

Asha peered at her paws, pondering. What does that mean? My parents were already dead? Then where did the satchel come from with all the treasure? I had to have been dropped off, just like the satchel--but by my father or Akir? Why can't I remember either of them!?

Vespera continued, "When the storm cleared up, I went to see Blade and Akir, but when I got to their home, I saw that it had been ravaged. A giant pool of blood spilled across their doorway and into the street and... and I..." She winced and turned her head away. "Behind the back of the house was a fresh grave, but I didn't know whose, and I wasn't going to dig it up. All I knew that one of them was dead, and if it was your father, I know for certain that Akir would have leveled the entire city until a killer was found--if it even was a murder. Despite his nature, Blade would have probably done the same thing, which is why I think that they're both dead. I looked and I waited... and waited..." She mumbled something.

"I remember the palace guards coming around the district, searching for someone. Guards were posted all over for nearly an entire year until they finally left us be. I'm not sure if they ever found who they were looking for. There was a lot of tension between us and them the entire time, and a lot of fights had broken out. I never let you out of my sight."

"Then what about the gold from the satchel? Where did it come from?"

She shrugged her wings. "It was almost a year later, and I can't be certain that it was either of them. It could have been a coincidence, but about the same time that showed up, the guards seemed to disappear."

Asha shook her head. "No, it wasn't a coincidence. My toy dragon was inside that satchel. I know it was one of them, which means one of my fathers might still be alive... if the guards didn't kill him. Did you ever check the prisons?"

"Yes, many times. I wouldn't get your hopes up, Ash. I never told you any of this because I wanted you to forget; I wanted to protect you. I'm worried you'll go try to find them and get yourself into trouble; there has to be a reason why there was bloodshed."

Asha gritted her teeth and dug her claws into the bedding. Her mother was right. A long pause drew the room into silence. Outside, her three brothers were flying and playing around.

"What was Akir like?" she finally asked.

"He was strong and intelligent," her mother said with a small smile. "Your biological father acted more like the female in their relationship, and it was kind of cute. They were perfect together... It made me jealous, but I knew they were both very happy."

I wish I could have known them better...

Asha couldn't remember a single moment from her earliest months. When she was younger, she remembered having flashes of nightmares that terrified her. Now, she couldn't remember what they were about, but in her heart she knew it was from that night. She repressed her memories, the only ones she had of her fathers.

The door to their home opened and interrupted Asha's thoughts, and the sound of cheerful whelps growling and squeaking filled the room. Her brothers were climbing all over Neil, who was chuckling and licking whichever dragonet he could reach.

"They're certainly wound-up today!" he said, grinning horn to horn. At his flank was a leather bag stuffed with food, and it wasn't long before Mikal started digging through it.

"What you get!" he shouted.

Neil rumbled and took the satchel off and set it down so the three brothers could get into it. They scrambled about and soon mewled triumphantly as each one of them took out a hunk of meat. Meanwhile, Neil walked over to Asha and her mother, though he mostly ignored Asha.

"How are you, my love?" he asked and nuzzled Vespera.

Not even a glance at me, Asha thought with a sigh. Neil seemed like a good father to her brothers and a good mate to her mother, but he was otherwise indifferent to her. Asha felt the same way about him. As she grew up, she had watched plenty of males woo her mother over. He was just another drake that may end up leaving her in another year.

Asha hated the thought of that.

But she was happy that he treated Rikon like one of his own. The dragonet was still young enough that any father-figure was good enough for him, especially since his own father didn't stick around for long at all after finding out Vespera was carrying his egg.

"I'm fine, handsome," her mother said and kissed his cheek. "How was the market? What'd you buy?"

"Crowded as usual. I picked you up some fresh fish, if one of the younglings doesn't eat it first," he said.

"Oh, good! I am starving. I haven't eaten all day," she said as she hurried over to the bag and pulled out her meal wrapped in a neat package. The three whelps were already tearing into their meals.

"I got you fish too," he said to Asha. "I figured if your mother loves it, you might like some too."

Asha bared a small, friendly smile at him and dipped her head in thanks. She didn't like or hate fish, but she gladly shared some with her mother to get her fill. Her mother made idle conversation the entire time, but truthfully Asha hardly heard any of it. She'd give terse responses while her head was filled with thoughts of her fathers.

After she was finished eating, she excused herself and decided to go back to Terrin with her newfound knowledge. She couldn't wait to tell him what she found out from her mother, but there was still a queasiness buried in her stomach that a meal couldn't fix.

What if my dad is still alive? Do I still hate him?

From what she knew now, it didn't sound like her father would have just abandoned her... there would have had to have been a good reason, right?

Asha sighed and knocked on Terrin's door.

He gave her a glowing smile and invited her inside. "I'm glad you're back," he said. "I was starting to miss you again."

His home was small and cozy, but it managed to fit three rooms inside it. Asha's house had four separate rooms, and it was one of the more expensive homes one could find in the feral district, bought with the money her father had given them--supposedly. Considering how poor most of the ferals were, Terrin and his mother were doing well for themselves to be able to live here.

She giggled and nuzzled into him. "I was starting to miss you too," she cooed. "How is your mom?"

"She's... okay," he answered. Worry-lines furrowed his brow.

Asha frowned and licked his cheek. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

"You don't hide your emotions well at all," she teased and bumped him. "Tell me."

He sighed and glanced into the other room. "She's not improving. It's been four months, and I think it's only getting worse. Her scales aren't growing back." He talked quietly beneath his breath so his mother wouldn't hear him.

"Well, you just got the medicine last week," Asha said. "It probably takes time to work, right?"

Terrin looked worried. "Maybe..."

She hugged him with her wings and caressed him with her soft forepaws. "She'll be okay, Terrin."

"Yeah." His attention returned to her before he kissed her lips. "I can't thank you enough for buying the medicine. I'll repay you someday."

She kissed him back and rubbed her snout with his. "I already told you not to worry about it. My mother was more than happy to have the chance to help someone else with that money."

He grunted, obviously still planning on ways to pay her back. "Did you tell your mom about us?" he asked.

Asha chuckled and nodded. "How could I not have?"

"And what did she say?" He grinned and licked the feathers around her ears.

Asha giggled and tried to escape his wet licks. "She's happy for us. She seems to like you a lot because she said you were good for me, but I don't believe her," she teased. "You're a bad influence on me!"

Terrin rumbled and started licking down her neck. "Oh, is that so?"

Asha shuddered as her crest flared. "Mmmm, yes..." She loved it when he would lick her neck. It pressed a lot of buttons, and he knew that by the way she would croon and purr. And when she would stretch it out and expose it to him so he'd hit all of those sensitive places...

She let out a soft gasp and pulled away, a blush at her cheeks. "N-not when your mother is in the other room."

He smirked and licked her nose. "She's asleep now. Why don't we go to my bedroom?"

The thought was so very tempting. She wanted him, and she knew he was just as excited. "I told you you were a bad influence," she huffed. "That's just awkward... What if she wakes up and hears us?"

"We're just doing what mates do," he said and kissed her cheek. "But you're right, it would be awkward... Let's go find somewhere nearby, then."

It was what they always did when they wanted to mate. They'd normally search along the coast to find a private, secluded area. This time it was a small spot behind some rocks along the empty shoreline; no one would see them here unless they flew directly above. Asha didn't like it as much as some of their other places because the water would seep onto the beach and get her paws all wet, but tonight the tide was low and her lust was brimming.

Terrin rubbed up against her, rumbling as she purred. He doted her neck with the sensuous licks of his tongue while she turned her head and stretched it out to him. Amongst the salty breeze and fresh air, she could smell his thick, virile scent. And when she glanced under him, she saw his pride jutting out, ready to claim his dragoness.

She stepped forward and lifted her tail, presenting to her mate, who wasted no time in securing his mount. He climbed over her, wrapped his forearms around her torso and pinned her down with his heavier weight.

Asha cried out to him and submitted to her drake as he mounted her. She felt him prodding and poking beneath her tail until he slipped inside and began thrusting, lost in his lust. With her legs spread wide, she let him take her body and push into her, heavy and fast. They rocked together, groaning, growling, and panting like animals.

It felt so good to just let instincts take over, to let her desires be fulfilled in a quick, lustful ride of pleasure. Each time he slipped inside she would feel his hard length spread her open, and she would stretch around him tightly. He mated her like the ebb and flow of the sea, thrusting in and out, pushing and pulling as his cock squeezed inside her and slipped right back out again.

And finally, there was that blissful release that made her legs tremble with ecstatic delight. The ache in her loins would disappear as a warm, pleasurable, tingling sensation took its place and trickled up and down her spine. Terrin's moans joined hers in a lusty harmony, and he claimed his dragoness and marked her with his seed. After they had reached the pinnacle of ecstasy, they collapsed together, tied at the hips.

"Mmmm... Gods, Terrin... You really couldn't help yourself, could you?"

He grunted and shifted against her as he nuzzled into her feathers. "Not when I have such a beautiful and sexy mate," he chirred. "I hope I wasn't too rough."

"It was perfect," she said, grinning. "I can't believe you still had all that left in you after we already did it earlier today."

"There's still plenty more where that came from," he cooed and playfully pushed into her with his softening length.

"Ooh!" Asha winced and nipped at his neck. "Dirty male. I'm a little sore, and especially sensitive."

"Sorry," he replied with an apologetic nuzzle.

Asha smiled at him and had him pull out of her so they could cuddle together on their sides. It was a gorgeous night: the moon was rising up over the sea, and millions of tiny, bright stars were sprawled out behind it, like sparkling diamonds. Waves gently lapped against the shore ahead of them, but a large slab of rock blocked their view of the open ocean. A cold breeze of air blew in from the east and made Asha want to retreat into her feathers.

Terrin seemed to feel a little chilly too because he was pressed right against her and pulled one of her wings over his red scales. A paw stroked her flanks, caressing her soft feathers. His touch always relaxed her, and being this close to him and his warm body was comfortable. Right now, it was just the two of them in their own little world.

"Have you ever thought about leaving, Terrin?" Asha asked as she looked up at the sky. "Just flying someplace else."

He shook his head. "Not really. I don't have much of a reason to... Why do you ask?"

She shrugged her wings. "We live in such a harsh environment, and in a city that doesn't want us. I'm sure there are better places out there. Places with color and friendly faces. Trees, plants, animals... All we have here is sand." She grabbed a pawful of it and let is sift between her digits. "The people here are just as coarse as the sand, too."

"You're not wrong," he agreed. "But even if I wanted to, I couldn't leave my mother or my friends behind."

Friends, she thought glumly. I've never really had any friends.

Aside from her family and Terrin, Asha didn't talk to anyone else. She had a couple friends when she was younger, but since she started hanging around Terrin, she hadn't seen hide or tail of them. She considered his friends to be her friends too, though she didn't seek their company.

"My mother isn't fit to travel, either," he added. "Maybe someday I can travel again... We could travel."

Asha looked over at him and saw a warm, loving expression filling his face. He took one of her forepaws in his and squeezed it.

"I'd like to see the world with you," he said softly.

Butterflies fluttered in Asha's belly and squirmed inside her chest. She twined her tail around his and kissed him.

"Someday, then," she said with a nod. "Then maybe we could start a family."

Terrin rumbled and looked at her thoughtfully, but he didn't confirm nor deny that he wanted to have a family. Instead, he changed the subject and asked, "Did you learn anything about your father?"

Asha wanted to pursue the idea of a family further, but she decided that they had all the time in the world to talk about that, and now wasn't the time.

"Apparently my dad liked other males," Asha said with a small giggle. "I actually had two fathers and not just one."

"Oh, that's rather peculiar," Terrin responded. "So... wait, then why did he and your mother..."

"She was a surrogate for him and his mate," Asha explained. "I... She wasn't supposed to raise me."

"I see."

"I'm glad she did, though," Asha added. "I'm glad she's my mom."

"Me too, then," he said kindly. "I think she raised you well."

She grinned and bumped noses with him. "That's just because you like me!"

"No, it's because I _love_you," he corrected with a chuckle. "Your mother is really nice, even if she is talkative. You talk a lot too, you know, and I can only assume you learned that from her."

"Do I?" she wondered.

He rubbed noses with her and replied, "Sometimes!" His smile slowly faded while he looked at her. She rubbed his chest and rested her muzzle against his.

"Did she tell you what happened to him then? Is your other father still alive?"

Asha gave a soft sigh. "One of them is dead. That's all she knows for certain. She thinks both of them are, but I'm positive that one of my fathers is alive. Who else would have left us all that treasure?"

Terrin's expression shifted. "And you want to find him, don't you?"

She winced. Is it that obvious?

"I want to know the truth. I want to know why he left me... I don't feel like I'll ever be satisfied until I meet him face-to-face."

Terrin didn't approve of that. He didn't say so, but she could see it in his green eyes. She could see the pain his own father had put him through: the anger, the hatred. To him, her father was no different from his own.

"If I ever see him again, I'm going to rip his face apart," he had said. "He never deserved to be with my mother. He doesn't deserve me acknowledging that he's my father."

"You won't find him," Terrin said. "It's been fourteen years, right? If he wanted to be found, you would have already."

"I never will if I don't try... But I don't know where to begin."

"He doesn't want you, Ash," he stated sternly. "Put it out of your mind... You're only going to hurt yourself."

Asha pinned her ears back and glanced away from him. She knew he was only trying to protect her, that he cared for her safety and well-being, but what he said cut deep. Inside her heart, she wanted to believe that her father still cared about her. The toy he brought her along with all those jewels, silver, and gold meant something. If her father didn't care about her or her mother, then why would he have supplied enough money for them to live out their lives without him?

Terrin sighed and wrapped around her. "Sorry..."

She nuzzled his neck and hugged him back. "It's okay. I understand, Terrin. I'll... I'll try to give it up."

"If he cared for you, he would still be with you," he said. "Maybe he did die and you'll just spend your life wondering and looking for him. I want you to be happy, but I don't think you'll find it through your father."

Asha nodded and slowly exhaled. "You're right... You're completely right." Though she wanted to argue it, she felt like she was already defeated.

"I'll do my best to make you happy. I'll always be here for you."

Their eyes met again, and in his face she saw his sincerity. She smiled and rubbed her snout against his. "I love you."

"And I love you," he responded and squeezed her tightly. "Let's head back home. It's late and my scales are about to freeze off."

She giggled and nodded, letting him go so they could leave.

Asha thought about what he said. In every way, he was right--at least, that's what her head told her. But her heart spoke differently. She wanted to find her father and she wanted answers, and she felt like this ache would never go away until she found a resolution...

If her father was still alive.