At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series
Chapter 9: Thoughtful watch

(Me)

I stroll along the banks of the river that flows from the lake under the waterfalls and into the forest. The sky is still as hazy as ever thanks the barrier yet still some of the sun peeks through. A cool, gentle wintery breeze brushes against me, catching in my fox ears. I smile slightly as the fur on my tails is ruffled by it. I take several deep breathes, seeing them fog as I exhale.

It’s just another mid-morning stroll after breakfast, a time I’ve been using to recollect and settle myself. I still feel the pain of what happened, feeling perhaps a tinge of guilt and maybe anger for the aftermath. Right now however, I’m just putting it on the back burner.

Something soft then brushes against my hand. I pan over to see Fenris staring at me. I smile, reaching over and stroking the underside of his muzzle. Athena elected to stay behind at the Mansion, something about not feeling good. I know she isn’t sick or injured. I gave both wolves a look over after I settled down a few days ago and didn’t replace any injuries.

So maybe she’s just tired and wanted Fenris and I to have some father-daughter time. I have to smile, for it was how our journey into the past began, with just the two of us. If I were to ever make it back, I doubt anyone would believe my time-travel story. A few might.

In any case, it’s just the two of us together.

My ears flick upwards, hearing the sound of massive wings beating in the air. I pan up, watching as Ddraig flies overhead. He’s been keeping his vigil over us as he promised, while also staying close enough to talk.

I did see him and Marron talking a couple nights ago. I smile softly, a grandfather with a granddaughter. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, given how low they were talking and my distance from them.

I smile as I watch the massive dragon continue his route. “We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we, Papa Wolf?”

That would be a gigantic understatement.

He smiles, nodding as I feel him wrapping one of his tails around one of mine. “That we have, Little Aria,” he replies gently. He then leans in, nuzzling my face, “I am proud however. You have endured much, yet it has not broken you.”

I grin. It’s been tough, all of it as he said. My journeys, the people who’ve taken care of us, guarded us, the pain we’ve endured these past few months. But I do look back on the good from it, reuniting with Marron, traveling to Japan and confessing to Kenji. Our coming here and subsequent time in Dewloura.

So much.

I grin, looking to the Mansion, simply in awe of being here. “I couldn’t have made this far without you.” I turn and look to him, “I don’t think I would’ve made it through being in the past and Dewloura if you hadn’t followed after me.”

He once more nudges my face, feeling his cold nose against my cheek. “My place has, and ever shall be, at your side. For am I your father.”

I grin, stroking his. He is my father, something that I’ve known these past couple of years. Yet we each know that while true, there are still some things he can’t do for me as my father. Something I know another can. Ponders for another time however.

“I am also proud of how much you have grown. Not just in power, but in mind and beauty.”

I smile, looking into his deep, ice-blue eyes. “You’ve changed as well. You’ve found your heart’s wish. Someone to be with.”

I watch as his chest puffs up, showing immense pride and happiness. He grins, “True, very true. We are one, sharing something in common. Our daughter.”

I blush deeply and then gaze up at the sky, watching as the clouds roll on by.

“There is still more waiting for us,” he says. “More trials and battles.”

I nod and then sighs, looking down. My tails swirl around me as my ears lower slightly. “I know. Just…just I don’t know when we should leave. I know we’re safe here, but the longer we do, the worse things might get out there.”

He smiles, “Your heart will tell you when it is time.”

I smile, stroking his furred face. Again he’s right, yet I still worry.

I know from what my knights told me, since I have the Xur’canah, Regulus is forced to locate and retrieve the markers in order to unseal Dewloura. That and he might actually go after my coven the longer we wait and remain hidden. On the other hand…what if I were to throw a wrench into his plans? Me, being the kitsune that I am, have something in mind that might really piss him off, even more than he already is with me.

Part of me does want to go right now. These past few days have been good. We’ve filled them with training, resting, studying; overall we’re ready on that front. However, the other part of me is saying to wait. To not simply rush back before coming up with a full plan. War isn’t simple, and I wonder if it’s coming to a close.

More things to ponder and think about, but later.

The sky darkens as something flies over us. A rush of wind follows it as I watch Ddraig swoop around and land in the lake some distance away from us. I smile, hopping over to where my party and I first arrived from Japan. God, for me that’s been a few months ago.

We walk up the slope until we reach the peak overlooking the lake. Ddraig himself is dipping his massive head into the raging waterfalls, seemingly taking a shower of sorts. I watch as dirt and grime washes away, flowing down to the rivers and streams below and into the forest. It doesn’t take long from the lake to become clean and clear again thanks to the waterfalls.

“Hi, Grandpa!!” I shout out.

The great wyrm turns from the waterfall. I watch from his neck up starts to steam, drying off the water trickling down it before cooling off again. I will never cease being in awe of dragons, not even the fact that one of my sisters is one.

He grins, leaning in his massive head to, gently pressing snout oh so carefully to my face and nudges it. “Greetings, granddaughter.”

I giggle, swishing my tails.

“How are you this day?”

I peer up, seeing his emerald eyes gazing into mine. They shine so brightly, twinkling like gems in the light. His face is gentle, baring slight scars from battles long before even Mom was born.

I nod, stroking him scaly face. “Doing well, enjoying a stroll with my father.”

I watch as the dragon’s eyes shift over to my wolf. I glance over as Fenris fluffs up with pride at my statement. Both smile to each other.

Ddraig then pulls his head back slightly, probably no more than ten or so feet from us. His eyes glance over and around me, as if examining me like Mom would at times. “You truly are beautiful as a kitsune.”

I blush, grinning. “A lot of people say that.”

He grins brightly, leaning to me and nudging my face. “You bear your mother’s face. You truly are her daughter, in more ways than one.”

I giggle again, stroking his snout. I really do take after Mom, especially after my past self left me in order to save my life last summer. I know it stems from her mana shaping me, but in part mostly.

I look up at him, staring into his eyes. A dragonic grandfather. Hehe, I really do can’t help but garner a family.

I smile now filled with questions. “You know about me, so I wanna know about you. You are a legend after all.”

The great dragon chuckles as he pulls back slightly, nodding. “Very true, little one. In human terms I am indeed a legend amongst their tales. I am old, having seen the rise of many kingdoms, even witnessing Arthur and his reign from a time.” His head then rocks slightly, “Although, I wish Merlin hadn’t been a sore loser when playing games. Otherwise Camelot was a place to behold.”

I smile, nodding. It makes sense that he would know King Arthur, seeing how dragon clans even chose sides during those warring days. I would love to see Avalon one of these days. I know it exists, Mom even talked about taking me to it.

He smiles, “I myself, along with Miriam and the third founder of Colburn all sprang from the same region of the isles near Wales. Granted with Miriam hailing from Northern Ireland, yet still crossing into Wales some seven or so centuries ago. Sadly, our ancient home fell into the sea during a conflagration of swirling magicks.”

I smirk, “I guessing that region was Colburn.” I do have to wonder why so many places become lost over time. The colony of Roanoke, El Dorado, and now Colburn. I guess the world just loses things.

He nods, “Indeed, little one. The founders and I gathered the survivors and their descendants and formed Colburn in order to protect them and their traditions.” He then looks to me, “I know that one such part of your paternal ancestry can be traced to those survivors. However they soon vanished from us after a time.”

Now there’s a shocker. I have ancestors that were part of Colburn? It’s kinda nuts when I think about it. But I do know that part of my family does come from Wales so maybe it’s just something they either forgot or was lost as time went on, much like my Dewlouran ancestry. I guess I have a deep tie with Colburn after all. I grin, swishing my tails.

He smiles, “My children, the ones I sired, have long wished to meet you if given the chance. However as with me, have been detained with duties with Court and keeping watch over Albion. If too many of my clan were to leave, others might take notice.”

I smile, remembering there were other dragons surrounding him when Mom and I came. If memory serves, they were in their half forms. A man and a woman. They too seemed happy to see me there.

He sighs, “I, as with another, wished to have brought you into my home. You would have been surrounded by a powerful clan of dragons, family eager to see you and love you. However, Miriam advised against it, despite my home being unknown to the world at large. At the time, she was overly concerned for your safety and mental state.”

I grin, nodding, “Grandmothers always worry.” Yep, thinking of you too Hashibaba. I also know the Arcturus also wanted to come and snatch me up only to have Miriam stop him.

He grins, “That they do.”

I stare up at him, swishing more of my tails. I have met two the leaders and founders of my coven. Now…both are my grandparents. Both in some fashion have had an impact on my life, one more openly while the other from the shadows, in a manner of speaking. So that leaves a simple question.

“Will I ever get to meet the third founder?” I ask.

He smiles, “One day, if she is able to slip away from Tir Na Nog.” The dragon shakes his massive head as if in exasperation. “Dealing with Titania can be exhausting at times.”

I giggle softly, nodding. “I know what you mean.” I know from personal experience on that front.

Granted I love the queen of the fae to death. She, in her own way, has been supporting me. Either with my studies on fae lore and even their language, to sending Mom back to America, and then granting and teaching me how to create fairy roads, to taking Kenji and Yukari off so the former can be trained. While never truly overtly aiding me, like fighting, she has been there for me regardless.

“It’s interesting how the three leaders are a human, dragon, and a fae,” I tell him. “Titania mentioned all three to me. Jenn was the first to let the rumor slip. It wasn’t something I really thought about until last summer.” I look to Ddraig with my face clearing showing signs of my curiosity.

He grins brightly. “We each represent three sides of Albion. The passion of the dragons, the mystery of the fae, and the perseverance of humanity. All are aspects and traits of those within our coven. Fae, humans, dragons, with some intermingling.”

I grin, “You can add yokai to that list.” He beams, nodding as he once again brings him massive head in close to me.

I lean into his, laying on it. I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of his flames on my cheek. I paw at it gently, remembering Silvi, and being with her. God I miss her.

“You seem happy there,” he says gently.

I grin, “I used to lie on my other sister like this, letting her warm me.”

He smiles, blowing gentle streams of warm air from his nostrils. It’s something akin to dragonic lullaby for hatchlings. Heh, yet for me it’s just a sigh of affection.

“You are a child to many, yet belong to one.”

I nod slowly, feeling a sharp pang in my heart. I miss Mom, so, so much. There are times when I think she’s there only to not be. I thought I heard her voice in Japan. However…maybe it was my childish wish to hope it was hers.

While in the past, I nearly connected to her through our latent mana bond. Ties like that, even in the past are still just as strong as if in the present. I am hers, no matter what.

“Aria!!!”

I lean up to see Marron standing on the terrace waving to me.

“It would appear that your sister is calling for you,” says Ddraig. “Perhaps you should return.”

I nod, but then plant and kiss on his snout before stepping back from him. “Thanks Grandpa, love you.”

The massive dragon’s face turns a deep red, more than his scales as he appears to blush. However a gigantic smile scrolls across his face. “And I love you, my beloved granddaughter.”

I grin, hopping onto Fenris as he carries me off. I look back, seeing the mighty dragon still there, smiling and watching as we head off.