Nyx was laying in Sunny's lap in a field of red spider lilies. The dragonkin looked down at him with loving eyes and tilted his chin up.

“Oh Nyx, you know I’ll always accept you no matter what, right? No matter what others think of you or what you think of yourself-“ his eyes began sparkling “I will always love you”

“Uh huh…” Nyx said, voice cracking in his dry throat, eyes sparkling right back.

Sunny let out one of his beautiful, bright laughs. And his hand moved from Nyx’s chin to cup his jaw.

He leaned in, lips pursed, terracotta eyes fluttering shut.

Suddenly all Nyx’s surroundings turn to white. ‘No no no no!”

‘Damnit!’ he thinks. ‘Not now. Why does it always have to be during a good dream?’

A tall figure fades into the void and before long, a man is sitting cross legged before him with a high top, kind eyes and one cow-like ear adorned with a dripping amethyst.

Nyx sighed. “Hey Cuneiki. You couldn’t have dropped in like this a several nights ago?”

Cuneiki said nothing but the undulating ball of wet clay floating beside him morphed into a tablet and soon words appeared as if carved. ‘Aw, I didn’t think you’d be so anxious to see me.’

Nyx kept the fact that he was not, in fact, anxious to see him to himself, hoping he didn’t just dig himself into a hole.

‘So, how has my littlest brother been doing?”

Nyx was ready to give one of his usual responses, which generally consisted of more polite versions of “Bad, fuck off.” but then he realized something.

He thought back to the past few weeks and all the friends and progress he’d made…

“I’ve actually been doing…pretty good. Like better than I have since…ever…”

Cuneiki positively beamed ‘That’s wonderful, Nyx. Did something happen?”

“I think…I’ve finally been making friends. They want to help me”

Cuneiki hugged him tightly and jumped up and down as his tablet filled up with a string of “e”s

Nyx actually quirked a smile, but it faded quickly. “Alright, alright, that’s enough.”

‘Sorry.’ Cuneiki carved smiling sheepishly ‘I suppose I’ll get out of your hair.”

Cuneiki began to fade out in much the same way that he faded in. ‘Oh, and Nyx? We’re not the enemy.’

Nyx sighed, now alone in his head “I know.”

***

Nyx awoke with a jolt as the carriage went over a bump created by a root in the path.

“Sorry about that.” Darnal called from the front of the cart. “How did you sleep?”

Nyx glanced over at Sunny, who was also already awake, but quickly glanced away. “Ok” he said, voice cracking. “I did get a courtesy call from my brother though.”

“Whoa!” said Darnal, suddenly excited “Which one?”

It made sense, not only were his siblings worshiped, they were also somewhat celebrities.

“It wasn’t Lyneyerne,” said Nyx “Cuneiki, actually.”

“You seem unhappy.” said Sunny.

“Eeh, I don’t exactly always get along with my siblings.”

“How come?” asked Sunny.

Nyx wasn’t entirely sure how to answer that. “My relationship with my family is…strained at best.”

“Do they not accept you?” Sunny asked in concern.

“Actually,” Nyx sighed, “It’s more strained on my end. It’s complicated. I don’t exactly resent my siblings for being more well liked than me or getting to know our mom, it’s just…I don’t like seeing most of them… ” he trailed off. “…especially since…”

He didn’t finish, but it wasn’t hard to parse out what he was thinking. It was well known that The Allmother disappeared after creating him.

“I get it.” said Darnal in a tone that spoke to real, deep understanding, “Believe me I do.”

Astaria nodded as well.

“Hey, it wasn’t your fault, Nyx, I’m sure they all love you.” said Sunny.

“I know they do.” said Nyx. “It just doesn’t feel right.”

Suddenly they went over another root, a bigger one this time that jolted everyone slightly into the air.

Nyx in particular was thrown into the side of the carriage. “Motherfu-“

“Hey guys,” called Darnal “is it just me or are the trees getting bigger?”

“How bigger?” Nyx asked, rubbing his sore head.

“Pretty bigger…” said Darnal.

Everyone poked their heads out to see what he meant.

The trees behind them were modest at best, the ones around them were much more robust, but in front of them trees towered several stories off the forest floor with trunks thick as houses.

“Looks like we’re heading towards one of my sister’s haunts.” said Nyx.

“So this really is one of Dryalix’s giant forests...” said Darnal.

Sunny gasped with palpable excitement. He lunged for his pack, pulling out a thick tome, which he flipped open to one of the many bookmarked pages.

He pointed to a large illustration of a creature with a chameleon-like tail, feet and horns and antlers made of leafy tree branches. “This is one of the only environments big enough for Life Dragons to roam freely.” he said excitedly. “They use their special feet and prehensile tails to climb through the treetops and use their long, sticky tongues to catch prey. And they’re venomous and can also spit acid. Think we’ll see one?”

The other three travelers looked at the terrifying creature on the page, then back at Sunny.

“Possibly.” Nyx said as neutrally as possible.

As they continued towards the strange forest, the dirt road ahead began to narrow, barely being able to fit the cart as the trees around them continued to grow. Squirrels and songbirds scampered around everywhere as the air around them gradually became filled with a crescendo of bird songs of all varieties.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The road ahead was clear save for the occasional root, but not wide enough for the cart to turn around.

Every once in a while the dark shadow of a dragon would pass over their cart and they’d all pray they weren’t noticed.

Eventually they came upon what looked like a gigantic flower bud, about six feet in diameter, laying just off the side of the road.

The cart slowed to a halt a safe distance away.

“What do you think of this? Life monster or more of Dryalix’s magic?” asked Astaria.

“It’s hard to say.” said Nyx.

“Think we’re in range if it is a monster?” asked Darnal.

“I wouldn’t risk it.” said Astaria.

Sunny poked his upper body out of the window, glancing to the others in silent question before hurling a blast of air past the bud.

Nothing happened.

He launched another one, this time, battering the bud with a torrent of wind.

Again, nothing happened.

Sunny turned back to the group to flash a thumbs up.

Then the bud suddenly began to open and everyone readied themselves for a fight.

The petals parted revealing two figures, one beginning to stand, the other still curled up, looking to be asleep.

The standing figure had what at first seemed to be antlers, but were actually tree branches growing from her head. Her hair hung in thick, green dreads that resembled vines and her legs were digitigrade.

As she stretched and yawned, it was clear, this was not a typical humanoid.

“Hey will y’all keep it the fuck down? Some of us are trying to- oh shit, Nyx?!”

Nyx had half a mind to duck back into the carriage and pretend he wasn’t there, but he had already been spotted. “Uh, hey, Dryalix…”

The rest of the group looked at Nyx, then back at the mysterious woman who was now approaching.

“Shit, man you look great! Kuneiki tells me you’ve been doing pretty well for yourself lately.”

“Uh, yeah…I guess I have”

With Sunny’s urging, Nyx got out of the cart to meet her and was quickly wrapped up into a tight hug.

Nyx noticed the others watching him awkwardly from over his shoulder and pulled away “These are my friends.” He gestured to the group “This is Sunny, Darnal and Astaria.”

“Hi!” said Sunny

“Hello.” said Darnal

Astaria nodded

Dryalix grinned “I’d like you to meet someone too.” she said.

She led Nyx back over to the flower, to where the other woman was sleeping with her kinky bleach blonde hair pillowing her head like a fluffy halo.

“Hey Deianira.”

Suddenly her eyes snapped open, and she grabbed Nyx by the wrist, flipping him onto the soft grass.

Sunny rushed forward to help him as Astaria took a defensive stance.

“Oops, sorry, dude.” she said, helping Nyx up.

“Nyx, this is Deianira,” said Dryalix “my-“

“-Her awesome girlfriend!” Deianira said. “So you’re the Shadow Spirit Nyx, huh?” Great to finally meet you.”

“Um…yeah.” said Nyx, detaching himself from her very strong handshake. “…Your name is ‘man destroyer?’”

“It’s because she’s gay.” said Dryalix.

“Wouldn’t that be more suited for someone who does like men and does B-“ Sunny was cut off with a light nudge from Astaria.

This drew Deianara’s attention to the rest of the adventures filing out of the carriage.

“Oh, hey, you’re a Lightning mage too?”

“Ah, yeah, I guess the metal parts kind of give it away.” Darnal smiled sheepishly.

“They look sick, man. Did you get any say in designing them?”

As Darnal and Deianara began to talk magic, Dryalix turned her attention back to Nyx.

“Been a while since I’d heard from you. I was starting to get worried.” she said.

“Well, you’re a good foraging teacher. It’s been a while since I’ve poisoned myself.”

“You know you can talk to your family even if you’re not poisoned.” she smiled.

Nyx was saved from coming up with a response when Sunny came over.

“Wow. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Oh thank you! Are you a Life mage?”

“No, just a fan of your work.” he turned to Nyx “Did you know that even though dragons are the longest lived animal on Magae, they were actually the last she created?”

“Um, yeah. I was there, actually.” Nyx said.

“Oh, right.” said Sunny “How old are you again?”

“223.” said Dryalix “He’s the baby.”

“We were all born the same year.” Nyx said with annoyance. “You’re just four months older than me.”

“Wow dude, you’re old.”

“Thank you Sunny.”

“So how have things been going?” she asked Nyx “Still keeping The Brotherhood off your tail- ok that’s a cringe, you’re cringing.”

“Yeeeeah.” said Nyx “I’ve been a bit less…low key lately.”

Sunny glanced at him, eyebrows raised.

Nyx didn’t notice.

“I’ve actually been working on the whole antiumbraism situation. Sunny here came up with a plan.”

Sunny suddenly realized the conversation had turned to him. “Uh, yeah I guess I kind of did...”

“He figured people’s minds may try to change if instead of hiding, I tried helping people however I can.”

“Oh. And that’s been…working out for you?” she asked.

Nyx tilted his hand back in forth in a “so-so” gesture. “But I’ve gotten some positive reception. Met some…allies. I’m traveling in a carriage now so that’s an improvement.”

Dryalix looked down at Nyx. “It just suck that…I’m sorry you have to go through this. If Mom were here…”

“Well…” Nyx said looking down at his boot as he kicked the dirt idly “She’s not…”

Sunny glanced at him. His ability to pick up on others discomfort wasn’t one hundred percent reliable, but…

“Ok but check this one out!”

A bolt of lightning came careening down striking a tree a little ways off the path.

“Careful, Niri!” Dryalix called behind her.

Sunny and Nyx’s heads snapped towards the noise to see Darnal clutching the front of his shirt and Astaria with her eyes wide.

“Sorry, Drya!” Deianara called back. “You ok, dude.”

“Yeah,” wheezed Darnal. “I just have a thing with bright, flashing lights and loud noises. Especially the light.”

“Oh, sorry about that, then.”

Astaria clapped her hands “Alright, well, I think we should probably be going soon. We’re hoping to make it to the next settlement before nightfall.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Dang city folks and your ‘sleeping indoors.’” Dryalix said

“Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you, Dryalix.”

“Yeah.” she smiled “Don’t make that figurative.”

The siblings shared one last hug before parting ways.

“Oh and Nyx!“ Dryalix called “Good luck!”

Nyx flashed an awkward thumbs up.

The party waved goodbye as they filled back into the carriage.

Everyone took a deep breath once they’d taken their seats.

“Hey, you ok?” asked Astaria.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” his hand was still on his shirt.

“Hey, is something wrong?” Nyx asked Sunny.

“Do you usually use your magic in public? Like you have been lately?

“Not really. Not since I met you.”

“And now the Brotherhood is after you? Even though you’ve been avoiding them for a while now?”

Nyx put two and two together. “Sunny…”

“I think I get it now, why you’ve been so..unsure. I mean I got it back in the orchard but I get it…more now.”

Nyx hesitated for a moment before looking directly at him. “Sunny. Things have really been looking up for me Sunny. And running is one thing, but hiding? Hiding is pretty exhausting. I’m…incredibly grateful you found your way into my life.”

“Thanks, Nyx.”