He's cold.

Rain is pouring down around him, dense and thick. Rivulets make tiny muddy rivers as the water pours off the stone wall.

He's confused. He doesn't know why he's here, why he's alone, or why nobody is answering his cries.

All he does know is he's cold, wet, and afraid; but there's something warm behind the wall. So he's looking for a way over.

Finally, he finds it—an opening in the stone and the source of the heat. It's a man, standing at the entrance.

The child cries out to the warmth, begging it to come closer.

However, as the man turns to look, his eyes widen, screaming before becoming still.

The child babbles, confused. Small, clawed, chubby hands search for the warmth—but it's gone.

It's gone, and somehow it's his fault.

More fat tears start pouring down his face as he desperately searches. Something is wrong, he knows. He's not meant to be alone, he doesn't want to be alone...

But the same thing repeats over and over. Someone hears him, they approach him, and then they go cold as they finally see him.

His cries only become more desperate with each person. Two, five, ten, twenty—all of them stop, going quiet as the heat fades from them.

By now, he has given up trying to find someone, just sobbing uncontrollably as he looks for relief from the rain.

Finally, though, he finds shelter. He wanders inside through the massive doors cautiously, sniffling and whimpering.

"Oh, you poor thing..."

The child whips his head around to see a man. He tenses, waiting for the man to go cold, but it never happens.

The imposing figure smiles, eyes closed.

"Are you afraid? Come here, poor creature," the man croons.

The child approaches, hiccuping now as he gets closer. The man squats, opening his arms wide.

"That's it, come here you little beast."

Shyly, the little creature reaches towards one of the hands, gripping the thumb of the man. The man smiles, picking the creature up and cradling it in his arms.

The child whimpers and sighs, relieved as finally, he receives the comfort he craves.

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The little gorgon wraps his tail around the man's arm, sucking his thumb as he imprints on the warm person holding him.

The man smiles deviously, finger caressing the wee one's soft cheek. "I thought you'd be a little more vicious—but I guess you did the job."

He grins, face leaning closer to the creature in his arms. "You will serve me well, little Adder."

Suddenly though, the man's grip goes hard.

Adder opens his eyes. He's no longer being held, he's hovering over the corpse of Father Sheppard.

Adder gasps, flinging himself away from the statue, only to be met with another, and another, and another.

Some of them are bad people or predatory animals, but the others—the others are his closest friends and family.

He spots Helia, Adler, Kora, Jacqueline, Fern, Daisy...Eben...

He cups the half-elf's face, crying. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Adder..." his lover's voice echoes through the church.

"Eben?!"

"Adder, wake up!"

Adder jolts awake, instinctively covering his eyes as he tenses.

Eben is by his side, rubbing the gorgon's arm soothingly. "Adder, it's okay, it's okay, I'm here."

"You died—they were all dead—!" Adder babbles, coils coming to wrap around himself.

"Hey, hey, don't think of that," Eben soothes, "listen to me okay? Are you listening?"

"Yes," Adder replies brokenly.

"What's something you hear right now, Adder?"

The gorgon pauses, attempting to stop his hyperventilation. "I hear the river."

"Good. What's something you feel?"

Adder pauses. He can feel a lot right now. He feels warm sunshine on his skin, the pebbles beneath him, and vibrations in the earth from a deer across the river...

"I feel your hands on my arm."

Eben gives a reassuring squeeze. "Good, you're doing good. Smell?"

Adder sniffs the air. "I smell wet earth."

"Taste?"

Adder concentrates, heart finally slowing now. "Um, morning breath, I guess."

Eben chuckles, leaning closer. "Last one, Adder. What do you see?"

Adder cracks his eyes open, staring at the canopy before braving a look at the man beside him.

The half-elf smiles as the gorgon meets his gaze. Adder stares entranced at his lover's beauty, taking in the fiery red hair, beautiful hazel eyes, and soft-looking lips. Most striking, is the golden tattoo that swirls and dances across Eben's skin enchantingly.

Adder's tail swishes, absolutely twitterpated. Even 3 years later, he can't help but adore looking at his partner.

"Well?" Eben prods.

Adder smiles. "I see a forest dwarf with spots. Must be a very rare variety."

The half-elf squawks indignantly, straddling the gorgon as he grins evilly. "Forest dwarfs are shy, isolated creatures. They would never do the kinds of things I do to you."

Adder flushes. "I just woke up and you're already being a pervert?"

Eben lays down atop Adder, relishing in the sun-warmed skin. "Well if now isn't a good time, let's sleep a little longer so I can be a pervert later."

The gorgon chuckles, hands coming to smooth through long red locks. He smiles, completely content laying with his beloved and enjoying the majesty of nature.

There were no bells anymore, no brutal bloody battles, and no cold, frightening nights of isolation.

No, now Adder's days were spent in the warm company of friends and family.

However, the peace doesn't last long before Adder is twitching and nervous.

"Eben..."

"Mm?"

"I think we should go back now."

Eben nuzzles his face into Adder's chest. "Augh nooo! Helia has it handled!"

"I know I just..." Adder fiddles with his scales. "I'm worried."

Eben sits up, raking his hands over his face. "Your mother raised a gorgon from a hatchling. She can manage it, Adder."

Adder frowns, anxiously clenching and unclenching his hands.

The half-elf watches his partner, sighing dramatically as he rises. "Okay, fine. But you're on night duty tonight."

Adder wags his tail, pleased. "Deal!"

As they walk back together, the gorgon can't help but think his life has turned out so strangely.

He smiles, cupping Eben's hand in his own.

It is strange, right? How happy he is?