[FrostWynd]

Usually when Midnight wasn’t out and about being busy with work, he would normally be taking some downtime at home to just rest, so that he could be ready for whatever job that might come next.

But today would bring about an odd surprise to an otherwise uneventful day when he was called out of his lair. It came about in the form of a very unexpected letter, delivered to him by the local courier dragon. When he got his claws on it, and was able to inspect the outside of it more closely, he could see that it was indeed meant for him. Not only that, it bore a familiar symbol that he hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Curiosity drove him to tear it open and read what it contained within.

[FrostWynd]

Unfolding the sheet of paper with care, his blue eyes scanned through it relatively quickly. When he had finished, he stood where he was in silence. Taking in what was written inside that letter.

It was a letter from his mother… and she was inviting him to visit the old clan for dinner. ”Your brothers and sisters should be coming too.” She had written, under the expectation that her letters had also reached them. Considering the circumstances, he found this most perplexing.

What could have brought this about?

[FrostWynd]

Thinking about it, Midnight did quickly realize that a festival was right around the corner, and this particular one had the specific timing of having a sudden surge of the turkey populations, that many dragons would add to the celebration with a massive feast of these large birds.

Which could mean that his old clan were also in the middle of getting ready for a feast of their very own. But why invite him now, completely out of the blue?

[FrostWynd]

He hadn’t really been on speaking terms with the majority of his family, ever since he left them. So it was difficult to figure out a reason of some sort for why his mother would do this now. She hadn’t mentioned anything in her letter to make whatever intentions she had very clear either, so all he had at this point was mere guesses.

Which for him, just wasn’t good enough.

Taking the letter into his lair and tossing it aside somewhere for now, Midnight knew exactly what he was going to do.

[FrostWynd]

There were reservations Midnight still held when he made this decision, but there was no getting around it. If he was to get his answer, he would have to deal with everything else that would come with it. He would go and finally pay his family a visit after all this time.

”Oh come on, can’t I just stay here? Why the heck do I have to go too?” A wolf pup with golden fur complained as he darted past Midnight’s legs, running out of the lair right into the open. The dragon trailed after him. Being full of energy, the pup would start running about in circles around his legs.

”And have you poking your nose around in my collection while I’m gone? I think not.” Midnight replied with a snort. While it would indeed be much simpler for him if he were to leave him here, the kind of magic and intelligence the pup possessed made it difficult for Midnight to simply confine him within an ordinary cage. It was a problem that still needed to be solved, if he was to keep them from causing trouble. But there just wasn’t enough time to spare for that.

[FrostWynd]

Without another word, Midnight stuck out an arm right as the pup was about to pass by, stopping him in his tracks. In the moment that they were still, the dragon took a claw and hooked it under the harness that they were wearing. Being lifted up off the ground, he was quickly deposited into a pocket for safekeeping. ”Stay still in there. Or else.” He warned. That didn’t stop him from poking his head out though to watch as Midnight unfurled his wings and lifted them up off into the sky.

[FrostWynd]

In a few days they had traveled a long distance through the air, and finally Midnight could see the familiar edges of territory that belonged to his clan. Soon he would see his family again.

But now that he was here and he had come this far, he was already starting to have second thoughts. Perhaps he shouldn’t have come here after all…

A frown formed on Midnight’s face. It was completely hidden from the wolf’s sight while he looked around to admire the surrounding area down below.

[FrostWynd]

He’d briefly considered turning around and going back home when those thoughts entered his mind, but in the next few moments he caught sight of a figure up ahead. After observing it, it became clear that It was coming right towards him.

It must have been someone from the clan, coming to meet with him.

That meant it was too late to turn back, now that they had already seen him.

[FrostWynd]

”’ey! Over here!” The other dragon would call out, as soon as they were close enough for them to be heard. Continuing along on his course, the other dragon would turn around and fall in line beside him once he had passed by. ”Good to see you, friend.” Midnight would nod his head in a friendly enough gesture. ”I’m here to see my mother, do you know where I can find her?”

”Yeah! She’s over this way. Follow me!”

[FrostWynd]

Following the other dragon, they made their way deeper into the clan’s territory, and eventually started making their descent down to where she was supposed to be right now.

Down on the ground, a dark dragon would turn from someone she had been chatting with, to see dragons landing nearby. One of them she instantly recognized, and hurried over. She would stop once she was close, and Midnight had locked eyes with her.

For a tense moment, they both silently stared at one another.

But it was his mother that would break the silence. ”My son.” Filled with happiness at finally seeing Midnight after all this time, she moved closer to nuzzle him. It was met with an awkward response, as he instinctively withdrew himself from her touch.