Blaine slipped out of his cave, careful that the makeshift door didnt make any noise as he left the twins, finally sound asleep inside. Blaine has always liked to get up early even though he often doesnt need to be awake until dawn. He strolled through the empty cavern, no longer filled with the flickering of fire light or his kinfolks raucous laughter. He liked the quiet of the predawn, and the stillness of the air calmed his nerves

The day after tomorrow his brother, Cooper and Elder Cerridwen would be returning from their trade trip and he was anxious to hear news of them. They were dragons but there were dangers in the other western lands that could harm even the fiercest of his kind. Blaine was all too aware of such things. As he wandered further away from the cavern he and his people called home and into the dense forest, he was reminded of the fateful day that he lost his parents and his original clan, all because he wanted to explore and wandered too far from their lair. Blaine and Cooper fled and were found and taken in by Elder Cerridwen and her wife Elder Aine where Cooper was raised as the next Elder of the Milaukans and Blaine as a community leader. Blaine adored helping his people, ensuring their daily lives were as joyful and fulfilling as possible but it came at a price. He was never off duty and he was the only member of the clan to be without their mate, his soul mate. It was for this reason that the Elders charged him with the care of twins Magnus and Tim, a terrible twosome whose story was as tragic as Blaines own. On top of a hard days work he had twin younglings snapping at his tail and following him wherever he went at every available opportunity.

He was weary and maybe a little lonely but he was happy just the same. Thats why he liked to take early morning walks sometimes, to clear his head and prepare for another day. There was no need to worry, his brother and Elder Cerridwen would be home soon so he wandered on, knowing his path like the freckles on his wings. He tuned the steady pad of his feet out and listened to the woods surrounding him; the beginnings of bird song and the soft chirps of cicadas, a snarl of a wolf, a cry of pain.

He didnt even think about it. Something fired inside his chest and suddenly his heart was beating a mile a minute. He could almost feel his pupils narrow into slits, instincts taking over as he broke into a run, tearing through the trees as though they were clouds brushing past him instead of branches and thorns. He broke through the last patch of trees before reaching a clearing and immediately dropped to all fours. He made no sound, just stared at the wolf now frozen in its tracks. He couldnt see who its prey was because he was too focused on the creature in front of him. Theyre both predators and the wolf just happened to be in Blaines domain.

The wolf, a male Blaine thought, is plucky. He took another step toward the heap which Blaine presumed was his intended meal obviously thinking that Blaine wont actually attack. Another step and Blaine got closer to the ground and the rumbling started deep in his chest until it tore from his throat. His instinct was to save and protect, this wolf was too close to his people, too close to his twins and not to mention there was someone clearly still breathing, another life at stake. His wings fanned out behind him, making him look bigger, the sound of them deafening in the stillness surrounding them.

The wolf whined and backed away snarling and snapping until it turned and fled. It took a full minute for Blaine to relax, he has always hated when his instincts kick in and hes not able to transform into full form. There was a whimper to his left and he scrambled over to the limp body, turning it gently with a hesitant hand. Wide blue eyes flew open and the man beneath him started to try and scramble away, hands clawing at the ground and clearly in a lot of pain as his eyes travelled in and out of focus. "Hey hey," Blaine said softly wrapping his arms gingerly around the mans waist to stop him from squirming and injuring himself further "Im not going to hurt you, I promise." At that the man looked up at him still frightened but clearly less so than before, he looked curious.

Just as the man started to speak Blaine heard approaching footsteps and he readied himself for attack again before seeing who had just entered the clearing. Alexander, who happened to be on guard duty, charged into the clearing, nostrils flaring with smoke and his claws digging deep into the ground. "Wolf." Blaine said quietly still speaking in the language of the mortals. The dragon started to stride toward him, but Blaine stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Dont come any closer, he hasnt seen anything like us before, hes mortal." The man in his arms gave him a look surprisingly scathing for someone drifting in and out of consciousness "what youve seen many dragons before have you?" Blaine laughed quietly but when he looked again the man had lost consciousness entirely.

"He needs help quickly," Blaine said urgently, standing and heaving the man into his arms, Alexander gave him a wary look, Blaine wanted to bring a stranger back to the cavern, back to their home. Blaine rolled his eyes and strode off into the forest back the way hed came, Alexander and his hulking form loping along behind him. "Hes mortal, we breathe fire, what can he possibly do?"

They walked and walked and Blaines steps never faltered. He decided that he would have to keep him in his own cave, where the others wouldnt be able to disturb him and gawk at him as he healed. Elder Aine met them at the entrance, casting a concerned eye over Blaine, covered in the mans blood and eyes drooping wearily. She was kindly and sweet and ushered them both up the stone steps and into Blaines cave without a second thought.

The twins were awake pretty much as soon as Blaine stepped through the door and they immediately started asking questions. "Blaine whats wrong are you hurt?"

"Blaine whos that?"

"Is he dead?"

"Is he a prince?"

"Why is he hurt is he okay?"

"Blaine, why do you look so sad?"

He didnt answer their questions until he had settled the man on his bed and let Elder Aine start to tend to him. "Im not hurt darlings Im just tired," he said curling them into him as they sat in a corner by the dying embers of their fire, "I found that man in the forest and hes hurt badly but I think hes going to be okay."

"Then why do you look so sad?" Tim, the red headed twin to his left said quietly looking up at him imploringly. "Im not sad I just want him to be okay, he looks like someone I used to know."

"We hope hes okay too, dont we Tim?" Magnus said and they both nodded vehemently, making Blaine chuckle. There was a knock on the door and Blaine looked up to see a tall dark skinned woman with hair down to her waist and her husband a pale man who was covered in freckles standing in the doorway. They smiled gently in greeting.

"Youre going to stay with Mya and Leo for a few days."

"But-" They started to protest in unison but Blaine silenced them with a look.

"Our friend needs peace if hes to heal properly and I know you would not be so selfish as to damage someones health just so you can annoy me at all hours." Blaine said with a smile. He walked them to the door, knelt down and kissed both of their foreheads before he watched them leave hand in hand, trailing behind their temporary new guardians.

When he returned it was to a smiling Aine. "Youre so good with the younglings, Im so glad Ailidh and I charged them to you." Her soft, tender voice sent waves of serenity through him in the same way it had done since he was a dragonite. "So am I." He replied. "How is he doing?" He hovered in the doorway unsure what to do with himself.

"Hell be just fine," she said reassuringly and Blaine breathed a sigh of relief "but I need to bathe his wounds." Blaine stood bemusedly in the middle of the cave until he caught her meaning. "Oh OH yeah okay sorry um Ill go, send Alexander to update me later?" He blushed, his cheeks tinting pink and Aine nodded, unable to contain her grin as he shuffled out of the door and closed it carefully behind him.

Still covered in dirt and blood Blaine sat on his cave platform, feet above the ground as his feet dangled off the edge and watched the sunrise filter through the ivy and light up his home.