Celia has been flying for quite some time now. She was headed home after a long day of work. Almost 5 more minutes of flying, and she’ll be home. It was snowing a hell lot, and her back was already covered a bit in snow again. Feeling cold, she shook herself for what felt like the third time. Dragons usually didn’t feel the cold, but hey, it wasn’t right if you didn’t feel cold when it covered you!

After a bit more flying, Celia saw her home. She landed in her yard, and opened the door, walked in. It was dark, but warm. She further walked in, and stood in front of her daughter’s room. Celia had adopted her daughter about 10 years ago. Her daughter’s father died in the great war, and her mother, devastated by the loss and struggling with illness, had died as well. Her daughter had no relatives, or grandparents as they were all dead as well. Celia had first met her when her daughter had broken into her house, and was emptying the fridge. She was so hungry that she didn’t even hear her coming and standing behind her.

Of course, Celia had been angry as hell, as she loved her house very much and she very much disliked strangers in her house. She literally clawed her daughter, Icis, right in the face, and kicked her in a corner, while Icis held her bloody face and trembled in fear of her. The police came soon after Celia called, and took Icis away in their police car.

That night, Celia couldn’t sleep. She kept getting reminded of Icis. There was something more than fear in those eyes. Something she didn’t want to be reminded of. Something called hurt and desperation. That little dragon didn’t even steal from her, except for emptying her fridge. Normal dragons would’ve stole from her hoard, yet she didn’t. Maybe she wasn’t in the condition. Maybe she needed food more than anything else.

Maybe she was like her.

With an uneasy heart, Celia went back to sleep.

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When the sun rose, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to sleep anymore, and got up. She also knew that she wasn’t going to be able to focus her mind on anything until she heard why the intruder emptied her fridge yesterday. She was suspecting the intruder was an orphan or something like that, and she was probably right. So she called her boss and said she was taking a break for the day, then called the police and asked if it was okay to visit the intruder. After hearing a reply, she flew towards the police station, where she heard informatioan about the intruder.

Her name was Icis, and she was only 2 years old. Her parents had both died, and there was no one else to take care of her. She had apparently escaped from the orphanage, and was planned to be escorted to where she came from. Celia sighed, as her suspicions were right, and asked the police if she could see the intruder in person, before she was going to be escorted away. The police, after a few calls to here and there, approved, and she went down to the jail cell where… a two year old dragon… no, hatchling was being kept. One of the police officers had followed her, just to ensure both Celia’s and Icis’ safety.

What Celia first saw when she saw Icis was that half of Icis’ face was covered in bandages. She yelped, and stopped for a second. Then ran towards the bars of the prison and looked inside. Both Icis and police misunderstood her actions, and Icis ran towards the corner of the prison and shook in fear while the police got her off the bars of the cell. ‘But… but…’ Celia stammered, pointing towards Icis. The police said something to calm her down, but it didn’t reach her ears. The only thing she saw was her past in front of her, and the only thing she heard was the whimpers of Icis. Finally, she fell down on her haunches and let her body fall limp.

What had she done? Why didn’t she let the little dragon at least say a word?

She was literally facing her past. All her memories rushed towards her, and she barely stopped herself from losing it. ‘I… I need some time.’ She barely said, and the police escorted her out of the cell room. That day after she went back home, she thought how she was going to deal with all of the events. The little dragon inside the cell was in the same situation she had been in. She knew how cold the world was, and she knew how horrible the orphanage was. The food was horrible, and the amount they gave you was never enough. The bed was terrible, to the point where sleeping on the ground was better. Older dragons bullied younger ones, often stealing the younger’s food, and there was never any kind of attempt to stop that.

The little dragon… who was barely out of her hatchling years, probably suffered the same stuff as she did. And she just wanted to escape.

After a lot of thinking, she decided to adopt her. If Icis… was it her name? If she wanted to, of course. But before any of those, she was going to apologize to her. It wasn’t right to hurt someone so young, so fragile. She seemed so slim and underfed as well!

The next day, she called her boss again, and told her that she’ll have a week off, because of personal events. Her boss didn’t like it, but that wasn’t any of Celia’s concern. Her only concern was to apologize to Icis and get her out of the hell hole she had suffered for so long.

She flew towards the police station again, and this time, with some food and water in a bag. She asked the police officers to see Icis again, and grudgingly, the police officers accepted her request, warning her that if there was anymore events like yesterday, she would be thrown in jail as well. She nodded to the warning, and went down to the jail cell again.

This time, Icis was asleep, but was just barely, as she heard footsteps, she woke up with a start and retreated towards the back of the cell. Celia looked at Icis with sad eyes, and lowered her bag, got food out of it, and set it inside the cell. ‘I’m sorry.’ Celia said, looking at the ground in front of Icis. ‘I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.’ She said, and turned around, and walked out of the cell again.

She was going to repeat the act the next day, but when she arrived at the police station, she was already escorted back to the orphanage. She asked what orphanage it was in a hurry, and flew fast towards the orphanage. It was the same place she had been when she was young. The last place she wanted to visit. But she knew the faster she got Icis’ trust back, the faster she’ll be able to get her out of there.

She finally reached the orphanage, and asked to see Icis. The head of the orphanage said no, saying that she was under concentration program for escaping the orphanage. At that, Celia raged, as her memories came to her, and how horrible it was. And that was when she was six! She couldn’t understand how it would be for a two-year-old dragon, who was just out of her hatchling stage. She got kicked out, of course, but still raged, and went back home fuming.

For the next few days, she kept asking the head of the orphanage to release Icis, or at least let her meet her, but kept getting denied. Just when she was about to give up, Celia remembered how much corrupt the orphanage was. So she got a hefty amount of treasure from her hoard, and presented it to the head of the orphanage, saying that if she let Icis out of concentration program and let her meet Icis, she would give it to her. The head, of course, accepted, and soon, Celia was able to meet Icis.

She was in a worse state than before. But despite her state, when Icis saw Celia wating, she squeaked and retreated back to the room, where one of the assistants of the orphanage was waiting, and pushed Icis back towards Celia. Celia sent a death glare towards the assistant, who gulped and let Icis be, as the head of the orphanage ‘Magically’ made Celia a VIP. Celia put some food on a disposable but clean dish, and pushed it towards Icis, who eyed Celia wearily, but still dug in hungrily. ‘I’m sorry about what I’ve done.’ Celia said while Icis was eating. Then she silently watched Icis dig into the meat she got for her.

Soon there was nothing but bare bones on the dish, but Celia knew it wouldn’t satisfy Icis. So she got another dish out, and put some more meat on it. She pushed it towards Icis again, but this time, a little bit closer to herself. Icis, still wearily, walked towards the food, shaking a bit, and dug in again.

After a while, Icis was done eating, and there was little that was left over. Icis wearily looked at Celia, and said thank you in a very small voice. Celia knew the time it was going to take to win back Icis’ trust was going to test her, but she was ready for it. ‘Have a good night.’ Celia said, and walked out the door.

She did the same act for five days when Icis finally spoke to her without her having to do anything. ‘Why are you so kind to me?’ she asked in a small voice, which surprised Celia a bit, but soon replied ‘Cause you remind so much of myself’. The little dragon nodded, and after finishing the meal given to her, asked her again. ‘Will you come again tomorrow?’ At that, Celia felt her heart warming up. ‘Yes, young one. If you want, of course I will come.’ She said, smiling at the little dragon in front of her. ‘I want you to. And… And…’ she stammered, this time not looking at her in the eyes.

‘What is it, young one?’ Celia asked, still smiling, hoping that she wouldn’t look threatening or so. ‘You can tell me.’

‘I’m sorry for breaking into your house. But I was hungry. So hungry.’ Icis said in a small voice, looking at the ground. She shrunk, and looked at the ground, and didn’t notice Celia approaching her. When Celia hugged her with her wing, she yelped a bit and by instinct tried to escape. But Celia hugged her tight, and there was no opportunity for Icis to escape. ‘I’m not angry about it.’ Celia said, still hugging Icis. ‘If there’s someone who should apologize, that’s me. I shouldn’t have acted so harshly, especially on someone small and young like you.’

Icis looked at her, with her clear eyes, but also dark and tired looking as well. ‘You remind me so much of my mama.’ She said, digging more into her wing. ‘I miss my mama.’ Icis said, holding her tears. ‘She was so nice… but she wouldn’t respond… react… she wouldn’t move at all one day! I don’t know what happened!’ she said, finally crying in Celia’s wings. Celia just held the little dragon and nuzzled her, not knowing what to say. When the little dragon finally stopped crying, Celia nuzzled Icis once again to get her attention. ‘I know this might be a little bit early and might be a bit rushed, but hey, do you want to live with me? Nice food, Nice bed, and no more bullying from anyone.’

‘Really?’ Icis said, enthusiastically, brightening up instantly. But then she darkened again. ‘But I don’t want to replace my mother…’ she said, looking away from Celia. Celia understood, and nuzzled the little dragon. ‘I’m not going to try to replace your mother, and you don’t have to replace your mother. Your mother will always have a special place in your heart, and your father as well. I’ll give you time. Tell me when you decide. I’ll take no as an answer as well, so if you don’t want to, it’s okay as well. Just tell me when you deicde.’ She said, and put the little dragon on the ground. ‘I’ll return tomorrow, and the day after it, and the day after it as well. Just tell me when you make up your mind, okay?’ Celia said, to which Icis nodded. ‘Have a good night!’ Celia said, after looking at the little dragon.

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‘I want to live with you.’ Icis suddenly said, 2 days after the talk. Celia brightened up, and asked ‘Really?’

‘Really.’ Icis said, looking at Celia. Celia, happy, walked up to the little dragon and lifted her and hugged her with her wing. ‘Nice to have you in my family.’ She said, nuzzling Icis. ‘Welcome.’

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Celia opened the door to her daughter’s room, and saw Icis sleeping. There was a scar on her face, from Celia’s attack when she broke into her house, and regrettably, it didn’t fade out. ‘I’m sorry, my daughter.’ Celia said, looking at Icis while she was standing next to her bed. ‘And I love you.’


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