ruan
It wasn't often that he slept. Brief snoozes throughout the day was his norm, in between watching over their residents - their family - and guarding the border from unwelcome guests. Tonight, he would change that.It felt subtly different in some way as he tucked his children in, helping his glass daughter settle so carefully before Rian could bulldoze his clumsy way in and cause another nick in her solid skin. This was all normal, or becoming normal for them and yet there was a tingling sense that something would happen. He had always been intuitive, a natural sense that many ignored, and he'd learned to listen to it. He wouldn't question it as he had in his past.
Very well. He would sleep then this time.
He pulled his magic in as deep as he could, bound it up tightly as he lowered himself between them. His breath drifted over them, chilly despite how firmly he tried to hold his ice inside himself. It was running rampant lately, eager to be stretched and exerted and it had had enough of being locked away as was his usual. He sighed to himself and conceded that he would work out later, build on the power he already had for the sake of satisfying it and controlling it better.
Bright blue eyes watched over their surroundings, ingrained habit that had long become his nature. It was common that his wolven features startled creatures away from them, though his steady calm occasionally caused them pause first. He listened to his children slowly drift off into sleep, safe and loved in the home they'd always known. Then he took a deep breath and sighed again. Sleep was not easy, but he would obey his intuition and eventually he slipped cautiously into sleep as well, his dark head curled over his daughter.
When he woke in his dream, he was his wolf and laying casually on his belly. The trees were much the same, familiar and meant to be somewhere in their home with the scent of water nearby. And Bright's scent too.
His startlingly blue eyes settled on her and he watched in stoic silence as Rian put the pieces together, recognized her and went barreling to her. It always set something sharp and aching to watch a woman so powerful and indifferent be overcome with affection for a family she hadn't planned for, relationships she likely hadn't wanted. And yet she gave herself over to it without reservations, not only accepting them but wanting them. Or at least the boy they shared.
His heart hurt deeply.
His failed marriage still haunted him years later.
As she and Rian took a moment together, he glanced to his side and dreamed his sweet Polaris into existence. She was his family and she would be here, resting curled up at his side just as she was in their waking life. He touched his muzzle to her little shoulder just as he would've had she been here, or had they been awake, fogging her pristine surface with his breath. She was extraordinary, a creature unlike any other, and he may never get over his awe of her existence.
Then his gaze met Bright's as they looked to each other, dazzling blue paired to glowing amethyst, each watching the other quietly for a long moment until her voice threaded into his mind. It's good to see you, Ruan.
He blinked in answer. When she gestured an offer to him, he considered it, then dreamed himself and Polaris to their side. He'd had practice with dreams, warming his mental muscles as he altered his nightmares to better outcomes, or at the least slightly less painful ones. The memories he could not alter, unfortunately.
"You look well," he commented quietly, his voice a low rumble of darkness as his shoulder pressed to hers, his daughter on his other side and Rian on hers. It was only a dream version of her, but he could feel it was a genuine encounter. She was really here in some way, even if her figure may be false. She could correct him if it were wrong.
"When will you be returning?"
