The Family You Choose
Over the next week, no attacks happened. During that time the Shooting Stars mostly spent their time trying to mentally recover from it while the King took care of Rose for most of that time. Just like any other father would, he fed her, took care of her, played with her and gave her his love and attention. A huge part of what helped everyone stay sane during that time was helping to take care of Rose. Everyone took their turns when they wanted to and the King took care of her the rest of the time. Then, nine days after the attack, everyone gathers to watch Rose’s molt.
“Do we need more steam?” Sher Aka asks.
Scarlet answers,“No, her skin is perfect right now.”
“So, how are we gonna get it off?” Rayla asks.
The King answers, “I’ll make a small incision with my nail around her wings and go down her spine. Afterwards we can carefully wiggle her out of it, pull off the rest on her wings and her molt should be perfectly preserved as a keepsake.”
And just as he said, the King carefully and skillfully opens up the shedded skin on her back and slowly pulls her out of it.
“Scarlet, go and help me with your sister's hind leg. It’s a bit stuck there.”
“Of course, papa.”
Together with Scarlet's help, the king wiggles out Rose’s body revealing beautifully shiny pink scales. The area where the scale rot happened has now completely healed and there is no trace of any damage left. Next, the King moves towards the wings and carefully removes the scales on the boney part as well. Shortly after he’s done, the light coming from Ifrit’s symbol starts to fade and once it has gone out, Rose suddenly transforms back into her cursed form the same way it was before she started her molt.
“Looks like she’s back to normal now…” Sher Aka sighs.
“Even if it was only for half a night, she still got to be a little girl again so at least we know it’s not impossible,” Scarlet adds.
Putting her hand on Rose’s face, Rayla answers, “Let’s hope it won’t be too long until she gets to be herself all the time.”
—--------------------------------------------------------------
Waking up, I’m lying between Scarlet and Rayla, it seems to be the late afternoon.
“Good morning, Rose. Did you-”
“I don’t want to talk with you right now.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m mad at you.”
“Eh? Why are you mad at Scarlet, oko?”
“For the same reason I’m mad at you. Where is my bedroll? I’m going to the Blood Hounds.”
“Wait, Rose! Can you explain first?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what you did!”
“I-I really don’t.”
“You completely took advantage of me not being able to think right and made me get to know papa! I said I didn’t want to meet him and you made me do it anyway!”
“I…I know it might not have been nice for us to do but it was for your own good. Now you’re not scared of papa anymore, right?”
“Yeah thanks to your…your…Your Brainwashing! Didn’t Sher Aka tell you that I didn’t want this!?”
Rayla answers, “She did tell us, but I agree with Scarlet that it was a good decision to use this opportunity.”
Stomping on the ground I’m filled with intense anger as I say in a voice that echoes itself multiple times, “Shut up you scum!”
Rayla seems to try to say something but is holding her throat as nothing seems to come out.
Scarlet quickly stands up and firmly says, “Rose, you need to calm down.”
“I don’t listen to traitors!”
I then hear papa’s voice behind me, “Rose, please calm down. It’s me you should be angry with, not your sister.”
Turning around I answer him, “Oh? Don’t worry I’m angry with you too, you bad excuse of a father.”
Getting a little closer he says, “It’s true that I made a horrible mistake as your father, I’m sorry my dear Rose.”
“If you were really sorry you’d kneel. So kneel!”
Seemingly fighting some sort of invisible force papa keeps approaching.
“I said kneel you deadbeat child beater!”
Seemingly resisting even more of the invisible pressure he walks towards me until he stands right in front of me and puts his hand on my cheek.
“Let go!”
“I will and I will also kneel however often you need me to until I have given enough penance but first you need to calm down.”
He then gives me a kiss on the cheek causing me to step back and say in my normal voice, “Wh-wh-what are you doing!?”
“It seems you calmed down again my dear.”
“Ca-calmed down!? No, I'm still angry! D-don’t just go k-k-kiss people like that you…You weirdo! I’m leaving.”
Quickly taking my bedroll I put on my boots and leave towards the Blood Hound’s wagon.
On my way there, I walk past the campfire where Sher Aka and John notice me.
“Oy! Rose, you're finally up again!” John says as he jogs towards me, Sher Aka following right behind him.
“Yeah…Nice to meet you.”
“What’s up? You look grumpy.”
“It’s my sisters…They completely took advantage of me being unable to think and made me hang out with papa. They basically tried to brainwash me!”
“Yeah…That was kinda fucked…”
“Right!? Sher Aka, you told them that I didn’t feel comfortable with something like this, right?”
“Yes, I did. They basically told me they know it’s not right but it’s best for you in response.”
“I’m so sick and tired of people doing things I don’t like because of ‘what’s best for me’! You two are the only ones I can still trust…You didn’t do anything with me when I was stupid, right Sher Aka?”
“I did take care of you sometimes but I did not try to mother you.”
“Right! So you and John were the only ones that didn’t take advantage of me! So, Sher Aka….If I really need to imprint on someone I-”
Putting her finger over my mouth Sher Aka interrupts, “I’m honored by what you were about to say Rose but I don’t want you to make this decision in anger to spite your sisters and father. So, let’s just continue the trial from now on and wait until you actually want me as your mother, okay?”
“Okay…Sorry.”
“It’s alright. How about for now we eat together? Are you hungry?”
“A little…”
“Then let’s sit down at the campfire.”
“Okay.”
Sher Aka offers me her hand and I take it as we walk to the campfire together hand in hand while John mutters, “This looks so wrong on so many levels…”
I then sit down at the campfire while Sher Aka gets us both some food. When she comes back she hands me a plate of food and sits down so close to me that we are touching. I’m not sure why but as I eat my food I start getting a little nervous.
“Hey Sher Aka?”
“Yes, Rose?”
“If-If I do something you don’t like please tell me okay?”
“Pfft Sure! What devious plans do you have for me?”
“I-Uhm-It’s not devious, at least I don’t think it is…”
“I know, I was just joking. Go ahead, I’m ready.”
“Uhm….Okay then.”
Having her permission I lean into her and rest my head on her shoulder. In response Sher Aka lets out a chuckle and puts her arm around me. We then stay like this for a bit…It feels nice.
After a bit of time staring into the flame Sher Aka asks, “Would you like me to clean your ears?”
“Clean my ears?”
“Yes, it’s important to have them cleaned once in a while. Especially when you have big ears like we do.”
“Uhm…Sure, that sounds fine.”
“John, could you go back real quick and fetch-”
“Sure, I can’t look at this much longer anyways.”
“Is-Is John mad at us?”
“I wouldn’t say mad but I do think he’s secretly a little jealous that I’m pampering you.”
“Huh…Sher Aka can I ask you a serious question?”
“Of course.”
“How would that work if you became my mom? I mean we’re two different races and Dragons are kind of hard to take care of.”
“Hmm…I’ll have to learn a lot of new things and there will be times where we don’t understand each other but other than that it will be fine. I’ll take care of everything.”
“And what about other people? Elves don’t really like Dragons and Dragons don’t like Elves that much either…We won’t really have a place where we can go to where we’re both liked, right?”
“Don’t worry your head about things like that, Rose. Even if things might be a little more difficult I will find a way.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask you another question?”
“Of course.”
“Why…Why would you want me as a child? Surely there are many better options than me out there…”
“There aren’t. You’re the only one I want.”
“Re-really? Why?”
“There are a few reasons. For starters I think we just understand each other well. I also really like your personality and being around you makes me feel happy. Also…I do see myself in you a bit. I feel like if I choose you I’ll quickly forget I wasn’t the one that birthed you. I also feel a strong urge to help you get better and make you a happy and spoiled kid.”
“Huh…”
“Now it's your turn, what do you like about me~?”
“Hmm…I think you’re really kind. You always look out for me and when I’m near you I feel safe. I also feel like you don’t see me as a bad person which feels really reassuring. You also are very mature and elegant which I think is really cool. I also feel like if I don’t know what to do I can always ask you and you’ll help me…Yeah that’s about all I can think of right now…”
She chuckles, “It was more than enough. I’m glad you think so well of me.”
Coming back, John throws a small tool bag towards Sher Aka, “Have fun being creepy, Sherry.”
“I will, thank you John. Now could you put your head on my lap, Rose?”
“Sure.”
After I lay down on her lap, Sher Aka takes out some stick-like tools and carefully cleans the inside of my ears.
Once she’s done she asks, “So? How does it feel?”
“A lot better! It feels like I didn’t even know my ears were full and hurting and now they feel really good!”
“Right? That’s why you need to clean them on occasion.”
“Hey Sher Aka…”
“Do you need to ask something ‘weird’ again? If so, go ahead.”
“H-how did you know?”
She chuckles, “You’re not that hard to read, Rose.”
“Huh…So…Actually papa gave me a kiss on the cheek I didn’t want…So, I thought it would only be fair…If you want to of course…If…If…”
Leaning over Sher Aka gives me a kiss on the forehead, “Anytime, Rose.”
“Th-Thanks…I-I’ll go try to sleep with the Blood Hounds now! Thanks for today!”
“You’re welcome~”
Quickly I get up, get my bedroll and run to the Blood Hounds with a wide smile on my face.