Gabhan

She stayed awake with him while he studied, drafting up his map as she listened keenly to the stories he shared about the stars he painted. How to spot certain bundles and what it meant, the myths and legends that surrounded each one; she never made him feel he was boring her, and the sweet sound of her laughter stayed with him till the dawn. Gabhan felt for the first time, that outside of his parents he had made and honest connection with another, a kindred soul he could open up to; but she was not there to stay, as much as he tried to convince her. The home she had left behind had been big in her eyes, and so his own being double the size was far too large for her to feel at peace... no, she had to find her own place in this world, and while it hurt... he accepted it.

She visited from time to time, now her turn to tell stories about the tiniest clan she had ever seen, stationed hidden away in the cliffs by the frozen sea. She was able to list every dragon, every name and every personality; and really it sounded wonderful to have a tiny piece of the world hidden away... but his home was here, was it not?

The last time she said goodbye, he knew it would be for good... The torn look in her eyes as she handed him the set of earrings she always adorned; the clan she started to call home needed her, and he couldn't hold that against her. His own home had so many that they would not suffer if a single dragon left, but a clan so tiny was a very different situation. As Gabhan watched her go, his heart hurt and the pain never truly eased. Even when he smiled with his clan mates, he felt more and more lost in the crowd than before... every new star he found, every new story he wrote; she wasn't there to tell.

He knew he had to follow the stars if he wanted the pain to go away; while difficult his parents understood, many of their children had left to carve out their own lives and forge their own paths, there were no hard feelings, it was simply life. He promised to visit often though... and with that, the dragon set off to follow the stars, venturing into the freezing icefields and attempting to find this tiny lair he had heard so much about. Travel was not easy, his talons stung with every step, the water he had called home now frozen and lashing against his feathers... but, the biting cold scent of snow gave way to the familiar salt of the sea, cutting through with the warming scent of a roaring fire.
Upon the cliff edge, there she sat; his tiny piece of the night sky.

The look she gave was priceless and it was with that Gabhan's uncertainty and hesitation went away... he had made the right call. The two sat inseparable that night, recollecting the stories missed and adventures on the journeys they trekked; and at dawn she introduced him to the rest of the clan. It was not a lie the home was a massive warren housed by so few dragons... but, each of them spoke, chatting and sharing sleepy stories by the fire, of the dreams they had the night before. Meals were shared and tea brewed for the whole clan... everyone was included, and everyone who wanted to, had a moment to speak. Even the nocturnal sentry of the clan was taken care of, over time he noted that she would have meals and comforts waiting for her at the start of her shift, even when the sun died and the rest of the clan had settled in for the night themselves... Soon, a gesture that would also be expected further to himself when he stayed out late to keep her company.

Gabhan settled in quickly, the skills he brought of his map crafting seemed to be greatly appreciated and respected; often sharing them with the Ice mage of the clan who shared a talent for such things, the pair often comparing notes and joining together to expand the knowledge they had... sometimes the knowledge Gabhan gained from riskier means of stationing himself on crumbling cliff edges, much to the healer of the lairs determent. He soon learnt it was the same Ice mage he drafted and shared maps with who made sure that no soul in the lair were forgotten about, something he greatly appreciated when comparing it to the busy life style he had came from.

The hatchling of his children were one of the greatest moments of his life, the proud father will ramble about his children to anyone who would listen. He spends time with Eri working on their maps together, one of the sea, one of the sky. While less involved in his daughters work, he regularly checks in and will listen to her stories of what misadventures she got into in the forests. He trusts her mentor, even if at first he was unsure of how he felt with her possibly risking herself, but Mairin was not a dragon to try and convince against her ideas.