for the little dragons ♥

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So, this was motherhood in its plainest form.

When the secrecy was stripped away, and their little bodies were not so delicate and feeble, and the pomp of the wedding was nothing more than faded petals strewn upon the floor –

There were seven babes that looked at her like she was their entire world.

It was a type of satisfaction that made everything else fade into the background. The wet-nurses were gone, and the Empress barely noticed who visited (now that the royal family had moved from their clandestine whelping den, back into the palace).

A nursery had been prepared; a beautiful expanse of wooden toys and soft hides. It only hurt a little bit to watch them cavort together and remember that, sooner rather than later, they would be removed from her care. She would return to her job, which was not as mother – she was an Empress.

Women such as she parented from a distance, as tradition dictated. They would be raised as imperial princes and princesses should be, with tutors and household managers and adoring governesses galore. But for now, they were hers.

While they were, she would impart as much as she could.

Come, little dragons! the silvery mother called to her children; those that were awake or not otherwise indisposed. Since their formal presentation to the court in front of all of Mythris, they had discarded their milk names in favor of their true monikers, but she still adored the not-so-subtle reminder of their nobility and lineage.

They were her dragons, and they would begin to see this jungle – their illustrious and fortuitous Tianlong – through her own eyes.

---

༻❁༺

Life was still lovely and new to the little girl, bright-eyed and eager to learn. While all the new faces had disappeared, and her memories had grown fuzzy, it had been great fun while it lasted. Ruòshuǐ had enjoyed being louder than loud, babbling over the blanket chatter that seemed to follow her everywhere she went. Life had definitely quietened since then, much to her disappointment. Even the other women had all but disappeared, and life was quiet again.

Ruòshuǐ had yet to figure out why, spending her time doing whatever she could get away with without being redirected, or scolded. At least the palace was still relatively new, providing new spaces for her to shove her nose into and investigate. But, the palace always had someone around, summoning the girl's attention before she was able to really get focused into some mischief. This voice was worth stopping for, however, as it was her most favourite wolf in the world!

Come, little dragons! That was her! With an excited little yip, Ruòshuǐ took off in the direction of her mother, her tall, silvery form easily spotted, despite the glaring sun. While she was coming in fast, the girl at least had enough sense to put on the breaks before she went crashing into Yuè, instead aiming to bump up against her front legs fondly. Good morning! She chirped, tongue forming the words relatively clumsily, parroting what she'd heard so many times before. There was nothing polite about her; she merely enjoyed the mouthfeel of this particular sentiment.

the sleeping dragon followed her mother into the sun.

with age, little as it was, came confidence; the girl did not stumble now but rather slunk, head low and ears angled, examining the jungle with cool eyes. she had seen much of this by now and it did not stir within her the sheer excitement ruòshuǐ seemed to be experiencing.

shuyan was more measured than this. she moved with slow purpose at the Empress' flank until she came level, and there she stood, obedient; pale eyes turned to where her sister stumbled into yuè's legs.

the girl's eyes met briefly with kaede's. childhood had made her familiar; the silent calm had made her easier to be around than shrieking brothers, and the confidence she was performing as expected. she sat, and waited to be spoken to.