For this, she laughs the deep thunder of her ancestors to combat those crashing waves that pulled at wings and drowned out fire. Once she has thought she had lost all. Lost herself when the sky cleared and there was not a wing in sight. Thought again she had lost when back had split and bled and crashed oh so hard, watering the dead lilies with life’s spark. Third time did not reveal itself to be a charm when she woke covered in dust and grit, when there was suddenly a draft creeping its way through recently haunted halls. There was the true loss. Home. Those mountains were no longer hers, den would never be scratched by claws again nor would the night be graced with moonsong. Blackened tongue catches between her teeth as blazing eyes cool to stomped out embers. “It is a cruel trick, my friend. I was taught to know myself before any others. I don’t think I ever really got to learn that beast before she died.” That avalanche of a creature had not gone softly. No, she burned and snapped bars between bared teeth even after mouth started to melt. That child did not take peacefully to the chain and frozen death waiting for a warm breeze. Devani does not believe she would recognize her younger self, the one who chased after golden butterflies and hid under mirror leaves pretending her snow hide would not be seen against grass and sky. She tucks her head over Valka’s shoulder, breathing hot understanding down the woman’s back. “I would like to believe you found yourself a dragon.”