TW: character death

*****

By some miracle, they survived that night. After long hours of misery, San made his way inside, battered and bruised, but breathless to announce they made it. As soon as he took the child from Wooyoung and tended to his leg, the gryphon-born also fainted.

Mingi, Yeosang and Jongho were fine. They tended to the fire and cushioned the bodies of their unconscious husbands.

Yunho got injured in the shoulder when he fended off the orcs, but the wound could be treated with some bandages and salves. Once the danger was banished, he rested his wearied body.

Freya didn't make it. She fell under a vicious strike of an orc's blade. Though she lived for a while longer and begged Yeosang to thank Seonghwa for the ray of hope he brought upon her final days, her fragile body ultimately submitted to her injuries. By the time Seonghwa woke, Yeosang buried her in the forest, gave her back to those who birthed her.

Hongjoong woke first. They spent as much time as they dared waiting for Seonghwa, but they couldn't linger now that their hideout got discovered. Soon, they concealed their traces and bundled up their pale elf to set out on their mounts. This time, Seonghwa rested cradled in San's embrace while Yeosang carried the fragile newborn.

That was when Seonghwa came to his senses. Their trot through the forest was slow to accommodate their injuries. Yet, the sharp cries of a child pierced the tranquil and tormented air.

Seonghwa stirred in San's arms, and the seraph immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"He's up," he rasped, just loud enough for the others to hear. While Seonghwa batted his drowsy eyes open, he got enclosed in a tender hug. Warmth filled him.

"Baby," was the first word from his lips and his eyes searched in fear for the one separated from him. He was glad to count all his husbands, unaware of Freya's loss. The wails alerted his senses to suffering even when it was supposed to be over.

Yeosang gladly came jogging.

"She has been crying all day. The birth was jarring and then she couldn't find you. She was terrified no matter how we soothed her," he explained, glad to give her what she needed. The silent question in his eyes beseeched Seonghwa for an answer whether he was fine.

The soft glow at the sight of his daughter was their response.

"She," he whispered as he accepted the squirming bundle from Yeosang. She was full of life, healthy in her noise.

As soon as their touch met, she hiccoughed around her stupor. She recognised Seonghwa's soul as part of her own, knew she found the one who birthed her. Despite the terror, he was still there. Didn't ditch her.

A relieved sound escaped her, and Seonghwa cradled her close. She was bigger than Aodhán had been upon birth, but yet so small and precious as her heat pressed against his neck.

"I'm so glad to meet you," Seonghwa whispered, biting tears back as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. For the first time, they could properly look at each other.

Her skin was a faint grey, not because of her health but of her natural disposition. The tufts of her hair were black, now clean of Seonghwa's blood. Striking was the one strand of pure white, innocent like snow as it mingled with the rest.

Two little horns grew from her forehead. They were dull and soft like wood, not so sturdy to be used as weapons yet. Her ears were pointed and tall like Seonghwa's, elegant in their arch yet in the same way too large for her head as Aodhán's.

Her eyes were open already. Their onyx was breathtaking, dark and deep, like the night sky. The sparkles of Seonghwa's eyes got handed down, making him look into a galaxy behind her soft and wrinkly features. A celestial heritage of the moon, undoubtedly, and she glanced up at him full of marvel in their limited understanding of each other.

"Oh, you are so, so beautiful," Seonghwa cried, in love with his dear daughter. He leaned their foreheads together and pressed kisses to the plush of her cheeks. Though happy about the attention, she was also eager for a meal. When he felt her need, he rustled with his blankets before the cries could resume. Fond, he watched how she found the way herself, latched onto him to feed the milk he had ready, no matter how drained.

"Agreed," San hummed above him. He gazed at them full of fondness as he cradled them in his arms. The rest of the group had drawn in, eager to share their moon's shine. Relieved that he could move and talk again, they relished the new silence.

Seonghwa caressed her cheek with his fingertip, watched her greed as she suckled at him as if he denied her of food for weeks. She was brash and hasty, but so endearing with the little horns and their dull press against his endeared fingertips.

"No wonder you wanted out so bad now that we see who your father is," he hummed, humorous about it. Though it was in the instinct of an elf to cosy up and stay, demons weren't used to being carried in the womb for so long. Beautiful darkspawn, she was reluctantly patient, but eager to see the light of day.

"I can't believe you," Hongjoong chuckled by their side. When Seonghwa looked up with a smile, he found his sorcerer less glamorous and styled up than usual, but refreshed after his long rest. He looked small in the saddle in front of Yunho but wordlessly appreciated the chest to rest against.

"San and I tried so hard, made such a competition out of it, we had to consider a duel to keep our manners. Yet the entire time, you had already conceived on that first night. And from our demon of all," he summarised, incredulous.

"Demons are very potent," San hummed, nuzzling against Seonghwa's temple. Everyone shared his pride over his little one.

"I forgot about it myself," Mingi winced. "It was such a fleeting moment, and we got so caught up. I didn't think..." Even still, pride swung in his voice. Though shocked and breathless, he was giddy about what he created. His shyness kept him at bay, but he always lingered close, always curious.

"I almost passed out when I saw her horns. I thought I had gone mad," Wooyoung uttered. He sat on Jongho's shoulders, resting his leg as he used his elevated position to survey their surroundings.

"Or Seonghwa gone rogue," Jongho added, making the elf chuckle.

"I didn't know, but I adore her so much. Though her timing was unfortunate, she's strong," Seonghwa whispered into her hair. He left her to feed as he lifted his head.

"How are you? Is everyone fine?" He asked when that night came back to him. So much fear and pain, such terror. Though everyone was with him, he dreaded hearing about lingering sorrow.

"Are you fine?" Wooyoung demanded in return. "We didn't fight and have a baby that night."

Fond at the lively reply, Seonghwa cradled the little one closer.

"That much is true."

"We all made it out. Only a few orcs found our trail and we packed up as soon as we could move. We are almost at the border now and though you needed rest, we didn't want to risk another attack," San summarised for him.

With a worried nod, Seonghwa found Hongjoong's gaze.

"I drained you. Forgive me," he pleaded, but the sorcerer shook his head.

"As if I'd ignore your suffering. Everything worked out as it should and we got out alive. Though we lost Freya." He bit his lip, averting his gaze.

Grief weighed on Seonghwa. He lowered his eyes, regretful that they couldn't save her. Though Yeosang conveyed her last words, Seonghwa had hoped for so much more. He wanted to give Freya back what she lost.

"Everyone did their best that night. There was no time to reconsider," Yunho muttered. They shared the heartache of losing the tormented elf so near to the goal.

Finding hope in his squirming bundle of darkspawn, Seonghwa cradled her close. The snow cast them in serene beauty, glittering untouched as the sun broke through the clouds over the trees. No one had the energy to fly and see how far they had come. They all knew another attack meant the end. In their hurry, all that remained was being with each other and relishing in what they saved.

"The rest of us will heal. It's minor scratches here and there, but nothing to fret over. Once we make it out, we might need to sleep for a week or two, but that's about it," Yeosang summarised. He gave Seonghwa a blinding smile, always in support of the shining elf.

"Meat and ale. I'll need so much of it," Wooyoung groaned, hand on his injured thigh.

"You will get all of that. Anything you want," Seonghwa promised. As soon as they were back at the Moon Castle, he would reward their dedication. He couldn't wait to see them heal, warm and well-fed in a place of security.

"You, too. Your body went to its extremes this time. Once we are back, you need to listen to whatever your healer demands of you. If we don't see you resting in your bed with your two chicks soon, I will punch every single orc in the nose," Wooyoung barked. He glanced down at the baby, gaze softer than it had been with Aodhán. As time passed, Seonghwa's children weren't so bad. Even with just the fondness of a sibling, Wooyoung grew protective of them.

"I will rest. I owe Mingi's imp a lot of care," Seonghwa complied. He hugged her close, all the pain healed by her presence against his chest. Already, he could tell her biting would be vicious once her teeth grew in.

Yet Seonghwa couldn't adore her more, couldn't wait to see her develop. When he glimpsed over at Mingi, he found the demon with a perpetual blush. His senses were dedicated to his sweet daughter, enchanted by her spirit.

San and Hongjoong would have their chances later. For now, this was perfect.

When she was done drinking and slumped into Seonghwa's arms, he coddled her close. He didn't hand her off again, held her against his battered body so she would find peace in the link of their souls that she dismissed for so long. As he gazed at the streak of white that matched the snowy landscape, Seonghwa knew what to call her.

"Morana," he muttered, addressing her for the first time. With her eyes closed, she rested in his arms, trusting of him and his husbands. "Her name is Morana. What do you think, Mingi?"

"I like it," he pressed out, so happy his voice rose to the squeak of a mouse.

Hongjoong snickered about them and Yeosang grinned as he reached to shake a tiny fist.

"Nice to meet you, Morana. You shall be our most gorgeous winter."

Seonghwa leaned his head against San's shoulder, tucked safely against his broad body. He was about to explain further when the earth trembled beneath them. On instant alert of the orcs, they grabbed for their weapons, but this was much grander, much more violent than the orcs digging their tunnels. Seonghwa's unicorn huffed in warning and they crowded together, eyes on the ravens that plunged from the trees with coarse yells.

The world shook as if the mountains were moving, and then they did. The forest shifted around them, carried on massive limbs that emerged from the earth where they rested for centuries. Dirt and entire trees crumbled from their bodies as the golems took shape, changing the layout of the land. Seonghwa heard the whispers of their souls, their recognition of him and his battered group.

Jongho's crystals shone a bright yellow.

"You are here! Everyone is here!"

"Safe passage, elf," a voice rumbled in Seonghwa's mind and all terror dropped from his shoulders. A new hillscape formed behind them, keeping all enemies behind a wall of solid rock. Before them, the land was clear, leading them straight into the safe valley of the Sky-reaching Highlands.

"Thank you so much," Seonghwa choked out. Relief flooded the group as they gathered their strength once more and crossed the last spread. Away from the vile orc lands that left so many open issues to attend to and to where they could catch their breaths.

The giants of the mountains watched over them, encased them in an impenetrable barrier as, finally, the group didn't need to fret anymore.