Too excited to calm down, Morana postponed going to sleep for as long as she could. Everyone was drained for their journey and they spread out their cloaks and blankets to find some rest in the cosy warmth of Mingi's cave. Morana built her nest next to her father proudly to show they belonged together, but she was too eager to learn more about him to actually sleep. After running around helping everyone else and showing off how mature she had become, Yeosang told her to sit down already. He threatened her with a boring story about the history of the empire if she didn't calm down.

Soon, Morana was swaddled in her blanket, pouting to herself. Her brother was curled into Yunho's chest and Wooyoung whispered to San. Mingi was silent next to her, but not because he was sleeping. Much more, he sounded like he was holding his breath.

"You aren't tired, Morana?" He asked her in a hushed voice, worried to keep her up.

Morana turned her head to him, marvelling up at his vision. She was shy, her heart nervous like never before. She was used to clinging to Wooyoung or Yeosang in sleep, even Onyx. But he slept on Mulberry's back tonight.

So much happened and yet not enough. The adults wanted to talk more after some rest, but Morana's energy seemed never-ending.

She wanted to try. So she asked with courage in her brittle heart.

"Can you hug me again?"

Mingi hesitantly lifted his hand. He found her cheek, caressing it cautiously. After a moment of consideration, he opened his arms to offer his chest to her.

Promptly, Morana scooted closer. Yes, that was the feeling. This warmth. The heavy arms engulfing her.

She inhaled deeply, breathing in Mingi's scent. The timid demon held her, caressing her horns and hair.

"I can tell you are so beautiful," he whispered to her. "Just like him."

Since he didn't know of Morana's feud against Seonghwa yet, she gave him a pass and snuggled into him. Though still too jittery to sleep, she was comfortable. Felt the void in her heart mending since it could be filled with her parent now.

-

Morana didn't know when she fell asleep, but she slept long and deeply. When she stirred, she was still cuddled into her father's chest, but he was already up and muttering with the others. Holding her with all the care in the world so she wouldn't wake up. They caught him up on their dynamic in the past, with the recent reunion and their path here.

When Morana squirmed against his heavy arm, Mingi immediately shifted.

"Are you awake?" He asked her in that voice that seemed deep like the canyon outside and rumbled like thunder. Morana sat up, finding her hair dishevelled from rubbing her face into the scent of her father's chest all night. When she blushed, Wooyoung cackled at her.

"Here, have some breakfast," Yeosang invited her and Morana sleepily stuffed her face. Everyone else was up already, and Onyx hopped to her side to steal the occasional crumb from her. Mingi hovered behind her like a sheepish shadow, eating slowly after he waited for her to wake.

Despite the time he spent here alone, he didn't look malnourished. His muscles bulged over his steely body and his tail flicked behind him, full of life. He looked even more powerful than San or Hlin. If he weren't blind, he might be the strongest of all.

Awed with his softness, despite his scary appearance, Morana introduced the flutter of feathers to him when Mingi tried to figure it out.

"This is Onyx. He is my friend." She pushed the bird over for him to touch, and Mingi ran an awed fingertip over his back.

"So Onyx is still around. And Buddy."

At his mention, the dog perked up. He came over, tail wagging, to sit by Mingi's side, waiting for instructions. A funny dog, he was. Nudging his nose at food containers as if he tried to push them over to Mingi.

Copying what Yunho had done for him last night, Morana ripped the bread apart and placed it on his plate. San watched her from the other side of the fireplace and a smile played around his lips.

"What now, Mingi? We found you and we reunited Morana with you. She missed you a lot. Do you still prefer the solitude of this cave?" Hongjoong asked when he joined their circle. He had bandaged up his arm, impatient to leave the mountains so he could heal himself, but he didn't rush anyone. Yeosang looked so proud of himself to see Morana pleased and even Aodhán had warmed up to Mingi's presence and shyly scooted closer to stare at him.

Mingi lifted his hand, searching for his daughter. Morana caught his fingers, wrapping her hands around two of the massive digits. A grin dashed over Mingi's lips.

"My imp... I missed my imp so much," he muttered when he caressed her smaller fingers with her thumb. "I never should have left you, Morana. Even if I was weak. Seonghwa counted on us."

Yeosang huffed a smile. At the end of the day, they all shared their misery about losing him.

"Don't worry. We took care of her and now that it became time for her to find you, Morana showed her strength. If you want to come along, you two can always catch up on the lost time."

Even when Mingi looked frightening, they spoke to him with utter care. Morana could tell from their lingering glances that they didn't want to leave him alone. That they were concerned about Mingi and what he had become alone in the darkness.

The demon hesitated. Was unsure whether he still had a place in her life after so long.

And even if Morana had been angry at him, confused and hurt, she pitied him. She also needed time alone when she was sad. And they had lots of time to make new memories.

"I... I would like to join you. If it's safe. If my presence means danger, then..."

Right, Mingi didn't go back to the demons after they parted. Because they were on different sides in the war? Wasn't he lonely without his people?

Hongjoong contemplated him with a hum.

"They aren't actively hunting you. Most probably think you died at the siege. Morana lives with Yeosang and Wooyoung at the Cliffs of Zephyr. Would Hlin have him there?"

Wooyoung waved a dismissive hand.

"Everyone is welcome there."

"But does Mingi feel welcomed there?" Yunho threw in and the unsure knot in Morana's belly agreed. She knew she got stared at a lot. Mingi would stick out like a sore thump. But if he didn't like the demons, where did he feel at home?

Mingi hung his head.

"It's fine," he whispered. "If I can be with Morana, I will get used to it."

Other places might have been better for him. Not the Vault of Heaven, but surely the spire.

Morana gnawed on her lip. She would love to live with Aodhán at the spire, but leaving Yeosang and Wooyoung would hurt her heart as well. Their lame old cave was her home.

"Actually, we... We came on this journey for another reason," Yeosang began and after a glance around and meeting no protest, he sat down to explain it to Mingi.

Yunho used the time to flick out a knife and trim Mingi's hair so he could still wear it long without getting it caught in his lips all the time. Morana could see his face now and she was awed by how young and handsome her father looked.

"Rumours are making their rounds around the seven kingdoms. We don't know where they came from or if they might not lead us into a trap, but..." Yeosang had to gather his breath before he finished. "They claim Seonghwa is alive. And that he yearns to be freed."

Silence filled the room. Mulberry rustled with his feathers while he cleaned himself.

Mingi took a long moment to pick his words. He chose them carefully, and they sounded stiff from his lips.

"Can that... be true?"

He didn't want to get up his hopes. Morana understood. After looking at the Crystal Sphere briefly, she doubted anything was alive in those lands. And it had been many years.

But her uncles looked determined.

"We saw him fall, but chances are the dragon caught or healed him. Seonghwa might still be there."

"But we can't defeat a dragon," Mingi muttered. "The rare few who have been defeated were either sickly crossbreeds with other creatures or hatchlings. You said this dragon is the biggest of all."

"We didn't understand back then. Seonghwa was the only one who communicated with it and determined the terms. If we guessed right, he offered himself in exchange for the dragon's help. Freeing us and decimating the swarm of enemies before falling to the depths for eternity," Hongjoong caught Mingi up and Morana scowled to herself.

What did Seonghwa save? The land was in ashes; the elves gone. His husbands falling sick from mourning for him. His children without their emmya.

Did he even save anything? Why would something as grand as a dragon want him?

"So you believe it?"

Morana shook off her spite to listen to her father. He was sunken into himself, unmoving to Yunho caressing his horns.

Hongjoong wavered, but Yeosang's voice was steady. He made up his mind long ago when he first decided to leave their safe nest.

"We would like to, yes. Morana is determined to find her athair."

"I also am," Aodhán protested and Wooyoung snickered about them.

Mingi needed another break. Mulling his thoughts in the depths of his mind. Morana was so curious about what he considered. How he perceived the same past.

"What is the rumour?" He asked ultimately, indulging everyone's tension. Wooyoung broke out in a grin while Hongjoong recited it.

"Deep in the dragon's cave... The brightest star of the night sky slumbers. Waiting to be woken by the loves he misses so much." A pause. "They say he is crying in his prison of crystal."

Mingi sunk into his depths once more. Leaving him time and space to think, Wooyoung dropped his head into San's lap for some rest. Mindless fingers ran through his hair.

"If Athair comes back, will the stars shine properly again?" Aodhán asked Hongjoong.

So he also felt it. Their hollowness. Morana crawled over to hold his hand. As always, her brother was warm and held her right back.

She didn't know what she was hoping for. Would they find anything? Or would it hurt her uncles even more to search futilely? She had a parent now, just like Aodhán. She could be happy and never return to the ruins of this place they once called home.

But then what?

Would the empire continue to suffer and hate each other since there was no emperor? Would the orcs come and claim the throne in a rule of terror? Would Mingi always have to hide? Morana wanted to visit the place where he came from. Wanted to see mighty demons.

And as much as she hated him, she was dying of curiosity about what Seonghwa was like. To see his beauty that was oh-so hailed. To hear the words that made everyone fall for his charm.

No, she wanted to search. They had come so far. To those who doubted, even failure would bring closure.

"You said we are in the Dwarven North?" Mingi asked Hongjoong and the sorcerer hummed.

"Near the Sky-Reaching Highlands, aye."

Mingi's unseeing eyes stared at the ground. He contemplated the time he spent in this cave, his newfound relief to be back with his daughter and the rest of his family.

"We can't fight a dragon," San soothed the fear on his features. "If he is alive, we can always retreat and find a new way."

"I can probably defeat a dragon," Wooyoung protested, but San let his hand fall onto his face, holding his mouth shut. Indignant, the gryphon-born kicked and squirmed.

Mingi nodded slowly.

"I don't want to lose anyone else, but if we could have Seonghwa back..."

When Hongjoong got to his feet, Buddy perked up, barking at him. His tail wagged wildly and though Hongjoong didn't reward him with pets, his grin was trusting.

"The Crystal Sphere isn't far and we are so many now. It won't hurt to check."

With Mingi's agreement, they confirmed their final destination. Perhaps there was something to find, perhaps not. Either way, Morana was excited about this adventure with all these interesting people she learned to trust.