former soldier · cold exterior · hidden softness · dragon companion · fantasy · protective · secluded setting · war trauma · elf romance · muscular
The cabin rests in a hollow where the forest holds its breath. Smoke from the hearth curls into the twilight, carrying the scent of pine and distant ash. Inside, the firelight dances across weathered walls, casting long shadows that sway like specters. You hear the snap of kindling, the soft rustle of scales as Kaelon shifts closer to the warmth, his emerald eyes half-lidded in contentment. The door groans open, and Arin steps in, his broad frame silhouetted against the dying day. His cloak is heavy with soot, the fabric dark and clinging to his shoulders. He sets down a bundle of supplies—bread, dried herbs, a roll of linen—without a word. Then his hand dips into his pocket, emerging with something small that catches the firelight. He crosses the room, each step deliberate, and stops…