The dragon within

22

          ~Joslin~  

   I wake up feeling so warm. I could get used to it. I roll over so I can watch Leon as he's sleeping. I hear him whimpering a little so I run my fingers through his thick hair. He moves his hands between my shoulder blades so now his arm is almost the full length of my spine and he pulls me in closer. I'm startled at first but then I sink into him letting him hold me. I then notice the scar going down from his ear all the way down his neck and I get the urge to kiss it. I then notice one close to the length of his peck and I run a finger along that one and kiss it. I then notice a burn on his left bicep and I can't help but kiss that. It's crazy that you don't see these things when you're constantly in fear. Now I can set back for a minute and take him in. He is perfection in my eyes. I then reach up to place a kiss on his lips and he startled me when he pecked my lips back and I see a smirk but his eyes are still closed. Next thing we know we both felt a little movement between us. 

   That seemed to get his attention because his eyes flew open in shock. It was so quick you'd almost think it was you imagination. Until we both felt it again. Leon's eyes lit up with joy and the look on his face said it all. He tried to get up and talk to our little boy or girl but in his attempt he fell off the bed. I couldn't help but laugh but it didn't detour him from his mission. "Hey their buddy!" He says as he puts his hand lightly on my belly. I smiled down at him. Right now I feel complete. He's still talking to him when I realize I have to go to the bathroom. 

   "Leon as much as I love watching you talk to my belly I have to use the bathroom." I say giggling. 

   "But of course my lady." He says taking me downstairs to show me where the bathroom is. His mother is downstairs heating up some banana but bread and blueberry muffins for breakfast putting on a pot of coffee. It's 8am and it feels so strange not getting up to go to the dungeons this early or training our warriors. Joslin comes out a few minutes later

   "Wow it smells delicious!" She says as her stomach rumbles. He cheeks redden some from the sound her body is making. My mother laughs saying "My dear you are going to have to eat twice as much to keep up with that little rascal growing inside you.  I remember that one was always waking me up hungry." She says pointing at me. She comes over and pinches my cheek "but I wouldn't change it for nothing my love" she says. 

                   ~Leon~

  Mother sets a plate of food on the table along with a pot of coffee. And three coffee cups. I look around feeling like something is missing when I realize Kayla isn't in here.

   "Where's Kayla?" I ask mom "oh she's still sleeping" she starts to laugh and says"you all white her butt out with all the excitement yesterday. We sat and talked till about 9:30 and we said I'd goodness. Joslin wants to address the pack but she wants to address them in a little better attire. The pack stores are closed right now so we went back to my room so she could throw something together. She took my shirt off and told me to give her the oldest shirt  I had. I was a little skeptical at first. But I coughed one up. It was a grey crew cut shirt.she sits there eyeballing it for a few minutes and asks for a pair of scissors with her hand on her hip all the while I'm looking at her like she's a crazy woman. Next thing I know there's scissors and cloth flying everywhere. When she's done she had a grey warrior princess style shirt tied off to the side. And a tight skirt leaving her belly exposed. 

   "Does this look OK?"She asks twirling around modeling it for me. I was at a loss for words all I could do is nod my head up and down with my mouth open in awe. She had this adorable baby bump that was just starting to show. Only thing is she had no shoes but she looked about the size as my mom. 

   We come downstairs acting like a couple of giddy high school kids. Mom smiles a genuine smile. It's now showing to be 11:30am so we still have 30 minutes to get to the pack house which as long as we mozey we will be right on time. "Hey Ma you wouldn't have a pair of shoes that would fit her so you?" I ask. She sits and thinks for just a minute and asks what size she wears. "I wear a 8 in womens..." Joslin says. Moms eyes light up "wait right here!" She says as she runs to her room coming back with a box in her hand and slowly pulls out a pair of white woven flats. She starts to pull the paper out of the shoes reminiscing on something. She starts to talk "these were the shoes I wore for Samuel and my wedding" 

   "Ma you don't have..." I was interrupted "I know I don't have to but I want to." She holds the out bowing her head and I know she won't back down. 

   "Thank I will cherish these." Joslin says with tears in her eyes. She knows how much these mean to my mother. She carefully put the shoes mom gave her on and we were out the door hand in hand. I must say she wears my rags well. We finally reach the packhouse passing Gage on the way up. I notice she paused for a minute. He was breathing heavy feeling the shadow of someone blocking the sun scared he was going to be struck. Instead though she hollered for someone to give him water. Everyone was confused but little Charlotte did as asked and Joslin smiled at her and winked tussling her hair and we proceeded on our way. When we looked ahead you seen everyone busily working on something wether it be painting, planting, or even hanging curtains. I was nervous I didn't want her to think I was over stepping my boundaries but I wanted her to see that I will be by her side and I can do this for her if I need to.  She looked at them then to me then back to them and asked "what is this?" I see a small smile play across her lips and Alex steps up Bowing his head. 

   "Luna we wanted to show our appreciation and restore your home to its former glory. We hope you will except this as a token of our gratitude." He says. I'm proud and feel he will make s great beta even if he's a little young. The smile on her face grows and she turns to throw her arms around my neck. She cries into my neck. "Thank you so much I didn't know if I was going to be able to look at it." She says and I feel my heart swell knowing I did a good job. I squeeze her inhaling her sent. She turns back to the packhouse taking it in. It still needs some work but I must say these guys pulled together and really did a great job. She starts to get everyone's attention and even my mom showed up with Kayla we were all so proud to see what our leader has to say. 

   "We have all been drug through the mud." She starts and I see people lower their head and you can see their pain "we have watched our loved ones die in front of our eyes..."she pauses thinking of her next words "we have had to watch our children starve... but I tell you NO MORE! We have proved to ourselves... we have proved to our neighbors... we have proved to everyone that we are fighters and when we come back not only do we come back but we do so with a vengeance!" I start to see a few people looking up now with tears in their eyes as they listen. They feel every word spoke. "There's no if but when we rise above the ashes we shall rise like the mighty Phoenix!" That got a few people raising some praise. "Just like a mighty sword we had to go through the forge" now you can feel the crowd and the pride firing up that passion to do better. "Well the hard part is done!..." everyone is looking at her in confusion right now when she says "we've already been through it... now it's our turn to mold into what we want! So what do you say about building stronger!?!" The crowd answers back with a hoorah "let's show everyone we can rise up again!" Another answer with a hoorah "let's show the world you don't f**k with the silver moon pack!" She says and the crowd showers her with praises of her courage. I look at her in awe she is so amazing. She turns to look at me and just smiles and I pull her to me and kiss her in front of everyone.