[There's a rather angry look aimed at you,] Kael gloated.
Griffin suppressed a sigh. "Yes, I know. I couldn't help myself."
Kael chuckled, not feeling sorry for the fact that Griffin was going to have to deal with the feral little wolf behind them.
[Not to interrupt,] Axel suddenly chimed in, [but if you don't say or do something soon, Nate's gonna explode.]
As quickly as he showed up, Axel faded from the bond trying to calm down Nathan.
Steeling himself, Griffin finally turned from the dresser to look at his sore mate. Slowly making his way to the bed, he perched on the edge as he assessed Nathan's expression.
"How are you feeling?" Griffin asked hesitantly.
Nathan glared up at him. "I can't move, how do you think I feel?" He huffed.
Griffin slowly rubbed Nathan's back, trying to soothe him at least a little. "How about a bath?"
Grumbling, Nathan nodded reluctantly. "You have to carry me."
"Gladly," Griffin replied, leaning down and pressing his forehead to Nathan's. He stayed there for a minute before standing. "I'll be right back."
After getting the bath filled and ready for Nathan, Griffin returned to the bedroom only to find Nathan collapsed on the floor.
"Nate!" Griffin cried as he rushed to check on the wolf. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Nathan's face turned a bright red. "I need to pee. I thought I could make it," he mumbled.
Griffin wasted no time in picking Nathan up and rushing him into the bathroom, waiting outside the door for him to finish his business.
An hour later, as Griffin and Nathan were finishing up their bath, Griffin was alerted to the sound of leather wings flapping in the distance. Quickly wrapping up his little wolf, Griffin carried Nathan into the cabin and got them both dressed in record time.
"Griffin?" Nathan asked, confused. "What's wrong? You're being… jumpy."
Griffin sighed, cupping Nathan's face. "I think we're about to have a visitor."
"Huh?"
Griffin sighed again as he hung his head in resignation. "Every year," he began, "my mother comes to visit before winter. It's close to that time and while we were in the bath I'm pretty sure I heard her wings."
Nathan tensed as the words registered. Meeting Griffin's mother? Now? But before he could start panicking, Griffin pulled him into a tight hug.
"Shh. It's okay. She'll love you."
Nathan accepted the comfort but still felt uneasy. "What if she doesn't?" He whispered.
"She will," Griffin reaffirmed. "Come on, let's have breakfast while we wait."
Another 20 minutes passed before Nathan could hear what Griffin's better ears picked up. Wings flapping in the distance. Perking up and looking in the direction they were coming from, Griffin took that as his cue.
"Let's go greet my mother."
Nathan was still too weak from the previous night and had to be carried to the clearing.
Just as they reached the tree line surrounding the clearing, a dragon only slightly smaller than Kael appeared in the distance. As the dragon got closer, Nathan could make out their shimmering teal scales and seafoam green eyes.
Adjusting his hold on the wolf, Griffin raised one arm, waving at the dragon that descended upon the space. "Hi mom," he called out.
As the dragon landed, she let out a roar of greeting.