Broken Jade

Five Years

As a warning, this story deals with themes of depression and mental health. It does not hold back on this. Characters can and will do 'problematic' things, and that is the point. They are problems, and they must be addressed. 

I am really adhering to a strict PG-13 rating here. Meaning that mature and dark topics are discussed in detail. No NSFW, so you can breathe easy.

If at any point you feel like you need to stop, please do not force yourself to read further. This fic is not for everyone. I uploaded most of it on Ao3, and was encouraged to branch out.

This is your first and only warning.

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The cold winds of Sanctuary billowed and whistled over the mountains and into the caves. Winter was coming, and with it, a world of white. The days grew shorter, and night chilled any non IceWing to the bone.

Yet for Winter – the IceWing, not the season – this was the best time of year for him. Even if everyone kept making jokes about his arrival with the season. At first it irritated the scales off his hide, but now he learned to roll with the swipes.

As he entered the work cave that he called home for the past twenty years, he was greeted by the warm glow of fire in a hearth. Although naturally cold, he had come to appreciate flame. If only for the comfort it brought his friends and colleagues.

Only one was here, though, and she currently resting by the fire with a book in one claw and a quill in the other. She kept her eyes focused on the book, not even looking at her writing as she jotted down every thought in her mind in a journal. Only when Winter approached did she slide her spectacled gaze to him, a warm smile forming on her yellow scaled lips.

"You return!" The HiveWing, Cricket, fluttered her four translucent wings enthusiastically. "That was quick. I'm guessing Sky and Wren didn't have much for you to do?"

"Those two are a team unlike anything I've seen." Winter chuckled, sitting nearby. "Really, I was only there for moral support. Twenty years building relations with humans, and they get it down in two days. Then again, being a human would help..."

"When's the new building going to be up, then?"

"Before the first snow, hopefully. The humans want it to be another school. Kind of like a university? They hadn't fully decided. It'd be the first joint dragon and human school, though."

"Oh, they decided to go for it?" Cricket's yellow eyes widened into dinner plates, tail swishing enthusiastically.

"They did." Winter nodded.

"I can't wait to tell Blue when he gets home." Cricket sighed happily. "This winter is going to be the best winter yet!"

"Well, hopefully it won't replace me."

Cricket shot him a squint and he smiled. "Who are you and what have you done with Winter? He never jokes."

"Maybe he changes like the season."

"Finally embracing the joke, are we? Or are you just trying to entertain me so I don't have to get up."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't strain yourself. You're due any week now."

Cricket glanced down at her stomach at the comment, where a notable bulge had grown over the past few months. Indeed, she was egg heavy, and had about three ready to come at any time. That did not stop her working in the slightest. She'd even joked about birthing while managing a project. But, somehow, Winter had convinced her to take it easy for the last few weeks.