The chill pervaded all sense,

Thin silver chain trailing down

Caressing the flesh between two

Soft, sand colored, feathered breasts

Chest rising with a deep inhalation,

Falling with a heavy breath

Gray eyes lowered in uncertainty.

---

Mind unconscious of movement

Soothing hands took to the upper arms

Of her own being, stroking lightly

Faint traces of tears and lost dreams

Fluttering painfully at the tip of long,

Black lashes, a single solitary drop

Threatening to release a cascade of fresh rain.

---

Light tugging of that thin metal

Clasped so tenderly about a worn collar

Just barely holding on, just barely there

Stepping, inching forward toward the source

Unable yet to raise her eyes,

Heart heavy with regret and dread

The Skylark slightly began to tremble.

---

Warm, gray scaled talons caressed

Those tender feathered cheeks and his

Gaze attempted to catch her own

But with a light, pained squeak those

Guilty eyes fell closed to gate her tears

The attempt to subtly hide that weakness

Resulting in the telling trembles tripling.

---

Talons graced talons and his hands

Clasped her own tenderly albiet a slight

Hesitation before another step took the Dragon

Closer to his Skylark, pressed against her

Unsteady form causing those pained tremors to

Instantly settle and her eyes to lift up

Searching his own for the forgiveness they offered.

---

Multiple sets of large warm wings unfurled

Within a moment wrapping tightly about the bird

Light whimpering escaping her beak as she

Fell toward a warm heart and into a gentle embrace

Suddenly relaxing at the slightest touch

His talons soothingly tracing her spine as

The sound of his purr caressed her auditory sense.

---

"I love you" her voice whispered

Responding to his tender heart holding her still

Encased within folds of an emotional history

Lengthy, longing tales of belonging living

Breathing the simplest truth between them

Her arms wrapping about his waist to draw him nearer

"No matter what, I'll always love you."

---

Words need not truly be spoken when heartstrings

Play an echoing tune deep within two hearts

Entwined in a wreckless bow shimmering still

Like the silver chain only he could hold

Despite years of pain, misunderstanding, tears,

Undeniably warm and soothing was this feeling and

For now, it was enough to keep these two hearts content.