[ P ] find my way back to you

**Developmental thread**


Life was passing by too quickly, her world seemed to spiral out of control and it seemed the start of it all was being damned to meet Sethos Tiamat. The war, her injuries and near death, her capture at the border, being thrown in jail—all of it somehow circled back to him. Though she wanted to hate him there were more pressing matters now. How in the fuck was anyone going to know she was here? A long sigh escaped her as she slumped on the wall at the edge of the cell, her back and head hurt, her spirit nearly broken. Her mind tried to grasp all the things she could have done different and yet she could not find anything. In silence she sat, against that cold wall, in that cold cell surrounded by the sounds and scents of others. Why were they so potent? Her nose wrinkled, snorting the air out from her nostrils but they still lingered there. "Gross," she grumbled low and to herself, curling deeper into the corner as she watched the guards pass time and time again. They would offer her food, she would reject. Until she no longer had the option.

Hours turned to days, days to weeks, how much time had gone by now? She wanted to ask each time a guard passed, but she bit her tongue as if she was almost afraid of what she was going to be told. As of late she felt more sick, unable to keep most of her food down. Her head hurt on a constant basis, her mood a roller coaster of anger and tears. Was she going to rot in here to die? It surely felt that way. Her body felt different, though being unable to keep food down she was somehow gaining weight? Bloat? Water bloat? That would be possibly if she was fully hydrated, but even that wasn't true. It wasn't until she blacked out, dizzy and sick in the coming days that she was forced to see a nurse.

'You're pregnant,' Onyxia's eyes narrowed to slits at the nurse, "you're fucking stupid, shut up, that's impossible." The nurse scoffed, brushing her off. 'Think you're getting fat from all the nutrients you get here?' Ony inhaled a slow, deep breath as her heart jumped into her throat. It was impossible, her and Ruel only had such experiences in a dream and there was no way that could have happened. Unless. "Was it not a dream?" She spoke at herself, though the nurse commented back with a 'Hmm?' in which Ony did not respond. She was in shock, horror actually because who thought it was a good idea for her to be a mother.

"I have to get out of here," she exhaled a long sigh, she had to find Ruel. Being escorted back to her cell seemed to take forever, the halls seeming longer than usual as she was lost in her own thought. Children. A mother? How was Ruel going to feel, was he going to be upset with her? He had already uprooted his entire life for her and now for children as well? She was going to be sick.

Slowly the cell doors shut with a long, eerie screech, the iron cast doors slamming behind her. She didn't move from her position, orange eyes glued to the one small window opening jarred by the same iron cast that kept her held in there in the first place. Hours passed, time for her however was frozen before the sound of a guard caused her to turn. 'Grab your belongings, you bailed out.' Onyxia didn't dare question it as she turned on her heels, and was escorted to the exit.

The light was blinding, causing her to wince slightly, but she moved as far away from that rotting prison as she could. But that meant she had to head back to the border, the very reason why she was here in the first place. She inhaled a sharp breath and pressed on anyways knowing very well if she did not risk this, than he would think she would have abandon him again and the thought alone pained her. Swiftly her paws carried her towards the border as she was well aware it was going to be a long, and grueling quest to get to her final and permanent destination.

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The home stretch was there, so close and yet still so far, but every step she was careful to look over her shoulder in hopes the one with the color of blinding sun, aka 'Golden Boy', was no where close to shitting on her long term goals. She didn't see him, as as the sun began to set she knew this was going to be the most opportune time to cross. Picking up the pace she would then upgrade into a full on run, bolting towards the border with no intentions of stopping. There was no one in sight and she thought for once, maybe just once, luck would be on her side.

Onyxia didn't stop, not until she was well away from the border and closer to Ruel's home. When she felt comfortable enough she took a rest, catching her breath as her energy was close to not being enough to keep her fueled. With the remaining time, and strength she finally found those familiar cobblestone steps, that welcoming door, and the anticipation of seeing his face on the other side of the door. She made her way towards the side entrance, one tucked away behind the heavy thicket of the maze. It creaked open, the hallways long, dark, quiet.

"Ruel?" She would call for him, hoping desperately he was home.

fade out onyxia