The mountain wind howled behind them as they reached the ridge where the den lay hidden. The faintest trace of smoke curled from the cracks between the stones — a promise of life, of home.
Evan's breath quickened as they approached the familiar hollow in the cliffside, half concealed beneath snow and pine roots. But when he looked closer, his steps faltered. The entrance was sealed — a massive slab of rock, slick with frost, blocking the mouth of the cave entirely.
"Silas… what happened?" he asked, voice trembling slightly from both exhaustion and dread. "Why would you close it?"
Silas's gaze swept over the boulder, his pupils narrowing to thin slits. "For protection," he said quietly. "Before I left… I didn't want anything—or anyone—getting inside."
Kael crossed his arms, his dark fur-lined coat rippling in the wind. "Smart. But now we're freezing our tails off outside."
Silas shot him a glare but said nothing. His claws scraped lightly against the stone as he pressed one scaled palm to it. Muscles tensed, shoulders shifting as faint power coiled through him. With a deep growl, he pushed.
The ground shuddered. Ice cracked and fell in thin sheets. The boulder moved—slowly at first, then with a grinding roar it rolled aside, leaving a gap wide enough to pass through. Warm air drifted out, thick with the scent of dried herbs, old smoke, and something sweetly familiar—home.
Evan's eyes softened instantly. Without waiting for permission, he ducked inside.
The den welcomed him like an embrace. Furs still lay neatly piled in the corner, the clay bowls stacked beside the hearth. The faint amber light of the ever-burning stone flickered softly, casting a golden glow over the rough walls. The warmth hit his face and, for a moment, he forgot the biting cold outside.
He turned to call Silas in—when a sound broke the silence.
"Papa?"
It was small. Disbelieving. And then—
"Mama, you…!"
Two small shadows shot out from the deeper tunnel, one tripping over the other in their haste. Before Evan could even react, they crashed into him—two small bodies clinging to his coat, their sobs muffled against his chest.
"Milo… Leo…" Evan's voice cracked. His arms wrapped around them instinctively, pulling them tight. "Oh gods, you're safe. You're safe. I missed you both."
"Mama, you were gone for so long!" Milo hiccuped, his little hands clutching the fur at Evan's neck. "We thought… we thought something happened to you! That you'd never come back again!"
Leo tried to speak but only managed to choke out another tearful cry. His tail curled around Evan's wrist like it used to when he was small.
Evan sank to his knees, the tears he had been holding back finally spilling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he whispered against their hair. "I'm so sorry, babies. I promised I'd come back."
Behind him, Silas stood in the entryway, silent and still. His breath left him in one long, trembling exhale. His eyes—cold for days—softened as he took in the sight of his mate surrounded by warmth and life again.
Then, softly—"Leo. Milo."
Both little snakes turned, eyes wide. For a heartbeat, confusion flickered. Then recognition—pure, bright, and overwhelming—lit their faces.
"Papa!" they shouted together.
They ran to him, and he barely had time to kneel before they collided into his arms. Silas's breath hitched as two tiny bodies pressed against his chest, their little claws gripping the fabric of his coat.
"You're alive!" Milo cried.
Silas swallowed hard, his throat tight. His hands—large and rough—trembled as they rested atop their heads. "Of course I am," he murmured, voice low and raw. "Didn't I tell you? Nothing in this world could keep me from coming home."
Evan watched them, his heart overflowing. The frostbite on his hands stung, but he didn't care. The warmth in the room was enough to melt the ache away.
Kael lingered at the edge of the cave, leaning casually against the wall. The flickering light painted his black hair in copper hues. He looked… out of place. The predator who had nearly died in the snow now stood quietly, his expression unreadable as he watched the reunion.
Leo was the first to notice him. "Who's that?" he asked softly, peering from behind Silas's shoulder.
Evan turned, hesitating. "He's… a traveler," he said carefully. "He helped us."
Kael smirked faintly. "A half-dead traveler, apparently."
Silas's eyes narrowed immediately. "He's injured. He'll rest here for some days," Evan added quickly before Silas could speak. "Just until he heals."
Silas didn't argue, but his tail gave a low, warning flick. Kael raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, snake. I won't bite the cubs."
"See that you don't," Silas replied, voice icy.
The tension might have thickened again—if not for Leo, who suddenly tugged on Silas's sleeve and said, "Papa, are you hungry? We still have the jerky you left for us! Well… it's kind of cold now."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Silas's lips curved faintly. "Don't worry. We'll prepare fresh food."
Milo nodded eagerly. "And I kept your favorite dried herbs safe, Mama!"
Evan laughed quietly. "You did?"
"Uh-huh," Milo said proudly. "See? We put them in the storage chamber!"
Silas's heart clenched at that—so small, so fierce, so loyal. He gathered both cubs into his arms again, holding them close for a long, wordless moment.
Evan watched him, the weight of the past days slowly lifting from his chest. The danger was gone—for now. Kael's presence was proof of it, and yet the strange glow that had passed through Silas's eyes earlier still lingered in his memory.
And now—the den was filled with warmth again.
The fire crackled softly. Both kids chattered non-stop, their laughter echoing against the stone walls. Silas sat beside Evan, their shoulders brushing.
Evan leaned into him, whispering, "You kept your promise."
Silas turned his head, his breath ghosting against Evan's ear. "Always."
Across from them, Kael sat quietly, the flickering firelight glinting in his golden eyes as he watched the family of four.
(Poor boy… don't worry. Your time will come soon…
Hahaha… haha…)
Outside, the snow fell quietly, covering the path they had taken. The storm, the blood, the fear—buried for now beneath white silence.
...