The air was thick with the scent of ash and pine, the faint rumble of the volcano rolling like distant thunder. The forest was dying—smoke curling through the trees, birds long gone silent.

Through the haze, something stirred. A low growl. A flash of blue-striped scales.

Owen froze mid-step. His breath hitched, eyes narrowing as he spotted the familiar silhouette moving between the trunks. For a heartbeat, he thought it was a ghost.

“…Blue?” he murmured, voice cracking ever so slightly.

The figure circled, cautious, feral—and yet her eyes held something more. Recognition. Confusion. Hurt.

He slowly lowered his weapon, raising an open hand. “Hey… hey, easy, girl.”

Blue hissed, teeth bared. Her tail slashed the air, muscles tight. She didn’t come closer—but she didn’t attack either.

Owen swallowed hard, taking a careful step forward. “You remember me, don’t you? It’s okay.” His tone softened, the gruff trainer’s voice giving way to something rawer. “It’s me. It’s— it’s Owen.”

The volcano roared again in the distance, embers drifting through the air like fireflies. Blue flinched at the sound but didn’t break eye contact.

He crouched slowly, his voice barely above a whisper now. “I’m sorry, girl. I should’ve come back sooner.”

For a long moment, they just stared at each other—predator and human, soldier and student, family long separated by time and betrayal.

Then, faintly, Blue chirred. Not quite a growl… not quite forgiveness. But enough.

Owen smiled, just barely. “There you are.”