Revamped
ITS THE TRUE SEQUEL TO HEALED NO CAP
I do not own the rights to Healed. That honor goes to Sandshadow9
Beneath the Stars
Flame shifted his wings awkwardly as he waited outside the cave, the familiar feeling of nervous energy coiling in his chest. He wasn't sure why he felt so unsettled. After everything he had been through—the battles, the scars, the long journey to healing—this should have been easy. But somehow, the thought of a quiet evening with Umber, without any danger or tension, was enough to make his heart race.
"You're overthinking it," Flame muttered to himself, shaking his head. But the nervous tension stayed.
He was just about to turn around and pace for the hundredth time when Umber appeared from the cave, a relaxed smile on his warm, brown-orange face. His MudWing scales shimmered softly in the dimming light of evening, the colors blending beautifully with the earth beneath them.
"Hey," Umber said, his voice as easy and calm as ever. "You ready?"
Flame took a breath, forcing himself to relax. "Yeah. I, uh, wasn't sure what to wear." He gestured to his scarred scales with a sheepish look, trying to lighten the moment with humor.
Umber chuckled softly, his amber eyes bright with amusement. "You look fine. Not that it matters. It's just us tonight, remember?"
"Right. Just us." Flame nodded, feeling his nerves ease a little. He wasn't used to feeling this way—vulnerable, in a different sense than in battle. But around Umber, he could feel the jagged edges of his past start to smooth over, bit by bit.
The two of them started walking down the path together, heading toward a secluded spot Umber had found earlier. It was a little valley nestled between two cliffs, dotted with wildflowers and framed by towering trees. The perfect place to escape for a quiet evening under the stars.
The conversation between them flowed naturally, as it always did now. They talked about old memories of the war, the others at Jade Mountain Academy, and life after everything that had happened. Flame had been hesitant to talk about his feelings before, but after what they'd been through together—especially after the way Umber had stood by him during his hardest moments—he found it easier to open up.
"I still don't know why you stuck around," Flame said after a while, glancing at Umber. "After everything. I was... pretty awful to you."
Umber looked at him, his expression soft but serious. "You weren't awful, Flame. You were hurting. I understood that. I guess I just knew there was more to you than what you were showing back then."
Flame felt a lump form in his throat. No one else had ever seen him that way before—like he was more than the angry, scarred dragon he had once been. But Umber had, even when Flame didn't see it in himself.
"You don't give up on people, do you?" Flame said quietly.
"Not when I know they're worth it." Umber smiled, his voice gentle but sure.
They reached the valley soon after, the sight of the wildflowers and the peaceful, open sky making Flame's heart lift. The stars were already beginning to appear, scattered across the sky like shimmering diamonds.
"It's beautiful here," Flame said softly, his eyes scanning the sky. "I'm glad you brought me."
Umber settled down beside him, his wing brushing Flame's for just a second—an accidental touch that sent warmth flooding through Flame's scales.
"I thought you'd like it," Umber said, lying down on the soft grass and gazing up at the sky. "It's nice to just... be still for once, you know?"
Flame hesitated, then slowly lay down next to him, feeling oddly comfortable in the silence that followed. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the soft chirping of night insects, and the distant hoot of an owl were the only sounds between them for a while.
As they lay there, Flame found himself glancing at Umber more than once. The MudWing's relaxed posture, his calm presence, and the way he looked so at peace—it made Flame feel something he hadn't expected. Something warm, and unfamiliar, and... good.
"You know," Flame said after a long pause, his voice softer now, "I don't think I ever really thanked you. For everything."
Umber glanced at him, his expression curious. "You don't have to thank me, Flame. I wanted to be there for you."
"I know. But still." Flame turned slightly, looking directly at Umber now, feeling something stir inside him. "You... you changed everything for me."
Umber's eyes softened, his expression warm. "I didn't change you, Flame. You did that yourself."
Flame didn't know what to say to that, so he didn't say anything. Instead, he found himself inching just a little closer to Umber, his wing brushing against the MudWing's once more—this time intentionally. When Umber didn't move away, Flame felt a surge of courage that he hadn't expected.
Without really thinking about it, he leaned in, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt the warmth of Umber's scales against his. For a moment, he thought maybe he was reading everything wrong—maybe this wasn't what Umber wanted.
But then Umber's wing curled gently around him, drawing him closer, and Flame's breath hitched.
"Is this okay?" Flame asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Umber smiled, his eyes soft as he looked at Flame. "Yeah. It's more than okay."
That was all Flame needed to hear. He leaned in closer, their snouts just inches apart now, and then, finally, their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss.
Flame felt a spark race through him, and for a moment, all his worries and doubts melted away. All that mattered was the warmth of Umber's scales, the softness of the kiss, and the way everything seemed to click into place in that moment.
When they finally pulled away, Flame's heart was racing, but he felt lighter than he had in a long time.
"Wow," Umber said softly, his voice a little breathless. "That was..."
"Amazing," Flame finished for him, smiling for the first time in what felt like ages.
They stayed there for a while, curled up together beneath the stars, the weight of the past finally starting to lift from Flame's heart. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, he felt like it didn't matter.
As long as he had Umber by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.
And beneath the stars, the two of them stayed close, sharing a quiet moment of peace, healing, and something new that neither of them had expected—but both of them welcomed.
