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Izuku is part of a nomad tribe that moves across the continent selling their wares. Their caravans are praised in every village and every city for their decorative and festive atmosphere, always bringing new music and colorful fabrics to brighten their gray and brown streets.
This time, they were going to one of the dragon lands. They’d gone through two such lands in their travels, and they’d always been received with warmth and cheer. His childhood friend, Katsuki, was in charge of the Northern Tribe; Ryuku ruled over the wild midlands with her mate; his second cousin, Setsuna, over the South; and rumor had it that the Kirishima heir had taken over the Crimson Mountains, but Izuku had yet to meet him.
Every time his tribe had passed by said mountains, he had been kept in a village helping someone give birth or fighting off a threat. As an omega, he was known for both his agility in battle and a healer, so such absences were common. It was due to this that he was brimming with excitement over finally seeing the majestic red laterite stone formations that his tribe mates so fondly spoke about. He was even wearing some of his best clothing! That morning, he bathed and used oils to enhance his scent, put on an assortment of earrings, and had asked another omega to tame his waves in a half bun with scattered, jeweled braids that cascaded down to his shoulder blades.
Large, carved gates with a tall barrier welcomed them into the region. Izuku looked at them in awe and wondered if they would allow him exit to sketch them later. The group heard the whoops and trills announcing their arrival, and when the guard came out, they checked their caravans to ensure nothing was amiss.
The green-eyed omega waited patiently, bouncing on his heel. When a steel-colored dragonborn came up to him, the man froze. “Excuse me, sir, are you okay?” Izuku asked.
That seemed to snap the man from his stupor, and he stuttered out an apology, going through the motions, and then running to the front of the pack. Izuku frowned. Had he worn or brought anything that was considered offensive?
“Psst!” His friend Tsu called. “Is everything okay, Midoriya? The other guards did not return to command.”
Izuku shrugged. “I-I’m not sure.” He looked at his garbs and they were like all the others in his tribe. “Maybe he remembered something?”
The woman of amphibian descent shrugged. “Perhaps-ribbit. If anything happens, let Nemuri know.”
Izuku nodded. Nemuri was in charge of their pack’s social situation, whether internal or external, so if anything arose, surely she could help.
Shortly, the searches were called off and the pack was allowed to pass through the gates. They found it odd that they were let through without the completed search, but the afternoon sun was beating down harshly, and they wanted to find cover. Once the gates closed, they were led through shaded streets.
A collage of tarps hung between the two sides of the laterite ridge to create an artificial roof, effectively lowering the temperatures. It was smart, and Izuku couldn’t wait to sketch it all in his books. He had one for each region, and this was the only one that was blank.
The ridge walls had ledges, where upon closer look, partially shifted winged warriors held watch with bows and arrows–their second line of defense.
Izuku smiled at one of them that had lavender-colored hair and diamond-like scales on his cheekbones. That man also had an odd reaction.
“Hey, Tsu, you’ve been here before, right?” The woman hummed.
“Yeah, we came three years ago.”
“Do they…not greet others?”
“They do–ribbit. They’re incredibly friendly.”
“Oh…thanks.” Back to square one. He hoped to figure out what he’d done wrong before he met the others. He would hate to make his people look bad. With a sigh, he trudged on.
As they exited the ridge, the nomads were led to a large section of the valley for them to establish camp. A river ran along that section for which they were grateful.
A red-haired woman with blue eyes paused and spoke to the tribe. “Greetings, travelers! My name is Itsuka Kendo. I’ll be coming by to make sure you have everything you need. We allow this area to be used by visitors; however, you are always welcome to come into town. Simply cross the river, and you’ll see the shops and other establishments settled about.”
Looking around, the valley protected by the Crimson Mountains was vast, spanning as far as the eye could see. Izuku wanted to ask about their living arrangements, but then he felt the swoosh of wind ruffling his hair, forcing him to look up, to search for the source of it. It’s then that he noticed the rock face littered with entrances. People entered and exited with ease thanks to their magnificent wings. Furthermore, there were steps created as well for them to carry things to and fro that would be too inconvenient to carry otherwise. It was fascinating.
Their guide continued. “Feel free to explore our caves, waterfalls, and other natural offers. On the plateau, you’ll find our leader’s lodgings as well as our healers and council member’s lodgings. Anything that’s commercial is down here. Any questions?”
The nomads murmured between them but no one spoke up.
Izuku had many, but since they were given free rein to explore on their own, and they’d just arrived, maybe he would leave them for the next day.
“Okay, enjoy your stay!” she chirped and began walking back. As she passed by Izuku, she paused and stared for a minute with mirth and awe in her eyes before she kept walking. He, now distracted with helping everyone set up, failed to notice.
For supper, they shared a heavy meal as they always did after long-distance travel, and most retreated to organize their belongings and wares. Izuku, having completed his tasks, walked to the edge of the camp.
Suddenly, he felt an odd pull, imploring him to walk down the valley.
'Go,' his omega urged.
‘Go where?’ Izuku thought confusedly, but that tug at his very soul surfaced again.
This time, he followed. He had never felt such a thing, as if an invisible string had been wrapped around him and was guiding him somewhere. It was thrilling and terrifying all at once. The dragonborn around him followed with their eyes, but he figured it was mostly because he was an outsider, so he did his best to ignore it. They still smiled if their eyes met, and they said their greetings, which made him think there was no ill will. If anything, they seemed happy to see someone touring their land.
This call led him down the valley and through a series of tunnels that exited in front of a cave. The inside of the cave seemed to be illuminated. He was so captivated by the mystery of it all that he paid no mind to the guards stationed in the front.
Cautiously, he entered, following the yellow glow of the lanterns. At first, it seemed like an ordinary cave, but once he reached the first chamber, he saw that it was not the case. The entire chamber held markings that told stories about the dragon born–probably of their arrival. Pictures of winged humans, of hunts, of harvests of treaties were scattered throughout. He’s not sure how much time he stood there, simply tracing over the markings, trying to decipher the stories they told.
“It’s interesting, isn’t it?” a deep voice said, startling Izuku.
With a yelp, he jumped and stumbled into a muscled chest. “Oh, goodness, you scared me!” he said. With a hand to his chest, still catching his breath, he turned around to face the other person.
The scent of the mountains itself clung to the towering, tanned alpha, and maybe it was because he seemed to embody the mountain itself. The alpha before him had a powerful aura, both intimidating and comforting. His smile was sharp, deadly, yet so friendly, Izuku wanted to trust him immediately. His hair dark as the depths of the cave was braided on one side, adorned with gold and other jewels, revealing intricate curved red horns on his head. His eyes, lined with kohl, were…beautiful, magical, in a way. Though ruby-red at a glance, when truly looked at, he had different shades of the color within them; they were like the jewel itself.
“My name is Eijirou,” the alpha said with a grin. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I was notified that someone had wandered into these caves, and given that so few outsiders know of its location, I was tempted to come by and see you myself.”
Izuku smiled sheepishly. Based on the man’s gaze, he knew he’d been caught staring. “My name is Izuku, Izuku Midoriya. I’m from the nomad tribe that just arrived. I’m not sure how to explain this, but I was…drawn to them.”
Eijirou hummed. “I’ve never seen you with them before.”
“I’m a healer and a warrior. I have to leave the tribe at times to help others.”
“Admirable.” The redhead turned around, walking toward the entrance. His accent was thick, but he clearly knew the language well. “Do you wish to see the other chambers with me, Izuku? Or would you prefer to walk alone?”
The way the alpha said his name sent shivers down his spine.
’Go!’ his omega chirped excitedly. ’Follow alpha!’
“I wouldn’t mind the company,” Izuku answered with a small smile, walking toward the man, “Especially from a friendly local like yourself. Maybe you can provide some context.”
Eijirou led them to a second chamber–the battle chamber–that depicted their triumphs and losses over the territory. With great passion, the alpha told the story of his ancestors, his tone brimming with pride.
Izuku couldn’t help but be completely enraptured by the display, by the way the fire reflected off the alpha’s skin, by the way the man’s eyes shone even brighter. The shadows cast some emphasis on the man’s scars, and Izuku’s omega wanted to pounce, to trail his fingers over each one and learn of their origin. The thought caught him by surprise. Izuku had long since abandoned hope of having a mate. While he had many alphan friends, his omega only wanted a familial bond with them; it had never reacted like this.
Once they were done there, the alpha led him to the third, and supposedly, the last chamber.
Izuku felt that calling again, beckoning him forward; it was almost deafening.
“If the first is your history, and the second your victories, what is this third chamber about?” Izuku asked.
The lighting inside that chamber was different, casting a greenish glow.
“This third chamber is one that prophesized the arrival of the future generation’s mates. The dragonborn believe in reincarnation, so their past selves carve the likeness of their mates, so that their future selves can find them.
“Oh, that’s amazing! Have your people been able to confirm that the leader’s reincarnations have met the same mate?”
Izuku’s chest felt tight; his head throbbed. He shook his head and smiled through it. After this chamber, he could head back and lay down.
“Yes. My predecessor and the one before him both met their mates, and the likeness was near identical,” he said fondly. Then he added, “I’ve also met mine; a truly strong and bewitching omega. The images did not do him justice.”
'Our alpha.'
‘No!’ Izuku chided.
This man was clearly not their alpha; he’d already found his destined mate.
Izuku could barely wrap his head around it. His tribe believed in reincarnations and fate as well, but it was rare to see it at work so explicitly. “That’s incredible! Your kind must be truly blessed.” But then, the man’s words made Izuku think, “Wait, predecessors?”
With a chuckle, the alpha replied, “Yes, Eijirou Kirishima, leader of the Crimson Mountains, at your service.”
Immediately, Izuku’s cheeks and ears flushed pink. “I’m so sorry! I’ve been speaking so casually, but I didn’t know!”
The alpha’s large hand ruffled Izuku’s hair. “It’s okay, omega. You’re quite refreshing to talk to.”
"Thank you,” he squeaked, still mortified. This man not only had a mate, but he was the tribe leader, and Izuku had been staring so shamelessly. Frustrated tears lined his eyes, but he wiped them away before they could fall. He had no right.
“Do you still wish to see the last chamber?”
“Y-yes.” He said so in a whisper. If anything, he wanted to sate his curiosity, wanted to compare how specific the art within the cave was, wanted his omega to understand that they did not belong.
Maybe, if he begged the gods forgiveness enough for his naïve thoughts, he could see the future tribe mother in person.
“Come with me.”
The pull was near unbearable, almost taking control of Izuku’s steps. The alpha’s large hand reached out for his, and Izuku paused, staring at him.
“Your legs might become unstable,” Kirishima explained, and though the wording was odd, Izuku obliged and entwined their fingers in a tight grip.
The first carvings were somewhat rudimentary, but certain features were defined in the people depicted. The first couple was a man with shoulder-length white hair and a man with explosive brown hair that reminded Izuku of his blond childhood friend. A distinctive scar crossed over his face. The two were sitting on the plateau’s edge. Under the image, there were two marks.
Izuku’s fingers touched the stone thoughtfully. “What do these markings mean?”
“They are the amount of times a pair has come back to Earth.”
The omega nodded.
They went through five more pairings, and on the sixth, Izuku stumbled back, held aloft only by the alpha’s strong grip. His breath hitched and the throbbing in his head intensified, making his vision blur.
On the stone, he saw Eijirou’s likeness, but at the man’s side…
He was temporarily blinded, only feeling as the alpha scented him and whispered words of reassurance. “Don’t fight it, my omega. You’re safe, you’ve made it home.”
Izuku found that his blindness was not blindness at all because in that instant, he saw a multitude of images from past lives return to his consciousness, and once the images had passed, he could see that sharp smile he’d loved time and time again.
“Eijirou,” he whispered, bringing a hand to his alpha’s face.
“Welcome back, love,” the man said with such gentleness, Izuku could melt. “Care to mark your arrival?”
“It would be my honor.”
And so, the third mark was made under their carving, and the pair exited the cave hand in hand. They were met with excited cheers from the dragonborn who celebrated the arrival of their chief alpha's omega; their tribe mother.
That fateful day marked the beginning of a new story, of a new life and reign. It was the most pleasant surprise Izuku could have hoped for, and he was eager to discover what this future would bring for him and his fated mate.