Something can be a secret even if everybody knows.

Written for WandererD for Jinglemas 2022

Based on the prompt: I'd like a feel-good story featuring Silverstream and Ocellus.

Silverstream hadn’t always been deaf, but she’d always had a loving family who were willing to support her every step of the way. Gallus had always been deaf, and wasn’t so lucky.

An entry for GMBlackjack's Depth in Innocence contest. Pre-read by Jinzou, SockPuppet, and Sledge115. Cover by Little Tigress.

It took them longer than expected, but Smolder and Silverstream move in with each other. At first, the two enjoy each other's company. However, over time, the dragon and hippogriff start getting on each others' nerves. The problem is though neither one wants to admit what's wrong. This could only end well.

This story is a sequel to A Day for Family

Friends and Family Day has come and gone, leaving behind both many happy families with a plethora of newly-forged, long-lasting memories, and one exhausted griffon with a multitude of hauntingly bad memories that he would rather forget.

Of course, he also made quite a lot of good memories as well. Funnily enough, almost all of them focus on a certain pink hippogriff. These are memories he wouldn't trade for the world.

Unfortunately, it's never really that easy even if Gallus wishes it would be. So while he may be in a far better place than he was before, he's still far from being as well as he could or wants to be.

Luckily, he has a great number of others, willing to stand by his side to help him heal. His teachers... His friends... Silverstream... All of the ones that he loves are standing with him as he makes his journey toward serenity. And while that long, arduous journey is still his to walk...

He doesn't have to walk it alone.

WARNING: Though the Suicide Tag is included, the act itself does NOT occur! In fact, it is added specifically because of Chapter Nine - and ONLY Chapter Nine - where the topic is brought up and discussed briefly.

All other chapters are devoid of any major discussions of the subject matter.

EDIT: Apparently, as of 1/15/2021, this story got featured! Thank you, everyone, so, so much for this! It really means a lot!

EDIT(8/18/2021): Much thanks to Johnerose126 for being awesome and gracing us with a brand new cover art!

Here's the link to the Cover version: https://www.deviantart.com/johnerose126/art/The-Bonds-of-Love-COVER-889056152

The full image version: https://www.deviantart.com/johnerose126/art/The-Bonds-of-Love-889054653

And Johnerose126's DeviantArt account: https://www.deviantart.com/johnerose126

Now go give them some love!

For anyone interested, the original cover art was found via Google Images; here's the link to it: https://www.deviantart.com/ejlightning007arts/art/Gallus-and-Silverstream-773813568

...But Silverstream, of all creatures only just now putting on the uniform…? Okay then. More to the point, she looked adorable in it. Wait, did he just think adorable? About Silverstream? Okay, yeah she was generally cute -loathe as the proud griffon was to admit it- but now she looked cute cute. Oh boy. Oh brother. Oh dear.

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Or in short, Silverstream joins the cheer squad and Gallus notices.

(Written for The Discovery – A Young Six Writing Contest)
(Featured on 1/18/2020, 1/19/2020, and on 1/20/20. Thanks, guys!)