A S T E R I O N
in sunshine and in shadow*
Oh, melancholy stirs in him like gray and quiet waters as Pan repeats the names that Asterion has given him. It is too much like seeing only a dim flicker of recognition in his sister’s eyes as she woke from her disastrous encounter with Ruth, and the stallion wonders how many others might have their memories stolen away. Might he, someday, not remember the names of all those he has come to love?
Never, Cirrus whispers down their mental bond, and the stallion flicks a grateful ear toward her. He knows they can make no true promises between them, but it is enough, for now, to pretend.
But Pan has no such comfort. And so the bay king, though not often the first to offer touch, closes the distance between them and presses his muzzle against Pan’s shoulder. For a moment he closes his eyes and only breathes, inhaling the scent of warm summer sun, of sweetgrass and wheat, and always, always of the sea. “It’s alright,” he says, drawing away again, and his gaze is dark as it follows the colt who paces a path in the swaying grasses. “You’re here now - the how of it doesn’t matter so much.”
He knows nothing of how the boy had been to Novus before - but he remembers tales of Florentine’s, one of the many times he had asked for stories of the Rift. Though rarely good at hiding his worries, Asterion smiles now, willing away the fear and confusion in the colt’s eyes. “We should let Flora know you’re here,” he says, and hopes the name clears something in Pan’s gaze. “She’ll be so glad to see you again. She’s told me lots of stories of your adventures.”
Almost he adds you’re safe here, Pan, but in the end he can’t; he will not make promises whose keeping are out of his hands.
@Pan <3
