The breeze from the sea calmed Pan, carrying the scent of brine and sand to him. Here, on the cliffs, the boy could sit and watch the waves roll in forever. As he lay upon the soft grass, he could almost put the horrors of Delumine behind him. Almost. Still, there is a nagging each and every time he pauses to close his eyes, driving the image of Casper and Moore’s bodies back into his psyche. He shivered in the warmth of autumn, not sure that he could ever find warmth again. Or at least, it seemed this way for now. In time, of course, the shock would fade and his pain would subside with it… but for now, the boy is simply raw.
He almost misses the approaching sound of Runaveig, until the thrust of wind from Umbra’s wings beats down upon him. Turning toward her, the boy’s silver tears catch beneath his seafoam eyes, holding there instead of free flowing (but daring to stream down his face once again). He sniffles and tries to offer the mare a smile… but happiness cannot come, not in a time like this. Still, the boy is curious about the twilight hued mare and her winged companion. But curiosity had to wait for another day.
Something terrible has happened. The boy’s initial words are cryptic as he struggles to find a way to explain what he had seen. How could he explain such a thing, really? They didn’t know what had happened… what sort of monster would rip a creature, limb from limb. Though he was far from it now, the scent of rusty blood still clung to his skin, despite his attempts to bathe the stench away in the river. Clutching his satchel tighter, he gives the mare a forelorn look.
We’re not safe… we’re not safe… He just repeats these words, again and again, rocking back and forth to comfort himself. As Pan closes his eyes, the sea calls him home once more. Breathing deeply, he draws relief from the distant crash of waves against rocks, and the more distant call of the gulls. Visibly, the boy relaxes as he tries to steady his nerves, as his cool green eyes flash open once more. I’m not going back…
