The more Pan spilled his story, the more he seemed to relax. Perhaps she was right, and talking was the best way to let his heart be truly free of the horrors that ensnared it. He offers her a watery smile once he finishes, still shaking but visibly steadier as he draws deep breaths into his lungs. His tear-streaked cheeks turn toward the sun, willing the warmth to stave away the cold that grips him, even as he tries to focus instead on the kindness of the mare and her dragon. For several moments, he simply stands with mute silence, nodding at her suggestion that they should lay upon the soft grass, as his legs fold neatly beneath him.
What kind of song? he asks at last, forcing another smile as she settles beside him and offers to take his mind off of things yet again. I know some songs… pirate songs mostly. He would sing for her, but knows his voice is off kilter… which normally wouldn’t bother him, but today he is more interested in her own song than his. Umbra is lovely, by the way… I have a friend too…
As if on cue, a furry brown creature poked his head out of Pan’s satchel, previously unnoticed in the chaos of the moment. The otter blinked at the mare, chirruping an introduction of sorts before diving back into the bag and fishing out a silvered fish skeleton, offering it to the dragon with an outstretched paw. This is Oliver, Pan offers simply, glad that his friend had made his way here for another round of adventures… and gladder still that Oliver was safe from whatever monster haunted the North. He is my oldest friend, and found his way here from Neverland too.
While the unlikely quartet of creatures lie together on the cliffs, somewhere far away, something lurks in waiting. He couldn’t know what the monster wanted, only that it sought their blood and had not been found thus far. But here, Pan felt far away from all that had come to pass, lost to the whimsy of Runaveig’s song as he grew brighter and more himself by the minute, eager to put it all behind him.
@Runaveig
