The festivals had taken a toll on Pan. For days, he’d spent his time in the Night Court, enjoying the revelry and taking in the sights. He’d danced with beautiful girls, touched exotic silks, tossed dice with pirates, and eaten so much that he could barely move. Long into the nights, he’d celebrated with the citizens of Novus, sleeping long into the morning so he could reset to begin it all again the next evening. It was a welcome thing, after being locked away on the island for the past many moons. The boy loved the company, the liveliness, and the spirit of the celebration, even if it did wear him out.
He napped in the dappled sunlight, uncaring of who saw him sprawled in an ungainly manner in the grass. His green eyes are closed, his mouth still formed into a smile, and his scaled belly blinks and twinkles in the sunlight, greeting the world. It could be strange, seeing a horse sleeping on its back – but then, Pan had never been conventional. A small otter naps beside him, curled neatly into a ball of warm russet fur. Not far beyond the furry creature is Pan’s satchel, slung carelessly over a rock, heavy with Pan’s treasures (junk by any other name).
The boy made an interesting picture for the stranger to stumble upon, only taking heed of the approaching stallion when his shadow blotted out the sun. With a yawn, Pan blinks up at Michael, slowly making out his form against the halo of sunlight which surrounds him, offering a sleepy boyish grin. What time is it? he asks hazily, yawning as he rolls to his feet, shuffling off the last remnants of sleep as he sluggishly makes his way toward the satchel. Rummaging through it, he draws out an apple pastry, nibbling on the crust while fishing out a second one for his friend. Want some? He offers it with a friendly smile, nothing but naïve trust in his mannerisms.
Such was the way of the lost boy and his trusty otter companion – too foolish for self preservation – too unquestioning. It was good that Michael is the one who approached him, and not one of a more nefarious nature – though even then, Pan would have found the good. He always finds the good.
Did you come from the party? Nevermind that it was morning now, and the celebration wouldn’t begin again until dusk. As far as the boy was concerned, the gathering never really ended. He was eager to take every bit of it, banishing away his loneliness with every stranger he meets.
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