Well after midnight and long before dawn Talyson drifted through streets of Snowcloak, hands jammed into his pockets as he wandered. His skin was stained black where Banshee blood had splashed across it earlier that same day, and his eyes were bruised behind the Goggles he wore to see through the Halovian darkness. Work on the pyre and the gathering of bodies had trickled to a halt several hours before as darkness and cold sent most people to beds or shelters in the Palace until their homes could be rebuilt.
But Tal hadn't laid down for more than an hour before he'd risen and slipped his boots back on, sneaking out of the house he shared with his sisters. Boreal paced silently at his side, a pale wraith in the darkness who lent her presence and support to the restless human who had woken from nightmare and now walked alone through the quiet, snowy streets.
He didn't realize where his feet had brought him until the dragon bumped her head beneath his hand and leaned into his hip, turning him towards a dark house he barely recognized until he was standing on the step and looking at the door with distracted puzzlement. "It's late, girl," he murmured to her, rubbing her scaly head distractedly. "She's probably sleepin'. We can check on her tomorrow."
But he didn't turn around just yet; he leaned against the doorframe and closed his eyes, resting his fingers between Boreal's horns and simply existing between heartbeats as he watched the Shields being torn apart again and again behind closed lids.
Seeing his father's face on every one of them.
Hotaru
But Tal hadn't laid down for more than an hour before he'd risen and slipped his boots back on, sneaking out of the house he shared with his sisters. Boreal paced silently at his side, a pale wraith in the darkness who lent her presence and support to the restless human who had woken from nightmare and now walked alone through the quiet, snowy streets.
He didn't realize where his feet had brought him until the dragon bumped her head beneath his hand and leaned into his hip, turning him towards a dark house he barely recognized until he was standing on the step and looking at the door with distracted puzzlement. "It's late, girl," he murmured to her, rubbing her scaly head distractedly. "She's probably sleepin'. We can check on her tomorrow."
But he didn't turn around just yet; he leaned against the doorframe and closed his eyes, resting his fingers between Boreal's horns and simply existing between heartbeats as he watched the Shields being torn apart again and again behind closed lids.
Seeing his father's face on every one of them.
Hotaru
