In Return

She was no longer bound to her sorrow. Archon’s missing presence still pained her daily, but the Empress was recovering her control over her emotions. She didn’t cry the moment she spoke about him, progress was being made. Life was continuing on. She hadn’t been sure it was going to, the pain was intense and her nightmares had yet to abate. Zee had been her saving grace, the woman had help true to her word, and Belle hadn’t been to sleep without her since the night she sought her out. Having a warm pair of arms to hold her to sleep made the night terrors subside. Deathbelle was recovering.

She finished a patrol and made her way somewhere safe to nap, the sky was still filled with ash and smoke. A constant reminder of the moment her whole world came crashing around her. She thought more than once of Obi, and his effort to remove her from the volcano. She might have been consumed as well if he hadn’t been there to drag her away. She lay her head on her paws and prayed the nightmares wouldn’t take her as she tried to rest.