An Eye of Fire and Flame

Rudyard hadn’t heard of ghosts walking around for everyone to see as they had done last year so if they were back then none of them were showing themselves.  Well, it's possible Rudyard and Fern just hadn’t heard of it but the two had spent the season roaming with no sights nor stories of it.  There was a feast and no one had mentioned seeing a ghost.   Not seeing didn’t mean they weren’t there.

There was no other explanation Rudyard could come up with for what was happening.  Really, it was pretty simple.  If all other options were out it had to be a ghost.   That it was mom was still a guess but she had more reason than most to come here. Rudy’s eyes shifted down as something caught his attention.  A glimmering wet spot on the floor, then another fell down above it.  This was no evil spirit for sure.

The flames danced, dying down and almost fading but then coming back to life, stubborn and coming back to like.  Like a Carpathius.  Rudy grinned at his own inner comparison.  Hey, it sounded good and appropriate in front of the ghost of his mom.  Rudy couldn’t prove it but he’d always followed instincts, trusting what his heart knew even if nothing else could prove it.

The ashes were moving, Rudy watched with keen focus and curiosity about what would come.  A pawprint appeared on it, a print of the right size.  Some memories can’t be forgotten and a little thing such as the size of a paw mark was one of those. Rudy’s grin grew in confidence.  “I don’t believe you knew but, Fern is Meadow’s daughter.  Anyway, Mom, I’d love you to stay here and spend time with us but we’re ok.  If you want to go rest or, whatever normally happens after death, we’re ok.  Just, rest in the knowledge we love you and you helped us grow up to who we are.”

Mom wasn’t the sort to want her kids needing her.  He’d share the fact he loved her but also she didn’t need to worry about them.  They could care for themselves and continue the Carpathius bloodline.  Let mom really rest in peace.

"Rudyard"