Looking for the Daylight

Coming out of a deep, restful sleep is difficult for the young Andromeda and, for a moment, her sister’s blurred coat reminds her of their mother, Zee. Paws scrub at her eyes as she tries to rid them of the crusty pieces that try to glue her eyelids closed and she finally gets a good look at her. The hope that has been building in her groggy mind is quickly dashed as reality crashes down around her ears, reminding the pup that her mother is still gone. Lost in her grief for a moment, the lavender girl looks to her sibling, sorrow tugging at her features. Briar seems apologetic, her ears flicking backward as she looks down at her.

Suddenly, a rush of understanding hits the pup square between her eyes and the sudden need to reassure her sister slams into her chest. Softly, lovingly, Andy says, “You’re beautiful sis. And you look so much mom… which isn’t a bad thing. I just… I miss her. Ya know?” Sadness pulls at the corners of her eyes as her shoulders slump slightly, her pale blue eyes drift downward as a sigh rolls past her lips. Briar sits beside her and wraps one of her slender forelegs around her shoulders which has Andy melting gently into her older sister’s side. Her gaze raises as Briar softly squeezes her shoulders and the smaller girl meets her sister gaze.

Andy listens to every word, hanging on them with the pure, untainted hope that only children seem to have while she processes them with the understanding of an adult. A sad smile slowly appears and she nods but a sigh mars it by breaking past her lavender lips. Giving her head a gentle shake, Andy softly says, “I’m trying to enjoy the time I have sis… with you and your family. But dad makes it… difficult to do. He is so angry at mom and I don’t understand why. I mean, I felt it too but I didn’t lash out or ignore others. He just…” a small shrug of her shoulders is offered as her gaze diverts down to her paws, her next words even softer, “It feels like I lost them both.”

If anyone can understand, it is Briar and that is why Andy shares with her. Small body presses further into her sister’s side and she buries the side of her face into the fur there. Inhaling her sister’s scent, she attaches the knowledge that she is safe and understanding to it before mentally filing the information away. Eyes drift closed as she remains there for a while, allowing an easy silence to settle over them. Suddenly, her voice breaks the peaceful air and, not moving or opening her eyes, she simply states, “I want to stay here, with you Briar. I… I don’t want to go back to the Armada.”

Truthfully, the pup fears that, when they leave, she will be lost in the shuffle and that her already emotionally unavailable father will bury the children in work and study in an attempt to distance himself from them. Briar may understand that but, for now, Andy does not voice all of her fears aloud.


"Andromeda Fatalis"