The Summer Bonfire Festival (Year 20)

Sorrow had plagued every step from Serpent Plains to Starlit Plains. Haiku was gone. Gone. Never again would he smile upon her. Never again would she be able to make him smile by calling him Hero. Never again would she feel comfortable and safe in his embrace. Never.

Their time together had been spent making him as happy as she could manage. That time and happiness had an unexpected but very welcome result. Bowen was pregnant. Her svelte frame had the smallest indication of a swollen belly and it was easy enough to hide if she wanted to, but she didn't. The Carpathian was proud of her current state. Proud that Haiku would live on through her.

Bowen had buried Haiku beneath a large cherry blossom tree. It had been difficult to do it alone with the ground being frozen, but she refused to stop until he was laid to rest with his ancestors. Once she had a good cry laying on top of the grave, the caramel fae snapped a branch off of the tree and carried it all the way home with her. Bishop and Prose stuck to her side, concern in their cracking speech. She assured them that she would be okay and never stopped walking until she reached home. The scent trails leading in that direction confirmed that it was indeed time for the summer festival. Just in time.

Grave dirt still clinging to her coat and blossomless branch between her teeth, Bowen made her way to the pyre and placed her offering upon it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she prayed to whatever gods existed, asking them to take care of Haiku as they had taken care of Boogie. Then she made her way to a shadowy place where the tall grass would shroud her tears... and she cried.

"Bowen"