To Be Or Not To Be

Her name in his mouth was unusual. It sounded as if he... wasn't happy to see her. Or as if he had seen a ghost. She feels emotions well up in her as well as they stand there, staring at each other. A harsh silence falls over them as her name dies from his lips. The only sound she can hear is the thump of her heart and the swish of fish flicking at the surface of the pool. Almost unable to breathe, Delphi doesn't move. If she did, would he disappear? For a moment, she had believed her other siblings to be dead. Dead along with Celeste and Cyanide. Were she, Maki, and Unagi truly the only ones left?

Maybe if she opens her mouth, he'll stay. Become permanent and want to come home. Her lips part, moving to speak, but her eyes watch him take a few steps back. "Wait," she whispers, water welling up in her eyes, blurring her vision as he turns and begins to run away. "Wait!" Delphi shouts, her body careening around the pool, paws picking up speed over the frosty ground, trying to catch up to him. "I-Hotate!" She's breathless already, her heart in her throat, lungs flexing to try and suck in air. All she can do is keep running after him.