The Good Ol' Days

The question filtered through the fog of tears. Surreal struggled to pull herself together, straightening, blinking against the tears that still wanted to fall. ”She was old, Pip… If only she had been able to wait just a while longer… She could have been buried in her true home… But she went peacefully.” The words were spoken in a wavering voice, like a leaf on water threatening to ripple the surface. Each segment was spoken with immense care, as though if she loosened that care even a millimeter, all control would be lost.

She swallowed hard, trying to fight it all back under the lid. ”She was never quite the same after that red bitch took Valhalla. Even though Regulus, Zuriel and Faite helped some, she wasn’t as sure of herself afterwards.” Despite how hard Erani had tried to hide it, Surreal had known her mother better than anyone else left, and had known the guilt that hung in her mothers heart. Guilt that she hadn’t been able to ward off the danger that had scattered a happy pack, some of whom had children who’d needed stability in their early lives.

“She told me to find you, Chrys, and anyone else of the family I could. To tell you all that she loved you all, and would see you in your dreams someday.” Had Erani hammered the Old Tongue into Pip, Chrysanthe, Syrinx and Eos’ heads as thoroughly as she had with Surreal and her siblings? Surreal faced her adoptive sister. ”She said to say this.” Surreal paused, before speaking the words. "Níl mé imithe go deo. Féach taobh istigh le do hearts. Má grá agat dom an oiread agus is grá agam ort, gheobhaidh tú dom ansin. Ná déan dearmad ar do aisling, leanaí. Éist, agus cuimhneamh orthu. Ná chailleann dóchas, a shealbhú ar do spriocanna. Ní bheidh an teaghlach titim, is cuma cad é thrown ag dúinn. Ní bheidh muid theipeann. Is breá liom tú go léir."

Her eyes searched Pips, before she asked ”Do you need a translation, or was.. was she as diligent about teaching you the Old Tongue as she was with us?” Her control slipped before she wrenched it back, the stammer in her words choked back.