The Rise of Venus

Pride Speaks His Truth

Song: Narnia Lullaby (loop) by Age of Chronicles Music Productions

"So, where are we?" Now that I had time to gather my wits, I had the funny feeling there was something familiar about the room we were in. The color scheme was dark with hues of deep blue and a cloudy grey. Even darker were the wooden furniture lining the walls.

There was something tugging at my gut saying that this arrangement wasn't right. Somehow, it felt like this place was supposed to be brighter. Like diaphanous curtains and mismatched bedding...

"It's a remake of the cottage," Leo said. Following my eyes towards the bed that darkly mirrored ours, he approved my wandering eyes with a nod. "Fergus grew up there too. He recreated the cottage when he created Thunder Forest."

"You created Thunder Forest? All of the weird stuff, the river and the sky, that's you?" I asked in disbelief.

From where he sat Fergus nodded. Loose from the braid, his long red hair curtained his face. He still wore his damp maroon clothes so I knew I couldn't have been out for long. That was a relief.

There was just one more thing I needed to check on.

Where are you?

I waited with baited breath as nothing but silence greeted me.

Pride?!

I'm outside with Flora.

I just, I need a minute.

Why?

What happened
while I was out?

Nothing really.

He healed everyone.

But?

I feel weird around him.

Pride pulled back at first, resisting our shared bond. Wavering between our shared link and mentally leaving, Pride begrudgingly chose the former. His rising walls fell as he allowed the conversation to carry on.

When he looks at me,
he doesn't really see me.

It's like he's seeing what
could've been his son and...

It makes me feel sick.

I feel like I'm hurting him
even more by being here.

That's not your fault.

I know.

I just need time out
here for a while.

You and Leo can handle
talking to him, right?

Of course.

Where are Sky and Reign?

Sleeping.

The river really took
a toll on them.

I knew the feeling.

Severing our connection, I squeezed Leo's hand and led him over to the vanity. Unlike ours, it wasn't littered with my various colored scrunchies or Leo's art supplies. This one was barren and cold with nothing but slick darkness resting on top of the mahogany wood.