*Discontinued* No Longer

Maternal Care

Era Damon White**

As it neared morning, thoughts of Metus began to crop up more and more frequently, putting him on edge. Oh, what was he supposed to do? He'd never really faced an opponent he couldn't beat, not since he'd gotten his magic back.

The gardens, which had successfully calmed him for hours, had lost their appeal. Every time a shadow moved in his peripheral vision, he'd jerk around, drawing his wand rattler quick to face the imagined threat. There was never anything there. It was just him, the plants, and a soft breeze that magic stirred up.

He didn't know who he could ask for help, he was sure his mates would believe him, but they weren't as magically significant as he was, so wouldn't be able to aide him in defeating Metus. The Ineas were also people he could turn to, but they'd existed not even an entire year yet.

Who was there left? It wasn't like he had all-powerful allies to turn to-

Oh. Damn. He really was dense. 

His parents, either the Five or the Thestral Queen might be able to help him. He wasn't entirely sure how to get in contact with Death, Magic, Knowledge, Nature or Time, and technically, he still hadn't met Dax yet, who was Nature, though he believed they were more likely to be able to help him. After all, they were extremely powerful, and even longer lived than the White Queen.

With a quick twist of magic, Era sent himself to Elzabir. The ground that was white as bone, trees that seemed to be made of pure silver, the blood red of the leaves, and the thick blue fog that gathered just above the ground, making it hard to see great distances.

|Child| the Queen said fondly upon seeing him, rubbing the dull top of her razor sharp beak against his shoulder.

|Mother| was his response, going in to wrap his arms around her neck, |I'm sorry for not visiting more often. I promise I will be coming to see you more.|

|I'm just glad to see you safe, Era. I felt your death, and I was heartbroken. You should have come to see me right away| she reprimanded sternly, a ghost of the worry she'd felt still present in her voice, |Even though I could still feel your soul, I feared you'd been taken by Death, and I would never see you again.|

Era was horrified. How had he not immediately thought of his mother after his body had died? He couldn't imagine the state he'd be in had he felt Draco die. If that had happened, he'd've likely destroyed half the world trying to bring him back.

|I'm so, so, so, sorry. I swear, I never meant to put you through that.|

|It's alright, little one. Though I'd like you to visit Audien as well. When I told him what had befallen you, he was very aggrieved. He liked you a great deal, though you only met once.|

Though it seemed to have been a forever and a half ago that Era had met the dark phoenix, he could distinctly recall their encounter. He still owed the phoenix a favor, and although he hadn't been able to put it together at the time, he realized something now.

|Mother| he said, rather mischievously |Will I be receiving another father?|

She turned her beautiful head away from him, and said in a lofty tone of voice |I really have no idea what you're on about.|

Era smiled and allowed the matter to rest. If she didn't wish to confide in him on such matters, that was okay, and if she was in denial, it would be more amusing to be an observer anyway. Perhaps he'd let the subject rest, but that didn't mean he wouldn't meddle.

He touched his wand and said |Audien|, surprised to find the dark phoenix appear instantaneously.

Just as the last time they'd met, Audien was seven feet from the top of his head to the tip of his tail, and his feathers appeared to be made of wispy shadows. He looked, Era supposed, somewhat like his own familiars, although beneath the smoky feathers he was distinctly solid. His eyes were shiny black opals in his face, with his beak a dark gray to match his taloned feet.