The Shadows of Nature

3. Precious

Iris walked with Jack hand-in-hand, their movements slow and smooth. The young girl stared at her father fondly as he caught her up with all that happened around the headquarters, as he often did now.

Progress. Sometimes slow, sometimes nearly visible, sometimes big, sometimes at a pause, but always a factor because everyone was moving ahead in time. 

It could go backwards too. Hopefully that wouldn't happen anymore. 

Iris listened to each word intently, doing her best to grasp the essence he tried to convey. Nothing he said could ever be trivial, even if it was something she couldn't understand, or if she didn't understand its importance, or if she didn't see his perspective.

He was important. His time was important to her, so very much. It was that simple.

The hand that Jack held felt like his treasure, as if nothing was mattered more than that. He often wished to spend all the time he had left with the little one, even when other tasks required his attention. He didn't mind doing them - they were important, after all - and it was as if he could get most of them done better in her presence. As if her aura made him better. Made him want to do something rather than remaining idle.

So silent and reassuring. All will be well.

Jack found himself focusing on the presence of Nature often and that experience was always heightened when Iris was by his side. Listening to see how Earth reacted to the activities of the shadows.

And also listening for her, whatever can be heard. What I wouldn't do for another moment with her...

Perhaps he was too attached.

The two finally came to a stop when they reached Ava, her warm smile enough for them to let go of their worries for the moment. 

"How are the two of you feeling?" Ava asked with her usual sweetness as she picked up Iris in her arms. The girl appeared to be delighted by that simple action, and the emotion spread to the other two.

Iris and Jack reacted positively, chatting away aimlessly about the pretty day. Perhaps a question or two about work that had to be done between the moments of silence, when the three of them simply enjoyed each others' company.

Together. If only we could be like this all the time.

Audrey and Galen watched the three from afar, the latter smiling while the former remained deep in thought. 

So precious. There is much to be done to protect them, isn't there? I care about them, they care about others, and it goes on... everything is "connected", in some sense. 

"I have to get going, now," Audrey whispered to Galen as she wore her nervous smile. "I hope I'll do no part wrong."

Galen rested his palm on his friend's head, rubbing it slowly and softly. "Be yourself and all will be fine. I don't think you realise how impressive you are."

Audrey looked away as she giggled, the odd numbness in her head subsiding for the moment.

"Besides, if you are worried, it's a sign you care. I know for a fact that when you truly care about something, you do your best to make sure it goes well."

Audrey pursed her lips and gave a small smile.

I suppose I care, but what if it's only the bare minimum? Even if I care enough, what if what I do isn't enough? Whatever can I do? Bound by some rules of nature, bound by my abilities. 

Am I running out of time? Are we running out of time to fix our world? No one is born an empty slate because everything is influenced by the past. So what if we do fix this world? For the living things, their purpose is living. Their purpose is defined by their principles. Sometimes they cannot find their purpose. What about us? Do we have a purpose? I suppose there are some things everyone cares about, but how much do they matter?

We cannot get everything that we want. 

The shadow stared at her hands. Fading, slowly disappearing from this world. A form for some sort of convenience, aiding her to do all her work. Untouched by that wonderful instrument for so, so long. She wondered what her friends thought about that. What Aurelia thought about that. What the ones who she'd lost would think about who she's become.

She didn't know what to think.

Audrey looked at her dear friends. No one was sure about anything, but they were all doing something. They were making use of their time do what they wanted to do, or felt like they needed to. 

I'm thinking about the wrong things. I don't think whatever has to happen will happen. I have to make it happen. Maybe the way things should be isn't a decision any of us have to make, maybe that really is set in stone. But I have to make it happen.

Audrey smiled at the young, smiling girl as Ava swung her in her gentle embrace. Iris waved her hand upon making eye-contact, and Audrey began walking towards her. 

Why do Shadow Beings look like the shadows they came from?

After the three came close enough, Iris stretched her hand to be able to play with Audrey's hair, giggling upon touching it.

"When will you return?"

Audrey smiled, her light breathing pausing before she answered.

"I am not sure, especially since there is no telling how time will pass in different places." 

A flicker of disappointment possibly flashed through Iris's eyes, but it did not stay.

"Good luck!" she said simply. It was one of the rare occasions of energy that Audrey saw in the shadow's speech. Iris poked Audrey's cheek before she pulled back, a sincere smile remaining.

And aura of goodwill.

"Do come as soon as possible, but take it easy," Galen whispered to his friend. Audrey forgot to react for a moment, nodding when she came to.

Perhaps the thought of having to leave them all one day was sad enough to make Audrey want to do well.

Audrey nodded with a smile.