The Kindreds, Volume 1

The Twentieth, Pt. 4

The filly hadn't been at the camp when she and Dedrei had returned, but seeing her now erased almost all of the sorrow from Sada's chest and throat. Something tickled in the shared space of their minds, and Sada reached out a hand to Sarana in a silent invitation. The caelicorn pressed her muzzle against her fingers and her instincts flared as their connection came to life, made strong enough for communication through touch.

Something doth trouble thee, Sarana stated.

I'm well enough, Sada said, but she felt the caelicorn's disbelief of the words in her own body, and realized Sarana could probably sense better than anyone that something truly was wrong. I was remembering my friend, she relented.

Understanding washed over her, followed by a sense of curiosity.

Reveal it unto me, Sarana said, and Sada frowned.

How?

Picture thine companion, and I shall see.

So Sada closed her eyes and let the image of Jezebel's face clarify in her mind, the way her brows always seemed to be scrunched together in concern, then the wild smiles that would grace her face to erase them. She saw her pinecone eyes and dark hair. She tried to focus on the good memories, like their younger days when Mr. Pérez taught them together. Or when Jezebel would make the journey up to the manor and they would spend the day feeding the horses, playing with the barn cats, and begging the cooks to make them tarts. But she found her mind returning to their last encounter, of Jezebel storming out of the shop knocking over stacks of papers and bundles of herbs in her wake. She felt the sorrow and confusion creep back into her throat.

The guilt.

Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the feelings were gone. A sense of calm and acceptance filled her chest and enveloped her mind. Sada's eyes flew open to meet Sarana's as the caelicorn sent her those feelings of tranquility.

I see, Sarana said into her mind. Then, thou desire not to hear this, but it was Jezebel who hath wrought ill. She is envious, yet thou will not suffer thyself to accept this truth. Thou art virtuous, yet blind, and until thou dost open thine eyes to see the flaws of others, thou shalt continue to bear them upon thyself and be harmed by them.

Sada felt her protest growing in her mind and on her lips alike, but then the caelicorn was lifting her muzzle from her hand, and the space between their minds grew vacant again.

"Sada," Dedrei said, her voice flat.

"Yes?" Sada sat up quickly, something like embarrassment warming her cheeks. She felt almost as though she'd been caught stealing an extra pastry, though she could not think why. It was not wrong to speak to Sarana, and it was no secret that she could.

Dedrei flicked her eyes between Sada and Sarana. "I have been calling you."

"My apologies, I did not hear you. I was—"

"You were communicating with the caelicorn," Dedrei said stiffly. "There is no use in denying it. But do try to listen with both your ears as well as your mind. If you allow yourself to be so entranced when speaking with her, you leave yourself exposed to the dangers of the real world."

The heat intensified in Sada's cheeks, but the Druid didn't comment on her conversation with Sarana any further, just tossed her a square, pink fruit.

"Eat."

Sada made to catch the fruit but missed, and it rolled to her feet. She picked up the strangely shaped fruit, a diceberry as Dedrei had called it, and eyed it before tossing it back to the Druid. A claw extended from one of her hands and pierced the fruit mid-air. Dedrei raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.