Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Elysian (chapter 3)

A/N: Seeing as it's been a while since I last provided a real update, here is chapter three of Elysian. I promise I won't be releasing the entire book this way--I'm actually working on moving everything I have so far (I'm getting close to being done!) into a separate Wattpad story, but something about moving it from the writing program I'm using into Wattpad is messing up the formatting, so it's SLOW going. I also haven't actually written the preface yet, so I haven't wanted to start 'officially' posting the book. So for now, here you go--but be on the lookout for me to start publishing Elysian in its own story soon(ish).

Since Sophie went to bed barely after sunset, she rose earlier than usual--a fact Grady was quick to point out when she came downstairs, Sandor at her heels. Grady and Edaline were sitting at the table, and Grady set down his mug of tea and raised his eyebrows when he saw her. "Hey, kiddo," he said, gesturing for her to sit at the table with them. "Did you sleep okay?"

Sophie shrugged. "I had some really weird dreams, but what else is new?" She also had a crick in her neck from sleeping on her stomach, but there was no need to bother her parents with that.

"Weird dreams sound better than nightmares," Edaline told her. "Want to talk about it?"

"It was just random stuff about Elysian. Nothing that scary, but nothing helpful, either." Sophie reached for one of the sweetberry swirls Edaline had conjured onto the table, thinking Keefe and Ro must not have been in yet or Ro would've already consumed them all.

It was with that in mind a few minutes later that Sophie carried the rest of the treats with her as she ventured outside.

Sandor walked away to patrol the grounds, but insisted that Sophie come find him if she decided to go anywhere. She found Keefe out in the pastures with Silveny nuzzling his neck and the twins prancing around him clearly trying to get his attention. Greyfell, on the other hand, looked as bored as a sparkly winged horse was capable of looking.

SOPHIE! KEEFE! FRIEND! Silveny started transmitting as soon as she saw Sophie.

Sophie greeted the alicorn mama, who seemed to eye her critically. SOPHIE OKAY? SOPHIE OKAY? SOPHIE OKAY?

I'm fine, Sophie promised her. Just a lot going on, that's all. But Silveny probed Sophie's memories from the last couple of days. The encounter with Elysian had been fresh on Sophie's mind, so it was the first thing Silveny saw. Most of it seemed beyond her understanding, though she reacted instantly to the memory of Sophie's injury.

SOPHIE HURT! SOPHIE HURT! SOPHIE HURT!

I'm okay, Sophie assured her, showing her the memory of Elwin treating the wounds.

LIKE, Silveny decided.

I like Elwin too, Sophie agreed. He's pretty much the best.

Keefe sighed and poked Sophie in the ribs. "Is this the part where I can cut in and complain about telepathic conversations? Because it's a total bummer being left out of the loop."