The Lost Kingdom

Chapter 17 - Home

Sorrow is all that ever hung around Ellamenta anymore it seemed. Especially with the recent death of Prince Erick. So many others had lost their family, just like Fox had, yet here she was, after falling apart twice, still unable to push the feeling that she'd had the moment she'd been told that he was gone.

She sighed and stood up on the branch she sat on in a tree by the beach. The beach always felt like home to her, despite to way it reflected Malifimus' magic. Fox was able to easily overcome the damage Malifimus had done to the beach by being blind, and the crashing waves sounded almost identical to those at home on Dolphin Island. It seemed like Fox hadn't been back to Dolphin Island forever, although she knew she hadn't been on Ellamenta for that long.

"Ugh!" Fox grumbled. "I'm so done with myself. All I've been doing the past days is throwing temper tantrums and pity parties, and I'm starting to even annoy myself!"

Thunder rumbled in the distance, indicating another storm. Fox could already feel the breeze against her skin.

"Azeria!" Swan yelled, and Fox could tell he was beneath the tree. She jumped down and landed in a crouch, leaning her head at the grass. She slowly stood and lifted it, trying to picture the Pulcharian leader in her head. 

"How did you not jump on my blasted head? Anyway, we'll be going back to Dolphin Island for a while. For a... Rest. To tell people of those they've lost..." Swan trailed off at this sentence, and Fox shook her head, sighing.

"You don't have to treat me like I'm gonna shatter, you know? I know I've felt like I have before, but I haven't really. Because if I had I wouldn't be here right now." Fox told him, closing her eyes for a few seconds and then reopening them.

"Alright. Sorry. I thought I'd tell you," Swan replied. "We leave in a few minutes."

Fox nodded at him. "Thanks." she said, and she turned toward the beach.

"And Azeria, I'm sorry. For everything." Swan said, and Fox could tell he wasn't looking at her, but could hear that he meant it.

Fox sighed, not knowing what to say. She could hear him walking away, and soon his footsteps faded.

Turning, Fox began to head the way Swan had left, back toward the camp. She didn't want to miss the trip back to Dolphin Island.

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When her feet hit the sand, it didn't even feel familiar. It just felt like sand, soft beneath her bare feet. It felt so foreign. Like it was part of some dream that she had long forgotten.

No Pulcharians that walked by came to greet her, and if it looked like they had been smiling at her, it was usually someone behind her. Someone who didn't loose anyone except those who they'd left behind for war, and who were happy to be able to be home for a while.

Fox found herself slumping through the Pulcharians in town square toward the Far East of town where Sark lived. He probably didn't know she had returned home, and was only hoping she was with Cayden, on Ellamenta or locked in battle, back to back.

The sun beat down on her back, although it's warmth didn't bring her any joy. Neither did the sound of seagulls and the swishing leaves of palm trees or the enchanted forests.

Fox could remember the days Cayden and her had walked through town, just laughing and talking. Sure, no one seemed to like them doing so, but that never really stopped them from wandering about as if nothing was wrong. And for the most part, as long as the two were together, nothing was wrong.

Now, walking through town made Fox feel horrible. Grief loomed over her like a rain cloud, threatening to let drops come crashing down.

Fox could smell the fire in the air from chimneys as she approached Sark's house, taking the path she knew so well. Past the bakery, which was closed now due to the baker having lost a warrior in war, around the fountain of a strong buck, over the babbling brook with the pebbly banks.

Soon Fox was standing at Sark's door, the wood rough against her fingers. She could hear him moving about inside, probably cooking himself dinner. Taking a deep breath, Fox opened the door.

Immediately all the noises stopped, and Fox turned her head to the left in shame. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She felt Sark's gaze boring into her. 

"He's gone, isn't he?" Sark's deep voice made Fox feel even guiltier, like she could be crushed beneath the weight of the sky.

Fox only nodded, took in a sharp breath, and began sobbing. "I'm so sorry, " she cried. "I'm so so sorry, Sark, I... I'm sorry."

She could hear his footsteps grow close to her, and before she knew it, his arms were wrapped around her and her knees gave in. Her tears began to seep into his shirt, be he didn't seem to care. He hugged her tightly, like of he let go he could loose her too.

Fox wanted to say how sorry she was, but she couldn't stop her sobs to say another word, and even if she could speak she had no idea how she'd put her apology into words. She couldn't comprehend why he was clinging to her like this, silently crying with her. He should hate her...

"Azeria, you don't have to be sorry about a thing," Sark said. "Not one thing."

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"I'll be going back tomorrow," Fox said, biting into her sandwich. "You'll let me, right? I need to fight. To prove I'm not just some blind girl who can't do a thing."

Sark sighed from across from her, where he was also eating a sandwich. "I know you do, but I don't want to loose you... Not like I lost him."

Fox took a breath and tilted her head down at her plate. "Sark, I can promise you that I won't die. I won't. You know I never break a promise."

The man shuffled. "This isn't just something you can promise, Azeria. " he said.

"Listen, I want to make Malifimus pay for what they did to Cayden." Azeria argued, laying her hands on the table and shoving herself up, pushing her chair back.

"Well, then if you're going, I'm coming too," Sark replied, and Fox could hear him take a few steps towards her. "I hear Swan is going to rally more warriors, at least fifteen hundred. Neighboring villages want part in the war."

"Okay," she said. "We'll tell Swan before we leave tomorrow. We can get the revenge together." 

Fox sounded confident in her response, but inside, she was hoping that by her being perfectly fine with him coming would make him stay. Reverse psychology.

"Alright," Sark agreed, and he fell silent. So much for the whole reverse psychology thing. On the bright side, Fox knew someone she truly cared about would be by her side.

Fox nodded, and headed up the stairs. She wanted to sit on the roof one last night, in case she didn't return. She guessed she probably would never see the night sky from Dolphin Island ever again.

When she reached the roof, she pressed her palms against the calloused surface, leaning back agains the plates of the roof. No clouds covered the sky and it looked beautiful. Earlier it had rained, but that had all cleared up. 

"Cayden, if you're up there... I miss you. And I promise I'll never forget you... Ever."