Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 94- Snow Balls!

The moment passes and me and Aegis quietly and gently adjust Dagwood to lay at Blaze's side instead of on top of him. Brother beside brother.

Exhausted as we all are, we sit around the scene in tranquility. After a few minutes Rin as usual begins a conversation, and Phoenix joins in. I hear the laughter so light and joyful, so natural and unforced; not like at school or in Society where the laughter is always so cringe-worthy and fake. This thought peels a smile on me and a seed of warm light in my heart melts the darkness electroplating it.

Again as usual I sit and watch events unfold, giggling here and there and inputting every now and again, Aegis relaxes on his knees, a very slight upward turned grin on his face, chuckling a few times as well. It lightens me to watch the energy of others, especially Rin; with her cheeks brushed pink from the soft winds of winter. The tip of her nose glows rosy too and her deep, big, melted brown eyes always sparkling with the sun and hope, her long black hair so silky down her back as it sways each time she moves.

Genesis rests her weary head in my lap, and I stroke it as I allow myself to be joyful, a true thankfulness penetrating me, and I want to scream and shout out my thankfulness for everyone surrounding me now. I want to express my feelings, even though I simply could never put it rightfully into words.

Aegis at my side, tall and sturdy, Dagwood right before me beside his other half, Blaze, both etched with complete tranquility and joy of reunion even through coma deep sleeps.

On the brothers other side Rin is placed directly across from me, Hester across from Aegis and Phoenix beside her; though Phoenix and Rin keep leaning over and around Hester, attempting to avoid making contact with her as she always slaps them away.

The conversation and words exchanged are simple and easy, light and pointless, but also meaningful in the emotions they allow at such a time. Even Genesis is clearly more at ease with this.

Birds change their tunes slightly and alter their notes as some emerge and others hide while night approaches, the sun gone, smearing the sky with fire; I can't help but think it wants to perform one last show for the day, a show of the memories and events.

Everyone glances profusely at it, but it's not hard to tell that the spark lighting in their eyes and the relaxation of muscles means they all feel it too.

"Pay attention to me when I'm lecturing you!" Rin fakes anger and scowls, sticking her tongue out at Phoenix, crinkling her face, gathering snow, and packing it, chucking it at his head. Right when it leaves her hand Phoenix turns to gaze at her and it strikes him in the face.

No one makes a sound or moves, Phoenix then whips one back in a hurry, when he is busy constructing a second, Rin tosses one at him again, this time he blocks it so fast I dare say his arm teleported. I die laughing as it continues and I smash one into Rin unexpectedly, Aegis shakes his head but smiles.

"Go fight over there away from the brothers!" He points sternly in a scolding voice, yet still with a grin.

Phoenix dashes off and Rin shoots after him.

I decide to stay and poke Genesis awake, asking her to go keep an eye on the two for us, she walks off annoyed with me and lazily dragging herself off to the snow battle.

From where I am their forms are still in and out of visibility, Genesis sitting there idly scratching an ear a few times, or laying down, getting hit with a few terribly aimed snow balls.

Me and Aegis laugh and joke a bit, but otherwise rest in a peaceful solitude, a silence that is not completely silent, a silence brought by the joy and glee sprouting about us. Night sets in comfortably and the walls of snow that have been made by its own tendency to recede and shrink from the presence of heat grow even darker in their new shades of navy blues. The snow would seem flat from certain light or angles over this plain, yet at night the waves and rolling bumps so slight become better seen and easily noticed.

Stars burst out silver overhead and colour the sky so empty and clear, some more faint and others stronger and brighter, the moon is full and so vibrant in its light you can hardly see it properly, the rainbow of night wraps around it as a bow around a present.

I shiver and Aegis lays a cloak over me, and I realize he's taken it back from Rin. Instantly I warm up as he delicately takes my hands in his own.

"Your hands are very cold, you could get frostbite." He whispers and my heart leaps loudly. I haven't felt my fingers in a long time now, just a slight tingle here and there.

"I'll survive," I state and close my eyes, breathing deeply to enjoy the freshness of this open solitude away from everything, relishing the ultimate freedom if it all.

He doesn't let go of my hands and a green softened glow emerges gradually as streaks not unlike the Aurora Borealis streak up and out from cracks in the rock but do not reach high. My hands, fingers and arms tingle with the warmth as it spreads.

Laughter's about us, freedom's giving us wings, a chill winter breeze so patient and quiet, passing but leaving no mark, the night birds singing long and fragile, stars glittering above in joy, Earth's power thawing my body through a trusted friend so kindly, the sense of security and safety, knowing that everyone is now okay.

How long it's been since we've been able to have a night of peace, and a night left without a single fear or worry, a night where we all know we will survive to watch the sunrise push away the glorious moon.