The Anima [completed]

21.

21.

After the comforting conversation with the Gryphon, I began to relax into the knowledge I had been given by the Golden eyed woman. Drifting outside and falling into the Gryphons soft chest, we spent the next hour in each other's minds, rolling through the words spoken by The Anima and the memories that went with it. Together, we decided she had no reason to spill lies, and certainly seemed to have evidence to back up her theories. 

"It's not a theory." Beast spoke quietly, "We both know how powerful you are becoming. And I don't think the Prince would want to fear you unless he legitimately thought of you as a threat, as a shadow. Otherwise he would be a coward for no reason." He snorted internally and pressed his big head upon my shoulder.

I slipped my fingers into the feathers on his neck, comforted by the close feeling of his strong soul upon mine. Just as The Anima had explained, it truly felt like we were a possession of one another. He was mine: my Gryphon, my Beast. Id say it might have felt a little like what a dog owner may feel, but it was much stronger than that. He was his own creature, I was my own person, but we would only protect one another if a fight broke out amongst a crowd. Maybe even before thinking of myself, I would have protected him from danger. It made me feel a little more Fae, even though I knew I was still human, just gifted with another's powers. I wondered if this is what all Fae felt towards their possessions, the parts of themselves that held a piece of their soul.

"I still need to go home. This is a whole lot to process, and I know it's important I don't abandon this, but I need to know they're okay."

"I know. I will speak to Alvar now."

He ruffled his feathers and began to stand, pushing me back slightly. I was relieved and thankful, giving him a nod and stepping aside so he could walk to the house and call upon Alvar.

I drifted through the woods next to the house, staring up at the night sky. I didn't stray far, but far enough to be out of eye and earshot. The sky was a deep blue, not yet black, and huge stars illuminated the treetops, some as big as golf balls. The stars remained in the similar constellations; only each star was larger, like they were so much closer to the earth. They very well may have been; I still didn't know where exactly the First Plane laid on the earth or in the galaxy.

A figure appeared at the tree line, startling me slightly. The Prince had returned from the walk he had demanded to take as our conversation with The Anima finished a few hours before. I lifted my chin and smiled my greeting out of habit before I realised I was still angry at his behaviour. My lips quickly shot down into a frown and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. He approached slowly, cautiously, but there was something on his mind that drove him forwards. He did not slow until he was a foot away from me and began shifting between his feet, nervous.

Before I could raise a brow and enquire into his behaviour, he dropped to his knee and stared up at me through his snow-white hair.

"I offer to you this gift. Please accept it to override my poor behaviour." He held something up to me; a cloth.

I smiled lopsidedly and waited for him to start laughing, or jinx me, or even cast a glamour, but he did not. He only held the cloth out to me, waiting for my approval. I cautiously took the fabric from his hands and fingered its contents. There was something small and round inside.

My lips parted in surprize as I extracted the teardrop necklace from the market. The beautiful blue stone shone brightly even under the darkness, a tiny orb of sunshine and magnificence. The little I had learned fro Fae culture helped my response.

"I accept this gift. You are kind." I said softly, still awed by its beautiful and singularity.

He bowed his head and stood before me, staring down at the expensive gem in my hand. I had forgiven his behaviour with the gift, but had not forgotten his actions. But knowing now what exactly fuelled them I spoke out again.