Moongrace

Part 49

The rain started falling again. The small raindrops making the nature vibrate in a special rhythm.
"Eleeza, little one", Esalaa started and took her hand. Eleeza pressed it in comfort: "As much as I would love to get to know them, I don't think this is the right moment for it. They will be frightened none the less – it will be hard enough for them to accept that you are not human. If the four of us stand there as well, it will get awkward. What will we talk about? The only common thing is you, and we won't talk about you while you are present. And then there is the language barrier. I promise we'll visit you soon – you and Evan if that is your wish."

A tear escaped Eleeza's eye, but she understood. Of course, they were all very reasonable. Except for Erno, she thought with a frown. But she wished to have more time with them, to get to know them and to learn what it meant to be from Alarana. Yet she had to be strong now and not cry like a baby:

"You are right. I just don't want to tell you goodbye already. I have only just met you...", she only whispered the last words. So much to being strong, she scolded herself tiredly.

Her sister pulled her into a tight hug and whispered something in words only audible for her: "I love you, little sister. I'll come as soon as possible, and we'll spend a full day together just like sisters do."

Eleeza nodded, happy and sad at the same time. When Esalaa let go, she was immediately pulled into another hug, this time it felt much softer though. By the scent it was neither Ellob nor Erno.

"Sanaani?"

"However you guessed that. I am happy to have met you again. I wish you all the best – I am not sure if we'll meet again. But I'll tell the animals of this forest to have a watchful eye on you. In case something like kidnapping happens again, they'll protect you."

"Thank you!", Eleeza answered grateful. It was overwhelming, that it was possible for Sanaani to make such a gift. She had to ask Esalaa one day who Sanaani really was to her family and why she had accompanied Esalaa on this mission.

Sanaani let go of her and her shoulder was touched by another one. She could smell Erno and almost took a step back. As Sanaani walked further away, he got hold of her hand. Eleeza was glad, that he didn't try to embrace her. She would have pushed him away again, she simply wasn't ready for it as of now. Her fear of him and anger in addition were still to present.

"I'm sorry, that there are so many bad things between us." He started in a hushed tone: "I assure you, that I only ever want your best. Even back in Alarana before this dreadful day. Maybe you'll believe me one day. I am sorry if I frightened you earlier... I was just so worried and yet glad to have met you again after that long time! It's actually very hard for me to say good-bye. I really wish you a better future and that you'll be safe. Please do take care whom to trust!" He sounded quite emotional.

But then he surprised her by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Feeling uncomfortable by it, she stayed unmoving and kept a bland face. She heard him step back. There was some smacking and a whisper: "You just had to do that, right? Fool!" Erno's words were clearly not meant for her to hear, but it made her grin a little bit.

Steps neared her quickly and she prepared for another hug. But instead she was suddenly picked up: "Ellob!", she cried out complainingly as she smelled his cologne, while laughing at the same time: "Don't scare me like that!"

He simply laughed at that: "Don't think I will pamper you, just because you cannot see me! It is my advantage to repay you for all those pranks you played on me in the past."

And with that he whirled her around until she had problems telling up and down. Eleeza couldn't tell just when they left the ground, but suddenly he threw her in the air and there was no floor reachable. She cried out in fright, spreading her wings to catch the fall. Moments later though Ellob caught her. She giggled relieved and punched in the direction of his chest. She hit him pretty well and was glad, that she hadn't missed him and by that embarrassed herself.

"Ouch – you naughty girl! A lady doesn't punch, especially not her own brother!"

She enjoyed his laughter and could even hear the other down below join in.

A tear found the way in her eyes again. She would miss her brother so much! Especially how he cared about her on one side yet didn't tiptoe around her because of her blindness. She hadn't received any signal of pity from him regarding it. She swallowed hard. Would she ever meet him again?

"Can I maybe touch you face? I might be able picture you then – or it stirs a memory of you. I would love to know how you resemble me." She asked him quietly.

"Sure!", he answered right away, not giving away how he felt about it: "But don't stick your finger in my nose. You got to promise me that!"

She giggled and nodded. She moved so she had more elbowroom while Ellob flew steadily in the air. Then she let her hands slide up his shoulders. They were very broad and had lots of muscles. His skin was soft as she felt alongside is neck. His features were clear and quite proportional. A straight nose, high cheekbones and a high forehead. He was well shaven, for she couldn't feel any beard. She traced a scar right below his hair line, before she let her fingers slip down over his face one last time. Below his eyes she found a tear. She gulped a little overwhelmed by her own feelings of loss and sadness. Then she softly wiped it away, not commenting on it and hugged him tightly.

"I will miss you, big brother! Though there is no memory of you, my heart clearly tells me that you once meant a lot to me. Promise, that we'll meet one day!"

Her pretty voice broke and another tear dropped onto his shirt.

He cradled her tightly in his strong arms and whispered in her hair: "I will miss you, too. And please know: You are no bad person, nor have you ever been a criminal. You are good at heart and simply made a huge mistake in front of the wrong people. Take this as a new start for your life. And please enjoy your time here!"

Maybe he had known it, maybe he had just felt that these words relieved Eleeza a lot. That it lifted a fear from her that had lingered in her thoughts ever since she set foot on this world.

Ellob flew down and gently put Eleeza back on the ground.

"Thank you!", Eleeza finally said sincerely. Then she let go from him and hid another tear that threatened to leave her eyes.

She cleared her throat and tried to focus on the situation and what lay ahead: "Evan?", she asked, and his steps neared her until he had an arm around her.

"Evan, Cathryn has no home to return to. She got a very good friend of mine... If she still wants to, do you think she could stay with us? We'll have to talk to your father obviously. But without her I wouldn't be here now, and I want to repay her."

Evan gave her an affectionate kiss on the head and she leaned onto him. "I guess there should be no problem. We'll have to arrange a bit to have another bed. But if it's your wish then I'll help you to convince my father."

Eleeza smiled delighted and called out to Cathryn. The many heartbeats around her confused her a bit to tell the whereabouts of her friend.

"Cathryn? What do you want to do?", she assumed that Cathryn had heard her exchange with Evan.

"If it's really okay, I'll come with you." She stepped forward and Eleeza wondered what her friend wanted to do with that. She then heard to hands shaking: "Hi Evan, nice to meet you."

"My pleasure. I guess I owe you for bringing Eleeza back to me."