Book 1: Youth of Delarn

Chapter 31: Burning Bright

She heard the music first. It was low and lonely and gone by the time she reached the place where she last remembered finding Hyde. She was sure he was still alive, since she hadn't seen his body anywhere. She hoped he had gotten away from all this.

When she saw him, huddled in the corner and shaking, she knew he simply hadn't. The scent of what he imbibed was coming from him. He was racked with coughing, and seeing him made her forget the pain. She went over and gingerly sat down beside him. His clothes were grungy and water stained, and his hair had grown long and greasy. She stroked his hair softly. His coughing and shaking lessened.

"Delarn," he whimpered. "I missed you so much. I knew you would come see me. I wanted to tell you something, but I didn't know how to last time."

"What do you want to tell me? You can tell me anything now," she said. She felt sick and scared, but felt less afraid with him.

"It's about my mother. I knew you didn't have a mother, so I was scared it would make you mad. You aren't mad at me, are you?" Hyde said.

"Tell me about her," Delarn said. "I want to know."

"You know how we don't really know which woman is our mother? I found out I had met her when I was little. She told me I was old enough to take care of myself, so she didn't need me anymore. I remember that so clearly now. You know how when you make enough mistakes you just know these things? I know it was her, and she just left me here. She didn't want me," he whimpered. He grabbed her ankle and pulled himself closer. It didn't upset her because she knew there wasn't any other way. She could smell his blood, and she was choking on it.

"I didn't want to die alone, Delarn. I was so scared. They warned me I would die if I kept at it, but I couldn't stop after they were gone. I'm just so scared," he cried. He couldn't stop trembling. "I'm so glad you're here. Dying isn't that bad, is it? You were always the best."

"You're going to be alright," Delarn said. She couldn't tell him she didn't feel she was the best. She couldn't tell him she wasn't sure there were gods anymore. At least not for her, but she was certain there was something waiting for him. "Maybe we'll go together," she said.

"Do you think I'll be a wolf after I die?" Hyde gasped, wiping his mouth desperately, feeling like he was drowning each time his mouth filled with blood, but too scared to let it out.

Delarn watched him, deep in thought, and then asked, "Hyde, can you keep a secret for me?"

"You're my best friend," he said. "I'll protect anything you tell me. You know you can trust me, right?"

"Of course I do," she said. She was feeling light-headed, swabbing her forehead as sweat pooled perspiration on her forehead that dripped in her eyes. She laid down beside him and turned into a wolf, and he stared before wrapping his hands in her fur. The bolt was on her other side, so she didn't move or flinch when he wrapped his arms around her. His breathing grew easier as he drifted to sleep. Then he stopped breathing.

She could feel her skin feverishly hot under her fur, but thought if she just closed her eyes and drifted to sleep with him, it would be okay. She wasn't sure she was seeing what she was seeing. Beside her laid a tiger with vivid orange fur and striking stripes. She couldn't see it well, but she could see the pattern, and it was brilliant compared to the dark grey of the wall beyond him. She whimpered but knew he was somewhere safe now, somewhere far away from this place, where no one could hurt him. She was convinced she would be too.

Her eyes closed, but snarled when she felt something gripping her maw, holding it down. She struggled and snapped to scare it off.

"Stop it," they said. "I'm trying to help you."