The calmness of the forest was where he found peace. Air whistled through the trees as the creatures watched the pale blonde male. With legs crossed, he sat next to the small river.
Opening his dark blue eyes, he stood up and picked up his lunch. As he turned around, he began walking back to the cottage. Saying his farewells to his creature friends. Along the path that he himself created by walking it for 15 years, he picked fruit from the bushes.
Through the biggest trees on the forest lines, he caught eye on the cottage his father built. He walked through the Seabring tree door and went to his small room. He set the lunch on his night stand and jumped into the bed. His eyes were closed for what seemed only minutes, but when he woke, the two suns in the sky were begining to fall behind the tree tops.
He got up and changed his clothes, setting them on the top of his dresser. Walking out of his room to the eating area, his mother turned to him.
"Good afternoon, sweetheart." she said with a smile.
"Yeah, afternoon mother." he looked around the abnormally quiet house. "Where is everyone?" he asked as he sat in one of the table chairs.
She looked out the window. "They're out with your father still. He will be leaving in a couple days to do his research again. Apparently he is convinced there is a way to share your power."
"I'm guessing he read something else in an old book again." he shook his head and poured some water into a cup. "Maybe I'll go out and do something with my own life when he's gone."
The dish his mother was washing fell out of her hand and bounced off the floor. "You know, Doren," she knelt down and picked up the dish, "I understand you don't want to stay here your whole life, but it is the safest place for you." she put it on the counter and turned back to him. "But no matter what, I will always be right here for you." She went over to him and kissed his cheek. "My gifted young man."
Sophron then walked through the door, followed by Doren's six siblings. "Jeslyn, put on some coffee. I'll be leaving in a couple of hours." he walked past Doren at the table. Just a seconds glance was all he made at his third oldest son. The rest of the siblings filed into the chairs around the table.
"What are we going to do with him gone?" one of his brothers asked.
"Ah who cares. he's a spiteful old man anyways." another brother responded.
"But what if something happens to us? Or daddy?" his youngest sister stated.
"Well as long as we have Mr. Messiah we should be all hunky dory." his oldest brother poked fun at him.
"Yeah until I leave." Doren stated. He got up and put his glass down. He began to walk back to his room when his father blocked his way.
"You will not leave, boy. You're of far too much value to my research to just have you trot around." his father said coldly. The house grew silent.
"So I'm just an experiment?" Doren growled, clenching his fists. "I never asked to be like this. I never asked to be treated like I'm special. I don't even want to be alive half the time. And you're telling me to stay like the 'good boy' I am?" he pushed past his father and went into his room. "When you get back from your little outing, I won't be here. Count on that!" he yelled, slamming the heavy door to his room.
"Bratty boy." he turned to the quiet, awestruck family. "I guess now is as good of a time to take my leave as any." he put the bag he was holding onto his shoulders. "Who knows when I'll be back. Or even if at the least." His coffee was poured into a mug and presented to him by Jeslyn. He thanked her with a kiss.
"I'll miss you." Jeslyn told him. Wrapping her short arms around his waist.
"And to you the same." he said. "I'll miss you all, of course. But the world needs more answers to the questions it has. I want to be the first to respond to them." The next couple of minutes he said goodbye to his children. All except for Doren who remained away in his room.
Before Sophron left he pulled Jeslyn to the side. "Tell him that I do love him. He's one of my pride and joys after all. But he shouldn't be the only one to inherent that gift. We will see what I come back with. I have a lead all the way in Biovlakia so I'll be away for a couple years. Be safe. Be strong. Be beautiful." he put a hand on her cheek and brought her in for a kiss.
He left, not turning back, as he walked down the trail.
Jeslyn watched him until his figure disappeared. Wondering if she would ever see the love of he life again. With a quiet sigh, She then turned to her two oldest and asked, "Can you see if your brother is ready to come out?"
Damurah and Nergal, the two oldest sons went to Doren's room. They knocked and Nergal shouted, "Hey! Dad's gone." When there was no response, Damurah opened the door.
The room was scattered everywhere. The window wide open. Doren was no where to be seen.