He raced to where the star had stood, stopping mere feet away and climbed a tree. From a towering tree's branch over- viewing the entire area but even from arces away he can never forget. Ashlin stood in a clearing; field covered in flowers, she smile plucking a bouquet of various plants. Once she was satisfied with the flowers she had picked Ashlin left, walking back into the forest. Cleus ran trying to catch up to her but once he made it across the meadow, Cleus became stuck in a golden sphere unable to do anythingas it sucked his life force away. He screamed her name with his final labored breaths; Ashlin heard a voice screaming in the distance. It sounded familiar causing her to desperately search for it's source, Ashlin found an unconscious male. His brearh was labored and unsteady; she picked him up on her back and carried him back to the tribe where she tend to his injures covering his body.
Cleus awoke to unfamiliar surroundings, he laid on a bed that wasn't his own. He was instantly on high alert trying to get off the bed, Cleus stumble and fell. Ashlin heard a loud thud and ran to ensure everything was fine. She saw the rescued male struggling ti stand, Ashlin cleared her throat causing him to look up. His eyes widened in shock looking at the female, he funnally found her.
"Are you feeling better?" Ashlin asked from the doorway.
"Yes, where are we?" Cleus prompted himself against the bed frame.
"Honestly, I can't say. If you were to show me a map, I wont be able to pin point our location" she shrugged with a thoughtful look.
"If you are unable of your location, why dont you leave? Why stay here?" Cleus was beyond confused.
"Where will I go? The tribe's people found me at the verge of death and looked after me with kindness and love
They rescued and nursed me back to health. I'm sure there are poeple waiting on me but, for now i can't leave" she spoke sadly.
"Why?" He asked almost broken- heartedly.
"I have no memory of my life before.... they are all gone and what remains are blurry, shattered pieces of my history. I don't know where I cam from and who was left behind in my absence"
"Then....why, why save a stranger like myself?" His head bowed.
"Your voice.... it sounded as though I've hearx it most of my life and hearing the pain behind it made me fearful"
Cleus was in utter disbelief; though Ashlin had no memory of their time spent together, she remembered the bond they created. He smiled allowing the tears to fall, Cleus was overjoyed that his efforts weren't wasted. Ashlin helped him back inti bed before heading back into the kitchen. Star dropped Lycra home mere minutes after Ashlin finished preparing breakfast. Lycra was happy to see his mother, leaping from Star's arms to Ashlin, who barely caught him. She gave the toddler a stern warning, though sad Lycra nodded to his mothers words sitting down to eat. She carried a tray to Cleus presuming he was hungry, after all he seem slightly malnourished. He accepted with a grateful smile c li earing the plate in mere seconds then asked gor seconds.
"How long has it been since you've eaten a proper meal?" Ashlin ask bringing his forth serving.
"Two years" Cleus replied stuffing his mouth full.
"Well, eat up. If you're still hungry, I'll make more"
"Really? That'll b-"
"Momma! Mommy!" Lucra called for his mother from behind the closed door.
Ashlin rused opening the door to find her son with his face red and full of tears. She picked up the boy, holding him close she rubs circles onto his back while singing. Once Lycra had settled down he turned to the unknown male, Cleus. Smiling he reached for the older male. In truth, Lycraeen was able to see auras and Cleus had spent so much time with Lucan that, essence of Lucan's aura was tangled in with Cleus own. Though Lycra had never met his father, he remembered his aura from time soent in his mother's womb. Cleus held the toddler, he couldn't help smiling at him; he resembled Lucan greatly. He laughed at the though of Ashlin's reaction if she had her memories..... if she was her former self.
Cleus stayed with the duo while he regained his strength. Once, he was full healed..... there was a difficult decision to make; should he leave and keep this a secret, after all Ashlin had a peaceful life with Lycra. If he were to carry them back with him, their lives will only be in danger. Here....here, she was protected, safe without worries. He decided to occasionally monitor her yet refuse to acknowledge to anyone, information of Ashlin's whereabouts. Lycra and his mother grew fond of Death, even the tribe's people patiently awaited his visits. Piece by piece, time spent with Cleus return to a vacant mind, Ashlin remembered her long forgotten friend but nothing more.
She asked once, "Cleus, how did we meet? Who are the blurred faces always with us? Why are we apart? Where's Lycra's father?" ,with every fibre of his being he wanted to blurt out lost history, revive buried memories but he couldn't bring himself to remind her of events leading to her memory loss. Cleus wouldn't allow her to relive those circumstances that'll scare her ,as it had done in the past.
Lycra though he loved Cleus, there was an unspoken competition between the two males. Lycra tend to try and distance his mother from any potential lovers, which Ashlin found adorable. In order to place her son at ease, she was never overly friendly nor flirtatious with a male. The young boy is without a doubt Ashlin's focus point in this chaotic world; "if my heart could manifest into a person, it'll be Lycra". She didn't see herself as a simple mother... without memory Ashlin still knew her son's life was, in unknown danger. Cleus became the only person capable of easing her worries and stress; he became part of her family, once more