I opened my eyes to bright daylight warming my face. It took me a while to discern where I am. I looked up to the crowning tree and between them the patches of blue seemed as if someone clumsily sew it up. I did not move and probably stayed that way for a while. I did not even care to get up and look for who saved me.
"You seem to enjoying the sun a little too long. Are you really the Nyx I left behind?" I heard the sound and it was appeasing, very much. Was it him after all? I wanted to believe but I should know better.
Or not, perhaps. A face popped up canopying my clear sky, I stared at its features for a long time. A long time before I was sure of it.
"Orion!" I shot up and a sharp pain at the back of my head almost made me shriek.
"Woah! Careful." He put his hand at the back of my head and supported me.
"Why are you here? When did you get here, and how? Why did you not tell me? Why are we here in the middle of the forest? Who..."
"Nyx. Nyx. Calm down! Breathe."
"You always cut me off in the middle and never answer what I asked of you. Orion, tell me. Now."
"I will tell you everything. Okay! And stop hissing as soon as you get up." He said as he helped me get on my legs. "I'm not the only one you should be asking these questions though."
He eyed me to the ones standing impatiently by the tree, "No way!" I blurted at the sight of what I saw. "Morpheus. Damon. Calliope." I shouted and they ran towards me.
Careful of me they all crowded around, I could only look at them with all the love I missed to give them. I got on my knees and let them play around as much as they wanted for this moment. I caressed their heads and hugged them all together. I missed them and their endearments made me sad and happy simultaneously.
I touched Calliope with my forehead and she let me know how they found me and how they escaped from home for the sole purpose to aid me in the battle that was ahead. They had been wandering for days tracing me all around and finally found me, here, today. "Just in time," I whispered to her.
"Would you let me have a word too, Callie. I've waiting for my turn for a while now." Orion sat down beside me and looked at her. Calliope glared at him for a while and then stepped back.
"Thank You." He held my arm as I tried to get up while I insisted that I did not need help. He assured me that he'd let me do it on my own soon. We headed to the ground with thick layer of leaves fallen off the trees. Rustling with every step, these leaves were something I always looked forward to.
"I've been waiting to see the-"
"-the sight of final sleep before the revival. I know." He continued as he led me to the bed of leaves he prepared. "Rest here, looks like we'll be living here for a long time."
I looked at him, waiting for him to explain everything to me before talking about anything that added to my confusion. He sighed. Turning towards me he now started-
"Things in the Glaze had been shelved due to some unknown reasons. I was informed about it a bit too late, so I was late to return. We are still trying to uncover the causes of the delay but I am sure it had worked in our favor. The coronation was put to hold.
I had to return, there was no meaning in me rushing. We are given the chance and I wanted to make the most of it. By the time I reached here, the town seemed unusually disturbed with some unknown air. I did not find you anywhere so I started looking for you. The Scent, it helped us trace you. And I'm pretty sure they were looking for you too all this time, I noticed that they had been here too the moment you were besieged by that Old Willow. We all charged at once to save you."
We both sat silently for a while. I did not know where to start. I still had too many questions and he had too.
I had to start it, so I wasted no more time. "My mother, she foresaw the encounter. She advised Father to let them find me. My Hounds were aided in their escape from father himself. Now that I recall, he did mention in his letter-
'DON'T YOU DARE SEND THEM BACK!'
Yes. This is what he said. That was why he infused the scent of crepuscule to this poppy, that is how they found me. Maybe there's something more yet to come." I narrated to him my encounter with the Mage and the shadow thing, and how he wanted my ability. I had not mentioned the dream I saw that day to him until now. He stood bewildered when I told him how parts of it came true and how the Mage thinks that I might be able to manifest the ability. I also mentioned about another mystic I met earlier and imposed that she wants me join her in a battle that is yet to happen and that it is going to affect us all. Clearly, he was not impressed by how I was reckless throughout.
There are still things I'm left with to tell but I waited for his reaction to the ones he got to know just now. I only watched his face figure out the kind of expression to show at everything I just let out. He frowned. It was not unexpected that he was furious on how I omitted such important things from him and how one of it almost put me on death's door. He took him time lecturing me about it but all I felt was relieved.
"Really, Nyx! Should you be smiling right now?" He said abruptly. I must have unconsciously smiled, but I couldn't help it. Him chiding on me was something I thought I lost forever.
"Tell you something, Orion? I'm glad to have you back."
It took him by surprise and his frown slowly turned into a smile, his expressions gentled as he whispered, "I'm glad to be back, Nyx."