I'll wait with a stake in my heart

[Blaise]

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An icy breeze swept past them, chilling her deeply. When it was over, Anu's warmth became stronger than before, and somehow the child was eased to stillness. She breathed as the woman spoke the truth, her green eyes misting. She had seen death many times before, but it had seemed impossible that death would touch her so closely.



Blaise sunk down to the hard earth, and at the same time moved closer to the gray female. From her short, labored breath came strained whimpers as she thought of the moments she had spent with her mother, the love she had given her. She feared the answer Anu had given. But strangely, hearing it spoken like this brought her more relief than pain. With no explanation, the emptiness she had felt since the day her mother left had been unbearable, but now that she no longer had anything to dread, some of the hurt was gone.



The small girl remembered how much it had pained her to see the glaze over her dam's once-bright eyes, her weakened voice and fragile footsteps. Her mother hadn't abandoned her. She hadn't left because she stopped loving her. Her mother had been very, very sick and she had been suffering.



Sh-she... not hurt anymore? the girl asked in a desperate voice, finally catching her breath enough to speak. It was the last question she needed to ask.

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