Contentment.
I’m not sure I’d ever felt it before. Desire, jealousy, fear, anger, hatred, love, agony, pain, joy. Lots of extremes. Contentment, never. Until right now.
Oh, the negative ones were hiding right around the corner, waiting to stalk across the plains and cut my hamstring before the feast, but right now, right here, peace and love reigned.
I sprawled on the left seat of a massive couch, a new one that we got when we moved in a few weeks ago. Long enough for even me to lay full out on it. A large trideo screen blanketed the far wall, credits scrolling after the end of Santa Claus 23: Elves’ Revenge. I loved those films, even the old vids from the last century. The fact that the same actor had played Santa Claus for the last 80 years was amazing. To shift from his true elven form into all the different Santa’s over the decades. Pure comedic talent. Magical in all ways.
The half empty cartons of paad thai noodles, tempura vegetables, and hot and sour soup from the fusion place across the street covered the table near the kitchen, an empty bottle of wine in the middle, a glass of red sitting on the end table next to my arm.
Most importantly, she lay curled up on the couch, asleep, head using my leg as a pillow. Since it was a couple nights before Halloween, we’d started with Friday the 13th: The Last Generation, but, well, it seemed to hit too close to home so I’d convinced her to switch to a Santa Claus marathon. Yea, they’ll never win any awards, but they were funny. Classics.
It was almost midnight. Tavi would be here in about twenty minutes to pick me up. She knew I was leaving, maybe for a few days. We’d already said our goodbyes, many times over the last day and a half.
I don’t think anyone wanted to do this run. I think Rennie had been serious when she said we should all just leave. I’d argued, I still don’t know why, not really. I was terrified, especially after yesterday.
While Rennie thought we could trust the alien demon witch, I had to be stupid to do so. Don’t even read the song before I have to sing it? I wasn’t big on trust. I hadn’t thought Rennie was either.
More importantly, I felt abandoned. My path? My destiny? Chosen for this, only I could do it? A teenaged gutter rat, who didn’t even know his own age? I’d been shocked when Talon had seemed to agree. Angry and afraid, I’d even sat in circle and summoned the four aspects of Horse. Gypsy, as always, supported me, and at least Arabian answered my questions, well, responded anyway. Andalusion offered insult and diatribe. Hah, I can’t believe I actually flicked him with my tail when I left. Even if the nasty jackass deserved it.
I fled here, well, Burn flew me, but still.
The clock was ticking, and only I could send an ancient storm god spirit back, and save the world. The world that had raped me, tortured me, killed my friends, abandoned me to all of those horrific experiences. I was supposed to save that world?
I sat there, her body curled next to me, and watched her aura. Peaceful. Calming. Glowing.
It was child’s play to lift her and carry her to the bed, even without waking her. Kissing her lips lightly, I covered her with blankets. I didn’t look back.
I knew why I was going now. . No matter the doubts, the fears, the angers, or the thoughts on all those that didn’t deserve protection. All that didn’t matter tonight.
I am Stallion. I will Protect My Herd.
Last Dreams 