Several days had passed, and Allura spent the majority of them sleeping with Rune by her side. It was the first time in a long time that she had been able to sleep without keeping one eye open. Flora remained close to Allura, and over the past several days Allura began to notice something new.

The shadows followed Flora, even in the light. For the most part, the shadows appeared normal, but when she would become excited, they would begin to dance, and she began to feel better when surrounded by darkness. When held by the shadows, her pain would lessen, and a rejuvenating energy would rise within her.

Flora sat on the floor with her back to the flickering candle, and she raised her hand, causing shadows of varying darkness to race up the wall with it. She quickly raised her other hand to meet it before hooking her thumbs together, fluttering her fingers in tandem to mimic a bird. She giggled as her shadow puppet flew across the wall, and she let out a happy sigh before closing her eyes.

“I wish I could make it look more realistic.” she lamented as she imagined a beautiful bird, flying through clouds. Slowly, she began to sway her hands along with her thoughts before opening her eyes, and shock took them. The shadow puppet now covered the wall in an elegant silhouette of a barn swallow.

She breathed in amazement as she fluttered her hands, causing the swallow’s wings to move, and she gasped with a loud squeak.

“What’s wrong?!” Allura shot up in the bed before groaning in pain as Flora’s hands fell.

“N-nothing,” Flora stuttered nervously, and Allura laid back on her side, “Are you ok?”

“What time is it?” Allura mumbled.

“Hmmm… I’m not sure,” Flora answered while glancing to the darkness peeking through the curtain that hung over the window, “But it’s late.”

“Then why are you up?” she pressed with a hint of concern.

“I dunno, but I feel better in the dark!” Flora chimed.

“Well, I’m glad you feel better,” Allura yawned with a drowsy smile.

“Yeah,” Flora hummed happily, “What about you?”

“I feel better too,” she answered while pulling Rune against her chest.

“Ehnhh!” Rune chimed in happily, and both the girls giggled.

“But Allura, you gotta see this!” Flora exclaimed, and she raised her hands like a bird once more.

“That’s a nice puppet,” Allura commented as she looked at the basic shadow cast upon the wall.

“But wait, there’s more!” Flora sang, and she closed her eyes before imagining the bird once more, transforming the puppet.

“How are you doing that?!” Allura pressed in astonishment.

“I’m not sure,” Flora answered with a sheepish smile.

“What else can you make?” Allura pressed while moving off the bed to sit next to Flora, and Rune climbed on her head.

“Hmmm, I’m not sure. I haven’t tried anything else yet,” she commented as Rune started chewing on Allura’s hair.

“How bout a sloth?” Allura suggested as she pulled her pack from under the bed, and retrieved several leaves from it before handing them to Rune.

“Oh! That sounds fun!” she beamed, and after several attempts she was successful, bringing delight to the three of them.

“You’re getting really good at this!” Allura praised as Flora swept her hand, causing the shadow she had shaped into a ballerina to twirl.

“Thanks!” Flora smiled with a whispering blush.

Allura started to hum a soft tune for Flora’s ballerina to dance to, and the two watched the shadows in admiration as the night drifted.

“How long have you been able to do this?” Allura asked while Rune slept on her head.

“Tonight was the first time I did it,” Flora admitted, “But… I don’t know…”

“What do you mean?” Allura questioned.

“Since Usko became my friend I’ve felt different,” she started, “I never feel alone anymore, and over the past couple of days… nevermind it’s stupid.”

“I’m sure it’s not, Flora.” Allura smiled, “You can tell me.”

“Well… I dunno… I just feel more, um... alive? Yeah, alive... in the darkness.” Flora nodded.

“Who is Usko?” Allura questioned.

“My friend!” Flora beamed, “Here, I’ll show you.” she grinned, and she held her hand up, casting a simple dog in shadows upon the wall, but as she focused, it stretched over the wall and onto the ceiling.

Allura tilted her head back to look at the massive shadow, causing Rune to slide off her head and onto the bed.

“EHNH!” the sloth squeaked in shock, and Allura quickly picked him up before returning him to her lap with her arms gently wrapped around him. “EHNHHHHH!!!!” Rune exclaimed aggressively while slowly swinging his claws at the shadow.

“It’s just a shadow, Rune,” Allura chuckled, but as a low growl sounded her eyes quickly darted around the room, and the shadow disappeared.

“Sorry… I don’t think Usko likes Rune…” Flora commented nervously as Allura looked at her with wide eyes.

“Is- is Usko the one of legend?” Allura pressed calmly while trying to swallow her fear.

“Legend?” Flora questioned curiously.

“The Guardian of Hell,” Allura nearly whispered. “Noxera’s hound,” she added as the young girl’s eyes widened.

“Knowledgeable child… I wonder who taught her?” Noxera pondered, “Her parents perhaps?”

“He was said to be a beast that would devour all the light in the world if the goddess Noxera willed it.”

“There’s no-”

‘What she says is true.’ Usko’s voice sounded silently in Flora’s head, interrupting her. ‘But my soul belongs to you now. My will is yours. My power is yours.’ he revealed as Flora went rigid.

“What am I supposed to do with you then?” Flora pressed in a whisper.

“Are you ok?” Allura pressed with concern rising in her voice.

‘Whatever you wish my dear child.’ Usko’s voice echoed again in Flora’s head. ‘I live to protect you now. You are my master. I live to be your friend.’

“Flora?” Allura pressed as tears filled Flora’s eyes, and the young girl nodded as a smile broke across her face.

“Yes, I’m better than ok actually,” she nodded as her cheeks reddened with tears falling down them, “I’ve got you and Usko!”

A soft smile graced Allura’s lips as she gently wrapped her arms around Flora, and she pulled her into a warm embrace, sandwiching Rune between them.

“Ehnh!” Rune exclaimed happily, and Flora clutched onto Allura’s arms as tears of happiness flooded her eyes.

“Can you two-...” Alaunus grumbled as he opened the door, but upon seeing the three, a warm smile spread over his face. “Nevermind,” he hummed, going unnoticed as he gently closed the door, leaving them to their moment.