“I love you dad!”

“Love you too, my little eclipse.” He told her as he always told her. Watching her beam at him. Listening to her laugh, feeling her once tiny arms around him. 

It was something He always said no matter what. No matter when she grew older. Even when scraped knees became less, even when she said it less but still meant it in the way she'd smile back at Him when she did something correct. 

No matter if her love was now shared with her new Human Soulmate. No matter if it was shared with the village she now called home outside His touch. 

No, He loved her, and they watched over her. He and His golden love. They watched as the world turned, as the days changed into new endless Seasons before them, as the once small village grew and their daughter and her Soulmate settled into their new life together. 

Everything in His life was perfect… finally perfect. Finally whole.

And that was why it hurt all the more when He learned.

When He discovered what they had done. 

She was gone. 

They took her from them. 

She was gone-

Destroyed her and her innocent Soulmate who had protected her. As he had sworn.

SHE WAS GONE!

“My love…” His golden one whispered, their wings surrounded them both as they each grieved.

The once unstained sun colored feathers were now grey. Their weapon lay bloodied and discarded near them.

As they both kneeled in the remains of the once charming little village. In the remains of her house.

His baby. Their daughter...

The village they had torn to the ground in righteous fury for the crime these Humans had committed.

His hands still hurt, blackened with ash and blood and hazy with Magic, He hadn't had to call on in centuries. 

Why?

The Magic cried.

Why had she been taken from them? 

The Magic thrashed.

Why!? Their daughter had done nothing but love this village and its people- so why?!

The Magic screamed!

His golden one eventually left, called away by something just as His powers lashed out in His grief. 

His golden one returned but the world was dark. Their whispered words were spoken so softly, but He couldn’t understand them through His sadness- His pain. Promises whispered and kissed to His temple of their return when they were finished with their task. 

But He would not be here when they returned. 

No, He would go and find their daughter. 

He would get her back. 

***

I jolted awake, hand clawing at the soft fabric of the seat under me. A strangled noise crawling up my throat. Emotions that weren’t my own struggling to free themselves from me. I was dizzy with them, dizzy with grief that was so like my own I almost didn't know it wasn’t mine. My magic struggled and withered to be free.

Below me a low huff drew my attention as a wet nose pressed into my clawed hand before a furry head moved to rest on my lap.

Breathe. In… and... out. In… out….

Slowly I calmed myself, taking stock of my surroundings. 

The air smelled of stale magic, even older cologne and perfume and the faint smell of the fabric cleaner on the seat I sat on.

The car jolted as the train began to make a turn.

I was on the train heading for the Castle Town station, minus Tashi, I was alone in my cabin. The door closed to the noise outside it. 

My free hand kneaded at my forehead and the dull ache there. But what was that dream? Was it even a dream? 

Sighing I ran my hands through Tashi’s fur and settled in for the rest of the ride. Castle Town couldn't come faster.