[spoiler]’ello! It’s been a while since I last posted a story, and I just wanted to write something about how Skye and Errol are doing. This takes place last week. Thank you to Dislay for giving me permission to mention her character, and to LordVocem (for Christmas festivities, currently named LordisCome) for editing my story![/spoiler] Light footsteps brushed through a field of sleepy grass. Their blades twitched, swaying to the whispers of late autumn’s breeze. In the afternoon sunlight, they radiated a brilliant yellow. Skye sniffed and drew her arms around herself, though not because of the cold, as her vision blurred with tears. Lifting her chin, she saw her brother rush out of their little cottage to meet her. Errol stopped a pace away to glance between her face and the long, crusty scab showing through a cut on her sleeve. Skye wiped her eyes with her wrist. “Skye?” Errol said almost hesitantly. “I was about to go looking for you. What happened?” “I took the trial to become a member of the Order. I’m sorry I… I didn’t get to tell you. It was all… sudden.” Errol paused. “Did they not accept you?” Skye could not help the small smile forming on her lips. She knew Errol was not wholly onboard with her decision in trying to join the Order of Papillon; the arrangement promised changes that he was not prepared for. Still, his softer tone showed he understood its importance to her. “No, I made it in. I’m a real knight, now. You know, like the ones in Father’s old stories when we were wee children.” “I remember.” A crease grew in Errol’s brow. “So why are you…?” He lifted his only functional hand to gesture to Skye’s saddened state. The young woman’s gaze dropped, her smile fading. Indeed, the news of her acceptance into the Order filled her with excitement; however, she ran into a friend who did not have the same chance. Dally’s revisiting of memories from a painful past led to Skye spending the next couple of hours doing all she could to comfort her. In the end, when Dally overcame a little of her sadness, they fell into conversation about Skye’s late, adoptive father. The new knight recalled the many burdens he silently bore. Though his load seemed to become heavier over the years, he never allowed it to interrupt his duty of loving and protecting his tiny family. Skye admired his strength and often wondered how he remained standing tall. Within that year, much of her strength was given trying to lift up her friends and brother when they stumbled. The thoughts of how merciless fate could be, paired with her inability to truly take away the hurt, began to weigh down on her shoulders, so much so that she longed to be in the company of someone who would understand. Her father’s silence may have made life more difficult for him, but he would have known what to say. Skye drew her lower lip between her teeth, holding back the whimper she desperately wanted to set free. An unconscious step forward closed the gap between her and Errol. Skye’s arms folded around him, her head thunking against his shoulder. She felt his body stiffen as his hand prepared to urge her away. She could only imagine the surprised expression on his face, but she refused to let him go. “I miss Father,” she finally said with a trembling voice. “I really miss him. Why does it have to feel so heavy?” The words took Errol aback, a steady breath escaping him. He finally laid his arm over her shoulders with his chin resting on the top of her head. His comforting hold squeezed out a quiet cry as it reminded Skye of their father’s embrace. For a brief moment, she almost believed the guide of her childhood was still with them. “I don’t know,” Errol replied at length, “but I miss him, too.” A cruel mix of peace and grief caused her heart to ache, like pieces of her hope were present, yet just out of reach. Even so, a part of her knew Errol felt the same, and, if just for a mere second in the day, it made her burden easier to bear.