She could not begin to explain how desperately she wanted him to stay, how much she needed him to stay. No, how much she needed Edrick back. She could feel it all turn within her. It was so different from the butterflies she had felt when she was first falling in love. She could not find a way to describe this. It was dark, like she shadows she and he prince had ventured to fight. The shadows they claimed had captured the spirits of the light. It seemed now those fairies died in the prince’s eyes, the pixies to dance no more in the summer sun or the autumn wind. Her breath was dry as the magic around her seemed to start to flicker and fade. Eyes went wide for a moment.

Los. She needed Los. The rock, the stone, the solid step that had supported her when she had been lost and hurt. The one who knew her soul, even when he could not understand it. Looking into his garnet eyes, though sour and scornful, would bring back the balance of her world, assure her that something she believed in was still real.

I can take you to the woodland. It is close to where I have been staying. She dared not bring him to the packland or to her children. This was not the father she wanted them to see. Scars and tattered features she knew they would see past. The thought of seeing lilac eyes look into lavender with the endless love that Masque shared with the world was a sight Taika was not sure she could see. She got to her paws and turned to lead the way. His words stopped her dead in her tracks. Best be off, there is danger afoot. Taika thought she was going to be sick. Those words so close to others said in laughter and play. She turned to look at him. This time there was danger afoot. A feline instead of a phantom. For a second, her eyes once again searched this familiar stranger. Let’s go to the woodland. She suggested hesitantly. It was still too close for comfort, and yet too far.