SCREAMING IN THE DARK, I HOWL WHEN WE'RE APART
Úna's reunion with her mother had been tear-filled. They were happy tears, for the most part. There was shame and hurt behind her eyes, despite the elation to have her mother safe again. When she found out that that the terrible twins, something she had taken to calling Serenity and Mazikeen, had set out to get her back and she hadn't, she was filled with an emptiness she had not known before. Why had she not braved the icy waters around Tinuvel to reunite with her mother. While they did not always see eye to eye, and Úna had been (up until recently) a daddy's girl, she loved her mother deeply. The separation had been hard on her and she spent many mornings pacing in the shallows.
But that had been as far as she went.
She had watched her father thrash in the shallows, gnashing his teeth, as Fell simply absconded with Kohelet. He'd lost. And Úna screamed and yelled at him to do something. She yelled and cried until her throat bled from the exertion. And she'd pulled away. Despite Fell never speaking, Úna always seemed to do enough for the both of them. But in the time that Kohelet had been gone, Úna had not spoken one word to Fell. She'd kept to herself, finding a small thicket and nestled herself in for warmth each night. She avoided the herd. The most silent she'd ever been.
And now she stood at that very same edge of the bay, but this time her eyes were on the main island. Kohelet was home and safe. Úna no longer felt at home. Things in her life had shifted in such a way that she did not think she could remain. As much as she loved her parents, even Fell though she wouldn't admit it, Úna needed a new start.
With a soft sigh, and a last glance at Bluebird, Úna leapt into the churning Tinuvel waters. She'd practiced in the shallows of the bay, but this was far more real. Black and white legs churned beneath her as she swam for the commons and by the time she finally pulled herself from the waters, she was exhausted. The crisp air against her damp coat was a surprising comfort, seeing as she had never left the safety of Tinuvel before.
She picked her way slowly through the commons, wide-eyed. Everything was so different and yet the same. There was trees and grass and water and birds. The grass was sweeter she learned rather quickly, chewing a bite here and there as she wandered. Maybe even too sweet, she determined. It was only when she found a small stream that Úna finally let herself take a deep breath and relax. She lowered her head to drink, taking a few small gulps before a sound reminded her she was not alone. Brow furrowed, Úna lifted her head from the water to look across the stream's surface. |
|