Nyssa nearly collapsed as the memory filled her. It had only been two weeks prior that Aydra had told her those words, and yet it felt like a lifetime.
Her sister had been right, though.
The world did seem a little calmer with the beasts standing in front of her.
A twig snapped beneath her boot, and they all looked up. The largest one started to move back, but Nyssa called out to them.
Wait!
The beasts paused. Nyssa lowered the torch onto the ground, squashed the flames with her boot, and held her hands up at her sides. Her eagle flew off her arm and into the canopy.
I mean you no harm. I am a daughter of Arbina.
You are not Aydra.
The smoothness of the male's voice in her head was almost like a purr. Nyssa stepped forward.
No. I am her sister. My name is Nyssari.
_Hello, Nyssari,_a female said as it joined the great stag.Your sister told us of you.
Nyssa clenched the muscles in her legs straight to keep from falling apart.She did?
The female gave her a long nod.We feel your grief. You are very brave to be out here on your own.
Or very stupid, Nyssa muttered without thinking.
The female seemed to find this amusing. A quiet huff of visible air emitted from her nostrils, and she stepped over the broken log towards Nyssa.
Something snapped at her back, and their heads all turned.
Dorian.
“You followed me?” Nyssa accused.
Dorian toyed with the flame on his blackened fingers. "Curiosity slayed the dragon," he said with a shrug. He started to edge closer, but the stag gave a huff, hoof digging into the dirt.
Wait, he's with me, Nyssa told them.He's my brother. She turned to Dorian. "Put out your flame."
Dorian did as she asked, and Nyssa motioned for him to slowly meet her. His eyes never left the Noirdiem as he stepped over the great roots.
"Are these one of the creatures Drae introduced you to?" he asked.
“Actually, she never got to introduce me to any of them,” Nyssa replied. “She fell on the first night we were out here. Lex and I were forced to go to the Village instead.”
She could feel Dorian staring down at her when he reached her side. “And yet you came out here by yourself… why?”
“I thought I heard something,” she whispered. “I think I just wanted to see if it was actually real or if my own mind was the one screaming.” Her jaw began to tremble then as the Ulfram’s howl once more filled the air. Nyssa's balance wavered, and Dorian grabbed her arms.
"She was supposed to be here," she whispered, voice cracking. "She was supposed to be here with me when I met them. She was going to have us come here this week. She wanted to show me... Dorian,she was supposed to be here."
The words had barely slipped from her lips before she broke into his arms. Sobs evacuated from her throat that she couldn’t stop. Her head buried in his chest, and he gripped her tightly, lips pressing to the top of her head as he hugged her against him.
“I know,” he whispered.
Her heart wept into the dirt as the two of them surrendered to their grief. Their knees hit the ground, and they held onto one another as though it would bring Aydra and Draven back. The tears emitting from Dorian, always so kept up and shielded, just as Aydra was, made Nyssa’s own fall harder.
The Noirdiem did not leave them. A few settled on the ground. Their glow poured through the forest as they remained at the sibling’s sides. As to why they were staying with them, Nyssa didn't know. But that comfort pulsed through the air, and she found she didn't fear the darkness as much.
