Repulsed by the feeling, he squashed it away and started towards Cassian.
The sound of his footfalls shuffling in the grass called the dogs’ attention. Heads swiveled in his direction. Tongues hung out of the side of their mouths, tails wagging. They quickly gathered around his legs. Dogs of all sizes, all breeds, left slobbery kisses over his pants.
He wanted to reciprocate their greeting and pet them, but as he assessed each one and the cosmic phantom glows atop each of their heads, a depressing thought met him.
They are all dead.
A copper-haired poodle nudged the ball of vines against the back of his fingers. He dropped his head to regard it, unable to reject its doe-eyed look.
Sighing in defeat, he held out his hand, and the dog plopped it in his palm.
Finnian reared his arm, and the dogs moved as a collective, preparing to run. The excitement of their open mouths and beaming eyes coaxed a weak smile out of him as he threw the ball.
They all sprinted across the clearing.
Cassian came to stand in the space at his side, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows. “Was the village to your liking?”
“Mm.” Finnian had no interest in reliving his reunion with Eleanor and Isla for him.
Cassian gave him a squinted sidelong glance from the brassy sunlight hugging the mountaintops. “Eleanor and Isla ask me about you every time I visit.”
Finnian kept his gaze fixed on the dogs as they made their way back. “If this festival is in your honor, why aren’t you there celebrating?”
“I like to see it as a celebration in the honor of my realm.”
“Sounds like an excuse.” Finnian raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t particularly enjoy the attention.”
Before he could make a remark, the dogs bombarded their legs in a frenzy of wet-nosed nudges and eager tail wags.
“Good girl, Maple.” Cassian scrubbed the ears of a brown Boykin Spaniel, accepting the ball from its mouth.
Finnian crossed his arms, not looking too long at the glittering, nebulous clouds crowning each of their heads. “These are souls?”
“Dogs of the Land,” Cassian said, continuing to give affection to each one in a series of ear massages and relaxed pats. “Most animals reincarnate, but some wish to hold out until they are reunited with their loved ones.”
The notion of a dog meeting the soul of their owner at the entrance of the Lavender Fields snagged in his chest. An endearing sentiment, but hardly enough to erase the time forced to spend apart.
“You seem well acquainted with them,” Finnian murmured.
Cassian looked up at him, the curl caught in his eyelashes.
Like a reflex, Finnian’s hand lifted to push it away. He caught himself quickly and folded his fingers into a fist at his side. The innate reaction took him by surprise.
“I am acquainted with all of my souls,” Cassian said, “but yes, I enjoy playing fetch with them. Souls of humans are morecomplex beings. They require lessons and experiences to learn unconditional love, not take it for granted. Dogs do not.”
I do not, he wished to say, but he knew it was a lie. Regret ate away at him each day for failing to appreciate his father during the short thirteen years he’d gotten to spend with him. If he knew their moments would’ve fallen short, he would’ve taken the time to really look at Father, appreciate all his kind qualities, and tell him how much he admired him.
“Right there.” Cassian pointed to a mixed black Labrador with floppy ears and animated eyes. “Do you recognize that one?”
The stray from Augustus that Finnian had found in a trash bin and brought back to life.
He recalled the day vividly. He’d almost missed the decaying odor. It was thanks to the shift of current that the stench hit his nose. It was what prompted him to stop and pick up on the dwindling energy of a dying soul—like catching the brief flicker of a dying flame.
Finding the deceased dog with a broken leg, abandoned so carelessly, smashed any hope that the Mortal Land and its occupants differed from the barbarity that existed in Kaimana with his mother.
Apathy, unfortunately, bled everywhere.
