prologue
Slender fingers gently grazed the murmuring surface of the wide, slow moving river, initiating further ripples to occur in the flowing stream that curved gently through the forest. There was a light breeze, warmth carefully embracing the eternal as she admired the melody of the river, eyes shut as she concentrated on the sounds of the moving current. As she took in a deep breath she noticed the unmistakable aroma of freshly baked muffins, causing the eternal to snap her eyes open and peek in the direction of which the freshly baked could be from.
Druig stood in confidence, surrounded by the villagers who were announcing their worries for the upcoming winter, arms behind his back, determination radiating off of him. They followed his every movement, how he carried himself, the way he dealt with every issue relating to the home he built hundreds of years ago. While staring at the eternal, she noticed a young child making his way towards her struggling to carry the basket of baked goods and maintaining his balance at the same time. Within a second she stood up from her place to help the kid, an amused grin forming onto her face as the little boy clumsily held out a muffin towards her.
“For me?” She asked, giggling when the boy gave her a toothy grin. She offered to share with the kid to which he agreed with no hesitation, the two sat beside the flowing river, fascinated by the nature around them while they ate and eventually playing a game in which they attempted to throw tiny smooth pebbles into the running stream and see who threw theirs the furthest.
She closed her eyes, fingers reaching out towards the ground beneath where they sat, beneath her palm appeared a delicate tulip blooming from the ground below. She heard a little gasp emit from the boy next to her, beaming at his reaction as she held the flower by the stem, twirling it to admire her work before tucking it behind the boy's ear.
“They hate each other, again.” He eventually whispered, causing the eternal’s smile to fall. As soon as she turned around she knew something was going on, she could hear the arguing from the cottage and saw the parents march their way to Druig quite angrily, while their son snuck out of the cottage to his favourite spot.
“They don’t hate each other, they’re just… frustrated.” She explained.
“Frustrated?” He repeated, eyebrows furrowed in confusion causing a soft smile to appear on her face.
“Well, you know how every time you fail to throw the stone into the water?” She asked, he nodded in response.
“The way you felt every time you tried your very best to throw it into the water but missed, that’s how your parents feel now, but it’s only temporary.” She explains, offering a comforting smile.
She could see the boy visibly relaxed, the presence of the eternal herself allowing him great comfort. He thanked her before hearing his mother call out for him, immediately standing up and sprinting to her, leaving behind the basket.
She chuckled as she noticed the object he left behind, shaking her head as she brought her attention back to the scenery in front of her. If she could, she would’ve stayed outside forever, to be one with nature, to guard the misunderstood creatures that roamed the forest.
Looking up at the pale blue sky, she allowed herself to get distracted by the different shapes and patterns the clouds above have created, attempting to memorise each and every shape she saw, barely having enough time to acknowledge the presence beside her as he crossed his legs to sit beside her.
“His parents okay?” She simply asked, eyes not moving from the clouds, she didn’t have to look at the person beside her to know who it was. The way he carried himself, the way he silently made his way towards her, although very quiet, his presence itself was deafening. Due to the time they’ve spent around one another she practically memorises the way he walks, the way he’d not bother to announce his presence and instead choose to sit in blissful silence with her.
“They’ve agreed to listen to each other and fortunately for me I’ve somehow become their therapist.” He said, she could practically hear the sarcasm oozing out of that sentence, causing the smile she had on her face to widen.
She glanced over at the man next to her, admiring the way he watched the clouds, eyebrows slightly furrowed as if he’s trying to concentrate on them, pale blue skies reflecting in his eyes. Even after all this time she couldn’t help but admire this side of him, the side she wished everyone else could see.
The two sat in silence, comfortable in the other's presence as they watched the skies turn from a pale blue to a golden shade, the cold creeping up her body as the sun began to rest. The animals in the forest made their way out into the forest as the village began to quiet down, allowing night to take over.
And for the monsters to be released from their restless slumber.