I am a bored individual.

So I design outfits and stuff on this website called Looklet (http://www.looklet.com), and today I decided to make my OC in them. So here ya go:

This be Red at home, as the Princess and Heir of Silvenia.

This be Red in the forests, on her travels.

Woo.

The Most Beautiful Necklace Ever

My Turn to Speak Up

I haven't said anything major yet. I haven't openly sided with any side. I've been watching everything that's been going on lately and I've been objective about it.


I've had enough of this fucked up childish power play. I've had enough of thinking everything's dying down, and then one person comes and fucks everything up again. I've had enough of watching people I consider my friends get hurt, by other people I also consider friends. I've had enough of people saying they're the victim. I've had enough of hiding in the shadows, not saying anything to distinctly attach me to one side or another.


I'm starting my own side. The side that says I've Had Enough. Not because something was done to me personally. On the contrary, I have not been harmed by anyone. I just want these fights to stop! And they won't stop until both sides realize they have to stop.


Here are things I side with:


-People can be on whatever chat they want. They can choose who they want to speak with at a given moment. They can choose who they want to ignore.
This does not mean one can be on a chat where certain people have problems with certain things, and ignore that person.


-People can do whatever the fuck they want, unless it hurts one person and/or more. And it is not your choice to decide whether that person's hurt is genuine or not.


-The hurt cycle has to stop. All you people purposely going on AF just to upset Dragona or anyone else? For fuck's sake just stop it. If you hate him, just go on other chats. Pretend he doesn't exist. I'm sure you'll be much happier like that. Stop being so fucking childish and let the fuck go of things that happened a long time ago. Dragona? Posts like the one you wrote about Skyril have to stop. They just make everyone more and more against you. I understand that you've taken enough crap to last a lifetime, but occasionally, you deserve it. You can be over-controlling sometimes, and some people don't like it, and I don't blame them. But instead of throwing the crap right back at them, be the mature one that says 'I don't have to take this shit from you' and just move on! The fact that you're showing how much it upsets you just makes some people more eager to hurt you. It's twisted, it's wrong, but it's true.


-No more posts about a particular case and/or a particular person doing something wrong. Posts like this always show one side of things. There's always another. There's always some sort of misunderstanding. If people would just stop and fucking talk to the person they think is hurting them, some things won't turn out as bad as they could. This goes the other way around- if you're hurting someone, and they ask you politely, genuinely, "Why??", answer them truthfully. Don't bully, don't insult, say exactly what you think that person has done to deserve what you are doing to them. And if there was a misunderstanding, apologize!


-If you're hurt by someone- tell them! Some people actually don't realize what they're doing or saying is wrong! Don't expect people to read your mind. It much easier to be insensitive on a chat or on comments to a post than in real life. Understand that, accept that, and act accordingly. Do not write a public declaration of what that person has done, because that makes you an empathy-seeking attention-craver. Maybe you aren't, but that's what it seems like to a whole lot of people.


I think that's all. If I've offended anyone here, I'm really sorry. I don't have anything against anyone, and I hope I've never done anything to hurt anyone.


So yeah, I've spoken up now. I hope you guys understand.

My Superhero OC

Name: Sahar Esh (translation- Fire Moon. Named after the fifth moon of planet Klomcorious, a sphere of a cold, liquid, lava-like substance)

Age: 15 Klomcorious years, 210 earth years. Appears 15.

Characteristics:

Height- 1 meter, 44 cm (4’8”)

the hairstyle I had in mind

Weight- changes according to the weight of the substance her hands are at a given moment.

Eye Color- a very, very dark indigo.

Hair- normally styled in a long plait that starts on top of her head and goes down to her lower back. Redhead.

Body Build- Humanoid. Very short and quite slim. Elfish features (no pointy ears, though). Athletic build. Pale skin (if you look closely, it’s close to a lilac shade, but normally looks white)

Personality- daring, curious, adventurous, a quick learner, still very awkward around humans. Is very energetic and a passionate talker. Has a very strong sense of justice and can decide instantly whether she likes a certain person or not. Things considered trivial around humans (the existence of household pets) astound her, though things like mathematics, physics, rocket-science, religion, etc, seem unnecessary to her.

Costume: Knee-high boots she has brought with her from Klomcorious (they have adjustable friction and do not make noise). Other than that, normal everyday clothes. Sahar likes t-shirts with supposedly humorous imprints such as ‘I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person’.

Powers: Can turn her hands into any substance she knows about. If solid- her hands remain in the shape of hands. If liquid or plasma- Sahar can shape it in any way she wants, but using only the mass of liquid equal to her hand’s mass. If gas- can detach itself from her arms and move according to her will. Arms look like stumps until the gas is inhaled by something or someone, or called back by her, in which case her arms grow back in their normal state.

Weapons: Has a strong fear of guns, double barreled shotguns in particular. Dislikes explosions. Uses her hands in combat.

Skills: Can single-handedly pilot a vacuum-powered spaceship. Is good with electronic circuits, but doesn’t understand computers and phones. Since arriving on earth, has learnt MMA to quite impressive achievements. Fluent in 7 languages (English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, and Lomcor [Klomcorious’ native language])

Source of Powers: The Klomcorious race is very intent on speeding up evolution processes. Sahar was a lab-grown experiment that was meant to develop a new Klomcorian race stage with the ability to transform themselves into anything by will. She hatched and proved a great success, and the Me’itscim (pronounced meh-ee-zim, Lomcor for Accelerators) have given her the tools to travel the Universe in search of all substances. They want her to come back as soon as she finds them all so they could extract the information from her brain (yes, that’s as painful as it sounds) and implant it in the new generation’s chromosomes.  She knows better than to get back to Klomcorious, and she’s developed a fondness for earth and mankind, so she stayed.

Weaknesses: Very, very socially awkward. Can become too loyal too quickly, and her impulse to do what is right leaves her quite vulnerable to traps and the likes. She bonds very easily, and is insulted very easily. Stands out in a crowd, draws attention to self by shouting when things get too silent in her opinion. If she turns her hands into a solid and they break/tear (fabric)/etc then her hands don’t grow back (has a missing piece on her left little finger from when the Me’itscim tested that).

Villains: The Me’itscim, I suppose? Any organization that would want to take her and do experiments on her?

Motivation: Curiosity and an impulse for there to be justice. Will most likely physically harm a person who cheated on their loved ones, but will not touch a person who steals a television so they could sell it so their family would have food.

Principal/Goal: To be loved. Not as a successful experiment, not as a skilled spaceship pilot, not as a phenomenon, but as a friend, a personality.

Secret Identity/Alias/Normal name: Alice Lang.

Occupation: Doesn’t go to school. Lives in a fancy studio apartment in central London. Has enough money to buy the entire planet, if she wanted to, due to a program in her spaceship. Her spaceship is kept in her apartment.

Other- Loves reading, is attracted to (can fall in love with) humans of any gender, wishes she had a family.

COMING SOON

                                      

THE THIEF IN BLACK VS. THE PURPLE POET

ILLUSTATED, COMING SOON!

Five Months

'Hel-ga Hu-ffle-puff.' I counted the rhythm in my head as I tapped the barrel two from the bottom, in the middle of the second row. The lid swung open, and I crawled into it. I straightened myself up and cleared the dust off my robes and fixed my silver-green tie. I walked forward until the Hufflepuff common room was in sight.

It seemed to be empty. The grandfather clock showed it was twenty-to-ten, May 24th.

And then I saw him, with his back to me, his foot tapping nervously against the floor. I found myself grinning.

Then he looked over his shoulder and his eyes found mine. He grinned too.

"Happy five months," I said softly.

His strides were wide. He reached me in an instant, held my face in his hands, and kissed me gently. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I said. I was amazed, time and time again, at how much my love for him grows each time I see his face.

We were close to finishing our third year at Hogwarts. In twenty minutes we had Astronomy lesson, and then we were supposed to go back to our common rooms. But I never bothered about what I was supposed to do. I wasn't supposed to be in the Hufflepuff common room. I wasn't supposed to go in the Forbidden Forest, but I liked being there with the Threstles.

I grinned. Even though there were countless occasions in which I had wished the Sorting Hat had placed me in Hufflepuff, there was something undeniably Slytherin about me.

*

A while later, we started ascending the many flights of stairs that led to the Astronomy tower. It didn't take long to get there, but we liked to arrive early and stargaze. There aren't many places where you can see the stars with such clarity.

"I wish," I started saying as we reached the eleventh and final staircase, "that our Four Great Founders had heard of escalators."

He chuckled, and opened the trapdoor that led outside. He inclined me to climb first. I giggled, pecked him on the cheek, and ascended.

It was a cloudless night. The telescopes were already set on the rail of the open rooftop. Professor Astoria, one of the only teachers I got along with, had set them up, knowing how Pyro and I liked to stargaze.

As he climbed through the trapdoor, I searched the sky for the Capricorn constellation. After years of practice, both in the Muggle world and here in Astronomy lessons, I found it with ease.

"What're you looking at?" he asked.

I went closer to him, and pointed to the constellation. "There, do you see it? Four stars there, and a bigger one there, and three tiny ones above it, that's the horns, back, and tail. The ones below, over there, are the face and body, and legs."

"Nope," he said. "Can't see it. Too many distractions." He grinned and I realised he wasn't even looking upwards, but at me. I blushed, smiling.
And suddenly-

"Aaaahhhhrghh!" came a distant, blood-curdling cry, echoing through the ground. Both Pyro and I jumped and took out our wands, and he spread his right hand before me protectively. I held it tightly with my left.

"What was that?" I asked, my voice much smaller and higher than usual. I looked up and saw that Pyro's eyes were wide with fright.

"It came from the Forbidden Forest," he said quietly.

I swallowed. "That's wasn't a human voice, though," I said. "..Right?" I added uncertainly. "I mean, no human could make that noise." He didn't answer. "Right?"

I began to panic. "Pyro, what if that's a student?"

"We have to tell the Headmaster," he said.

I unclenched my hand from his arm, and started pacing all around. "There's no time for that. Whoever made that sound is in danger. They might get killed! Maybe they already have... Pyro, we have to do something!"
"Ok," he said. I was surprised his voice was so stable, but I saw that there was a lot going inside his head. "We need to help whoever's in there. There's no time to use the staircases. We have to jump." He stepped forwards, nearing the edge, and muttered, "Spongify," pointing with his wand at the ground, a few dozen meters below us.
I was trembling. It's not that I hated heights, it's just... having to jump from a height like that...
"Together?" I offered, nearly silently.
He nodded, took my hand, and we jumped over the edge.
*
It was like flying. My hair rippled above me. I kept my eyes open, despite the air that made them sting, and watched the ground getting nearer and nearer.
A few seconds, and then it was over. The ground acted like a giant trampoline, bending downwards as we hit it. It lifted us back about a meter into the air, and we landed on solid ground.
I let out a panicky, exhilarated burst of laughter. I looked at Pyro, to find he was very pale.
Another horrible scream from the Forest. Whatever or whoever was there, was still alive. It drenched the little colour his face still had.
"Let's go," he said.
We ran, as fast as we could, towards the forest. There were never many people outside by now. After dinner in the Great Hall, most people either go to their common rooms or hang out with friends from other houses inside.
The lights from the castle's many windows and the moonlight were the only things that prevented the grounds to be pitch black.
In minutes, we reached the edge of the Forest. I took a second to catch my breath and muttered 'Lumos'. I glanced at Pyro, who lighted his wand, too. We entered the Forest.
"Where are they? Where did that scream come from?" I murmured to myself.
"Homenum Revelio," I heard Pyro say. A humming noise came from his wand, and the light at the tip of it started flickering on and off.
He led the way. Deeper and deeper into the Forest, until there was no longer a path and I couldn't see beyond the circle of light my wand emitted.
Another scream. It was so loud, it seemed we were standing right next to the source of it. It was shrill, and echoed in my head long after it was over.
"It's here," said Pyro.
"What do you mean?" I said. "There's no one here!" I spun around, raising my wand higher so it would cast more light.
And then the ground slipped from under my feet, but I found myself standing on a swaying ledge of ground, just wide enough for me to place both my feet on. I was so high up, but Pyro was still next to me, and the trees still reached far above my head. Nothing made sense!
But I wasn't trying to make sense on things, I was trying to not fall. I was starting to get dizzy. I couldn't hold on to anything. It was so high up! The ledge swayed right, and I lost my balance-
And then I saw Pyro, looking at me, worrying, frightened. If I fell from this impossible ledge, I would surely not make it. It was too high. It was too much.
And then the ledge disappeared, and I was on the ground. I looked up, to see Pyro standing over me with a disgusted expression.
'WHY DO I EVEN LOVE YOU? YOU'RE WORTHLESS. YOU AREN'T WORTH THIS. YOU MEAN NOTHING TO ME!'
His voice. It was the same voice that screamed before. That's screaming now. Screaming at me. I'm worthless, I'm nothing.
'I HATE YOU! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN! I CAN'T BELIEVE I PUT UP WITH YOU FOR FIVE WHOLE MONTHS! WE'RE THROUGH!'
His every word was like a dagger. Plunging straight through me. Again, and again, as his voice echoed inside of me.
This was a nightmare. This had to be. This couldn't be.
I got up, onto my feet. I looked into Pyro's eyes, and saw nothing but hatred and disgust. My tears broke through, and I walked back a few steps.
And then I saw that behind Pyro, stood... Pyro?
I wiped my eyes from the tears, and looked again. Yes, there were two Pyros. One was screaming at me, but I wasn't concentrating on the words he said. The other was standing behind him, his wand raised, a hurt and confused expression on his face.
The screaming Pyro saw I was no longer looking at him, and twisted to see what I was looking at. He walked towards the other Pyro, and wisps of smoke engulfed him as he did. He reached him, and the smoke disappeared. Now, another figure stood there.
A girl. I could only see her back.
'You are pathetic,' she said, in an arrogant, patronizing tone. She began to circle him. 'Do you really think you're good enough for me? That you're good enough for anyone?'
I saw her face. She was... me. But she wasn't! And Pyro was looking from her, to me, and back.
'Five months of my life- WASTED! On YOU! YOU PATHETIC, GOOD FOR NOTHING, NOBODY!'
And suddenly, I understood. My greatest fear - or so I thought - was falling from high, unbalanced places. The swaying ledge. I was standing on it, and then I saw Pyro, and the ledge disappeared, and turned into a Pyro that couldn't even bear to look at me. And then it saw Pyro, the real one, and turned into a me that didn't love him.
"Pyro!!" I shouted. "It's a Boggart!!"

His eyes widened, and realization struck him, too. He looked back to the Boggart-me, and yelled out, "Riddikulus!"
Nothing happened.
"Riddikulus!!" he tried again.
The Boggart-me raised her chin and let out a cold laugh.
Laughter! That's what kills a Boggart! And Pyro doesn't laugh much.. So that's why his Riddikulus didn't work!!
I squared my shoulders, and focused with all my strength on the image in my head. I lifted my wand. 'Riddikulus!!' I cried out.
The smile was wiped off the Boggart-me's face as she began to tremble. She was shaking all over, and then-
Poof!
The burst of laughter that rose from my throat was unstoppable. Were the Boggart stood before, there was now a tiny chibi version of me, that looked very angry.
'What have you done?!' it squeaked. I chuckled again. It started to run, probably attempting to ram into me, and as it was just about to reach me, I casually stepped sideways, and the Boggart ran straight into a tree.

I was doubled over, clutching my stomach, nearly crying with laughter. The Boggart was shaking again. I glanced over to Pyro, who was standing there with an amused grin on his face.
The Boggart got up from the ground, and stumbled dizzily towards me. It was actually trying again!
I laughed harder, and its shaking increased. Then, with a final 'Ha!', it disappeared into wisps of smoke.
Pyro's grin widened. I walked over to him and hugged him tightly.
"You know I didn't mean what I said... right?" I mumbled into his shoulder.
"Huh?" I couldn't see his face, but I could hear his grin had gone.
"When the Boggart was me. You know none of that was true."
He held my shoulders and pushed me back, looking into my eyes. "Just... just as long as you know what the Boggart said when it was me wasn't true."
"I know," I said.
And I did know. I loved him so much, and as much fear and hopelessness that the Boggart made me feel, it was strangely worth it, as long as I know that Pyro fears losing me as much as I fear losing him. I was no longer afraid.
I leaned upwards and my lips met his.
*
The ornate objects decorating the shelves of the office whirred and ticked as Dumbledore gazed at the two of us over his half-moon spectacles. We had just finished telling him the whole story (more or less; we skipped the kisses and me sneaking into Hufflepuff common room).
"So," said Dumbledore, in a stern tone with just a hint of amusement. "You heard screaming, and decided to just see what it was for yourself, skipping an Astronomy lesson along the way."
"Professor, it wasn't like that," I said. "There was no time. We thought it was an actual student out there! I never knew wild Boggarts have ways of luring people to them and then feeding on their fear. You should really put that in the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum..." I trailed off as I realised I may have gone too far. No one wanted to get on bad terms with the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Perhaps I should," he chuckled. Maybe getting on bad terms with him was simply impossible. "But I am afraid that two house points must still be taken off from both Slytherin and Hufflepuff, for class-skipping and entering the Forbidden Forest." I slumped in my chair, exchanging 'oh, well' looks with Pyro. It could be worse, though. Two points aren't that much, I guess.
"But," the Headmaster started saying, a twinkle in his blue eyes, "you did defeat a wild Boggart; one that could have lured more students to it. And for that, I award both houses seven points."
Hm.
Wait, what?!
It took me a second to understand. Five housepoints!! I think I'll skip Astronomy more often! I was grinning so much my cheeks hurt.
"Thanks, Professor Dumbledore," said Pyro. The Headmaster bowed his head in response.
"And now," said Dumbledore, "I think it's time for sleep. For all of us! I have a new nightcap that I'd like to try out."
"Erm, good luck with that," I stuttered, while Pyro nodded.
We went down the spiralling staircase. As we made our way to the bottom floors, I came to the conclusion that if I was ever going to come across a Boggart again, I'd definitely try and make it Dumbledore with a night cap. And gown. Both in a shade of hot pink. Pyro didn't quite get why I started laughing all of a sudden.


***


So, wow. Five months. I'm actually having trouble believing it. I swear, just a second ago, there was more time to wait until we saw each other than the time we had already been a couple.
And now, five months! And only thirty-six days to go until we actually see each other. Borg, I can't wait.
May there be many more months to come.. (:

The Forests of Bakazak - Chapter Ten

Ohmygosh, I'm on two-digit chapters. Thanks for everyone who's reading! *huggies them all*

I wiped my forehead. The late-morning sun was blazing hot, even in the shade of the pine-trees. I couldn't see how Pyro could wear his jacket in this heat.

It was odd, travelling without Dilmon. More than once, I had turned after seeing something that reminded me of a private joke in order to tell him, to find he wasn't there.

Instead, I got to know Kal and Octa better. Octa was twenty eight years old, and Kal was twenty seven. They seemed far younger, both in looks and in behaviour. They had met nearly ten years ago, and have been married for nine. Six years ago, they had taken in Pyro.

It was clear that they loved each other very much. Their playful jokes, the way they never seemed to be linked by less than holding hands, the look in their eyes as they gazed at each other... It was nice, heartwarming.

After a while, though, the conversation became more between me and Kal. We talked about pretty much everything, from food, through family, to life. Mostly, we talked about our different lifestyles. She asked many questions about how it was to be a princess in the royal family. I gladly answered them, though a little bitterly. She had sensed that tone and asked me about it. I ended up ranting quite a bit about how I wished there was another heir to the throne. Then, I remembered it didn't really matter seeing how this entire World is going to blow up. I changed the topic by asking Kal about a normal life. It seemed so nice from how Kal described it. Simple. Living the moment. Not worrying too much about what will or will not be.

The more we talked, the more I admired her. She would do well if she was born to the royal family. She'd make a wonderful Queen. Better than I'd make, anyway. She had blushed, giggled, and given me a noogie when I told her this.

We walked in a comfortable silence after that. A slight breeze had picked up, making the tall trees sway gently, rustling their leaves. Pyro and Octa walked a distance in front of us. Pyro had put his tinfoil hoodie up, to not burn the lower leaves of the trees. I smiled. I couldn't quite make out words, but he and Octa were talking animatedly about something.

Kal looked at them too, a soft look in her eyes.

I picked up my pace, calling Kal to follow me. We reached Octa and Pyro, and Kal hugged them both from behind. 

***

It was dusk. I rubbed my eyes tiredly. We had hardly stopped to rest for the entire day, and my feet were aching.

The path suddenly widened, and as I walked forwards, detaching myself from the row of trees, I saw the most amazing glade I had ever come across. It was filled with tall, soft, green grass, and a summer blossoming that smelled absolutely delightful. Pyro stopped in his tracks next to me.

"It's beautiful here," I said, smiling.

He nodded. "It is." The setting sun coloured him as if his flame's saturation had been multiplied. He smiled, too. His face was calm, happy. I tried not to stare too much, but I couldn’t look away. The glade looked plain compared to him.

I sighed. Pyro seemed to notice, by how his eyebrows contorted, but he didn't say a thing.

Kal and Octa walked out of the row of trees a few seconds later, and when the caught sight of the clearing, they both grinned.

This here is from Avatar. If any of you have
seen the episode, this is kind of how I imagine
the tent to look like.

"It's perfect!" squeed Kal. She raised her arms, palms up, and pushed the air upwards. There was a soft rumble, and suddenly, a rather large tent made of the earth alone rose from the glade's ground.

"That was awesome!" I said. She softly noogied me in response, and then she took Octa by the hand and led him inside the tent. I glanced at Pyro again, and followed Kal and Octa.

The tent was very spacious. The floor was still that of the clearing. I sat down, to find the floor was soft. I hardly even needed my sleeping bag on a floor like this. I sighed happily, and unfolded my sleeping bag anyway.

Pyro had entered, clearly impressed by Kal's quick craftsmanship.

After a small dinner of sausages roasted on Pyro's head and a dessert of roasted marshmallows, all four of us went to sleep. I was still exhausted from the long walk, and fell asleep immediately.

***

I found myself in a room. The walls were draped with tapestries, and the floor was marble with fur rugs strewn upon it artistically. I was in the western hall of the palace. My palace.

Somehow, I knew where I ought to go. I took a step forward and suddenly I was in the north-west third corridor, in front of the second door on the right. I stretched my hand out to turn the doorknob, and found myself inside the room.

This was one of the fancier guest-rooms. The four-poster bed with the soft, white hangings was right below a large window, sunlight streaming in through it. I walked closer.

My mother was lying on that bed. She was asleep.

I jumped as she coughed suddenly. It was only then I saw how pale she was, the dark circles surrounding her eyes. There was a silk handkerchief clutched in her hand. Looking closer, I saw crimson blotches on the pale cloth. Blood.

She was ill. Grievously so.

The door opened, and I was so startled I fell back. I was paralyzed. I saw my father accompanied by a person who I didn’t recognize enter the room. The person wore a white cloak.

“Mage Navoun, please,” my father pleaded. “You are possibly the only person who can help my wife.”

I blinked. I don’t think I ever heard father speak to someone else without looking down at them. He always spoke with an authority. Never had I heard him saying ‘please’ in that tone. As if he was begging. He never spoke to someone as if they were equal to him. Not even to me.

“Your Highness,” said Navoun. His voice was quiet and solemn. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do in a case like this. As I said, I can only sense what is wrong with Her Majesty. I cannot fix it, no matter how hard I might try. This is the first time I have encountered something of the likes of this disease. I do know this; it is fatal. It cannot be treated simply with herbs and spices, and I do not know of Magikans with the ability to heal. And even if I did, I would not tell you, for you would tell others and that poor Magikan would be exposed and exploited to the core.”

Father’s face was heartbroken. He didn’t move, but a single tear rolled down his cheek. “Does this mean,” he croaked, “that she will… die?”

Mage Navoun nodded, his face grave. “I am sorry. Her Majesty was a good Queen to our country. A great loss. A great loss indeed.” And with that, he left the room.

Father kept standing for a second, the tears rolling silently, and then he fell to his knees, sobbing. He moved closer to mother’s bed and held her petite hand in both of his. He rested his head on the bed, emitting pained moans. His entire body was shaking.

“She’s not dead yet,” father whispered. He raised his head from the mattress. There were wet blotches where he had rested it. His eyes were red and swollen, and his tears were now streaming down. “She’s not dead yet,” he blubbered again, louder. He took a few rattled breaths. “SHE ISN’T DEAD YET!”

***

I gasped for air as I opened my eyes. I inhaled again, and again, taking short breaths, shaking as I exhaled. I put a hand to my cheek and felt the wetness.

“Red?” said a very startled Pyro from his sleeping bag next to me.

And before I knew it, I had collapsed on him, crying, my arms draped around his shoulders.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” he said, sounding alarmed.

“I- had a- bad dream,” I blubbered in between sobs. He slowly put his arms around me. I gradually stopped crying and calmed down. Only when I was breathing normally, I fully felt awake again.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, keeping my arms around his neck. I breathed deeply once, and slowly detached myself from Pyro.

“Sorry about that,” I said quietly, my voice a little hoarse. I was looking at my knees.

“It’s fine,” he whispered. I met his gaze and smiled. His flame flickered a bit and he smiled too.

“Why are you awake?” I asked.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he murmured. He looked worried. “Red, you were thrashing like crazy earlier. I thought to wake you up, but you looked like you could use sleep…” his voice trailed and he winced and rolled his eyes. “Sorry,” he said. “That came out wrong. What I meant to say was that I didn’t know how to wake you up without making it worse. And then you woke up anyway… What happened?”

I looked back at the ground. “I dreamed that my mum was ill,” I whispered. “My dad was there with a person named Navoun. Navoun said her case was finished. That she’ll die.” My voice broke on the last word, and a few silent tears trickled down my cheeks.

“It wasn’t real, though. It was a dream,” Pyro said. “…Right?” he added uncertainly.

“That’s just it. I don’t know. Sure, I was asleep when I saw it, but does that mean it wasn’t more than a dream? I mean, I’ve never even heard of someone named Navoun, and it’s all so clear in my mind…

“But what if it wasn’t a dream?” I whispered. “What if my mum is dying, and the last thing she remembers of me is that I ran off? What if I was the reason she fell ill in the first place?” I said, distressed. My breath started accelerating again.

Pyro moved his hand from his knee to mine. I calmed down almost instantly. “Don’t say that,” he said softly. “Illnesses happen. Some have a cure, and some don’t. People die, and the sun still shines the next morning. Reality doesn’t stop in its tracks if someone’s at peril. You need to understand that, whatever happens. Miracles happen, but I’ll be deluding you if I tell you they save everyone.” He sighed, and with the hand not on my knee he reached into his shirt and took out a locket made out of a metal that seemed copper-ish in his firelight. He pressed the small button with his thumb, and the locket opened. Inside it there were pictures. Pyro lifted the hand that was on my knee and lit a small flame in it so I could see the pictures. A man and a woman on one half, and a picture of Pyro as a small boy on the other.

“My parents,” he explained simply. “I really don’t remember much of them, though sometimes I think of something that happened to me back when they were alive, and they’re just… there. But that’s all they are for me now. A fading memory and a picture in a locket.”

I reached forwards to touch the locket. “Can I?” I asked quietly. He nodded. I took the locket in my hand and studied the picture of his parents. Although it was black-and-white, I could see that he had his father’s messy hair. Pyro’s was longer than his father’s was, but the similarity was clear in the way it wasn’t certain if the hair was straight or curly, and the random locks of hair pointing in all directions. I smiled. Of course, Pyro’s father didn’t have a flame burning on his head, but that was a different story. I rested the locket back on Pyro’s chest and he put it back under his shirt.

I lay back down on my sleeping bag.

“Pyro?” I said quietly.

“Hm?”

“Thank you,” I whispered, and fell back into a dreamless sleep.