by Dante Silva
Chapter 15
The gleaming gateway swirled around Aubriel in a rush of light and color. She didn’t have Callannon’s hand to guide her this time, but somehow she knew the way, like sighting home from a new vantage. Sunlight—brightly burning after the softer golden sun of the fey realm—blinded her as she emerged into her native world.
She inhaled sharply at the contrast and caught the sharp scents of evergreens and mountain air. The subtle smells of the forest that used to be second nature to her hit her as if this were her first time here. Acorn’s fluffy tail brushed past her leg, and she turned to look back at the gateway one last time.
It was already closed.
Blinking slowly, Bree realized she was back at her old campsite, the one where she had awoken and found Callannon calling for her, searching for her. The site was still clear, and if her hidden things had been found or taken, there was no sign of it. She fell to her knees. Acorn put her little paws up on Bree’s shoulders and nuzzled her nose. Aubriel was confused until a gentle breeze cooled the wet tear tracks down her face.
“We’re back,” Aubriel whispered, her voice choking on a knot in her throat.
The heavy reality of it hit her so hard she doubled over and clutched Acorn to her, crying freely. Callannon wouldn’t come around the bend and smile at her or be there to tuck her close at night. The sleeves of the yellow dress smelled like him, only making her cry harder. Their time together had been too short, but what else could she have done? If they had been honest about her mortality from the beginning, things might have gone differently but perhaps not for the better.
This task always belonged to her, from the moment she became friends with Ginette in Callannon’s garden. Aubriel hadn’t realized it then, but she had become an advisor in her own way and took on challenges the way Callannon did, accepting weight to bear, no matter how heavy. That similarity connected them, though now it drew them apart.
Aubriel released Acorn, and the fox jumped away and stretched, making Aubriel laugh through her tears. Eventually, the droplets slowed. Gathering the sleeve of her dress over her wrist, she wiped her tears and her nose. It was too bad the poor fey dress wouldn’t last a day in the forest, but she would fold it up later and keep it to remember Callannon by.
“Well,” she announced to Acorn, who perked her ears. “Those trade agreements aren’t going to make themselves.” She went to the spot where she had buried some of her camping supplies and covered the rest with branches. “There’s a human village nearby.”
Acorn yipped.
“I know, they terrify me too, but I can’t afford to be picky. We also need more iron, and there’s a blacksmith there. Let’s go.” Aubriel opened her pack and pulled out her hunting leathers.
Don’t worry, Callannon. I’ll be back soon.
The End
About the authors
Vanessa Mozes and Dante Silva live in California with cats and surround themselves with intriguing stories regularly. The two of them love creating characters and plots together and look forward to sharing many of them in the future.
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