A chill ran down my spine, and the fierce emotions that had gripped me just moments ago vanished—snuffed out by a wave of pure, paralyzing terror. My whole body began trembling before I even turned around.

It was the low, pained moan that made me snap and whirl around, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes locked onto her.

Mira… Mira was—

She lay slumped against a tree, her beautiful face twisted in pain. Flames licked at the edge of her sleeve, and just above it—where fabric should have been—her tender skin was marred by a dark, angry burn.

“No… No, no!” I tried to scramble forward, but my knees buckled, giving out beneath me. A choked sob tore from my throat as I crumpled to the ground, the weight of my mistake more crushing than any paw. Tears blurred my vision, turning her figure into a horrible, wavering mirage I couldn’t reach.

This wasn’t supposed to happen! This wasn’t supposed to happen! I was supposed to protect her, not… not hurt her!

I stared at my trembling hands, helpless. The flames that once blazed so fiercely sputtered out, leaving only smoke and the acrid scent of burnt fabric.

“Please… please, Mira… get up,” I whimpered, voice cracking. My chest tightened as I crawled toward her, each inch feeling like I was dragging myself through shards of glass. “I didn’t mean to... I—I’m sorry, Mira! Please, I’m so sorry!”

I shook her gently, then harder, desperation flooding every movement. “Please, wake up—” Just as I was about to lose hope, her soft moan made me gasp, and I held my breath. Her eyes fluttered open, their radiant color bringing a fragile light back to the world around me.

Relief washed over me, and I sank against her, trembling as I held her close.

“Lyon?” Her voice was drowsy and weak, but a moment later she gasped and tightened her embrace, pulling me into her warmth.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She whispered, her voice and body trembling as she buried her face in my hair. “I shouldn’t have put you in danger. I—”

“No, it’s my fault.” I shook my head against her chest, my voice finally breaking through the knot in my throat. “Today… I just wanted it to be special. I wanted to do something for you, but…” My voice faltered, and a sob tore through me. I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“You… you took me in. Me—a strange child you found alone in the forest—and you fed me, made me warm clothes, gave me a place to call home… with all your heart.”

My words blurred, tangled in my thoughts, but I had to keep going.

“I never had a mom… just Papa. But you… you—” I choked, struggling to speak through the rush of emotions. “And to repay you for everything you’ve done, I—I ended up hurting you instead. I’m so sorry, Mira… I’m so, so sorry.”

Finally letting it all out, the exhaustion overwhelmed me, and by the time she spoke, her words were just a soft, blurred murmur—a warm, gentle sound that lulled me into sleep in her comforting embrace.

***

By the time I woke up, I was in bed, cocooned in blankets. A sharp pain radiated from my back, and my whole body ached, but other than that, I was fine—except for my memory. It was hazy, somehow even blurrier than the mist Mira had conjured earlier. The only clear remnant was the image of her opening her eyes.

I clang at the blankets, bringing them to my face, as if that would hide me from the whole entire world.

Angry, embarrassed and disappointed at myself, I didn’t dare peek out. It could have been hours, or maybe it was night—or even the next day, with the meteor fall long past. I didn’t know, and at that moment, I didn’t care.

The thought of witnessing the meteor fall made me feel sick. How could I even entertain the idea after hurting Mira?

No, after what I’d done, I didn’t deserve it.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Suddenly, the bed sank beside me, and a hand reached over the blankets. “Lyon?”

It was Mira, once again. That marked the fifth time she’d come to check on me since I woke up. The first, I had to pretend I was asleep, but by the third time she came, she had probably already guessed I was awake. That was the first time she had spoken, the first two staying silently beside me, and the last forth and now fifth time were much faster than before.

I wanted nothing more than to leap out of the blankets and hold her tight, and it became increasingly harder with each of her visit. I wouldn’t allow myself to do it, though; if I did, I’d have to face the reality of what I’d done to her, and I couldn’t bear that.

“Lyon, I know you are awake, please, come out.” Her melodious voice sounded so pained, it made me flinch.

I had hurt her already. How much more did I have to before I learned my lesson and listened to her?

After a few long seconds, I did as she asked, uplifting the blanket enough so that my head was out. Still that didn’t mean I was going to look at her, I was turned the opposite to her.

That was enough right?

“Could you turn around for me?” She pleaded in an almost whispery tone.

I shook my head.

“Why?” She asked.

With a gulp, I forced myself to speak. My voice was horse. “Because I don’t want to see what I’ve done to you.”

“Lyon, dear, please turn around.”

My heart started beating faster, preparing for the impending reveal.

Finally I made the turn but wasn’t ready to look, closing my eyes as I did so.

There was a moment of silence.

“Lyon...”

Knowing what she was going to say next, I hardened my resolve and made the toughest decision in my life.

I gasped.

As it turned out, it was still day, night approaching as Mira’s figure was illuminated by the orange light. Together with the open-brown colored tunic she wore, she blended with the sunbeams, the three distinctions being her long wavy silvery hair, the two emerald crystals for eyes, and... the bandage on her left hand.

She was smiling in such a warming way that made me feel even worse.

“See? Isn’t it better now?” She said in a light tone as if nothing had happened.

I didn’t respond in any way.

She glanced at the window, and returned to me. “Would you mind coming with me for a short while? We are running low on water again, and I’d like to go refill our supplies. It can be dangerous at this hour, and I’m scared to go alone.”

I jolted as if lightning had stuck at me, throwing off the blanket and leaping out of bed.

Mira chuckled, and after she grabbed two coats, and two dimensional rings we were ready to go.

On our way, I scanned every tree, every bush, every leaf, even the flow of quint around us, searching for anything out of place. There was nothing, and I mean nothing, that could escape my eyes. If a beast were to approach us—to approach Mira—I would know before even the beast itself did.

The path was a quiet one. Without our usual chatter, the only sound was the rustling of leaves, and even that seemed muted, like nature was holding its breath. So, without a word, we reached the lake just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

A low growl broke the silence, and I whirled around, quint blazing in my hands—only to relax a moment later.

“Horny!” I whispered, relief flooding me as I rushed forward, wrapping my arms around him. He groaned happily, pressing his nose into my side.

I turned to Mira, who watched with a gentle smile. “Didn’t I tell you he’d be fine?” she teased lightly.

She imbued quint to her ring, but instead of the Spring’s Smile, a large, blanket-like cloth appeared in her hands. “Would you mind helping me tie this up?”

I scrambled up the branches, weaving the cloth through and securing it until it hung above the lake like a suspended hammock.

When I climbed back down, it swayed gently, shimmering in the dimming light.

“It’s… a swing?” I guessed.

“Something like that,” she murmured, reaching out to me. “I hope you can compromise,” she said softly, offering her bandaged hand.

My gaze lingered on the white wrapping, and guilt twisted in my gut. I pulled back instinctively.

“Compromise?”

She sighed and tugged me forward, her grip surprisingly firm. “It means… this might not be the hill, but I hope you can still enjoy the view.”

“The view for wha—?” My words died as a flash of light cut across the sky.

I gasped, staring up as a streak of silver raced through the night, leaving a shimmering trail behind it. A moment later, another star fell, and then another, until the entire sky seemed to come alive with color.

Reds, blues, and golds arced across the heavens, a dance of light so vivid it felt otherworldly. Each star told its own story, its brilliance lingering in the darkness before vanishing into the endless expanse. And as if that weren’t enough, the lake below us mirrored every shimmering line, each star’s reflection rippling and blending, as if the sky itself had spilled into the water.

I couldn’t describe it even if I wanted to. Something like this could only be seen and be remembered. Forever.

A warmth wrapped around me, and I turned to find Mira’s arms pulling me close. I didn’t flinch, didn’t turn away as I would have just minutes ago. The stars above and the stars below absorbed every thought, every worry, until I was simply… there, with her.

“It’s beautiful…” I breathed, voice soft and full of wonder, leaning closer to her.

“It is,” she whisper leaning closer herself. “But it wouldn’t have been, if I wasn’t here to share it with you.”

None of us spoke further, and, we didn’t have to. Everything was small—insignificant—compared to the vast, breathtaking beauty before us. The tears of the heavens drifted away, each one carving its place in the sky. It might not have been the perfect day… but in the end, it was a good one.