Aura - The Pure Truth: The Seedling Blossoms [1]
Feb 8 15:26:42 2005

With the unseen aid of the dryad's assistance from her shoulder,
Aura carefully managed to make her way across the small yard to
where the old man had stopped to wait for her, only stumbling once
or twice along the way. Despite her appreciation at being mobile,
the fact that she wasn't doing it on her own (or extremely
efficiently even with the mana spirit's help, at that) still
nagged at her slightly, though she was careful not to outwardly
make it obvious. Once close enough, the man extended an arm to
draw around her shoulder, both as a gesture of friendship and as
a second source of weight to help keep upright with. She didn't
decline, as such was the case, and followed alongside as they
began again towards the far stream.

"You were out for quite some time, you know. Almost four days,
depending on what you consider the 'beginning' of a day. It
was relatively late at night when we found you, but in good
fortune for us, we have people who stay up at all kinds of
different hours, for varying schedules and such things. You
should thank the spirits, too, since they've apparently been
watching you for a long time."

Aura looked up at him silently, then at the dryad still squatting
on her shoulder, which nodded with a solemn, green-eyed gaze.
Seeing that she was vocally unresponsive, he continued.

"We didn't know what happened to you for the longest time.
Ever since your father lost himself in grief over your mother
and her disappearance, we lost sight of both of you. Even the
the spirits didn't know where you were. Or maybe they didn,
and just didn't tell us. We still aren't sure; they have
own mischievous ways, at times. But the good aspect of it all
is that you're back safe and sound. Your mother will be proud
to see that you've grown into such a fine young woman."

Despite his general manner of idle chat, his last sentence hit her
with a haunting blow, enough so that she found her voice once
more.

"My.. my mother? She is still alive, then? Is she here?"

He paused, causing her to, as well, since he was a main source of
her mobility towards the ever-nearing creek. With a considerable
glance behind him, the old man nodded, starting again on the way.

"She is, and she isn't. I'm sure you'll understand what I mean
soon enough, child. I am sorry about your father, however;
I'm afraid he is no longer among the living, as the term
would allow. I do believe, however, he played a more vital
role than anyone would ever have expected in all this. It's
a strange turn of events, true enough."

"I don't understand. If... my father's gone, how did he have
anything to do with... I mean... augh..."

Aura sighed, completely without an idea as to anything that had
happened since she left Truce. The old man comfortingly patted
her on the opposing shoulder, continuing along.

"I understand your dilemma to a degree, my dear. But as I
said, all will be explained not too long from now. In fact,
now that she knows you are safe, your mother has asked me in
a rather personal manner to escort you to her, so that she
may see her daughter again. You do not have a problem with
this, I hope?"

Aura looked at him as if he'd said something completely without
realism.

"Are you crazy? I'd love to see my mother. I've spent the
last I-don't-know-how-many years wondering about anything I
once ever had, and now everything's hitting me like... like...
all at once, like this? Why wouldn't I take the chance I'm
given?"

He chuckled again, with a nod.

"Of course, I figured your response would be similar. She's
been anxious to see you since she first caught wind of your
return. And I mean that literally, all in thanks to the
sylphs. But, I digress."

He looked up for a moment, as if looking ahead for something, but
didn't hesitate to continue.