Without the loud-mouthed, bold Redleaf-DiSarinno to order her around (although it had been toned down a lot lately), the omega of the pups was without direction. She wasn't nearly as far gone as Ty, who had been odd before the accident and was a basket case now, but still there was some shred ofsanity lost in her. The more she stared at that tree root, the more the world around her seemed to slip away into something muted and grey. Perhaps if she stared long enough, she could find Ty's happy place and fall into it with her.
Get up, said a voice from behind, and Saēna dismally wrenched her head around to see who was bothering her. Standing there was a sight that took her breath away completely: it was Osprey Jr., whole and complete and very much not dead (the downside being that she was entirely a figment of Saēna's imagination). The cub gasped and suddenly blurted out into thin air, “You're alive!”
the attitude of the plateau had changed; it had become subdued between the trees, quiet, resplendent in the shadowed places with sorrow, and with anger. lasher had kept up his hunting duties, though it had become mechanical, bringing him no pleasure. his murkwater eyes had appraised the pups when he had seen them, and today he arrived unbidden near the root that saēna had been staring at for some time, unbeknownst to him.
the delta stepped out near her in time to hear the child's breathless words, and he blinked down at the rust-marked girl silently. saēna, he murmured presently, his voice just above a whisper. are you all right?
she could not be, he reasoned, but some small slant of hope kept him from pondering this, and he awaited her response tensely.
The chocolate-y Taltos had appeared behind her. Saēna turned timidly toward him, flattening her ears shyly and stepping back. She didn't know him well, only that her father and he seemed to share a close friendship (thankfully she had no idea how close). “Yeah,” she lied immediately, crouching closer to the ground and looking around for a familiar face. Strangers made her remarkably uncomfortable.
Beside her, imaginary Junior snorted mockingly, and Saēna glared at her.
she murmured in the positive, but she hunched against the ground. she did not know him, and taltos did not wish to frighten her. lowering himself to his belly, he sought to make himself appear less imposing. tail thudded briefly against the ground. with whom were you speaking? he asked softly. you do not need to tell me if you do not wish it, the delta added, unwilling to push her after the stress and trauma her psyche had undergone.
he smiled at her, but fell silent, inviting her to speak though careful not to overwhelm her.
But Taltos lingered. It was rude to tell him to go away, and Saēna didn't want to be considered rude. She shuffled uncomfortably, grasping for something to say but understandably finding nothing. The only topic on her mind lately had been Junior's death, which was now proven incorrect by imaginary Junior. Who, by the way, was creeping beneath Taltos' belly and giggling mischievously. She was making biting motions at the other's armpit. “Stop!” Saēna implored her, forgetting for a moment that she'd just told Lasher there was no one there.
he eyed her with open concern now, for she surely talked to shadows. my child, lasher began again, in a gentler tone hushed by his need not to frighten her, to whom do you speak? he knew she was not cognizant of his relationship with peregrine — at least, he hoped so for the panther's sake — and so he was not known to her.
but since the death of the little osprey, taltos' heart had torn in twain for the others left behind. and so he was filled with worry for how they fared, for in the shortness of his long life, he had not often seen children defend themselves well against the rigors of loss.
Again, Lasher asked who she was speaking to, this time in a voice that seemed more certain of her affliction. Again, Saēna shook her head and countered, “no one.” She really didn't need imaginary Osprey Jr. getting angry with her for sharing her secret with this... Stranger. Surely he could understand that some things were better left unsaid?
Perhaps he worried for her, as all the adults worried for all of them. Or perhaps he was simply curious, and wondered what her problem was. Part of her wondered what her problem was, too, but she didn't have the brain capacity to figure that out herself.
she continued to deny that she had spoken to any creature, but while lasher did not believe her, he did not intend to argue the point with the child. saēna, he murmured gently, are you fond of flowers? perhaps he could establish himself with the girl by distracting her with less intrusive words; she seemed quite tense in his presence, but it was to be expected, due to his strangeness.
it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if she saw spirits, but taltos did not wish to frighten saēna, and so kept that thought silent and to his bosom.
Saēna was thankful when Lasher changed the subject, but her mood had already been soured by the stranger's curiosity. His question went unanswered for a short while, her eyes trained on imaginary Junior, who was weaving between the adult's legs. What a pest, thought Saēna, earning herself a reproachful glare from the obviously telepathic pup.
Say no, Junior commanded, and even though Saēna liked flowers very much, she frowned and sullenly muttered, “no.” Then, with a nod from imaginary Junior, the rust spotted pup turned and began to walk away without so much as a good bye. Lasher was a stranger, after all, and she'd had a rough day trying to keep imaginary O.J. in line, or so she told herself.
he watched her depart with a rueful expression upon his face, and while he would have liked to converse with the child further, lasher recognized the importance of letting the girl alone. sighing lowly, he lifted himself to his paws and turned, removing himself from the site. perhaps one day she would mend, but taltos knew she spoke to those who were not there. the gift of second sight was one that needed long months, perhaps even years, of conditioning — little did he know it was from pied that saēna surely drew her talent.