Redhawk Caldera Vessel

this is going to be the last Bronco post from me <3 thank you for being a part of his little journey!

His son asked him a question that made his insides tie in knots. He stepped forward to brush his son’s forehead, hoping it might evoke only positive emotions, the way it had when Wraen touched him. He thought of the first moment he saw Ponyboy, of laughing wildly as they chased each other and it brought a smile to his lips. 

From the darkness gleamed two sad, sore eyes, tear-laden and scarlet from sleepless night. 

”Teya,” he breathed as the moonlight made her look all the more winsome and fair. It was upon her shoulders that the grief of their three children had fallen and he knew then that he had failed her. She was not ruined, but succumbing to a darkness he knew all too familiarly, now. 

He padded toward her, and stood with his grizzled muzzle to her ear, eyes closed. 

”I love you with all my heart. I would run with you, forever, in eternity.” he stepped back, and in hushed tones, spoke again. ”But until then…Teya, my one love…I want you to live- live long, and live happy. It will come to you, I-“ He was not permitted to tell her what he knew, ”promise, you will live a long and satisfied life.”

He felt Ponyboy’s stare, and looked back to his youngest son and daughter. To them, a poignant moment as they saw each other for the last time. It felt like he was being torn as he moved from the darkness near the den and out into the light; he was a shade more transparent now.  

”I can’t stay; but I’m not going far.” A white lie, now that he understood what the process was. ”You two take care of each other and Boris, alright?” His voice trembled.

He wondered if True Death was listening and felt an uncharacteristically warm breeze. 

”Soon.” a warning, he knew, that only he could hear.

He moved to Killdeer, head sweeping low. ”I hope you’ll forgive me, Varmint. I think that protecting my family was my unfinished business but…I’m glad that I got to go on a little trip with you.” His tone became misty and wistful as he spoke. 

The wind rose, and the moon had climbed. He turned to say something to them as a group- but they were gone, and so was the moonlight. 

To them, he was gone too- slipped away as if it had all been nothing more than a shared dream.