Life and Death

Familial ties

Fear does not stop Death, it stops life. -unknown

Mira

It had been a few days now since I found Daunte after that Witch had him. Fortunately for him, her only goal was to see him cower, but unfortunately he did. He still isn't quite the same, his face still staring endlessly into the fire before us with the same exasperated and haunted look. I had tried to get him to talk about it, to help him shoulder the burden of whatever nightmare he saw, but he would only shake his head and turn away. Though he was now starting to return to his normal 'charming' self.

A cool breeze sang through the trees causing my skin to prickle and sent a small shiver through my body. Winter was coming and while it wasn't the first one we have survived through, it would never get any easier. Nico padded his way over to me, circling not once, not twice, but three times before curling up in a little ball of red fur beside me. I glaced at him and let my hand stroke his rusty mane knowing full well thats exactly what he wanted. Daunte, deciding to be funny, came over and did the exact same thing as Nico. He went as far as circling around himself as if he were the little fox, but decided to just sit next to me instead.

"I'm okay. I am not a little boy ya know," A wicked grin plastered on his face and that same old twinkle returned to his eyes.

"I know, it just- It just scared me." I let out a deep sigh, a release of tension I have held onto for days. He smirked at that which only caused me to smack him on his arm.

"Hey! What was that for?" He yelled playfully trying not to let any giggles escape him. I giggled back and leaned into him, "You really did scare me. I didn't know what to do or say and..." My voice rasped and small pools gathered in my eyes. I couldn't say anything. He's all I have. If something were to happen to him, what could I do? Even if I can't tell him how I feel, he's still my best friend. My family. He sighed behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders giving me a tight squeeze.

"I'm still here, Mira." I couldn't help it. The tears had started to fall and before I knew it, I was crying big ol' crocodile tears on to his shoulder, letting him soothe me until I couldn't cry anymore. At somepoint I hicupped and let myself fall asleep, curled into a little ball as Daunte swept away all my worries.

I felt weightless, like I was floating around, but could see or feeling nothing. And then suddenly I was back in the same dusty room from the dream before. Slowly observing the space before me, I spot the same old chairs, wobbly table, rotting walls, and caving in roof. My gaze continued to scan the room before stopping on the same corner as before, the void. Straightening myself I walked closer, cautiously inspecting the void this time without a trace of fear, slowly realizinig that this is just as it appears. A small dark corner.

"Hello, Mira." My head whipped around and my eyes locked in on the same tall dark figure from the last dream. The chills returned and the same sense of dread, asking me- no begging me to run. Pushing through the fear, I satyed and this time I could vaguely make out features on the figure, his face resembeling that of an old man.

"I know you." My head was a whirlwind of emotions. The figure was so familiar, yet... But this only made the Man laugh maliciously. The sound itself brought her hairs on her arms to stand at attention and her mind screamed at her once again to run, but she pushed through the feeling and stood her ground.

"How," The Man had no features but I swear I saw his face twist into an evil grin.

"How do I know you?" The darker looking hallows that would be his eyes stared at her. It felt as if he were really staring. The feeling as if he pierced my soul.

"I am Death." The sound not of that of man or woman, sounded more old and trecherous and came out slow like a fog and the scene before me became hazey. It cleared and below her sat a woman with child ready to bring them into the world.

"Life is beautiful, No?"I jolted , surprised at the suddeness of his words as he was standing right next to her gazing down at the scene. Her eyes looked back and a midwife was helping the young woman deliver her baby, right there in the old shack of her dream.

"This was real. This actually happened?" I looked back up at Death, an amused grin appearing.

"You don't recongize your own Mother?" I looked back at the young Woman, catching a glimpse of her beautiful purple eyes.

"I came this night to take your life, you were not supposed to make it into the world alive." My gaze strained on the young Woman, wanting to memorize every part of her.

"I wandered into the room to find a beautiful young woman, and her eyes intrigued me. I came to take her baby yet, I sat and watched the scene unfold instead. You came into the world with weak little cries, but you were alive. Your Mother quickly soothed you and you lay in her arms, but you looked only at me." My eyes wandered back to the figure beside me, thats impossible... I was a mere infant but you are so familiar to me. He chuckled as if hearing my thoughts.

"I laid waste to your entire family and still you lay upon your dead Mother, laughing and babbling all the same. Looking into my eyes as if you already knew who I was to you." Mira's gazed hardened as Death turned to look at her.

"You are my Daughter."

I shot up from sleep, drenched in a cold sweat. Nico lay before me, eyes shooting up and locking in with my own waiting for confirmation that I am okay. I took slow deep breathes and scanned the camp only for my eyes to land on Daunte, watching his slow breathes while curled up in the roots of a tree.

"Thanks, buddy. I'm okay." My voice cooed as I stroked Nico's fur, wiping away any trace of worry he had before.

Darkness surounded me, the moon still high in the sky, confirming that daybreak was still hours away. I would try to go back to sleep but my mind was wind awake already swirling with anxiety about the dream I just had. I laid down and turned so that I faced Daunte as he slept. His features were soft and he more relaxed than I had seen him in days. He truly was handsome, his looks were more akin to royalty than what we actually were. Light seemed to surround him like a soft blanket, even in the darkness of the night. I turned to lay on my back and gazed up at the night sky. Tomorrow would come eventually. Then, it would be my birthday.