Constellations

The Dragon's Head Tavern and Inn, Vorland, 1439 ATC

The sunset was pushed back in exhalations, its colors trailing behind as it departed.

The canvas grew pale, the scarlets and pinks and ambers that have stained the heart became mute echoes, and soon even Nadine's hopes and fears are just soothed wounds, lost to another moment in time.

And then the stars were born.

Far above The Dragon's Head Tavern and Inn, the constellations creep into existence. Nadine can hear the chatter of Venser and his family settle into rhythmic appreciation as they notice and gaze up. She smiled as she watched them, and resistes the urge to join in, focusing instead on the lush coolness of the long grass upon her back. The sensation was fleeting; her body forgot its touch almost instantly.

There was a murmur on the warm summer breeze.

Sanna pointed out a sequence of stars, the Krimeakhetan Ibis bird, her golden fingers tracing them as though they're a pattern sewn onto cloth as Venser watched the kids play in the grass and cuddle up with their mothers, looking to Nadine taking a break for once and sitting several feet away from everyone else, and then to the golden gypsy beside him.

Their eyes met.

Sanna was radiant, and Venser just wanted to close the already small gap between them and feel the warmth of the night grow. She glared at the constellations above, but within seconds the anxiety is forgotten, and she's close enough to see the moonlight pouring across her body.

He moved closer to his beloved, her smooth skin still cool against his, and the gradual realization birthed a thousand butterflies. Heat blossoms across Sanna's cheeks, across her entire body, and the world disintegrated into pure love.

Together they watch the stars, sharing favorite constellations like secrets and old legends of their origins that have been hidden away for far too long.

Nearby, Selina talked about The Wolf, about how every member of her pack came to revere the story of a hybrid who allowed her to truly feel alive, and who chose to relinquish both to guide other lost souls from the sky.

It's was a beautiful fragility.

Everyone present began to share their own stories about the stars too.

Madalina sat beside Alex, and pointed at The Colossus, looming across the sky beside The Wolf, and offered up what it meant to her. Mostly it's the fact that she really liked the idea of being someone who will stand strong between her friends and danger.

Such fragility was a double-edged sword. The warrior woman mumbled a revision about it being the biggest constellation, and so obviously the best.

A look from the others and they fall silent, mapping the sky with shared eyes. Time and time again though Venser was drawn back to the edge of the constellations, to his own favorite constellation, The Serpent. To the point where it reached out towards The Ibis and The Wolf.

"The ibis, a bird from my homeland represents, Mintene, the God of Knowledge and Writing. And the herald of the flood."

"What does that mean? Herald of the flood?" Nadine asked, looking away from the galaxy filled heavens above.

"Often after the rivers flood, the ibis would often help clean up all of the leftover rotting fish that could not be collected, as well as poisonous snails." The golden gypsy explained as Nadine blinked her golden, almond shaped eyes and nodded.

"Right, yes. They keep the water clean and clean up refuse."

"Mintene is also the avenger of justice. After the flood."

It almost appeared as though The Ibis and The Serpent were seeking unity. Almost, but not quite.

Venser turns to Sanna, and found the golden gypsy already looking at him, and that their little Rowena had fallen asleep. In the silence they stared at each other, noses touching as they scooted closer to each other.

Sanna breathed in ragged puffs. Her intense green eyes are anchors of moonlight, holding Venser in place as her head moved in little jagged movements. Pins dance across Venser's body, his senses smothered by his favorite lover beside him.

True love. While he was surrounded by his other lovers and their children, admittedly, Sanna was the favorite. No matter how much he claimed he loved all of his women equally.

A cool breeze washed over them, carrying sweet pollen and the fragrance of the wilds. Venser drank in deep the magic of the moment under the magical Laguna night sky, his head full and heavy.

He took a breath.

And so did Sanna.

High above, dancing across the sky, the reflections of the constellations collided.

Nadine scoffed and looked over to Venser's oldest twins as they laid in the grass near the artificer woman.

"Do you think like, there are other people up there? I mean I know, like, ya know like, you know Summerland? But I mean like... Whoooosh!" Soarin sat up grabbed a rock and waved it around.

"Like a boat!" Pipped his twin sister, Lucinda.

"Kids, there is a giant multiverse out there. Filled with many fascinating people, as well as dangerous creatures beyond imagination." Nadine said looking to them with a saddened frown, thinking of her own home elsewhere and the threat of the Luektorem.

"Oohhh! Really? Like not just like humans and elves and dragon people and stuff?"

The golden eyed girl gave a nod and stared off past them.

She could see the entire planet of Laguna turned to a giant white dust plane.

But her engine was complete. All she needed was to gather her allies, the magic bomb that Myron was supposed to procure, lock on, and open a portal into the Luektorem cube she knew was out there as everyone, especially the children kept chatting amongst themselves.

"Do you think we'll ever meet them?"