Broken Memories, Epilogue

I was walking through the forest, close to the little hut Teal and I had built about a year ago, the pleasant feeling of the soft moss underneath my bare feet making me take a little extra time. I was carrying a basket that Teal had carved from wood under my right arm, which I had filled with berries, as well as some dry grass to use for starting a fire. The forest made me feel at home. It was beautiful, peaceful, and silent, apart from the occasional twittering of birds among the treetops. I looked up, seeing the trees sway lightly in the gentle wind, making a few leaves float through the air. I could look at the treetops for hours upon end, finding them hypnotizing in their beauty, but I tore my lone eyelight away, not wanting to get off track.

I brought my hand up to my chest, trailing my fingertips along the smooth stone that hung around my neck, a stone that Teal had found near the pond close to the hut and made into a necklace which he had given to me. I took  the stone in my hand, looking down at it, gently placing it to my teeth before letting it fall to the front of my shirt again.

Teal worked a few times a week in the town close by to where we had settled our home, making sure that we had the money we needed for clothes, tools, and food if we couldn't find anything in the woods. He had returned to his old home, only to gather some memorial items of his sister and some money to buy me and the snow leopard cub we had rescued our first set of clean clothes. It had been a very strange experience to put on clothes other than the ragged, worn shorts I had always had. I found that they brushed against my bones in an uncomfortable manner, but I had gotten used to it with time, and I had developed a small interest in clothing as I found it fascinating how many different kinds of styles of clothes existed.

I had only been to town with Teal once in the past year; to see what it was like. I prefered to stay in the forest, away from people, since I always had the feeling they were staring at me. Even if I was wearing clothing that cover me up so that none of the scars on my body showed, my damaged eye socket was very eye catching. Not many of the monsters nor humans from what I had seen of the people in the town had many faults, and I felt as though I stood out like a black ink stain on a purely white canvas. Teal told me that it wasn’t the case, but the stares spoke louder than his words.

I also had a constant feeling of paranoia, that someone was going to take me away from Teal and shut me in again. Even the smallest of crowds made me feel incredibly claustrophobic. I tensed up instinctively if anyone came close to me and I panicked, trying to hide behind Teal and cling to him like a lifeline. After that first visit I had stayed in the forest where I felt safe, free and at home. Teal hadn't pushed me to go back, knowing that it made me uncomfortable. The thought of giving it another try wasn’t too tempting, but I wasn’t fully against it either. I wanted to explore more of this world since I hadn’t had that ability before, but for now I wanted to get more comfortable and simply enjoy my freedom.

I saw the little hut in the distance, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, and I picked up pace, jogging up to the little door we had made from braiding branches of young trees. I pushed it aside, peeking inside.

“Sky, honey? Are you in here?” I asked and instantly heard shuffling in the end of the small room, hearing her bright voice coming from the same direction and seeing a silvery blur come running towards me.

“Dad!”

She threw her arms around my neck, making me almost drop the basket, and I yelped in surprise. She had grown a substantial amount since we had first found her, now only a few inches away from reaching my height, and it wouldn't be long before she had outgrown me. I chuckled, wrapping my free arm around her back and placing a kiss the top of her head, her pitch black hair as soft as it always was. She looked up, excitement written over her face, her sky blue eyes shining.

“Did you find any?” she asked, letting go of me and eyeing the basket before looking back at me with a bright smile. I chuckled, nodding and reaching my hand in under the blanket that covered the basket, feeling around for the small object she had asked me to find. I felt the small rough surface of something small and rounded under my fingertips and took it in my hand, bringing it out and showing it to her. It was about the size of a cherry, and bright golden in colour. It was a piece of hardened tree sap, something she was collecting just for the fun of it. She was trying to save up enough of them to make two wristbands. I didn't know what  she would need two for, and I supposed only time would tell.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of it, and she took it between her small, clawed fingers.

“Thank you! You're the best!” she exclaimed, hugging me tightly again before running back to the corner where she kept the rest of the ones she had collected.

I chuckled, putting down the basket and removing the small blanket, kneeling before the small area where we usually made a fire. I started preparing a few logs and sticks to make one, taking a chunk of the dry grass I had picked, putting it next to the pile of logs.

“Where's papa?” I asked, hearing her fiddling with something in the corner.

“He went down to the pond to lay some fishing nets. He said he'd be back in a few hours.” she answered. “Dad, I think it's finished.” I then heard her say, and I tilted my head slightly in her direction, without looking away from the materials I was arranging for the fire.

“That's great, Sky. What is it for?” I asked.

I felt a tiny claw gently poke at my shoulder and I looked up from what I was doing, my eyelight falling on a small wristband she was holding in her hands. She had filed the pieces of sap into small spheres, every other being bigger, and every other smaller. It was beautifully made, and I found it very impressive.

“It's beautiful.” I said, and she held it out to me, making my eye sockets widen in surprise.

“It's for you.” she said, and my soul skipped a beat and I could feel a slight warmth rise to my cheekbones.

“F-for me?” I asked, lifting my hands and taking it, carefully running my thumb over the surface of the smooth little orbs.

“Mhm.” She said, smiling widely. “I made one for papa too, I'm going to give it to him when he gets back.” She was beaming with pride, her small hands placed on her hips.

“Wow, thank you so much, Sky. You didn't have to do that.” I said, pulling her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around me, giggling.

“You’re welcome.” she said, and I couldn't help but chuckle, gently nuzzling her face, causing her to giggle again.

I pulled back, carefully putting the wristband around my left wrist, running my fingertips over it, a warm feeling settling at the centre of my soul, and I smiled. I then looked over at her again, speaking in a secretive voice.

“Hey, I have a little secret that I haven't told anyone yet. Would you like to hear it?”

Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she smiled widely. “Mhm! Tell me!” she said and I laughed softly, sitting down, giving a small wave with my hand for her to do the same. She instantly sat down on her knees, shuffling up close, her small, dark ears pointing at me with interest.

“Okay, okay. You have to promise not to tell papa if he comes back. I'm going to surprise him.” I said, narrowing my eye sockets with a slight smirk.

Her eyes widened, and she smiled, nodding and crossing her index and middle finger in front of her chest. “Promise!”

I chuckled at her spirit, speaking in a quiet voice. “You, little lady,” I said, pointing my finger at her small chest. “are going to have two new siblings in a couple of months.” I said, leaning back, seeing her face change to that of surprise. She looked as though she was about to squeal with happiness, and I quickly placed my index finger over my teeth, signalling for her to keep it quiet, and her tiny paw flew to cover her mouth. She leaned in, removing the paw for a second, speaking in a low, whispering voice.

“Two?” she asked in shock, and I nodded, giving her a warm smile.

“Would you like to see them?” I asked, her eyes widened again, and she nodded in eager.

I lifted the base of my shirt, pulling my soul out from within my ribcage and let it float in my hand. It was like the first time I had been with child, the only difference being that there were two small balls of light circulating around my soul, not just one. One of them had a slight, dark blue shine, the other a pale green. They were about one and a half weeks and growing steadily, getting a little larger every few days.

Sky’s eyes were wide with awe, her jaw having fallen open as she looked at the two lights moving along the surface of my soul. “They're so pretty.” she said, I could almost see stars in her eyes, and I smiled, pride flowing through me.

“That's very sweet of you. You'll be the best big sister they could ever ask for.” I said, smiling warmly as she looked up at me with surprise, a slight blush rising to the skin beneath the fur of her cheeks. She looked away shyly, smiling.

“Thanks, dad…”

I chuckled, cupping the back of her head, placing a kiss on her forehead. “No need to thank me, honey. Do you want to help me with the fire?” I asked, and she nodded eagerly, while I carefully led my soul back into the safety of my chest.



A few hours passed and dusk was closing in, causing the sky to change to a variety of different, warm colors. I figured that it was probably about time for Teal to come back from the pond, so I thought I could meet him on the way, not having much else to do.

“Hey Sky, I'll meet papa on his way back. Will you be okay on your own?” I asked, and she looked up, nodding confidently. I smiled, waving to her and stepping out of the hut.

I started to grow a bit worried after a few minutes of walking with no sign of Teal. Soon enough I could see the pond in the far distance, but still no sign of the tall skeleton. I got closer, and sighed with relief as I saw him sitting a few yards from the water, trying to loosen a fish from one of the nets.

I moved as slowly as I could, making no sound at all, creeping up behind him. When I was only about three feet from him, I accidentally stepped on a dry branch, making it crack. He tensed at the sound and started turning his skull towards me. I didn't give him the time, however, as I threw myself over him, making him gasp in surprise, and we tumbled down a small hill, rolling to a stop right before the water. He ended up on top of me, and we both laughed.

“Oh stars, Hunter. You scared me.” he said, looking down at me and I smiled, tracing my left hand along the side of his face.

“That was what I intended.” I said with a chuckle, and saw his eyelights fall to my wrist, seeing the wristband I had been given by our daughter. He gently took my wrist in his hand, trailing along the small orbs of hardened tree sap with the tip of his thumb, his eye sockets slightly wide with awe.

“Where did this come from?” he asked, meeting my eyelight.

“Sky made it. She has one for you as well.” I said, a warm feeling spreading through me at her being so kind and generous. It reminded me of Teal.

He laced our fingers together, gently pinning my hand to my left. “She really is something special.” he said, looking at me with pure affection.

“She sure is.” I said, and Teal leaned down with a smile, gently brushing his teeth over mine. My free hand placed on his shoulder, and he leaned his forehead against mine, sighing with relief.

“I have something to tell you.” I said after a few moments of comfortable silence, and he pulled back, meeting my eyelight.

“What's that?” he asked, brushing his hand down the right side of my face, trailing his thumb along the gap below my broken eye socket.

“I’m soulheavy, with twins.” I said, and watched his expression go from affectionate to neutral, as he processed what I had said, to surprise, his jaw falling open.

“Wait, what? Are you serious?” he asked, as if I would make something like that up. I nodded, smiling warmly, seeing him get run over with emotions, and he let go of my hand, hugged me to him in a tight embrace, placing kisses over my face, and along my neck. “Oh Hunter. I've been blessed. I love you so much it kills me.” he said and I giggled, wrapping my arms tight around him.

“I love you too.” I said, he leaned his forehead against mine again, and I sighed happily. We stayed in each others embrace for a little while, before he spoke again.

“So that's why you've been holding back on sex.” he said with a slight playfulness in his voice.

I couldn't help but laugh at his words, and I brought my hand to brush it along his face, cupping the side of it, moving to kiss him softly. “I wanted to surprise you.” I said, and he chuckled, trailing along my cheekbone, and up along my temple with his teeth.

“You did a damn good job of it.” he said with a chuckle, and I laughed, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck. “I love you so much.” he repeated, and my soul filled with warmth.

“You already said that, you numbskull.” I said in an amused tone.

“I haven't said it enough.” he mumbled, kissing me again. I sighed, wishing we could simply stay in each others embrace for all eternity. “... Can I see them?” he asked after a few moments passed by, and I chuckled softly, warmth spreading through my body at his cuteness. I cupped his face with both of my hands, causing him to pull back slightly to meet my eyelight.

“Of course you can.” I said, smiling warmly.

He pulled back a little more, looking down at my chest, carefully putting one of his hands on the front of my shirt, smiling.

“Now that I think about it, I think I can feel their presence.” he said in a soft voice, and my soul hummed at his words, while the souls of the children hummed at the closeness of their father. I couldn’t help but smile widely as love spread through my body like a warm flood. “May I?” Teal asked, meeting my gaze again, and I nodded with a smile.

He moved his hand south, lifting the bottom of my shirt, bringing his other hand down to pull my soul out from within my ribcage. His eyelights lit up at the sight of the two small souls circulating around it, and my soul hummed strongly in his hand. He gave out a lovestruck sigh, holding my soul in both of his hands, leaning his forehead against it. The gentle touch sent a warm sensation through me, and the tiny balls of light pulsated at his closeness.

“I truly am blessed.” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, and I felt my soul skip.

“We both are.” I responded, and he looked up at me, giving me the warmest of smiles, moving one of his hands from the soul to cup the right side of my face, tracing his thumb over my cheekbone.

“You really make my life worth living. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” he said, and I felt a blush rise to my cheekbones at his loving words. I smiled, shyly averting my gaze, raising my right hand to place it on top of his.

“I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you.” I said, my voice quiet.

“Neither would I if it wasn’t for you.” he responded, and I looked up at him again in surprise. He gave me another warm smile, making my soul flutter in his hand before his expression suddenly changed, and his eyes lit up, as if he just remembered something.

“Oh, I almost forgot. This is completely unrelated, but I have something for you.” he said, letting the souls back into my ribcage, reaching his hand into the pocket of his pants. I frowned and lifted myself to my elbows, looking over with curiosity. “Close your eye sockets.” he said, giving me a smug smile. I narrowed my eyes, but did as I was told. I heard some rustling as he dug through this pocket. “Okay, open them.”

I did, my eyelight falling on a small, triangular piece of bone in his hand, and my eye sockets widened. It was the same exact same shape as the piece missing from my broken eye socket, and I looked up at him in confusion, shock evident in my voice as I stuttered.

“I-is that…?” I trailed off, and he nodded. “H-how did you…?”

He smiled warmly, speaking in a soft voice. “It took a few weeks, but I managed to recreate it with the help of magic. May I?” he asked, lifting his left hand, brushing his thumb along the ridge of the gap. I paused, still in slight shock, but I managed to give a small nod.

I closed my eye sockets, and could soon feel the familiar tingling sensation as his magic enveloped the right side of my face, feeling the piece slowly move into place. He kept healing it for a few more minutes, and I could feel the sensation return. It felt foreign, having been so long since I had felt any sensation below my eye socket, and it made my soul beat faster. He pulled away, speaking in a soft tone.

“Go ahead.”  

I carefully opened my eye sockets, seeing his face in a completely different light, the sight having returned to my right eye socket. I had been such a long time since I'd  been able to see with both of my eyelights so that I had forgotten what it had been like. I took his face in both of my hands, looking deeply into his eyelights with the both of mine, feeling my soul surge with warm energy at the sight. I took a long moment to study his face, appreciating every detail, and I could feel my emotions start to overflow. Love, happiness, excitement, joy, they were all flowing through me simultaneously, and I could feel my soul flutter with positive feelings. His eyelights somehow seemed even brighter, and I couldn't help but smile.

I looked around the surroundings and everything looked vastly different, brighter, even more beautiful than it had previously been. I was left speechless, my entire body being filled with tingling happiness and my smile widened, tears forming in the corners of my eye sockets.

I turned my gaze back to Teal, throwing my arms around him, hugging him to me in a tight embrace, letting out a choked, happy sob against him. “Th-thank you… s-so much…” I said, and he returned my embrace gently brushing his teeth over the top of my skull, chuckling softly.

“No need to thank me, sweetheart.” he said, lifting my face to place a small kiss to my teeth.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me into his arms, standing up while placing gentle kisses along my neck, moving up over my face, and I clung to him as if my life depended on it. He pulled back slightly as he was about to reach my teeth, meeting my right eyelight, smiling warmly.

“Ready to go back?” he asked, and I paused for a moment before nodding with a smile, warmth spreading through my body, and he leaned in, kissing me softly before he started walking back towards our home.