Dialogue with Rayne's mother

Rayne’s mother

(After checking her notes, Blue found a parallel in her interviews in Galilan. The place she interviewed Rees after annihilation was also the place she spoke briefly with an older woman before the destruction of the city and after the soltakin commenced the campaign of terror. She swiftly deduced she had had words with Rees and Rayne’s mother and was thus one of the last to have seen her alive)

Blue: My lady, you should be indoors. It isn’t safe.

Rayne’s mother: Can’t call anywhere safe, my dear. Walls and closed doors will not stop those fiends.

Blue: Lady, is there someone with you? Your children?

Rayne’s mother: Essie from next door. We keep each other company through everything good and bad. My children have their own lives…my daughter gallivants in the country as if she’s a spoilt rich girl and my son flits everywhere trying to be Valaris’ saviour…forgive me, I find I’m disappointed that they saw fit to…to…

Blue: Abandon you?

Rayne’s mother: Forgive me, no. Rees is a good girl and will be here as soon as she can. And Rayne … well, Rayne is what he is, isn’t he? How dare I deny that? How dare I deny our people his abilities?

Blue: My lady, where is Rayne now?

(The woman unfortunately returned indoors then, perhaps realising she had revealed too much. Blue has not discovered her name, and there is no image on record of Rayne’s mother)

*updated to reflect the edits and re-publish of the Lore of Arcana series*

Dialogue with Rees

Rees

(Blue spoke to many Valarians in the week following the drowning and destruction of Galilan, Valaris’ capital city. After, when she collated her notes, she realised she had spoken to Rain’s sister)

Blue: Hello! Forgive the interruption, but I’m moving from plot to plot informing people where to find food and fresh water. Have you been told?

Rees: You’re welcome. Come closer. We’re aware of the relief centres, yes, but I overheard others asking…you’d have to keep moving and keep asking.

Blue: I’ll do so. ‘We’? You have others with you? Are you coping?

Rees: A friend and her husband stay with me…my m-mother didn’t…we found her in the cellar with…sorry.

Blue: I’m sorry, too. What’s your name?

Rees: Rees…yes, after the priest.

Blue: Ha! Who named you? I’m guessing your father.

Rees: Yes! And my brother Rain still teases me about it!

Blue: Where is he? Will he be joining you? Um, do you know if he…?

Rees: Rain was here earlier, thank God. He’s fine, doing his thing. What’s your name?

Blue: Blue…but don’t ask me why! I’m only glad it isn’t ‘Green’ or ‘Pink’!

Rees: I’ll bet! And do you have somewhere to stay in all this?

Blue: I do, thank you…it will get better, I hope you know that. Sooner than we can believe right now.

Rees: I hope so. Thanks. I suppose you must be on your way. Good to meet you, and good luck.

Blue: Luck to you also.

A New Friend

His horror grew as he walked through the wealthy suburb that had long been his neighbourhood. He passed homes of friends and colleagues where decaying bodies drooped like grizzly decorations from windows and balcony rails. He passed houses razed to the ground, where the smell was so overwhelming he gagged, hurrying away as fast as he was able. Bloodless heads spiked on a fence, blackened hands and feet strewn like flowers in a patch…he soon learned not to look. Staring at his feet, he walked on. Of course his feet encountered trophies also, thank god for the boots, but he forced himself on, ever on. Away.

No one alive. It was silent, empty of human sound…gods, what evil had befallen their world?

A dog startled him, barking from behind a wrought iron fence to his right and he stopped dead and stared at the animal. It was small and hairy, a child’s beloved pet- he was so surprised to see anything alive that almost it undid him. Swallowing convulsively, he lifted his gaze from the yapping, pitiful creature- the house further back was burnt, a blackened shell. A bright blue tricycle lay discarded on the trampled lawn…oh, dear lord. The dog, soot encrusted and smelly, could not escape its prison. It would starve…and die…slowly. No. Marcus cried as he struggled with the gate…had to let it out, it was as hungry and as lonely as he was and did not deserve its fate. The dog sat silent, watching, waiting, its tail periodically wagging, as, cursing, he fought the latch. Open! The poor animal came warily, but when Marcus knelt to scratch in his food bag it ran over to sit before him, black eyes flicking from bag to man, man to bag, tongue hanging out…

He sat down hard in the road and let tears come. Muttering nonsense through them he drew out water, the cup, and one of the containers of crackers. Neither of them, he suspected, would stomach more. Crying and speaking to the dog just to hear his voice, glad to hear the humanness, ridiculously happy to see the dog perk its ears at the sound, he shared the water, the dog drinking greedily from the cup, and then shared the crackers. One for the dog, one for him, one for the dog, one for him…until between them they finished it. He reached out and scratched behind its ears and it licked his hand…and a friendship was born.

Marcus stood, hefted his load and walked on. He did not call, said not a word, but he did not chase the dog away either. He smiled down as it trotted along at his side, and nodded. You and me, pal, just you and me.

Animated Spirit

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