The ringing woke him quickly from the dream-scape. His deep violet eyes, wide in alertness, Donovan jumped from his bed in one liquid movement. He had cast a spell every night, to alert him when something was ever wrong with his mother. For, unlike his father, Jaynis was very tranquil and serene, and had no heart for fighting or anything consisting in violence. That was the spell which had been triggered and Donovan wasted no time in dashing to his parents' room.
Mother Moon was setting slowly to the west, her light seeming somewhat...sad. He took that in quick consideration and continued on in his advance. His keen hearing picked up the whistling of small birds outside, nesting within the canopy of the surrounding forests. He then heard his father cry. It was a wounded sound, one which would be made by an animal in great turmoil. It sent a chill through his young body and he staggered.
As he reached the heavy wooden door, Donovan heard his sisters' footsteps coming the same way. He paid it no mind and summoned forth courage to open the door. Upon doing so, he nearly fell over and turned pale.
There, off to the side of the room, was Xelloss, craddling the limp form of his mate. Donovan couldn't move. Frozen to the spot, he watched his father cry, heard him sob. He had never seen his father that way, nowhere close to it. The man he had known to be very strong willed was crying like a child who was lost.
Unknown to Donovan, Xelloss was lost. He didn't know what to do but hold tightly the once lively body of Jaynis. Xelloss opened his eyes and looked down upon Jaynis' face. Though his vision blurred by tears, he could still make out her face, soft and calm. Xelloss slowly looked up, his body shivering violently, and took notice of his son standing in the doorway. Not too long after, Hope came up behind her twin and gasped. She tightly grasped her brother's arm. Xelloss shook his head slowly, his breathing hollow. "M-My children...you-your m-mother...she..." He buried his face against Jaynis' still soft hair.
"M-Mommy...??" Hope bit her lip and asked in a soft voice which shook. Her hold on Donovan's arm tightened. "Is Mommy de--"
"No! I will NOT accept that!" Donovan pulled harshly away from his sister and went to Xelloss' side. Kneeling, he took possesion of his mother's limp hand and clasped it to his face. Her touch was cold and brought little comfort. He truned his violet eyes to his father, a red mark manefesting over his left eye. "She cannot be...dead...father! She is a forgotten! She cannot die!"
Xelloss lifted his damp face to his young son. The mark had shown upon Donovan's face, his eyes narrowed yet tearing. That red mark, the proof of his Forgotten blood, had come only when Donovan was angered. At him, Xelloss didn't know, nor did he care. He turned his gaze back to Jaynis and rested his cheek against her forehead. Xelloss ultimately ignored his son.
Donovan tugged on his mother's arm, pulling her away from Xelloss. "Father!"
"Don't take her from me!" Xelloss grabbed Jaynis back and held her tighter. "Please..." Xelloss sobbed and began to rock her slowly. Hope had come to sit behind her brother, shocked at her father's behavior. But Xelloss was beyond caring, he kept crying. 'Please Essence, don't leave me. I've lost you twice, I'll not lose you again...'
**********
The Mother Moon had left the sky, but the Daystar did not shine. For during her passage to the dreamless sleep behind the western mountains, she had called forth mist and gray clouds, heavy with water, to cover the immortal skies. The clouds spread wide, covering the sun completely, and soon the sky wept.
The clouds wept as Xelloss did. For from the bond shared between Mother Moon and Xelloss, Mother Moon made it a point to keep Xelloss safe and protected. She had seen wrongs the earlier night, and now mourned for Xelloss' loss. After all, it was not just his mate he lost, he lost half of his soul. So now the skies cry for him, and would continue to do so unless Xelloss finds the light of life once again.
**********
Zelgadiss stood, leaning against the brick wall of his pathetic stone hut which served as his cover from the rain. His fire had burned out long ago, before the rain, yet he only grinned. That meant his spell was already halfway finnished. He chuckled to himself.
Now, as the rain fell, Zelgadiss mearly stared into the forest, arms crossed and smirking. He knew what the rain meant and reveled in the pain and loss it represented.
'Xelloss has recieved my gift, has he?' He pushed himself from the wall and made his way into the rain.
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