Happily Ever After

A glassy, stricken face flashed a reflection before closing. He knew it was his own, but he had never seen it so, tortured.

"Ferren?" He turned, Amaya standing nearby, looking distraught. "Where's Kai-" She cut off by the pain-filled expression in his eyes. "No, she can't be. She promised me," Amaya looked to me for a reassuring gesture, but I couldn't give her one. She crumbled, realization dawning her.

"What happened?" She choke out.

"We were so close. I-i got in the portal and turned to see her come through, but.. instead I- saw her get shot." I paused, "She was smiling, Amaya, at me."

"of course she was," Amaya put the pieces together in her head, "She knew we wouldn't all make it out. She had in a way planned for it."

Frustration and anger flashed over me, fast.

"We have to go back. She wasn't dead when I left- Amaya, we have too."

A centaur leaped over, hope in him. I recognized him before as Kaida's father.

"W-where's Kaida?" He asked barely keeping excitement out of his tone. When I hesitated his face fell.

"She-she didn't make it through," I sorrowed. His expression showed more emotion than words ever could.

"N-no. Can't be. I just met her she can't be gone already," His eyes got watery, and he didn't contain it. Tears slid down his face. "We were supposed to live happily ever after," He sobbed. I didn't quite understand, but didn't question him in this state.

He slumped, seeming less and less energetic and more like someone who had lost someone they'd known forever. But, he had truly just met her.

Although, I probably didn't understand. I hadn't had kids yet. He probably felt like he knew her forever.

And now he couldn't even try.