Prolong: Just a Feeling

"it's kind of funny," Lucian smiles.

Time has passed since Damian's end and things have become calmer. The night no longer feels so rough, so dangerous. There are still dangers lurking around, the wolves, the skin walkers, vampires. Insects. Anything, but the atmosphere changed that day. After Damian passed on, the silence was no longer there. The still feeling of unease vanished, the underlying sense of sadness was gone. All became calm. The birds spoke freely, the wolves howled with no worries. The forest around the house felt open, welcoming. The night feels peaceful now.

"What's funny?" Shadow grins.

After all that had happened, Cassandra moved back to her hometown. Her parents were nowhere, essentially. No one had noticed them even leave. It was as if they didn't exist, but maybe that was for the best.

"How we all became friends, "Lucian laughs.

"It is, "Cassandra agrees, looking at the bright sky.

Instead of just her moving back to her hometown, the two agreed to come as well. They didn't move in with her and her friends, but somewhere a little closer to wooded areas. "More privacy, that way," Lucian played it off well enough to her friends. The three knew the real reason, well the other reason.

"I mean, it's still sad," He looks up at the sky briefly, "I hope Damian found peace in his new life."

The others nod but stay silent. Even if Damian had made bad decisions, they understood him better now. Cassandra still finds herself wishing she could have helped before it was too late. Damian hadn't had anyone to help, and it seemed like reaching out was more painful than not. They all still thought about his words before, how he was sorry for everything. How he had wished he had treated them better. That smile was heartbreaking, a sad smile of regret and sorrow. Cassandra had thought to herself for a while after that, thinking that he could have started over. He could have made a different life for himself, but that wasn't how he felt. He wanted to free himself from the agony, the traumatizing memories of his childhood. He had been fighting with himself to try to break the endless cycle of agony. It just became too much.

"I think he has," Cassandra smiles, a small tear falling from her face.

"Mom, who are they?"

Cassandra had noticed the family, but the other two hadn't until now. The small boy is maybe six. The parents smile happily, laughing at their own little inside jokes. They seem taken off guard by their son's question, but smile, "They're just a group of friends enjoy each other's company, honey."

The dad smiles, "Just like you and your friends do at home."

The boy smiles briefly but continues to stare at them.

"Is that him?" Shadow whispers.

Cassandra nods, remaining silent. She feels happy to know that he has a good family this time, but the thought of his previous life still breaks her heart.

"Hi," The little boy walked up to them.

"Damian!" His mother yells in worry as the two ran towards their son.

"I'm so sorry that he disturbed you, he's a curious one, "His mother explains, clearly panicking but smiling politely.

"Now, what do we say, Damian?"

He looks up at them, the height difference being almost a joke in this situation.

"Thank you," He speaks with a soft look in his eyes.

One only an old soul would feel.

His mother laughs a true happy laugh, "No, no. You say sorry."

She stands up, looking at them, "I'm sorry he ran to you like that. He usually never does that."

"No," Cassandra's voice cracks, "No, it's okay."

"A-are you okay? Did-"

The mother looks between the two men almost worryingly, but they don't speak. Lucian doesn't find words for how he feels. He almost wants to laugh, remembering how Damian was once of the most hated and feared demons. And, now he's a small child. Tears fall from his eyes, which only confuse the mother even more. The father picks his son up, holding him as he stares at the three. Shadow remains silent but doesn't feel the tears. He feels happy for little Damian and smiles.

"Don't mind my friends, they're just emotional when it comes to kids," He pauses, "They love kids...and we just lost a friend a while ago named Damian."

The parents give them a sympathetic, "I'm so sorry."

Cassandra shakes her head and Lucian can only manage to do the same.

"It's been tough on all of us, "Shadow continues, "He may not have been the best friend, but he deserved and still does deserve more than he was given."

Shadow and Damian hold eye contact, and he knows that it's him. Damian smiles a genuine smile.

"I'm so sorry for-"

"No," Cassandra speaks, her voice hoarse ad tears fall, "Thank you. Thank you for treating your son like you do. For loving him. I know it's not my story to tell, but our friend had a rough life growing up and it made him into someone he wasn't. And, it kind of broke all of our hearts to see him become such a way with no way to help him..."

She lets herself breathe before speaking, "Thank you."

"We're sorry for interrupting your family's evening," Lucian laughs gently, wiping away a tear, "We're just a tad emotional over our friend. Have a wonderful evening."

He gives one last look at Damian before they walk away, "And, as my friend said, thank you. It means a lot to us."

The begin walking away, Cassandra and Lucian wiping their tears away.

"Man, you two really looked like fools back there," Shadow laughs lightly.

"Yeah," Lucian laughs, wiping away any tears that fall, "I know. I can't imagine how the mother felt, I almost feel bad for her hearing all that."

Cassandra smiles, "I don't know, I think it made him happy to hear it."

"How do you figure that?"

"He looked happy. He probably didn't think of any of us as allies, even in the end. He probably didn't even think we'd see him as anything but a monster. "

"It was kind of amusing, seeing how small and innocent he is compared to before."

Shadow nods, "It was nice to see him look happy. I'm glad this life offered more for him than the other."

The other two nod as they walk along the park pathway, the conversation becoming more lighthearted and playful among the three.

"Damian, don't go running off again," His mother scolds with a worried look on her face, "You didn't even know them."

Damian smiles, feeling his own tears fall, "Sorry, mom. I won't run off again."

She hugs him close, "You made me worry, you little-"

She ruffles his hair with her hand as they all laugh. A genuinely happy family.

"But, why are you crying now?"

"I just feel bad for their loss...of their...friend."

She picks him up, holding him, "I do, too. They looked so sad, I hope their friend is at peace."

"I think he is."

"How do you figure that, honey?"

"Just a feeling," He giggles.