Luster is startled too, drawing a mask of impenetrable calm over her face just a second before Merry’s gaze tips up to her, reading her expression. She doesn’t want to alarm him. Her first instinct, her only instinct in that moment, is to absorb the dark from all the shadows around them, let them grow and swell inside her until there is enough to wield like a weapon carved from ink. To protect the boy who has found refuge in the space between her forelegs.
But -
She hesitates, her brow furrowing beneath the wild currents of dark forelock as the voice reaches her, draws a soft, flickering ear towards it. It strikes a chord inside her memory. “Djinni?” She asks, so soft and bewildered, so surprised to see this woman she hadn’t seen in years. Her eyes flick back over this new body - no, not a new body. She can see that more easily now that fear isn’t dulling her focus. Just a new color, soft and pink and reminding her of a hazy morning sunrise. Her mouth softens into a matching smile, something gentle that reaches up to smooth the edge out of those wild brown eyes.
Hullo. Merry says, and her lips drop reflexively to his head, nuzzling smooth the wild downy tufts sticking up between his dark little ears. She smiles when he looks up at her, grabs the tip of one ear between her lips with a soft, amused tug. You did good, baby. Her nose brushes along the curve of his little jaw one last time, and then she’s lifting her head to find Djinni’s eyes again, her expression soft but maybe just a little wary.
There was no way to see this woman without also seeing the ghost of someone she had loved very much.
But she doesn’t acknowledge it, doesn’t say his name out loud or ask how he is. He hasn’t been hers to worry over in years. Instead, and with a smile that is duller now, steeped in the shadows she had called to her and set free with no purpose, she says, “Merry, this is my friend, Djinni. We used to live in the same place. There were huge trees, even bigger than ours, and all the leaves were the color of a sunset. There was a lake, too, and a cave.” Things she hadn’t meant to say out loud. Hadn’t meant to remember. Then to Djinni, “How have you been?” Just as quiet and silver as ever.
@[Djinni]