out with the golden we sew // Star

[Kagerus]

Out with the golden we sew, and the lower past that crawls.
Now, to the doorway you run, to the girl that's not lost.

Everyone meets him eventually! We call him a guardian here. He's my uncle but he's very kind.

I smile at the sweet filly's thoughtful delivery of her speech, at the furrow of her brow and her shyest of smiles. I lend a fond eye to her downy white wings, remembering the wings which so many of my family members wear. My shoulders itch with the desire to sprout my own -- something about my mirror neurons firing -- but I resists the urge, instead deigning to smile back at the filly to encourage her confidence.

My name is Elegance.

"A pleasure to meet you, Elegance."

But call me Ellie, please.

I chuckle. "Ellie, then. My name is Kagerus. If you'd like, you may call me Koko." Koko, a name by which my grandchildren refer to me; for some reason, it feels fitting to ask this little girl to call me the same. Something about her wide eyes and shy smile but eager voice endear themselves to me. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for the little ones. Might as well be both!

Before long, the clouds entrance miss Ellie. She wonders aloud to me of their origin, of my making, and I give her a few more minutes to nuzzle the fog animals and giggle and experience the wonder of childhood before I answer. Childhood flies by far too fast far too often. So, for now, we just...

Slow down.

So, with the sun filtering through the great woods above with an oft-forgotten leisure, I stand with the child. I fabricate more wonders, other animals and shapes; in her hair I place colourful flowers and twinkling lights, bending the world in whatever way makes her smile and laugh all the more. A gift I could not give every one of my children. Something to, hopefully, brighten the future.

As I inhale to speak, I draw away the fog, leaving the flowers.

"Alas, no, child, I am not a god." I chuckle again, the sound low and soothing. "I am just a woman with some magic in my veins. And a mother, and a grandmother. Oh, and I'm friends with a woman named Lilliana whom I happen to know lives here." I cast a squinted eye upon the filly. "You wouldn't happen to know her, would you Ellie?"

Kagerus

sweet nothing

@[Elegance]