03-06-2026, 02:34 PM
That everything good is happening somewhere else?
Much later that evening, I settle down into my bed of time-softened pine needles with a throaty groan. The irritable chirping in my knees admonishes my earlier playfulness, but the singing in my heart lulls their complaints into dozing murmurs and brings a smile to my gray lips as my groan turns into a comforted, weathered exhale. Flat on my side for tonight's rest, I gaze up at the stars overhead, knowing that the brilliant sun will interrupt my slumber sooner than later—my new friend and I only quit each other's company on the premise of that fact, citing both our needs for sleep as reason enough to forego a coltish all-nighter.
I chuckle. "Warship indeed," I mutter to myself, admiring the undeniable prowess of the immortal's physique from within my mind's eye, contrasted as I now know it to be with the warmth underneath said physique that even the stallion himself seemed to have never noticed before. A lovely discovery. With dreams snagging on the edges of my consciousness, I illustrate Warship and two small, imagined figures, curled up on knees and ankles in a puddle of paternal affection. I doubt its legitimacy, but I don't mind; knowing that my new friend desires to improve with his newest children seems miracle enough, given what he shared with me about his relationships with the ones who came before.
"Gods, you are such a sap. Did I truly get that from you?" My daughter's laughing voice punctuates the hum of restful electricity besotting me, reaching to me with her magic to hold me close in the dream realm, a habitual comfort for many moons now. As I relinquish my hold on consciousness, my other-world ears prick, hearing the squeals and whinnies of my youngest grandchildren as they, too, enjoy the fantasy that Kagerus has dreamt up for them tonight. When Kagerus materializes before me, maroon-and-white hide glistening with dew, I toss my head and trot to her, the aches of reality relieved. We embrace.
"You come by it naturally," I say into her thick black mane. "You would have been a lover with any father to raise you. I'm just forever grateful that that job landed with me. I am a lucky man, to call you my daughter."
Kagerus whinnies a laugh and nips my shoulder as she pushes me away, a gleeful expression colouring her nutmeg eyes and obsidian lips. With a flick of her tail, she turns to welcome me to the remainder of her dream this night, Solace welcoming me shortly after and all three of us standing to watch over the children, taking on shapes of dragons, trees, men, puddles, snowflakes, and anything they can dream of. As we admire their liveliness, I settle into the warmth of family, telling my daughters of my wonderful new friend, Warship.
About his many accomplishments, on and off the battlefield; for the Chamber, and according to his powerful internal compass. I manifest him in the dream, we discuss whether they'd met him or not in their time, we reminisce about the old days, when one could make a name for themselves as my daughters did. I smile a private smile.
Excited in a new way for morning to come.
Excited to see my friend again, here, in these hallowed Chamber grounds.
Cutie ending post <3<3