Desreal: IN THE END, EVERYONE ENDS UP ALONE; III

“Ali.”

A warm muzzle brushes her neck. Startled, Alanna cranes her neck around to look above her.

Fireglow burns through his brilliant crimson skin. His forelock cascades across that idiosyncratic white blaze that he inherited from his long-gone mother. There is a veil before his eyes – a certain measured distance that will acknowledge what just happened. There is only strength there, because he won’t let himself pause and realize that Baraqel and Kratos, his brothers, his closest friends in the world, are dead and gone.

Alanna’s sapphire eyes widen and for a moment the grief-stricken disillusionment fades from her countenance. “K-Kyprioth?”

Kyprioth grabs a mouthful of his sister’s mane and pulls, and she gets up. “It’s going to be all right,” he promises her, and wonders vaguely how he intends to make good on that promise.

Kratos and Baraqel are gone. How is it going to be all right, ever?

Alanna’s eyes trust him. He can’t believe this. The evening sunlight breaks through the clouds, shimmering off of his fire-red coat.

“Go to find our parents and Dusan. I’ll be right along behind you.” It doesn’t occur to him that Saphira isn’t his mother by blood. Right now, she’s as good as.

“I…okay.” Alanna agrees. Choking back another sob, she starts away.

Kyprioth hesitates.

He casts a long look at that black shape on the ground. “Kratos,” he murmurs, drawing his muzzle toward his chest and glancing away, pushing the flood of memories from his mind, “I am really, really going to miss you.” And now he must bow his head as tears prick the back of his eyes. His confidant is gone. Kratos was a jerk, but he was Kyprioth’s best friend.

But he spins on his haunches and takes off after Alanna at a trot, leaving behind him the scorched grave of the Firestarter and the body of his little brother – so arrogant, emotional, driven.

His shoulder brushes Alanna as they walk, and he exchanges glances with her. Her eyes are tear-filled but her jaw is set. She is trying. Either that or she hasn’t fully understood what’s happened yet.

Kyprioth will cry, but he will cry another time.

The hawk has returned in time to see the world end.