Haven had been half awake, listening to the birds humming in their sleep when he first felt Beloved's fingers twitch.
Beloved hummed in response as she snuggled into her big snake's warm chest. The light thrum of his song brought a smile to her lips. She gave another response as she was tucked back in.
Haven snapped to attention the instant Beloved's body stiffened. His body already coiling around them as both birds shot up.
Caius yelped as he scrambled for purchase! Aiya!!! What happened?! Caius glanced around only to find himself being squished by endless snake coils! Aiya!! Air!! Foxes had to breathe!!!
Haven barely shifted when he found himself being pushed down. Beloved straddling him with her ear now pressed to his chest.
Beloved hadn't even remembered to withdraw her claws as she pushed Haven down. There it was… barely discernable, but it was there. Just a few, soft, easily overpowered notes. Tears burned in her eyes as she hummed encouragingly. "Hmm, humm, hmm…" there it was again.
Haven lay completely still, ignoring the nails that would have eviscerated a human. For just an instant, he felt a threat. It was gone even before he looked at Nix, who's eyes were no longer human. The glowing silver over red now held… relief, acceptance, envy… hope.
Nix lay so he was nose to nose with Beloved. Their breaths mingled as they listened to Haven's heart song… calling out to, and for Beloved. Nix clenched his fist as he blinked back his tears. A futile endeavor as they fell, mixing with Beloved's. Sliding down Haven's body.
Beloved laughed, covering her mouth. Tears were blurring her vision. Haven's heart… was singing for her. It was so subtle she hadn't even realized it at first. She and Nix continued to hum, coaxing Haven's song to the forefront.
Haven relaxed, loosening his coil just enough for the bedraggled fox to breathe fresh air. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the two birds crying on his chest.
"I hear you, I hear you, a song meant for me," Beloved whispered gently, her heart racing. It was a new song, unsure, amused, hesitant, coaxing… so many emotions. All for her. But more than anything, determination. It was too soon to expect whole hearted love, but determination was a good start. A healthy start.
Nix closed his eyes, determination was a promise. Haven, even if he didn't admit it aloud, had submitted to Beloved and… the moment Beloved's heart answered she had ceased to be his.
It was such a subtle loss, like a cloud covering the sun… There was still light all around him, he could still see everything… but a negligible chill was left behind. Nix closed his eyes, Beloved's warmth… was no longer his. Beloved… was no longer his.
Beloved met Nix's eyes, "Nix… I am his. Our songs now different… Nix… I'm not yours anymore…"
Haven watched the shift, he understood his heart was singing for Beloved, but if she was going to be his, shouldn't she have become his yesterday? When his feather was used to link their essence? What about heart's song… was more significant than tying their cores together?
Haven didn't let his emotions run wild, birds were not reptiles, birds were not snakes. The significance of song was far more important than he'd first thought… Beloved was breathing faster, her heart racing, clinging to him as if he might disappear.
"Nix… I'm scared…" Beloved whispered as she clutched her big snake. It was suddenly… so real. This had been the goal, this had to happen… but… but her song had never been so… solitary. Their songs had always played in tandem, not always the same, but always together. Now… her song was just that. Her song.
Nix gripped her hand in his, "Beloved take a breath, Beloved do not fret, you have now grown, now time to leave the nest." Nix said forcing calm into his voice.
Beloved didn't calm down, her breaths racking her whole body, "Nix this is scary, Nix I feel so alone, how can you stand it, my song feels like stone." She buried her face in her big snake's chest, desperately searching for his song. It was so different, it was like someone had muted half the world.
Haven tasted her fear, wrapping his arms around them both. Beloved shifted so she could wrap herself around him while still holding Nix's hand.
"Nix it is gone, the love meant for me, it's so cold, like ice in the sea." This wasn't how she imagined gaining a mate. It was like trying to find someone but she was trapped in a frozen cave, and she could only hear the barest hint of an echo. The overwhelming silence was… deafening…
Nix closed his eyes for just a moment, then gently tugged Beloved to face him. Cupping her face in his hands, he gently wiped at her river of tears.
Come my Beloved
Let me sing you a song
Prove that our love
No matter the distance is strong
Most precious piece of my heart
Greatest gift of the sun
I could never love you less
It's just a bit different
Nix placed Beloved's hand over his heart. His voice thick with promise.
All the things we did
Falling with the stars, dancing in the dark
The two of us
That shimmering moon
I could never forget, please believe
I could never love you less, just a bit different
Cherished memories
Of me and you
Nix reached, placing one of Beloved's hands in Haven's.
Our paths now part, our goals divergent
Such is life, we live, we learn
So today, today we know
Never less
Just a bit different
Nix brushed away Beloved's remaining tears. This had to happen, if not for survival, then for her to broaden her horizon. Birds… had to leave their nests. Hadn't he been the same?
Come my Beloved
As I sing you a song
Prove that our love
No matter the distance, will stay strong
Most precious piece of my heart
Greatest gift of the sun
I could never love you less
Now's just a little different
Nix smiled through his tears.
You deserve better, you deserve more
Than to just be a piece, of what was torn
You deserve laughter,
You deserve love
You deserve to the best, in heart's number one
More than my piece, to be whole, to be the sum
To have you
Means to have won
Haven wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but… he felt something tugging on his heart. Not painfully. It was more… pleading, as if asking for assurance.
Our path now parts, our goals do diverge
As we grow, we live, we learn
Today your happiness is all I ask
Your happiness
To take precedence
Nix wiped the last tear from Beloved. Kissing her forehead as he released her into Haven's arms.
This isn't regret, Two hearts now separate
It's a new beginning, a new road
Room for more laughter as you grow
We now have more to share,
In a world where war's not so rare,
But I'll never love you less
Nix watched as the sun rose, the same sun… a different day.
I could never love you less
It's just now, a bit different
Beloved clung to Haven, wrapping her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his neck.
Haven half wrapped her in his tail, coaxing her. As a snake, his ability to hear was already compromised…
"Is there a way for me to hear… heart's song?" Haven asked as he pet Beloved, she was so small… so young… barely one step out of Nix's nest to immediately be his.