Running away from demons, sweat drenched clothes. Lungs burning and heart thumping like a drum. Not an ounce of light in sight, and he kept running in an unknown place. Shadows emerging from the bushes and faint silent noises that call out to him. From behind, the demons shrieked and chased him. His pupil trembled. He took a glance at them for a moment, as if to wish he had outrun them. Instead, he saw them closer and a mouth stretched smile. His legs couldn't move faster, and he tumbled over reaching the end of the cliff.
His pants scratched as he began to crawl away from the demons. However, he had reached a dead end.
The demons stopped at their feat, leaving him confused and almost breathing a relief of sigh.
Unfortunately, another nightmare befold him, a tiny figure of a woman. Her hair covered her face, and all her knuckles clicking with every movement she made.
Her hoars voice echoed and rang in his ears countless times.
"Theo."
Her lips curved, and she reached her hands out towards him, but before she could do that. The demons behind her ripped her apart limb by limb and munched on her flesh right before him.
Horror sized his eyes immediately, and he covered his mouth in a desperate attempt to prevent vomiting. To make matters worse, the ground started grumbling beneath his feet, yet the shake didn't bother him. Since the demons' yellow eyes glowed towards him and they simmered their faces with the remaining blood from the woman's body. They approached him, and instantly, the ground gave out, making him fall a thousand feet.
"Ouahhhhhhh," a loud scream left his mouth, and he grabbed his chest tightly, trying to catch his breath. Sweat dripped from the end of his nose, and his little fingers pierced his own skin. He proceeded to grab his hair next and hover into a ball, sobs let out as tears did.
"Ororon?"
His scream alerted someone since Kyoko came towards him with a night lamp in her hand. She gave a concerned look and came towards him in a hurry. Ororon broke down further, and he leapt towards Kyoko for a tight hug. She immediately felt his urgency and held him tightly in her embrace as well, feeling his heart rhythm getting faster and faster.
She glanced at his face again in hopes for the child's face to stop frowning filled with wrinkles. She spoke to him with a soothing voice.
"It's okay....I'm here now...it's fine, breathe. Okay, look at me, it's fine, I'm here. I'm here, "
She repeatedly reminded him that he wasn't alone and that she would protect him whatever the cause.
After a moment. Ororon's frown disappeared, and all the energy in his body left him as he began resting his guarded shoulders and blinked his eyes slowly. He still kept close to her body, healing from her warmth.
Kyoko finally saw his eyes close, and immediately, her gaze shifted to the other side of the room. Her reflection was portrayed in the mirror. Hair straightened and in her white night gown. She frowned and got up whilst holding him in her arm.
She moved forward to Aniel and Dermis's room, but they were not to be found, not even Tremious. Sudden unease took over her as she barged out of the little hut and scanned the area for her friends.
Two shadows appeared in no time, greeting her with confusion.
"Kyoko?"
"Where were you two?" She asked either a restless voice.
"We walked along the pond. Is something the matter?" Aniel asked worriedly, seeing Kyoko's uncomfortable face.
"Nothing too serious. It's just him," she pronounced while looking down at the boy's face.
"Ororon?"
"A nightmare, he says."
"A nightmare?"
"He woke up with cold sweat all of a sudden. There was no one beside him." Kyoko explained to both the elves.
"Ororon....what frightened you?" Kyoko finally let out.
Ororon paused for a minute, and the three people next to him waited for him patiently.
Ororon's eyes almost started to fill with water, but the brave young man rubbed them off before taking a big wife.
With almost a rusty voice, he spoke.
"Mum....."
The shimmer in his eyes faded as he began to speak about her, Kyoko ran her fingers through his hair and gave him a reassuring smile.
"You have a mother?" Dermis added, and Ororon replied with a nod.
"Do you perhaps know where she is then?" The black haired elf asked this time.
Ororon shook his head.
"Do you remember how she is like?"
"Hmm.."
"Describe her to us then."
"I will draw a portrait along with it."
"Can you draw Kyoko?"
"Yes... I'm good at it."
"Mum has the same colour of hair as me. It is long. Dark brown eyes and giant pupil. Slim nose and thin lips."
Kyoko sketched for a while with the descriptions provided. After some time, the sketch was done.
Before Ororon could take a peep, Dermis and Aniel volunteered.
"Wow, you're rally good." Dermis complemented.
"Amazing"
"So what do you think, Ororon?"
Ororon's eyes fell on the portrait, and he immediately jumped up to grab the sketch in his hands. He smiled brightly, showing off all his teeth's at the portrait.
"Mom!!!"
Kyoko's skills were sharp.
"This is really your Mom??" Aniel said out.
"Yes! Mom!" With a bright and joyful voice, he jumped around the room happily while holding the picture close to him.
The three adults in the room shared glances with each other. They knew what was the right thing to do as adults, without wasting another second Dermis pronounced.
"We should safely return him."
"Yes..."
Aniel and Kyoko's face distorted, and their face fell into gloom. To think that they would lose their dearest boy, they thought that crises were soon over.
"Don't be like this, you two. This is the right thing to do. He isn't safe with us. You saw what happened with the demons."
"But -"
Dermis coldly stared down at Aniel , making her realise what unreasonable words she was about to speak. Dermis was always adamant about bringing him along, with the fear of him being unsafe. And that unfortunate words had become the truth.
"Dermis is right," another voice came from the doorstop of the room.
It was none other than the missing dragon, resting along the door, listening patiently to the other's words.
"We will look for his mother from tomorrow, end of discussion." He finished and went near Ororon and spoke.
"You will get to meet your mother soon, kid. We will find her. " he patted his head.
Ororon noticed the small curves on the ends of Tremious's lips. He beamed with his sweet smile and let out loud.
"For real life!!??"
"Yes."
Aniel and Kyoko, although feeling disoriented with their emotions, when their eyes stumbled upon his radiant smile, they remained speechless.
They knew all too well, their desires should not be the priority, the priority was reuniting him with his family again and ensuring his safety.
Aniel gave a sigh and let out a heavy smile. She had to let him go. He didn't belong with long livers, with a heavy heart, she stated.
"We will find your mother, for sure."
The violent haired woman watched her friend utter the exact words she didn't expect her to. She questioned how her friend was able to let go so easily.
Although,not for the longest time. They all have spent a lot of time together and made fond memories with him. Each took turns reading him a book before bed and took him on outings, playing with him, and enjoying colouring together.
Kyoko fell silent and carried the heavy burden on her back. She couldn't speak out. Her guilt prevented her. She herself also failed in protecting him even though she promised she would always.
With mixed feelings, the party came to a conclusion. The party took on a quest to find the precious boy's mother.