<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><div style="text-indent:1em;">The way that boy had left in fear was more than a blow to his confidence. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears and his vision was starting to fade out again; darkness was at the edges and it trembled in his peripheral vision, ever closing in. Elliot wanted to die, to disappear, dissipate, be gone for good. He instinctively gripped his shirt where the pendant hung.<span style="font-style: italic">Maybe it isn't so bad.</span> he thought to himself. Tears were streaming down his face, but he'd lost his expression, a blank zoned face. A sort of calm fell over Elliot.</div><br/>No fear. No pain. No suffering. Just nothing. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I can be with....</span><br/><br/> "Hey buddy!" a voice called to him "What's the matter?" <br/><br/><div style="background-color:#000010; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;">"What's the matter, Lalin?" <br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">The night sky was dark but not silent. The crickets sung to each other filled the warm moist air with their lullaby. Even without the music, Elliot would not have heard his mother's footsteps in the dewy grass, but he didn't need to see her; he could feel her coming. Her scent was the light cool fragrance of nicotiana.  Elliot looked up at her, still sniffling as he held up his hands, his palms facing up to present what he had found. A little bee laid languidly in his hands, occasionally giving frantic flutters before going still once again. It's body sagged as if its body were too heavy to carry. Elliot's mother gave a hard look at what she was seeing before taking in a deep breath in surprise</div><br/><br/>"Oh, Lalin!" she whispered before leaning down to speak to Elliot. Her movements created a cool breeze that gently washed over Elliot's face and made his tears stop. <br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">Elliot gave her a puzzled look before looking back down at the bee "I-is it hurt?" he said quietly "Can we help it?". His mother's gave him a small smile "The only way to help him is to be very quiet" she whispered. Elliot opened his mouth to question her further, but she gently place a finger at her lips; he instantly complied.</div><br/><br/>"He's sleeping..." she whispered with giddiness. <br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">The thought made Elliot freeze in awe; something trusted him with its life! Elliot's heart fluttered with happiness as he looked at the little creature again. His entire body began to thrum like his pulse had become a deep large drum. The sensation made him look to his mother; she placed a hand on her chest and mouthed something <span style="font-style: italic">It's his heart</span> she mouthed. Elliot looked down at the bee and was suddenly very aware of the creatures breathing and pulse his body had synchronized with the creature;</div><br/>It was now their breath.<br/><br/>Their heart beat.<br/><br/>Their lives....<br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">Elliot's mother loosely grasped the bee in her smooth, moonlight white hands and placed the creature gently on a nearby branch; it sat like a peaceful golem on its new perch. She crouched down and placed her hands on her knees, looking at Elliot with a warm smile.</div><br/> <br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">"You have a gift, Lalin. A gift I'm glad to see you hold and I never want you to lose." She said quietly as she held out her hand. Elliot instinctively grasped it. She stood back up and lead Elliot by the hand. The way her deep blue dress concealed her feet and the stillness of the jewels she wore on her neck and arms made it appear as if she were floating along her path.</div><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">"Compassion and empathy beyond your years... beyond humanity's capabilities" she said so quietly it seemed like she was speaking to herself. "Feeling what others feel is both a great strength and an immense burden, Lalin. Luckily you're a strong boy," she said as she glanced back down at him. He looked back up at her with a proud, beaming smile. He tried his best to emulate his mother's inconspicuous footsteps, failing completely in his attempts.</div><br/>After a few moments, they had reached their small home. "Alright now, clean up and get some sleep." She said carefully as if the words were meant to be part of a consolation. She knew that he hated seeing her leave as much as she disliked doing it. <br/><br/>"I'll see you tomorrow night, okay?" Elliot nodded enthusiastically and hurried to the door. <br/><br/>"And Lalin?" she called. He quickly turned to look at her, his palm resting on the wooden door "Emotions can be overwhelming sometimes... but you have to understand that things aren't ever as bad a they seem, okay?"</div><br/><br/>"Come on cheer up!" the voice spoke once more. Elliot looked in the direction of the voice and was greeted by the concerned face of a pup-boy. He was silver-haired, yellow-eyed and cheery with a glint of genuine concern to his visage. The image of a large lovable dog popped into Elliot's mind; the kind that were dangerous because of how playful they were for their size. <br/> <br/>"It can't be that bad, right?" <br/><br/>Elliot wiped his face with a sleeve, making sure to regain his composure and reimplement his transfigurations as subtly and quickly as he could manage. <br/><br/>"Yeah, it can't be that bad..." <br/><br/>He placed his hand on the ground and forced himself to stand with a bit of effort; he was exhausted beyond reason. He gave his pants a quick dusting and looked down the hall where the small boy had fled.<br/>"It feels that way though,"<br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">Elliot looked back at the wolf-boy and gave him a bleary-eyed grin "Thank you, but I'm gonna go find my room now," he said before staggering off in search of the suitcase he'd placed down as a marker of his room door. Luckily the room wasn't too far; he managed to make it to the room and lift his suitcase with his fumbling hands. The sound of conversation made Elliot's hand stop in place <span style="font-weight: bold">"He wanted me to have this opportunity, but I don't know what to do without him."</span>.... The words reverberated in Elliot's mind and his hand dropped back to his side. His stomach growled to remind him of his nagging need. Elliot placed his hand over his stomach as if asserting dominance over it.</div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">It can't be that bad... Right?</span></span>