035: Stolen Moments

[Orion]

Mother and Father hardly looked at me when they came back from their meeting. Although they were speaking in quiet voices they were hard and sharp, not soft and gentle. The little ones stirred in their nest, the smallest one, with dark hair and nails, made a small peep as she wrapped her arms around her little brother with the same, distinct coloring. At the sound, Mother looked up briefly, then continued talking, rattling on faster than I could follow about the Elf King and "things that needed to be done."

"But you can't be serious about letting that...thing touch you," My father snarled, not angry at her, but angry nonetheless. I have known her for far less time than he has, but even I know that when Mother makes a choice it is final--there is no use being upset over things you cannot control.

"You heard it!" she hisses, her voice slowly rising. "We have no choice, and if we go along, it will help us! We could get them both free of this place. And in the meantime, as long as