It was there in seconds, not long after her reappearance.  The Will o’the Wisp.  The floating globe of light hovered around her, zipping in and back out, almost as if from curiosity.

Behind, coming out of the brush, Merrill saw her, floating above the ground.  Regarding her, his expression twisted slightly in a look of sorrow as he came slowly forwards.

[i]I’m sorry girl,[/i] his voice echoed to him, inside of his own mind.  [i]I’m sorry for what you have seen.  I’m sorry for what you will see.[/i]

The colours swirled around her, a veritable cacophony of blues, of reds, of pinks, of yellows, and of oranges.  Butterflies and petals.....they blew around her in the breeze.

Merrill came forward slowly, painfully, wincing from the waves of pain as they shot up and down his injured leg.  One of the butterflies, the colour of amber, came towards him.  It was beautiful.  Despite himself and despite the situation he was in, Merrill found himself holding his hand out slightly to touch it.  His hand came out slowly.....ever slowly, as a wistful expression came over his face.

It occurred to him that in all the years.....he had never seen a butterfly.  He had, for all his travels, not seen much, other than death and decay.

Trembling fingers reached out, looking to touch it.....they passed through the form of the butterfly as it dissipated, fading back into the nothingness from which it had been formed.  

And then his leg gave out, and Merrill fell forwards, landing on his knees and screwing his face up as another bolt of pain shredded through him.  The little globe of light, flying over to him from Callie, hovered over him, almost as if it was concerned.  Head down, on his knees, Merrill looked up to her.

[b]”There can be no doubt,”[/b] his voice was soft as he gazed to her.  [b]”You are the one.  I’m sorry Callie.  I’m so sorry.”[/b]

And there he knelt, gazing up to her, transfixed and unable to remove his gaze from her.

[@Guardian Angel Haruki]