[center][h2]🌿[color=a36209] 🔥 Caelum Emberhart 🔥 [/color]🌿[/h2]
[@Adeline][/center]

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	[b]“No, it’s alright,”[/b] Magnolia answered him softly. Something in him faltered, though it only barely reached his face. He looked down for just a moment to be safe.

	[b]“I can go by myself,”[/b] she added, glancing at him, then his home, and back to him. She offered a subtle smile for a few beats. [b]“I should go,”[/b] she added, even quieter. [b]“I’ll see you there, Caelum.”[/b]

	He returned her smile with a slight, resigned nod, trying to memorize this moment; wishing he could capture it in ash and parchment.

	The moment vanished.
	
	The fairy smiled, gave a subtle wave, engaged her wings, and floated off across the lagoon.

	Caelum stood there and watched her grow smaller and smaller into the gloom of the night. Once she had disappeared into her home, he let out a long sigh. Then, the sparrow smiled in spite of things, gave a slight shake of the head, and walked the short distance to his door.

	Inside, it was mostly dark, though the blaze from his lantern greeted him with glee. It burned brighter and danced about.

	[color=a36209]“I know,”[/color] he said softly. [color=a36209]“I’m not used to being away from you either.”[/color] He walked over, picked it up, and sat on his bed. [color=a36209]“Unfortunately… I have to go away for a while.”[/color]

	The walnut-bound flame blazed brightly.

	[color=a36209]“I don’t know…”[/color] Caelum whispered.

	The flame settled, diminished greatly.

	[color=a36209]“I’m sorry, though. I don’t [i]want[/i] to leave you behind… but I also don’t want to risk losing you, either. Besides, don’t you want to see your new friend again?”[/color]

	The fire grew, as if standing up.

	[color=a36209]“That’s right. She [i]also[/i] will be going. And if I don’t go, then I won’t be able to watch out for her. It’s not like that goofball Loke is up to the task, now is he?”[/color]

	The flame leaned away from him and began to sputter, as if laughing. Caelum smiled warmly, with a twinge of hidden sadness.

	[color=a36209]“We wouldn’t all be going away if it weren’t really important…”[/color] He said it to himself as much as to his companion. [color=a36209]“The truth is, someone has to do [i]something[/i], or…”[/color] His voice softened as it trailed off.

	The flame stabilized and leaned in closer.

	[color=a36209]“…or there will be nothing… and no one…”[/color] he whispered to the floor. [color=a36209]“Nothing at all left.”[/color]

	The sparrow set the lantern down and fell back onto his mossy bed. Staring about the place, taking in the sketches. He lingered on his favorites—especially the ones of a certain lagoon fairy. He turned over and found the one by the window. He smiled softly. How he wished he could return to that morning. It was only about half a day ago.

	[i]Time was such a strange thing.[/i]

	He turned over on his back once more and shut his eyes. He focused on the recent memory he had forged. There she was, hesitating. Smiling. Knowing she needed to go, but wanting to stay. At least, that’s what he had seen. What he had hoped.

	[i]Caelum.[/i]

	A sound he wasn’t used to hearing very often. Especially from [i]her.[/i] Though his eyes remained closed, he couldn’t help but smile widely.

	After several moments, he let out a brief sigh and rose to his feet. He grabbed the lantern and returned to his front room, setting it down on the table. Next, Caelum grabbed his soot-covered bag, lifted it over his head, and slung it across him. He began rummaging through it, removing a few things. Then he began going through his cabinets and drawers, occasionally finding things and putting them inside the bag at his hip. Once he was sure he was as prepared as he could be, Caelum closed the bag and went for the door.

	[color=a36209]“Keep watch for me, would you?”[/color] he asked, half-turned toward the lantern on his table. [color=a36209]“I’ll make sure Sir Idris stops by from time to time. He owes me at [i]least[/i] that much. Perhaps I can get him to feed you some leaves or pine needles. I know you like the sap…”[/color] He sighed. [color=a36209]“Well, wish me luck.”[/color]

	With that, he exited and closed the door behind him.

	He looked across the lagoon once more, pausing to see if there were signs of life.

	Nothing.

	Caelum drew in a slow breath. After releasing it, he engaged his wings and fluttered back toward the Hollow. It was strange. Everything at this moment was so much like his beginnings to each and every day. Yet…

	[i]So much was so very different.[/i]