Disturbing Eternal Slumber Echo × Baelixx

[~BrokenEcho~]

The store owner comes over and looks at the ring that Auna had chosen. He gave Alex a knowing look before turning to Auna, "Would you please tell me a story before you go?" The store owner was an older gentleman who looked wise, and who had stories of his own to share, but he liked collecting others too.

[Baelixx]

Auna smiles happily before she listens to his request. She thinks it over for a second before nodding. "Of course. And I know just the one." She hums in excitement before leaning against the counter a little to get settled in, ready to tell her story:

I remember it like it was yesterday.

We used to go to my grandfather's bee farm out in the country. Way out in the middle of nowhere. Grandma would feed us on a gallon of milk from her cow Bluebell, and home-made bread she'd make fresh every week. When we arrived, we would go for hikes up the mountain, to have picnics or play in the stream. On the way up, we would leave the milk in jars in the mountain river, so it would stay cool and wouldn't go bad while we played.

I remember my grandma one year had bought this little sprinkler for me to play in. It attached to her hose and looked like flowers and bumblebees. And when the water was on, it would spray out in such a way where the light reflected a rainbow in the water.

Oh, that first day we played with it I remember I ran around that sprinkler for what must have been hours. I was only... 4 or so, and I was convinced that if I ran hard enough or fast enough, I could find the leprechaun ag the end of that rainbow and my grandma and I would have gold to hide in our treasure box.

Of course, there was no leprechaun. And the only gold that day came in the form of the freshly harvested Honey we gather for our afternoon snack. But while it was just a fleeting childhood fantasy, for me and on that day, it meant everything. My grandma and grandpa must have found it so amusing, and probably silly, but they never once told me there was no such thing as lucky rainbows and leprechauns with pots of treasure.

I may not chase rainbows and leprechauns anymore. But instead I chase dreams and aspirations. To the onlooker, they might seem unattainable, childish, or even downright silly. But to me? They really are everything."

She ends her story with a warm smile before chuckling a little, stealing a glance to Alex.

[~BrokenEcho~]

The shop owner smiled kindly and passed the ring over to Auna, "That was one of the most beautiful stories that I have ever heard. If you get the chance, and they're here, you should go say hello to your grandparents." He added with a wink at the end. Alex was smiling at Auna completely captured by her story.

[Baelixx]

"Thank you." She says softly, feeling a little shy at his high praise. She slips the ring onto her finger on her left hand before her smile widens. "I'll have to find them if I can." She agrees before reaching out to hold Alex's hand. "Look, I got it." She beams happily

[~BrokenEcho~]

Alex||23||Married||Dead

Alex smiled at her before taking her ringed hand in hers and kissing her knuckles softly. "If you would like, we can go to the Family Help offices when the sun rises again and see if we can find them. Maybe even visit them if that is something you'd like to do."

[Baelixx]

His kiss would have brought a blush to her cheeks if she had still been capable of that. Instead, she hummed in delight. "I would like that very much." Auna agrees, although she hasn't seen them in a while and the idea makes her a little nervous. Blinking, she admires her ring a moment longer before kissing his cheek softly. "Now we both look like we are married." She muses

[~BrokenEcho~]

Alex||23||Married||Dead

Alex smiled at her hum in delight. "Shall we go to the rainbow bridge darling? We have some furry and maybe not so furry friends or family members to find." He said with a light chuckle.

[Baelixx]

She couldn't help but chuckle warmly at his words before nodding enthusiastically. "Yes, I'm so ready! Let's go." Auna takes his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. "Which way?" She asks, ready to go see her childhood pets and be reunited with them once more

[~BrokenEcho~]

Alex||23||Married||Dead

Alex smiled as he leads his way to the right. "Are you excited darling? I can't imagine the joy of seeing a loved pet again after such a long time.

[Baelixx]

"Terribly so my love..." is replied, words soft and light as she feels her heart would have been racing ecstatically. "I haven't gotten another pet since I was... oh, thirteen or so? Roonie passed of old age and one day Littlefoot just... disappeared. I was too scared of getting another and having the heartache all over again."