Username: booshweasel
Name: benny
Prompt:
The curtains are drawn and the lights are dim, the lone kalon's head hanging low. His eyes are closed, and his paws rest on his lap, thoughtlessly fidgeting with them. From his neck hangs a silent bell, a wonder to most he encounters. To him, however, it is a necessity. He lifts his paws to hold the bell, channeling the immense sadness swelling inside of him. It doesn't take long for the bell's magic to start working, and he slowly starts to feel relief.
Suddenly a loud knock on the door startles him out of his trance-like state. The sadness comes rushing back and his eyes flutter open. He drops the bell and sighs to himself. The door opens without his invitation, but he's used to it. A young kalon, only a kit, enters slowly. She has a droopy way of carrying herself, and she drags her feet as she approaches.
He already knows what she wants.
She gives him a pleading look as she stands in front of him, her eyes filled with sadness and hopelessness.
"Please... Please help me. Take away my sadness, I can't live like this." She cries desperately, tears threatening to fall.
Benny puts on a smile.
"Of course, love. Come closer." He says in the cheeriest voice he can muster. She shuffles closer and he leans in, taking her in his arms and holding her close. His eyes shut once more and he feels the heaviness of her sadness coursing through him. As the process nears its end, her tense muscles relax and she lets out a sigh of relief, as though a huge load had been taken from her back.
He lets her go and musters the most convincing smile he can.
"How's that feel? Better?" He asks her with a gentle nudge.
"I don't know how you did it... but yeah, better. Much, much better." She says gratefully. "Thank you."
And with that, she leaves abruptly, and he's again left in his suffocating sorrow.
Once more he lets his eyes close and his paws raise to hold the bell. He concentrates on the heavy, sinking sadness he feels in his entire body and slowly, the bell draws in the darkness. He feels his body relax and his chest feels lighter. His shoulders drop and his frown eases away. As the bell takes in the last bit of sadness it can, he finally opens his eyes again.
All in a day's work for Benny.
[411 words]