Soul Thief

Oberon took up the child in his arms.

She awakened and stared at him with large blue eyes. And from her little head were two red braids, tied with blue ribbons that now threatened to fall from her hair.

She was silent, looked up at Oberon with amazement he only witnessed from Irene.

"Wolf," she said.

Hello, Bunni, Oberon greeted. It has been awhile. My, how you have grown.

She laughed at him and his funny voice.

It was like a chiming bell, her laughing.

Mira looked on at Oberon with similiar wonder before he began to step up and back towards Earth.

Bunni was a good child, spoke in full, coherent sentences but was still mindless enough that she desired to know what was beneath Oberon's hood.

There is nothing there besides an old skeleton, my dear, he said.

But Bunni grasped the edges of his cloak, pulled it down from his head.

She was not at all fearful of this old skeleton. Instead, she poked the holes of his eyesockets and touched his bumpy teeth.

Now now, Bunni, that is rude. You did not even ask. I would have shown you if you asked.

Bunni grinned and said, "I'm sorry."

Don't apologize now. You are curious, Bunni. Make sure you stay that way.

The two arrived at Bunni's mother's apartment. There gathered her family, weeping for the loss of their beloved, but also for her missing child.

"She's been gone for weeks," exclaimed one older woman.

"She's dead, I know it. It is all we have left of Alayane and she's dead," said another.

Bunni appeared on the doorsteps, spread her arms open for her grandmother to hold her.

Oberon loomed near until Bunni was found.

He pulled his hood back over his head and said, Good day, Bunni.

The child did not comprehend the loss of her mother until some time later. And Oberon felt a deep sadness in his chest the day Bunni wept.

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