(Date: April 14, 2026)
Aurora sighs out a long breath before finally collapsing in bed. It was a long and heavy day; the sound of bone crunching and the thump of a body hitting the ground still echoed in her mind as she tried to force her body to relax.
“What? No greeting?” says a voice from somewhere in the room.
Aurora jumps up and reaches for her sword, adrenaline already running through her preparing for a fight.
“Holy stars Aurora, it’s just me.” Says Esther, her voice getting closer and now that shes paying attention, Aurora can hear the faint hum her wheelchair always has when it was on.
“Oh Omne, I am so sorry.” Aurora says, putting down her outstretched hand and melting back into bed.
Esther rests her hand on Aurora’s shoulder, “Hey it’s okay moon. Everything’s alright.”
Aurora just nods, “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” she says with a nervous laugh. She shifts uncomfortably, only for pain to flare up on her left shoulder. She hadn’t noticed it until all that adrenaline calmed down but once she did, she noticed.
She sucks in a sharp breath and Esther catches it too, “Where are you hurt?”
She just shakes her head, “It’s fine star.”
“That’s not what I asked. I asked where are you hurt.” Esther says firmly, refusing to back down.
Aurora sighs but takes her face out of where she shoved it in her pillow and looks at where she thinks Esther is.
“It just clipped my left shoulder.” She grits out. Clipped was an understatement.
Esther pats Aurora’s other shoulder before moving her hands to Aurora’s face. She moves her face away from the hand’s unsaid question. Shaking her head before burying her face in her pillow again.
“Please moonnnnn. You know its not good to wear that all day.” Esther pleads, gently running her hands through the brown fur of Aurora’s face. She can just barely see the white roots peaking through but doesn’t comment on it.
Her shoulders slowly relax from Esther’s petting and she finally turns on her back, accepting her friend’s… care.
Esther removes the faceplate but Aurora keeps her eyes shut, only noticing the light levels slightly change behind her eyelids. She hears the thunk of the golden plate being set down and feels Esther’s hands back to softly petting her face again. She melts into the touch, relishing her soft, delicate hands through her fur.
“You’re soft, y’know that?” Esther whispers, not ready to break the quiet atmosphere they’ve created.
Aurora lightly scoffs, “I am not.”
Esther giggles and Aurora can feel herself smile. Although she doesn’t see it, Esther smiles mirrors hers.
Eventually, she decides she’s done with her face message and pats Aurora’s uninjured shoulder, “Come on, roll over. I need to check your shoulder.”
“Not even taking me out to dinner first?” Aurora can’t help but smirk as she says it.
Esther flicks her forehead, “Oh shut up.”
She pulls out a med kit she’s kept stashed under Aurora’s bed and grabs a healing potion alongside bandages.
“Actually… Okay you’re gonna have to sit up. Sorry moon.”
Aurora rolls her eyes under her eyelids and whispers to herself, “So demanding.”
“Hey, I heard that.” Esther says, feigning hurt but really she’s just happy Aurora’s joking around instead of on the verge of stabbing her.
Aurora relents and heaves herself up, wincing in pain as it tugs on her wound.
“Shirt off.”
She goes to open her mouth but Esther puts a finger to it, “Yes, yes, you’re very funny. Now drink this and let me work.”
She just nods and carefully removes her shirt, showing off the blood stained tank top underneath. Esther gently pushes the healing potion into her hands and she dutifully drinks it.
Esther gets to work bandaging anything the healing potion couldn’t. “Sorry about the lack of spells, I used all my magic today at work. It seems like it was a chaotic day for both of us.”
“Its fine Es, I used up all mine too so I don’t mind doing it the old fashion way. Nothing I’m not used to.” She says in a nostalgic tone. Esther files it away but doesn’t comment on it.
She delicately wraps the wound, taking extra care to make sure nothing is pulling or tugging at Aurora’s fur. Eventually, an empty potion bottle lies on the table next to the face plate and Aurora flops back down onto her bed. She still hasn’t opened her eyes yet.
Esther notices. Of course she does.
“Hey moon.”
“Yeah star?”
“Why haven’t you opened your eyes yet? I know it should be a decent sight day for you.”
Aurora’s eyes squeeze tighter, “I just… kinda don’t want to look at anything right now…” she trails off awkwardly, not ready to spill about everything that happened today.
“What happened today, rora?” Esther says in that sweet and caring tone she always uses with her that makes her feel like the only person in the universe.
And Aurora sobs.
“She-She died Esther.” Her eyes finally open and fill with tears, soaking into her fur. “One of my kids died Esther.”
Esther sucks in a breath, “Fuck,” she says under her breath.
She finally moves into the bed with Aurora, and although shorter then her, automatically declares herself the big spoon. She holds Aurora close and squeezes.
“Oh moon, I’m so so sorry.”
“I-I mean… she’s still alive… technically.” Aurora stutters out, not wanting her to get the wrong idea.
“Okayy… What happen exactly?”
“Basil, y’know the water genasi, has an affinity for guns and rash decisions?”
Esther huffs out a laugh, “Yes, I believe you’ve mentioned her before.”
“She died… during a fight against some blighted shoosuva today… We didn’t know they’d be blighted. Then Saturn showed up—“
“Oh no”
“— and they wanted something in exchange to revive her…”
“Rora…”
“Esther, I had to. They’re my kids. I can’t have that scoundrel lay their hands on them, especially if they start owing them debts.” Aurora says defensively.
Esther laughs a bit, “Scoundrel?”
“Yes! That blight riddled creature keeps showing up! Asking for—“ Aurora pauses, choosing her next words carefully.
“Doesn’t matter. They keep showing up and I know they want something but I don’t know why. And they’re going after my kids for whatever reason.”
“You really care about them huh?”
Aurora whispers out, “Yeah. Yeah I really do.”
Esther gives her a light kiss on her forehead, “Alright no more emotions tonight, you should get some rest. Everyone’s safe and fine okay?”
She hesitates before she whispers out, “Can you stay? Just for tonight?”
Esther smiles, “Of course moon."