I don't want the tour to end. I want to keep walking through the palace forever until my paws fall off and I can tell that Natrina and I are both thinking the same thing. However, Aislyn is gazing towards the door in silent anticipation.

"Let's go." she says quietly.

Vivian looks at all of us with bright eyes, clearly taking in how much the suspense is killing us, and then she levitates two ropes, binding them against the door handles and opening the door.

A giant room waits before us, with large ceilings made almost entirely of expertly positioned stained glass. Above us shine legions of Terreskians following Verhamera, all of them curling around the planet Dreamland where hundreds of small Canis and Canira watch the sky above. The whole thing is astoundingly beautiful and detailed.

I look at Natrina's coat, which is dyed a million colors by the bright light overhead. My own coat, pale as it is, reflects a Terreskian's glossy colors. Aislyn's coat is dyed blue by Verhamera's bright light, which is oddly fitting. She breathes in loudly and continues walking forwards, though the blue light lingers on her for a lot longer than it should before it falls away from her.

From the throne itself jumps a large and intimidating Canis who looks a lot like Aislyn. Her fur is a rusty color a few shades darker than Aislyn's fur, and her spots are much smaller, more like speckles than anything else, but they look almost like mother and daughter.

The queen approaches her slowly, circling Aislyn like a predator. "You finally came."

Aislyn nods, her whole body trembling like a leaf in high wind. "W-what? I just wanted- I didn't mean to do anything wrong!"

"You have done nothing wrong." the queen tells her, and Vivian holds Natrina and I back. Both of us are far too intimidated by this far larger Canis to step forwards anyways, but we still stay behind her tail and I breathe in Vivian's glorious autumn smell.

There is a long silence between Aislyn and the Queen before the Queen asks, "Does she really look like that?"

She glances up at the stained glass, where Verhamera waits, looking much larger than before.

Aislyn follows her gaze and nods quietly. "The light shines through her, just like that. She has more tails though. Imagine hundreds of ribbons billowing behind her, capable of shaping the world we live on with every tender touch."

The Queen rushes forth and places her head over Aislyn's neck, a sign of affection. Aislyn melts in her warmth, satisfied, and both of them are sobbing all over each other. Natrina looks at me and whispers, "They must really love each other."

"They don't know each other, do they? Did I miss something?" I ask.

Vivian shakes her head. She lowers her tail for us to pass, but neither of us do. "I've never seen Alma this happy before."

I don't think I quite understand what they're going for or why they're suddenly so intimate, but I just watch them embrace and I think of my own mother quietly and how much I would love to embrace her like this again. I wonder if she was ever this happy with us after Fen left.

Vivian begins walking away.

"Where are you going?" I ask, curious.

"I..." She stops before turning around, "... well. I thought I should give them some privacy. They've never met, but this is still one hell of a reunion. The loyal disciple of Verhamera and her daughter.... quite the meeting, wouldn't you say? They probably have a lot to talk about."
"I suppose so. I have a lot I'd like to ask Aislyn, myself, and she's been teaching me about what's going on." Natrina says, not looking away from the joyful reunion.

"She has?" I ask, feeling a bit left out.

"Oh, sorry, Lotus! Dear Verhamera, I feel awful. I guess we both have our little secrets." If she had been snide about it, I might have felt justified, but her sincerity is ridiculously unnerving.
I guess we really have been a little distant since the fire. It feels weird to have someone else to talk to. I'm so used to sharing every single word with her, and now there's someone else in the way, even if unintentionally.

"So, are you two coming or not?" asks Vivian, fur bristling.

"Of course!" I say, bounding after her. Natrina, too, pads faithfully after, finally looking away from Aislyn and the Queen.

We walk in silence down long and slightly less beautiful hallways, though still nonetheless vibrant and ornate. Vivian doesn't say a word and my sister and I are too busy looking at everything to talk to her. I can't believe the detail in the tapestry and am completely mesmerized by the giant glass panes letting in all the light. In similar fashion, Natrina admires the indoor botany and the will-o-wisps in a variety of colors floating across the ceiling.

"Are you okay?" I ask Vivian once we get to our room. She's looking down at the floor like she expects it to disappear beneath her.

"I'm fine." Vivian snaps and turns to the exit, leaving us alone again for the first time in almost six days.