There was a piece of me this morning that urged me to go to Phoenix Drop. I couldn't understand why I felt the way I did. I tried to think about it while I was getting ready for the day, but I couldn't come to any conclusions.

It wasn't for the children. That piece of me wasn't tugging itself towards them. I see them often. I didn't go to Phoenix Drop right away. It wasn't my day with the children. It's a Zoey day.

Vylad told me to go to Phoenix Drop after nearly pulling the plants out of the ground rather than weeds. He had made a small garden a while back, and it's been growing in size and is in need of weeding. My mind was scattered before, so we didn't trust myself near building supplies. After nearly ruining what Vylad created, I was replaced with Kandi and told to clear my head in Phoenix Drop.

So now I'm wandering endlessly through a field nearby. I take the children here often. I've learned to enjoy it. But now the wind is picking up my skirts and blowing them around absentmindedly. Some areas of the grass are longer than others, and scattered flowers perfume the air. Nekoette tells me she looks this time of year. Dimitri tells me it makes his nose run. He takes after Dante on that.

I'm unsure just how long I've been doing this. Just how long I've stood here. I must have been standing in this single spot for at least a half hour now. I'm staring off into space, and this is reckless of me with all the current events.

There's a slight tug on my hand. I nearly activate my fight or flight instincts at the feeling. It's Nekoette, holding up the bottom of her apron in one hand.

"Dimitri blew his nose in my apron."

If the realization that I could get kidnapped by Tu'la didn't snap me out of my daze, this does. "What?" My tone makes it evident that I wasn't paying attention before this. "Why would he do that?"

Dimitri walks over to the two of us, wiping his nose off on his forearm. I shake my head at this and instruct Nekoette to turn around so I could untie the apron all. While I do this, I question the two where Zoey is.

"We wanted to play, and she was taking too long with Lilith. We saw you were here and. . . well, we ran off."

I stop mid-fold with Nekoette's apron at this. "Dimitri, you shouldn't do that. What if they need protecting? You can protect them if you run off."

Dimitri frowns at this. Zoey's familiar voice rings in my ears nearby.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"Are you alright? You nearly gave Dimitri permission to sneeze into your skirt when he couldn't find his handkerchief."

Like a mother, Zoey worries. She places her hand on my knee, and I notice that I'm toying Nekoette's apron between my fingertips.

"Something about today just feels off. Like. . . something bad is going to happen," I admit. "But it's weird. I don't think I got this feeling with the Irene Dimension. . . or even when Zane burnt down Meteli."

Zoey looks at me. "I suppose you're right. Something has felt different about today, but I couldn't place my finger on it."

There's a sudden explosion sound that causes Lilith to cry. Zoey holds her close to her chest and tries to coo her back to calmness. Nekoette and Dimitri rush over to the three of us, panicking from the sound. I stand up, instructing them to stay with Zoey.

"B-But I want to come!" Dimitri says, disregarding my orders. If Dimitri comes, Nekoette wants to come. Neither can come.

I shake my head. "No! No. . . Stay here with Zoey and Lilith. Be the strong guards you two want to be. Everything is alright. I just want to figure out what that sound was. It didn't sound nearby."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It was at that moment that both jealousy and relief struck within me. He's here, back with me, but she's in his arms. I never thought I'd see him again, but there was always the hope inside me that I wished I would.

After all that time. . . It feels like a dream. A cruel dream where I will wake up, and he will be gone. Nothing but a figment of my imagination. A cruel figment of my imagination when my eyes open.

I blink, and he remains before me. He's real, but he's paying no mind to me. Instead, his eyes are glued on Aphmau and the cloth in his hand.

I'm standing at a distance. Watching. Waiting. Hoping that maybe he'll look at me. He does not.

Instead, she gives out a scream of pain. Aaron is gone.

Time seems to freeze as Garroth doesn't appear to know what to do. My breath hitches in my throat before she clutches onto the cloth for dear life, shaking her head in disbelief. It isn't long until she dashes off and Garroth watches her helplessly.

His eyes are cast to the floor, and my feet betray me by walking forward to him. I place my hand against his shoulder, giving him my full attention.

He looks back at me, and I can see the tears in his eyes. I could hear the pain in his voice during his conversation with Aphmau. I can only imagine the amount of guilt he feels.

Soon, he's in my arms, holding onto me. I rest my chin on his shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh, and hold onto him a bit tighter.

I try to speak, but it only comes out as a weak whisper. "I'm so sorry," I tell him, my voice just as defeated as his.

How is it that I feel so mixed in emotion as I do right now?