#cerlissa

The strange lady scared him in a way, though he sensed that she meant him no harm. He still wondered where he was, where his mother was. Taladren glanced at the sky, wondering why it was always such an odd color. Even in the place that stank like fire the sky wasn't like this. It made him think of something far away, of a deep voice telling him a story and flickering lights. He blinked, Big Sister was always telling him stories of people stealing other people, and being hidden away from people they loved. It happened to her all the time. Taladren frowned, if he was taken, then maybe Mama didn't know where he was... Oh! What did Auntie Mira say to do if he was in really bad trouble...? That would cause her to come and get him right away no matter where he was... He scrunched his nose in thought, he wasn't hurt yet, and the strange lady didn't do anything but insist that he call her Nana. Was there really a reason to cut himself yet? Auntie Mira would get mad if he hurt himself for no reason, and she said that she would know if he was safe, even if she couldn't find him. It was for Emergency Only she said. The small boy sighed, then shook his head, this wasn't an emergency. Not yet anyways. Even if it had been a while since he saw anyone but the strange lady and the scary sword... and she kept him away from that. He hugged his knees, trying not to cry, then tilted his head as he heard a strange noise. A dragonhawk flew past him, and his eyes were wide as he stood and followed it, remembering something Mr. Leos had told him. "The red ones like this are native to Eversong. And they always can find their way back home." "What's native mean?" "Means they don't live any fu..." Leos had coughed, "They're born here." He grinned, "Then I'm close to home!" "Taladren! Nana's got dinner ready, be a good boy now..." The boy chewed his bottom lip, then looked back to the clearing where the strange lady was. He didn't know the way, he'd get lost in the woods, and the farm was really close to the scary undead place... Swallowing, he started to walk towards the strange lady, hiccuping in surprise when the dragonhawk nudged him and he smiled as he petted her, trying to think of something... anything that would help Mama find him. She dropped something in his hand and he blinked, looking at the jagged broken shell, about to say something when she nipped his ear and flew off. "Taladren! Don't make Nana worry!" "Coming Nana," he called as he stuffed the shell carefully into his pocket, a small part of a plan forming in his head.