Crawling home, exhausted, but please, Cuan sighed as she climbed back up to Esfir’s window and oozed back inside. Resting a moment, she paused to survey the little room. It was cozy. It was home. And Esfir was safely in bed, breathing deeply and in a position that made Cuan, with her fluid skeletal structure, wince in pain. She would remember to nudge her charge towards the aspirin in the morning. It would keep the girl from getting stiff and achy.

Taking a moment to wash her face and paws, Cuan leapt lightly from the window to Esfir’s bed and curled up tight against the girl’s side. Purring hard, she concentrated on getting warm again after being out in the chilly night air. And then, once she was comfortable, she allowed herself to think.

She wasn’t sure what Esfir would think about Cuan arranging training for her, but Bindhi… Chariklo had been delighted. The senshi of seagulls had been volunteering her dubious services before Cuan could even finish describing her girl. But that had been all to the good, really. Chariklo was happy. Cuan was happy. They could be friends now without the shadow of old hurts hanging over them. The bird had even allowed her to peek at the two small children sleeping soundly. Cuan had been delighted by the twins and had offered to watch them if needed. Though Chariklo had been quick to explain that she and her knight were keeping the children as ignorant as possible of the magic world.

Which really? Cuan couldn’t argue with. Children were innocent and needed to remain that way for as long as they could. They didn’t need to be burdened with worry and the fear that Mom or Dad might not come home ever again. No, if called upon, Cuan would simply be a funny little cat to play with and entertain. Much as she loved her senshi, Cuan did not want to be responsible for ever opening another child’s eyes to the war raging around them.

And Bindhi had given her hope to keep Esfir safe once she was old enough and strong enough.

Transcendance.

It wasn’t something that Cuan would have ever expected to see from her bird, but she was proud nevertheless! Chariklo had been quick to point out that if Saiph transcended, it wouldn’t keep her completely from harm. But it would keep the Negaverse from being able to claim her and twist her into a mockery. The only downside was Esfir’s current hesitancy to connect with her planet.

”She’s terribly afraid of something she saw or experienced up there,” Cuan had explained. “But she won’t tell me what and I will not nag. But if you say she needs a deeper connection, I’m not sure how to foster that within her.”

“Holy hell,” Bindh had laughed. “The day I hear you admitting to not having an answer! You can’t force her, Cuan. But it sounds like you don’t want to, so we’re on the same page, I think. Bring her my way for a little training. I can start planting ideas. Maybe take her up to my world to ease her into the idea. And she’s thirteen now? You’ve been with her since her day one? Sounds like she’s been good for you. I’m glad.”
They’d talked of other things and generally enjoyed each other’s company. And then Xibalba had appeared and he’d been happy to see her as well and had shown it by roughly drubbing her ears. Cuan had excused herself soon after, wanting to get home to Esfir and also wanting to give the couple time to themselves.

All in all, it had been a good visit. And Cuan felt the last little scab over her heart fall away.

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