Janice

Dawn sunlight streamed in through the window Janice was posed in front of, her gaze directed out at the horizon. In specific, the now familiar shattered pillars and buildings of the Sunbeam Ruins. She’d spent hours- possibly days- studying them as she travelled. The coatl sighed as she turned around to slip her satchel over her shoulder, but was quickly interrupted by a fae opening the door to her temporary bedroom.

“Morning, Janice!” Gardyn smiled, his hedgehog perched on the sunhat resting between his frills.

“Morning.” Janice replied, half-heartedly. She’d been wanting to leave before he woke up.

Gardyn gave a momentary puzzled look before blinking it away. “I made breakfast, if you want any. It’s on the kitchen table.”

“I. . . probably won’t be able to have any.” She sighed. “I’ll have to be on the road as early as possible.”

The fae opened his mouth, before slowly closing it again. “You’re leaving?”

Janice flinched as she recalled her own words the fateful morning her best friend had left.

‘Yes! Think of all the amazing sights I’ll be able to see!’ The obelisk had responded. ‘I’ll come back in a month or so, don’t worry.’

Janice had never seen them again, which was why she had left on her travels.

The coatl snapped herself out of the flashback, before nodding slightly. “It’s just that- listen, I’m really sorry-”

“It’s fine. I knew this day would come.” Gardyn turned out of Janice’s room, smiling. “Promise to visit sometimes?”

“Promise.” The words were followed by a somber silence as the coatl began packing. She’d been so eager to move on when she first settled down with Gardyn. . . and yet, now she felt so comfortable right where she was. It was as if on her quest to find her old best friend, she’d stumbled upon a new one.

As if on cue, a pebble tumbled out of her satchel. It had been one of the first things she’d picked up on her journey, a memento of both her travels and her tendency to tuck anything she found even remotely interesting into her bag. After a moment of contemplation, she delicately placed it onto her bedside table. Now it would be a memento of her for Gardyn.

The fae appeared behind her, holding a small bag of knick knacks and various trinkets.

“Just something for you to remember me by. Safe travels.”

The two embraced in a hug before Janice stepped out of Gardyn’s small home, a calm smile resting on her face.