One Last Song: Part Three

     Although Radom had no idea how they had met, all his life his mother had been friends with an elderly Blumaroo, who lived alone on the mountain and whom they would visit from time to time. He gave them food and a warm place to stay when they came around, but his mother refused much of any help at all, even from their friend, so they didn't see him very often. His name was Evette, and he had become something of a grandfather to Radom, engaging the Lupe pup in faerie tales and wild adventures around Neopia whenever they visited.

     Although Kaiya had never left Terror Mountain, Evette had done a bit of traveling in his youth, and through him Radom learned all about the wonderful distant lands of Neopia. Somehow Kaiya was able to tell him stories as well, of adventures in deserts and oceans and tropical islands, and sometime he would dream about crossing the icy sea and visiting those worlds for himself someday. This mountain was all he knew, and the world beyond it sounded incredible.

     It was on an occasion such as this that he learned about something that most of his life had eluded him.

     Radom and Kaiya had come to visit Evette one crisp morning, his quaint little wooden cabin heavy with snow but glowing with warm golden light. The two Lupes sat on the rug in front of the warm fire, while their old friend sat in a plush grey chair and finished a dramatic tale about a fellow who had climbed a volcano in Tyrannia in one adventure.

     Evette was declining as the years caught up with him, but although he was often seen hobbling about with his cane, he was still full of spirit. His red and white striped fur was faded and he had a wispy white beard on his chin; he was small and wrinkled, but his dark eyes twinkled behind round spectacles as he spoke, and with each story he gestured excitedly and fell right into place as though he had seen it all himself.

     "You always tell them like they really happened, Mister Evette," Radom had mused that day, his tail flicking against the ground as he watched the admired Christmas Blumaroo.

     "It's just Evette, my boy, how many times must I tell you? And, I'll have you know," he added, that familiar warm twinkle in his eyes, "they are quite real."

     The pup's ears perked up curiously. "But I thought they were all faerie tales!"

     His eyes widened in wonder as Evette chuckled. "You know, there is always some truth to faerie tales. Not in that they tell us that darkness exists... but because they tell us that darkness can be conquered," he said softly, in that mystifying way of his. The Blumaroo leaned forward, his expression overly delightful, as though he had some huge secret on his tongue. "Do you know who those stories are about, my boy?"

     "Are they about you?" Radom perked up, knowing that Evette had done some traveling when he was young. "Did you do all those things?"

     Chuckling to himself, Evette leaned back in his chair. "I'm afraid not." He glanced at Kaiya, who had been watching quietly. They exchanged a strange, knowing look, and then the Lupe nodded slightly. "Radom," Evette continued, looking back down at the pup, "most of those stories were told to me by... your father."

     "My--? But--!"

     "It's true." Kaiya was watching her son now, a look of outstanding compassion sparkling in her eyes. "Your father told me everything I know about the world beyond this mountain. Those stories are all about him. Things he did."

     "Your mother thought it was about time you know," Evette added.

     She nodded slightly. "I know we haven't ever really talked about him, but..."

     Radom's eyes were as wide as they could possibly be, and his mouth hung open in a look of comical shock. He had only ever heard his father mentioned in passing, a real enigma, and had never met him before in his memory. "But... how...? Where is he? I... I don't..."

     "His name is Etsu," Kaiya began slowly. "And he's... different than us. And somehow... people couldn't understand that."

     "Etsu is a Desert Lupe. He was unlike us in that he was wealthy and lived with a human who could buy him expensive paint brushes and petpets and anything he'd like." Evette, too, was explaining gently and slowly, as if reflecting.

     Etsu...? He had never even heard the name before. Radom could only gape at the mention of an owner and wealth. "But- but if he had an owner, why didn't he help us? Where are they now?" he stammered, staring at his mother in bewilderment.

     Kaiya, in an act extremely unlike herself, was now staring at the wall as she spoke. "That's just it, Radom. He was fortunate and tame, while I was ill-fated and wild. And his owner... was the least understanding of all. Your father saw you when you were very small, Radom. You wouldn't remember. But after that... neither of us ever saw him again."

     "His owner took him away. He had greater things to do, worlds to explore, goals to accomplish, and the human apparently didn't think any of that would ever happen if they stayed on this blasted mountain." Evette was frowning slightly, and between the two of them, Radom wished he could just shrink down until he couldn't see them anymore. "But Etsu loved you both very much. It wasn't his choice. I just thought you should know that. We don't know where in the world he is now, and haven't heard of him since he left. I know all this because Etsu and I were good friends. Since we were young we have known each other, and that's how I met your mother and you."

     He had always wondered how they had become friends with the elderly Blumaroo. And it was through his father? The one that vanished when he was a baby and never was seen again, because people didn't understand? Why couldn't people just accept...? Radom was alright with it; he had never met the Lupe so therefore didn't miss him, and all he could honestly need was his mother, so it wasn't Etsu's absence that bothered him. It was that human. How could he tear them apart? How did people DO things like that? "Mama," he managed after a long silence. "I wish people would listen to your song. It's the prettiest one in the world."

     Kaiya looked to her side at him, her eyes widening slowly. It was a look Radom had never seen on her before. And then, slowly... she smiled. "Thank you, baby." She bowed her head to nuzzle his face gently.

     Smiling softly, Evette just watched them in silence.

     "I love you, Radom. More than anything."

     "I love you too, Mama." He rested his head against her chest and closed his eyes. That heartbeat against his ear now was all he would ever need for things to be alright.

      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

     "Well, I don't see why I shouldn't come with you. I need to pick up a few things in the valley, anyway."

     "But people will think poorly of you if you're seen with me, Evette."

     "Oh, pish-posh!" He waved one white and red paw dismissively. "If you think I'm not going to be seen around a dear old friend because of those insensitive brutes, you've got another thing coming."

     Kaiya smiled softly despite herself. "Thank you, my friend."

     He just coughed in reply.

     Turning toward Radom, another smile escaped Kaiya at his already grumpy expression. "We won't be long, Radom. Evette and I just need to talk and get a few things, alright? You can stay here in his house until we come back. Won't that be nice, honey?"

     "I guess," he grumbled. "But I wanted to come."

     "Ah, nonsense! You just sit here and help yourself to anything you need. You can play or eat or--" Evette supplied an imaginary verb with another wave of his hand. "We won't be long, my boy. Chin up."

     "Okay... thanks for letting me stay here, Mister- I mean, Evette."

     "Think nothing of it. Now off we go, Kaiya."

     The Lupe gave Radom another quick nuzzle before following Evette out the door. As the pup settled himself down on the rug in front of the fireplace, she called back lightly, "Bye, honey."

     "Bye, Mama."

      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

     The rest was just a blur. Perhaps an hour later, the door had burst open and Evette had staggered in, heaving and breathless, drained of color. He looked like a ghost, stunned and frightened beyond thought.

     There had been an avalanche. Happy Valley was alright and taking precautions, and only a few people had been hurt.

     But Kaiya hadn't made it.

     There was a sound in Radom's head. He wasn't thinking. It was just a silent howl.

     He must have fainted, because the next thing he remembered was being held by Evette some time later. Radom felt sick. Broken. Cold. Like all the world had stopped around him. He, to the present, can still only remember tidbits of the next few days.

     Evette would feed him and speak softly. He told Radom he could stay with him for as long as he liked. When Radom remembered what his mother would want him to say and managed, "Can I repay you for the food and everything...?"

     Evette had simply replied, "You could try. But I won't take it."

     Radom would wish for Kaiya. He would wish for a million things that he could never have. And once, while crying hysterically in Evette's arms, he wished that it didn't hurt so bad. "Wh-what d-do you w-wish f-for?"

     And the Blumaroo had held him close and replied, "Just... for tomorrow. Because... you never know what will happen tomorrow."

To be continued...