Soshika sidestepped and watched the two winged Pagans shoot by, not sparing her a passing glance. They faded down the winding, shadowed path. She stared up at the wide grassy hill beside the path, cleared of all but the lowest brush, surrounded by ward fires. ~The Green.~

Taking a deep breath, the Hekshanian started climbing the smooth, padded slope. ~Maybe from the top, I’ll have a better view...~ Reaching the crest, Soshi stopped. Grey lay at her feet, not showing the slightest sign that he was aware of her presence. The girl new better, however. Laying herself carefully down next to him, she waited.

“Grey... say something.”

The inhuman lay silently, staring up at the stars with blank, unseeing eyes. His chest rose and fell slowly, but his blinking eyes betrayed him.

“Grey...” A single tear rolled down her cheek. “I know you’re awake, please talk to me...” Soshika trailed off and started whimpering to herself quietly. She shut her eyes against the stinging tears. “Please...”

Rolling over slowly, Grey whiped the tears from her reddened eyes. He looked down at her quizzically, almost as if he was apologizing for something he didn’t know he had done. “Don’t cry, Soshi...”

At the frowning Inhuman’s touch, her eyes snapped open. The two stared into each other’s eyes, Grey’s silver specked ones mirrored as the starlight reflected off of Soshika’s tears, giving them a blue-white glow. A slow smile spread across her face, and at this the corners of Grey’s mouth turned up a bit. “I’m sorry, Soshi... but my kind are out there...” he glanced back at the stars for a moment, then met her gaze once more. “Up in those skies, somewhere... I have a family now.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “I need other demons.”

Dumbstruck, the girl inhaled sharply. Trying not to cry, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly and turned away. “No... you don’t need them... you only think you do.”

He thought for a moment. “Maybe, but either way, I have to find out...” Soshika started crying softly, and he stopped. “What’s wrong?”

She turned back to him and sniffed, in a vain attempt to hide her despair. “Don’t you leave me too, please... I need you, Grey.”

He just looked at her, not knowing what to say, and gently placed a shaking hand on her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere just yet...”

She paused, then put her own hand over his. It stopped shaking. She looked up at him hopefully. “You don’t need other Inhumans to be part of a family... to have people who love you... you already have one.” Leaning forward, Soshika kissed Grey softly. “You have me.”

There was silence for a moment, then Grey sighed. “I know...” He gazed back into the Hekshanian’s eyes for a moment, then she rolled onto her back and pressed up against Grey’s side. He smiled and turned his eyes to the peaceful depths of space again, feeling her shared warmth spread through him.

Soshi pulled his arm around her shoulders and rested her head on his chest. He brought his other hand up and gently started stroking her hair. “I know.” The Hekshanian purred softly, and closed her eyes. As she drifted off to sleep, a feeling of peace spread over her, and she smiled. ~Grey...~

<>fin<>