Dear Reese,
After you go to sleep, I get on Zoom to character creation with friends for a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign. It fills my cup. Sorcerers, Druids, and Rangers . . . I can’t wait to share all these stories with you someday.
For now, you’re the Knight of my Heart.
Love,
Mama
The Castle in the Pond, Part 23
The black swan dips his head, and you instinctively swim closer to him. Then, you bow your head and touch your brow to his.
Memory and emotion flood through the connection. You feel his power, his anger, his pain, and his longing for a home that has changed.
You return that thought with images of the pond kingdom as you see it — pond jumpers and speckled frogs and friendly ducks. Then, you think of the power that the pond just granted the creatures here, the same power of the black swan.
You brought back the magic to this place, you say through the connection. It was lost and now it’s back. Your home is not lost, it is just different. But still good.
The black swan raises his head and meets your eyes. Then, you both swim for the surface.
~*~
The next day, the beavers are busy.
They are deciding how to construct the new dam and working on gathering the right sticks. The magic is in the sticks, they argue back and forth.
An offer was made to the Great Bullfrog to rebuild a castle for her, but she replies that she likes her little corner of the pond in the reeds. There, she can keep the company of the ancient snapping turtle.
The black swan swims to and fro, aura still powerful, but some of the pond creatures are approaching. One pond jumper is following him around, asking questions. Those listening in hear the black swan share his intent to find a good place for a nest so that he may start a family one day.
You are asleep on a lily pad. Your duck friend snoozes by your side.
To be continued.