#earthrunes

"Oh, aye. Truth." She reaches to scratch the little dragon's eye ridges.

"Hear hear."

Bronte gives a soft trilling purr as zara hits that perfect spot and the bookwyrm leans into it.

A soft smile.

Which August echoes.

"I still know not if we should bring her... when we go to The Place, aye?"

"We might not be able to get her to leave."

August considers this gravely. "Is she old enough to go? Would she understand?"

"She is a year. But in so many ways, she is still a baby."

"Part of me knows it would delight her, but... oh, I would miss her, aye? I do not wish to deny her, but..."

"It is difficult for me to let those I love go."

Bronte tilts her head in a curious fashion at this

August nods. "I understand."

Scritches.

"But... it is nearly summer. Not much of a graduation with cyber-school."

The scritches subdue the mighty bookwyrm anew..for now, and keep her from prying and rather just listening.

He nods soberly. "I would imagine so."

"I... mind it not, I would not like it. Too many people, too loud..." An unspoken 'but'.

"Life is too short not to celebrate nice moments," The dragon murmurs between strokes "Jurgen Klopp"

"Mmm..."

He says it for her, because he can. "But."

"It... I suppose there... mayhaps... I know, I would not like it, too crowded, aye..."

"I have never been normal. So. Aye. I think I was not so even before I chrysalized."

"Neither of us are. Have been."

"I mean, there's an appeal to.. to the idea of.. ah.. formal acknowledgment, maybe? I don't know."

Bronte presses for just a few more scritches

"I understand that." Softly.

"It is so strange. Everything seems... over?" Scritch the dragon.

"I do not know how the fall shall be. Different."

"Every door that closes, a window........"

"Yes, different. Not wrong."

"Change is good."

He looks away.

She reaches out to touch his arm.

"Tis summer yet. But you know... "

He looks back at her touch, curious.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” Bronte opines

A shrug. "You have known me in all seasons."

"I... I try to be mindful of Love and Beauty when the snow falls, and of Freedom and Change when sun-drowsed."

"Yes." with some warmth.

"I think, perhaps, I am a creature of Spring and Fall, not Summer and Winter. Is that wrong?"

"No, Zara." Fondly. "It's not. At all."

"And mayhaps change is less scary in winter clothes."

"I... suppose." He allows.

A soft shrug. "I would not have liked it, anyways."

"Said the Fox as he eyed the grapes" Bronte says

August puts a hand on hers. "Well then."

"Forgive. I have been melancholy."

"You have? Why?"

A soft shrug. "Nature, perhaps."