The world seemed happier today than it had in a long time. The queen- though she was not really a queen any longer- did not feel the blackness of depression draping over her, the crushing weight of sorrow on her soul, the claws of the devil sinking into her very flesh. She was simply Kahlua now- Kahlua the Sunshower, queen of nothing. Years ago she would have frowned at the idea, upset that she no longer held power over others. Now, having realized that such a goal was nothing more than brainwashing from her parents and upbringing, the paint was content with what she had decided. Some roll in the Edge, as of yet to be determined, but not leadership. Not the stress and responsibility, the expectations, the need of others. She could just be herself…

The earth around her sang.

Physically, the Sunshower was strangely unburdened as well. Only a pair of necklaces were on her- one key, one vial of water. The rest of her belongings- basket, music box, scorpion, and so on- were nestled safely back in the Edge after she had taken the glass cart back there. It would be needed to transport Resplendence’s box anyways. Truly, the queen was sorry that she had to separate herself from her sister, but they both had different needs. Right now, the paint’s needs were in the Edge and, perhaps equally as important, they were not in the Falls. At least, most days they weren’t.

Today, the Sunshower came back to the Falls with purpose. Striding over the border confidently, for she hadn’t told anyone her plan to abandon her leadership position, Kahlua found a well-traveled path and passed over the field where so much bloodshed had occurred at her will. Resisting the urge to stop and look for blood, to relive those memories in all their vivid horror, the paint carried on. She had come here to find her daughter. It only took her a moment to decide where she should look.

Where Kahlua was vivacious and outgoing, the demigoddess was self-isolating and introspective. She would not be at the front of the herd land where all could see. She would be hidden in the forest, down some winding path, behind a waterfall, or somewhere similar. Sending Khan to search farther off, the paint searched the treetops for a raven form. Did her daughter dance as one with nature today?

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It was a long time before Khan was finally able to locate the girl, but when he did he swooped gently down around her and cawed, his call (and mental instructions) dragging Kahlua ever-deeper into the forest. Though he could tell the demi-goddess was working, the icedrake did not mind causing a disruption or two. Perhaps showing off for the growing girl, the blue let a blast of his ice breath freeze a piece of the hut she was building before he finally settled onto a branch to await his bonded. She arrived shortly thereafter.

As Kahlua made her way through the thick grasses in the clearing, she watched her daughter work and could not help but smile. She said nothing, for she knew that look- the concentration it took for her to build the glass wall at the Edge had been monumental and, eyes dancing over the sweaty body of the young child, the paint absently wished that she had her magic still- for selfish reasons, but also because she found herself wanting to take some of the burden from the demigoddess. Great feats were so difficult to accomplish on one’s own.

Stopping a ways off, eyes dancing over the structure as it grew and came to life, the Sunshower murmured softly, “good job,”but otherwise did not approach or distract. It seemed, she noted, that Khan had done enough of that.

Kahlua