He still wasn’t in the right mind, now. Even as Mauja filled their silence with words— words of acquittal, words that released him of responsibility of his crime. A long and low breath blew out of his nostrils, mimicking the very cloud that Mauja had just sent out his own nose. He watched the profile of the Frozen Light— truly Frozen, now, in his immortality— who stared out over the inky waves. How easily he forgave; how easily he swept aside his transgressions, as if the were inconsequential. As if they weren’t life altering.
Maybe they weren’t.
The thought rocked the Elephant, as he swayed once on his solid ivory hooves. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.” Too late. He already has— he still was. His regret had driven him into Elsa’s embrace, into a darkness so absolute that another had to draw him out. And now this spotted man could stand here and tell him that “shit happens”?
A hum of disbelief rumbled from his thick, black throat. But what was he to do, argue with the man? Tell him he wasn’t worth the forgiveness? No. Instead, in his lingering silence, he shifted closer to speckled stud (did his skin feel different, healed by a Goddess and imbued with immortality?). Tentatively, almost mistrusting himself and awaiting Mauja’s reaction, he leaned his massive shoulder against the glowing white skin, “You are a mystery of a man, Mauja,” his deep voice quietly rolled, “But I thank you, my friend.” The timbre of sincerity vibrated from his barrel.
His eyes turned from the stallion, tracking the nocturnal gull in his evening pursuits— some semblance of peace finally settling in his soul.
I'm officially the worst for not realizing this thread needed a reply/letting it die. I just needed some closure for this ;-;