Fragment's heart is frozen, or he did not have a heart. He often thought it was the latter, but sometimes he felt it move, so perhaps it was the former after all.The doe was beautiful; he admired the flutter of the draped wings on her back with dispassion. But, more than that, she called to him - something about her called to his still heart.
He didn't know what, but he didn't have to know for what was to happen to happen. Now the least he could do was get a blessing, because his heart barely moved for long.
Perhaps he did not have a heart after all."Or perhaps you are just young," the dark Legendary sneered, "and foolish, and very full of yourself. There are dozens of young bucks like you, thinking you're hot shit and impervious to love."
(Cue Queue ought to know, having once been young, and thinking she was hot shit, and impervious to love. Now she was lifemated. She didn't know how it happened.)
Fragment didn't know much, but enough to know you oughtn't take to task someone you were asking a favour of. Much less an emissary of the Motherfather.
He inclined his head, without much signification.
"Very well," Cue shrugged her shoulders from the rock she had not bothered to vacate, "even the children of foolish young bucks deserve a better chance in life, I suppose.
"They are blessed."
"Thank you," Fragment said, in his soft, wintry voice.
Cue shook her head, as if she did not quite believe it came like that, either, and leapt off the rock into an owlcat, to slink away.
Perhaps she was right, Fragment considered, as he returned the way he came, perhaps he was a fraud. Perhaps he had a heart, and it was whole, and beating, and he just ignored its warmth because he was a fool.
(And he thought all this with not a little ire despite himself, showing that perhaps she was right after all.)
Well, he would welcome it, he decided, there would be no one happier - if this beautiful doe could move his heart, if their children could keep it beating. Let them try, if they so deign - let them try.
And thus pride cometh before the fall.
END