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As her trip to the other planes drew closer it was Sam she noticed first. It started with him asking for extra training sessions, swimming sessions in the lake, or even just hanging around while she was cooking. It was only training sessions with the temples or trips to town that pulled him away from her general vicinity. He’d been spending so much time lately demanding his independence, trying to prove he was old enough to stay at the castle with Gauge while Myxia and Henry were gone, and yet as that time drew closer, it seemed all that work went away. Sam was her first kid to become a clinging shadow to Nyxia, but far from the last.
The next was Blair oddly enough. Though probably not that odd. She tended to follow Sam anywhere he went like a little shadow so it’d make sense she’d catch on to Sam’s peculiar behavior. She’d ask to be held when Nyxia was watching over training, fight to sit on Nyxia’s lap when they’d be sitting at home, or begging for one more story before bed. Unlike Sam, Blair didn’t exactly know why Nyxia’s attention and time has become so valuable but she knew she wanted in on it. It wasn’t until the fourth time in a single day that Nyxia nearly tripped over her that Nyxia had to talk about the safe distance for a shadow to be when their mom was training.
The third and fourth shadows were almost a tie. Oliver was still young enough to need consistent attention during the day so he’d never really had a chance to leave Nyxia’s side but even he became needier. Crying more often for her, doing more dangerous stunts to get Nyxia’s attention, and crawling into bed with them every night. At the same time, Button came home early for the trip, claiming to be preparing and training up but Nyxia noticed the way she offered to help cook, clean, and spar with Nyxia, anything to be helpful and nearby. Despite knowing she’d be coming along, it seemed even Button wanted the last little moments of peaceful home life before adventure.
The fifth shadow was the oddest of all, because it technically wasn’t even one of her kids. Instead it was Martin. Though he was by far the stealthiest of them all about it. For the past couple years he’d stop by on his travels through their land when traveling between home and school, stopping in to say hi, eat a meal, maybe stay the night if it was late, and be on his way. But where his trips used to be quick, couple hour meetings where he’d talk with nyxia about the other kids, the local going ons, and even talk philosophy and ideals. Slowly they became longer and more frequent. Soon it was once a month at least nyxia could count on him to bring fresh food, gossip, and help around the house, and almost always an overnight stay. At first she wasn’t sure if it was for her or because of Button staying around more until he told her one day “I’m really gonna miss this Misses Nyx…” that was when she knew she’d gained another shadow.
The last shadow could hardly be called a shadow. Mairwen was always independent, even at this young age. Unlike Sam, she tended to avoid Nyxia as the time for closer, always complaining that the house was too loud and busy and then stomping off to train. It was one of those days that nyxia was able to extricate herself from her clingers to find her sitting near the lake, spinning her staff as she sat on a rock, looking at the water. Nyxia leaned against the rock and put a hand out to her “you gotta share emotions or they’ll erupt., trust me, I know…so lay it on me. We don’t have to talk, just share them.” After a moments hesitation Mairwen slowly reached out and took the hand. Nyxia felt a wave of sadness, fear, and grief wash over her for a moment. She felt her heart break in two as she climbed the rock in a moment. “Can I hug you?” She held out her hands, knowing to wait. She didn’t have to wait long as Mairwen barreled into her, arms wrapped tight, nyxia smiled sadly. She was going to miss this.
It was the same thought she had that night as she looked up at the ceiling, knowing the netting was only a week away. Sometimes people need space, they need silence and solitude. But sometimes, nyxia thought as she looked over where Oliver was tucked under Henry’s wing, both fast asleep, and Blair slept between the two adults, tail flopped over Nyxia’s torso. Outside the bedroom and downstairs nyxia could hear Martin and Button talking and laughing as they sat in the living room. The door to the room creaked slightly as Mairwen and Sam peaked their heads in. “Mom…can we sleep in here tonight” Sam’s small voice whispered. Nyxia smiles and motioned for them to come in as she felt her heart swell with love “sometimes people need solitude…but I’m just fine with my clinging little shadows…at least for one more week.”