This isn’t right. Mav pushed against the Titan’s, Eonok’s, feelings and memory. I understand you’re hurt, but this isn’t right.

Eonok’s wrath fought back, threatening to overtake Mav’s thoughts. How dare he even suggest he understood any of what she was going through.

I don’t know personally, but…. This time, not only an image came to mind. A blanket, covering a body, and Mav speaking into an earpiece. The voice on the other end weeped, screaming in rage and sorrow. But I know that no mother should ever have to bury her son.

Eonok’s rage didn’t subside, but it ceased pushing against Mav’s feelings.

Razkin wasn’t in pain, in the end. Mav swore he felt a tear drop down his cheek. Let me show you! 

The little miracle returned to Mav’s arms. Drained of power, his skin clinging to his bones, few tufts of fur hanging on, and dried golden blood surrounding his wounds, Razkin gazed at Mav with weary eyes. Yet, away from that moment, Mav could see, clear as day, the relief, warmth, and love in that stare. 

That little rumble had been a purr. Pure serenity washed over little Razkin as he faded into the ether, going ahead of Eonok to Mother, thanking Mav for his kindness as he departed. 

Maren added more memories: people calling to boycott Sekko, their wrath over the atrocities they’d done to the Baby Titan; the church condemning everyone involved with the sacrilege, and even a public honoring of little Razkin, though no one knew his name or even what type of Titan he was. 

It’s not all humans, Maren said, her thoughts rolling through Mav’s head. Not everyone is as horrible as these monsters. 

And those who do these evil things will suffer, Mav thought. I’ll make sure of it. 

The jumble of chaotic emotions within Eonok raged for a few seconds longer, then calmed. Silence surrounded them. They were no longer locked in memories, but back in the ravaged camp, lit beneath the moonlight. Mav continued holding Eonok, arms connected to Maren’s. Aetr and Thekon also held her, with wing and arm respectively. 

There was a sixth presence. A bright golden light in a miniature form of Eonok cuddled against the bereaved mother’s leg, a loud purr vibrating through the huddled group. Eonok looked at the curled bundle of light, sniffed it, then began licking it behind its ears. The little light stretched, leaning into the cleaning, then leaped up. 

Happiness fluttered in Mav’s chest as it bounded around the group. It rubbed its head against Aetr’s talon, let Thekon scratch it behind the frill, hopped onto Maren and kneaded her back, then dove into Mav’s lap. 

By the Eternal Flame, the light had mass. Razkin’s jump forced Mav backwards onto his rear. The excitable specter licked Mav’s face, leaving warmth instead of saliva on his cheek. Razkin leaped back to his mother, pressing his head against hers. 

There they remained for a long, silent moment. Then, little Razkin broke off. His eyes as excited as the day he found a human child with whom he’d wanted to interlink, he reared on his hind legs, supported himself with his mother’s face, then licked her between the eyes. 

Little Razkin turned away, hunched low, waggled its rump, then took off down the street. Mav found tears cascading down his cheeks, dropping off his chin into his lap. Maren’s quivering hand gripped his shoulder, her sniffles sounding above. He leaned into her as Razkin leaped into the air, golden light mixing with the silver of the moon, then disappearing altogether as if its jump turned into a flight, reaching for better places than here.