Who is Magpie?

“Back in the car Oakley, we need to go.” Azural said quickly, tossing on a spare pair of pants, and Jessamine just stared at him while the child, Oakley, wrapped his arms around her legs. A low growl sound came and Oakley jumped in the car while Azural’s eyes moved back to hers. “Get in Jessamine, if you can’t do it yourself I will help you.”

She slid in beside the child who quickly slid over to her after the door was closed. “Mom, I’ve missed you so much,” he cooed, wrapping his arms around hers tightly. “It’s okay, dad told me that the bad people who had you messed with your memories a lot and you might not remember me.”

She pat his head gently and a smell, like moon drops, drifted it’s way through her nose. His small hand released the grip he had on her and wiped her face. She assumed there was blood there, as there was dried blood still on her dress and hands, until he spoke.

“It’s okay mom, don’t cry.”

Azural looked at her in the car’s mirror and she met his eyes. She was. She was crying and she didn’t even realize it as they continued to run down her face.

She clutched the boy to her side, breathing in the smell of his hair deeply. “My wee lus na gealach, my moon flower.” She sobbed, bringing him to sit over her lap so she could hold him tightly against her, “they have taken so much from me.”

Her quiet cries continued until she fell asleep, her and Oakley laying down in the backseat while the car sped on.

“Dad, she’s squishing me,” Oakley croaked when he woke back up.

Azural chuckled. “She misses you.”

He squirmed from under her and crawled into the front seat. “But she doesn’t remember me.”

“They changed her memories, not her heart. That’s where she remembers you,” Azural soothed. “Give her time.”

The car stopped and Jessamine rolled off the seat onto the floor. “Oakley!” She gasped, worried she had crushed him and sat up suddenly.

“He’s up with me,” Azural returned, and his little head popped around the seat to look at her on the floor.

“You were squeezing me so tight!” He gasped with round eyes.

She straightened up, feeling the last pin in her hair, and moved back to the seat. “I’m sorry.”

Azural tapped Oakley with the back of his hand and gave him a look. “It’s okay, I like the squishy hugs sometimes.”

Looking out the window she could see they were in a small town, little buildings lined a dirt road and they were surrounded by tall mountains. She wondered if they were the same mountains that were near the pack house, but didn’t know how long she had been asleep while they were driving.

Azural climbed out of the car and moved to open her door since the child locks had been put on.

She slid to the end of the seat and looked up at him. “What do you expect me to do?”

He looked at her and to her ankle. “What’s wrong with it?”

She quirked her eyebrows at him. “It’s broken, Athena bit it practically in half at the Luna challenge.”

He growled deep inside his throat. “That stupid woman, never could follow direction. She’ll pay for this.”

Jessamine’s face didn’t change. “Did you miss the words Luna challenge? I obviously won.” Her eyes darted to Oakley and back to him, gesturing with her head to what she believed was the obvious answer.

He shook his head, feeling stupid. “Of course, good job,” he replied awkwardly and moved to pick her up but she shook her head warningly.

“Why won’t you let daddy carry you?” Oakley asked, standing patiently beside them to get going.

Jessamine smirked slightly and leaned in toward the boy. “Because daddy smells,” she whispered, wrinkling her nose.

Oakley giggled and wrinkled his nose. “Ewe you should go shower dad.”

“Well what do you suggest?” Azural asked frustratedly.

Jessamine shrugged. “I had a cane, but you didn’t think to bring it when you… left with me.” She stood up, balancing on one foot and Oakley took her hand. “I’m filthy my gealach,” she returned, trying to pull her hand away.

“It’s okay, you were already cuddling me,” he reasoned but another kid called over to him and he moved to go.

Jessamine didn’t release his hand, and a small sad sound squirmed in her throat. He met her eyes and she bit her lip, knowing she should let him go.

“Can’t I go play with Xavier?” Oakley asked.

Jessamine hated that she turned to Azural, but she also didn’t know how to parent a child let alone a five year old who’s had years of rules and learning she wasn’t a part of.

“Jessamine, let him go play. We have things to discuss anyway.” Azural reached for her other hand, but she put it behind her back.

“Go ahead Oakley,” she encouraged, releasing his hand reluctantly.

Once he started to run off Azural moved and just picked her up bridal style. She had moved to punch him as Oakley turned around to wave, and ended up pretending to brush some dirt off his cheek with her thumb.

“That’s twice you’ve used Oakley as a shield,” she muttered.

He chuckled. “You should be please that I still fear you enough to need our son as a pacifier.”

At the word she started to cry a little again. “I missed all his firsts.”

“Not all,” he assured, “there will be many more.”

They entered a home on the main road and he took her up the stairs to a bedroom, sitting her on the bed. She could tell from how the room smelt that it was his. He smelt like river rocks, gritty and cool, but she remembered that much about him.

“I assume you have questions,” Azural began, sitting at a chair opposite of her.

Her calm demeanour, that she had adapted to around Oakley, disintegrated immediately. “Considerably fewer than you might think.”