Who Knows Where or When

Myranda looked into the reflecting pool of souls that swirled around the fountain she sat on with Ophelia, and let out a sigh. Metas and Lilith had still not arrived.

"Still worried? Do you really believe he'd leave you behind?" Ophelia asked gently as she watched the sad mis-matched eyes of her charge run across the water in contemplation.

"A little. I wasn't very kind to him at first. I was just scared to get hurt...and I just harbored a deep hatred of his parents," Myranda sighed again and shook her head. "I don't deserve him."

"Of course you do, my love. He's also rebuked you before, too. You have been together for a very long time, after all. Would you like to see?" Ophelia offered with a smile.

Myranda merely nodded, and followed the path of the goddess' hand into the fountain's light which showed a blurry scene that sharpened itself out slowly.

There they were - not as they looked now - but she knew it was them. Her hair was a beautiful deep gold, and Metas' was red like her brother's.

Metas had a disgusted look on his face and he spat at the ground towards Myranda's feet. "Your family has already taken everything away from me - are you here to finish it off? You'll never silence a revolution, princess."

Myranda looked broken and put her hands to the bars in desperation, "No, no - it's not like that. I wanted to help you - I did... but my mother is cruel and she realized what I was doing. I am not as smart as I'd like to be when it comes to being underhanded. Forgive me, Metas. I failed you."

"Shut it. Your lies bring me no comfort, and I won't fall for them either. I will die proudly tomorrow, and I will do so knowing I should have never trusted you," he replied coldly.

The vision ended there and Ophelia waved her hand like a carp gently stirring in the water, and a new image blossomed.

"You? There is no way you're my mate! Why would the Goddess pair me with you?" Metas said with disgust as he looked down to a very small, very timid Myranda.

"...but... we're mates. We are! Just because you don't see it now - I'm sure you could try. I've never hated you for your teasing...I know you're just hurting because of how your parents treat you..." she replied very quietly.

"What do you know, little orphan Mandy? Maybe find your real mate. I already have mine. The goddess just made a mistake is all. I'm rejecting you - here and now."

Once more, Ophelia ended the image and looked to Myranda's crying face.

"You said we were fated mates. How could we deny each other just like that?" she asked and looked to Ophelia's bright eyes for answers.

"Oh, haha. All of you ask the same question. Most of the time fated mates work it out and bond again. On rare occasions, they separate and find others to merge with that are more compatible. You never know what you're missing out on if you don't try it. A lot of souls opt to try new partners after a good long while," Ophelia gave a light giggle that was devoid of any mocking, it was just warm.

"So we've found each other every time?" Myranda followed up with more inquiries.

"Yes. Every single time," Ophelia said with a calm nod. "See for yourself - this is end of each start of the story I showed you."

Once more the gentle moon maiden waved her hand in the water.

"I'm sorry. I should have believed you sooner, princess" Metas said with a sweaty face, and tears streaming down his eyes.

"It's okay. I wouldn't have either. I forgive you...I hope..we see each other..in the meadows.." Myranda replied and panted as heat started to make living unbearable.

"I won't move from my spot until you find me," Metas replied as well as he could, and wasn't disappointed when Myranda didn't reply - he was more relieved her suffering was over.

Ophelia stopped the scene before it revealed much more, and instead brought her to the end of the second timeline she had teased earlier.

The two of them lay in bed, old and tired. Their fur had lost its color, but their eyes were still bright and shined into one another's.

"Are you ready to go?" Myranda asked with tired, but happy smile.

"Are you?" Metas asked in turn and put his forehead to hers gently.

"Only if we're going together. I will wait for you in the meadows until you find me. I promise not to move a muscle until you greet me," Myranda said with a happy sigh and snuggled into her mate with affection.

"Thank you for giving me such a happy life, Mandy... I love you endlessly. I'm sorry for everything before...." Metas said softly and took in a slow breath at the end of his words.

"You've apologized enough, my love. Sleep with me. I'm so very tired. May we meet again - wherever and whenever we're blessed to. Then you can make it all up to me," Myranda gave out her last, soft chuckle and melted away with Metas into what they believed was everlasting sleep.

Ophelia looked back at Myranda who was wiping her face with the back of her arm.

"I love him so much. I want to tell him so badly, I want to go back. I want to go back and fix it," Myranda blubbered.

"We can never go back. All we can do is wait, and step forward with what we are given," Ophelia said patiently, and then looked up to see a path of bright white trees growing towards them with leaves of starry petals.

"Ah, Lilith is coming. Do you want to walk up and meet her? Or do you want to wait?" the goddess asked as though a mother were giving her child a choice.

Myranda stood and ran as fast as she could towards the line of trees that grew closer and closer where the outline of an approaching woman advanced slowly towards her.