Surprise Gift (Part 1)
"No sweetie, he's gone." Lith shook his head. "Valtak had a long and happy life. Before dying, he asked me to send you his love and tell you he was happy meeting you."
It was a white lie and something the Father of Fire would have said, had he had the time and opportunity to give his final farewells.
Aran and Leria burst into tears, their mothers quickly wrapped them in an embrace and whispered reassuring words in their ears.
"It's okay, baby." Elina gently caressed Aran's hair. "It's nobody's fault. Valtak was just old."
"Don't cry, sweetie." Rena rocked Leria in her arms. "I explained to you why these things happen. Remember the old horse you liked so much? It's the same thing. He didn't suffer, it was just his time."
Of course, Rena omitted the part where the horse had been butchered and eaten for dinner. That was a story for an older and less impressionable Leria.
"You are young so you can't die, right Mom?" Leria asked amid sobs.