Lyris Growth 2

Lyris felt a bit more confident the next time she went out to offer assistance to a soul. Her mother was still accompanying her but they decided that Solacy would only watch from a distance for now.

"If anything happens, I am still here to help. I won't be far. I fully believe that you can do it without my assistance, though. Now you also need to believe in yourself. How are you feeling?"

Lyris took a deep breath and grounded herself.

"I understand now, that it's not so much about getting the soul to the ocean but to figure out what the soul needs to be ready to leave. I can offer that care and compassion."

Solacy smiled brightly and gave Lyris a kiss on the cheek.

"That's my girl. You'll do amazing."

Solacy nodded and stepped back. Lyris gave a nod in return and then faced away from her mother to go into the direction of the soft blue glow radiating through the trees. She could hear birds chirping, the sound growing louder as she stepped closer. Her heart sank as Lyris recognized the scene in fron of her. A few feet away from the trunk was the lifeless body of a baby bird. It didn't even have feathers. The soul was struggling to keep its head up and eyes open. It was so small... 

Lyris felt a short amount of panic and then a wave of sorrow. The hedgehog soul was different. That was an old animal that had reached the end of its life. But this small defenseless bird didn't even get the chance to really start it...

Weak cries rang out from the bird soul and Solacy finally continued to walk towards it.

"Hello, little one. I hope I didn't startle you."

The soul looked up as best as it could, cries getting more desperate. Lyris wasn't quite sure what to do... How much the soul understood her... So she just tried to follow her instinct. She got closer and nestled herself to the ground, circling her tail around the little bird to resemble the shape and warmth of the nest. The bird calmed down a bit but was still trembling in distress. Lyris rested her head on her paws and began to quietly sing. It was a soft lullaby.

La le lu
Only the man in the moon watches
When the little babies are sleeping
And now you should sleep as well

Are all the stars
Awakening in the sky
Then I love to sing
A song for your night

The song went on, but Lyris stopped singing and instead hummed it a while longer. The bird had become still and stopped shaking. Instead it was able to relax now and sink into Lyris' fur. Its eyes were open now, looking at her with adoration. After a while of silence she gently rubbed the chick with the tip of her tail.

"I'm sorry that you fell... or were pushed out. I'm sure it was an accident. A terrible one. You didn't deserve that."

The bird was too tiny to talk but it seemed to understand, eyes looking up at where the nest was, were their parents and siblings were. 

"Do you want to come with me? We can fly up together. In a way where you don't have to feel scared about your wings not working yet. We can do it together."

The soul didn't seem convinced but nodded after a while. Lyris stood up and waited for the bird to do the same.

"Come on, trust me, you can do it."

The bird shook its body and looked up again, unconvinced. It let ou one more sharp sound.

"It's okay, take your time. Maybe try a jump first."

The soul shook itself again and closed its eyes. Then the bird jumped. Floated. No longer hold down by earthly rules. The bird soul slowly opened its eyes, suprised and then full of wonderous joy. Without hesitating it flapped its little wings and soared up to the nest to land next to their siblings.

Lyris happiness change to worry as she followed. She looked on as the bird tried to cuddle up to their parents but just phased through, looking confused.

"I'm sorry, but you can't stay here... You can no longer feel their touch or eat the worms your parents bring... Your siblings will grow up and leave the nest and then you will be all alone. I'm sorry. It's not fair to you. But it will only be more pain to stay here and watch them fly away without you."

Lyris know that this was the most delicate part. This moment could mean success or failure. A part of her wanted to look back and look for her mom, but she stayed focused on the soul. It slowly tried to cuddle up to its parents again. Then it sighed. 

Lyris heart broke a little seeing the little bird soul trying to give one last hug before flying up to Lyris face.

"Come with me. You can also sit on my back if you want." The bird did just that and as Lyris turned away from the tree a big smile erupted on her face. A few meters out Solacy appeared next to her.

"That was a hard one. I'm so proud of you. Both of you."