The shining spiral of stars opened in the grassy field. A beautiful blonde woman walked out and it closed behind her. A pitching wind blew her long hair back out of her face, exposing red, puffy eyes to the cool damp morning breeze. The starry portal closed behind her and she was alone.
Fresh tears careened down her cheeks just from the sight of the land she once loved so much. So little had changed here, it could've been only yesterday she had left.
The wind whistled through her hair, whispering a soft welcome home in her ear. The tranquil lush trees swayed gently against the wind and, if she closed her eyes and really listened, she could almost hear the calm lapping of water at Mirror Lake.
Just for a moment, when she opened her eyes, she was twelve and her world was simple and small again. The dark void in her chest was filled with all the warm memories of the beautiful world she had once lived in.
"I left so much behind." She whispered sorrowfully.
"But you're heart never left. Welcome home, Kara."
Kara turned around to see a tall woman with black hair and dark eyes. She held her arms open as she walked toward her. Kara broke into a sob, "Adriane!"
She ran into her arms. They just stood there for a while, clinging to each other. Kara sobbed into Adriane's shoulder, "I still can't believe she's gone…oh, Adriane. I drove her away! She hates me and now she's gone." The tears fell like they would never stop.
Adriane pulled away and took Kara's face in her hands. "No, don't do that to yourself. Laura ran from her responsibilities, not you. It would have happened sooner or later. You need to accept that. You can't waste time blaming yourself. It doesn't help anything."
She spoke so calmly, it was a little unnerving. Then Kara remembered that Adriane's parents left her at a young age. Not to mention the fact that Gran had died of cancer only two months ago. Getting older had not made the warrior's life any easier.
Kara nodded and tried to recompose herself. "Have the others arrived yet?"
As if to answer her question, a loud boom erupted in the woods near the old manor. Kara grimaced, "I'll take that as a yes."
Adriane laughed gruffly. "Just like old times." That statement wasn't meant to comfort.