Chapter 20 – Reflection

Reflection … is a lot like a ripple effect. There's more to what you're actually seeing. Mom's saying, not mine. But, in some way … it made sense.

And, dreams. That was Dad's thing. However …

As you know, my Father never talks, if not even rarely, but the words I heard mutter once, one night long ago when I was still his baby as he cuddled me down to sleep. I remembered that night, he had just pointed out the very first wishing star of that quiet evening and called it for me, his words whispering, "Every dream starts with a wish, but a wish … well, it starts with a dream."

So, there you had it, wishes and dreams coexist with each other. Now, I know it sounds like I'm riding off a tangent, but stay with me here on this concept and I'll get back to the story …

Warmth. That's all I remember … and what felt like feathers. Blinking open my eyes, I gently pushed past my sister's wing that she had wrapped me up in. Gently ducking past under her wing, as so not to wake her, I crawled out from underneath her arm and stood to my shaky feet as the last burning embers of the campfire provided the only light left in the cave.

Gazing around the dim light that the fading fire's aura was emanating across the cave walls, I saw everyone resting as a few snores came forth from the other side of the den, far away from the flames as I turned my head to see that Snow had somehow made herself comfortable against a cave stalagmite.

I didn't really understand how we had gotten here, but I knew it was because of one person.

Stepping around the fading embers, I looked around the cave one more time before I felt a thin ray of sunlight poke through the icicle entrance as it radiated across the sheens of ices like a spotlight as I pushed my way past the peddles that poked through the soft soles of my boots.

Meeting the soft rays of the sun, I squinted my eyes shut as I rubbed at them faintly.

"Feeling better?"

Reeling around, I saw Castor, the lone boy who had followed us here, sitting against the soft bark of a tree as he was chiseling with some kind of tool he had as he picked and chipped away across a block of wood. "Huh?"

Looking up at me with a shy frown, he asked me, "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah … I think so," I replied, watching as a quick and swift, relieved grin seemed to radiate across his cheeks as he sighed, but seeing that I was studying him, it vanished from him as quick as a wink.

"Good," he said, turning his head away as his eyes returned to his work. "You fainted."

"I did?" I asked him, trying to earn his interest, again, as he looked up with a wry raised brow.

"Yes, you did," he replied amply, blowing across his wood figure. "Scared your sister half to death …"

"How did you know Cloud was my sister?"

Seeing that I peeked his interest with my question, I offered him a kind smile as he looked up as I said, "Was it that obvious?"

"I don't know, maybe," he said, thinking to himself. "Just seemed pretty concerned about you … that's all."

Watching him hold up his little carve-head, I asked him, "What are you making?"

"Why do you want to know?" he challenged me.

I just shrugged as he sighed, slightly giving in to my trust as he handed me his little wooden statue.

Turning it over in my hands, I studied the clever soft wooden texture as I felt above the head to fine an intricate styled mane, a procured snout along the curve of the head, its soft poked eyes, its muscular yet sturdy physique as its four legs pranced as if in a sprint, and with a smile … I felt of the intricate tuft of tail that poked out from its hindquarters. It was amazing, for here he had carved a small, yet beautiful horse just out of a bark of wood that had fallen to the wintry ground.

Maybe he is North's son, I conclude to myself as he looked up to match my wistful gaze.

"What?" he demanded, yet sharply.

"Nothing," I answered him, seeing him raise his guard and wall back up as he stood to his feet.

"You were thinking something …" he said, shooting snowdrift off his sleeves as his boots crunched against the snow.

"Am I not supposed to think?" I asked him, trying to get him to loosen up a bit as he just turned away completely, reaching up to rub his hand up against the sturdy bark of a Tree.

"Castor …"

His name, when I said it, seemed to radiate straight from his core as he faintly turned his head a bit for me to see a quick silent, yet unseen, tear trickle down past his cheek as he asked, "What?"

"It's beautiful," I said, holding out the carving back towards him with my outstretched hand.

"He's called Petrov," he faintly said as he turned to see a few inches from him as I sat down in the drift next to him.

"Petrov …" I repeated, the name faintly running across my tongue as he looked out across the clouds, staring blankly ahead as I sat the carving back into his hand, or tried to before he pulled his hand away and folded his arms across his knees, turning his head to the side as he did so.

"Keep it, I don't want it," was all he said before we both felt a swift breeze pick up about us as he shut his eyes.

"Castor, are you ok?" I asked him, sensing something in the air as he started to shake.

"Just … Leave me alone!" he called out, flinching away from my words as he felt my hand rest against his shoulder.

"Castor," I tried again.

He only squinted his eyes closer together as he started to whimper, 'It's not her fault.'

"What's not 'her' fault, Castor?" I asked him, hearing his wistful words straight at my heart.

'It's not her … Not her fault …"

"Castor!" I gently shook his shoulder a bit as he jumped up.

"Don't tell me you …" he started to say before I just nodded my head, coming up to stand up to my feet, too.

"It's about Angel, isn't it?" I asked him, starting to piece this whole mess together.

"Why do you want to know?" he tried to challenge me, again, as I stood there unshaken. "You wouldn't understand …"

"I think you'll find that we do," I told him, looking back towards the cave as I saw Luna, Terra, my sister, and Snow emerge from the cave to see me standing alone talking to Castor.

"What is she doing?" I heard Snow ask the others as Terra held her back.

"What has Angel told you?" I asked him as he belatedly turned away.

"What makes you think she's told me 'anything' you would want to know?!"

"Castor, please," I asked him, trying to get him to heed my words. "Hear me out, please."

Looking deep into my eyes, Castor all but shook his head as he allowed more frustrated tears to fall, which the ones behind me were quick to pick up on as Cloud held a hand to her mouth in understanding and Snow unbelievably shaking her head as I heard her say, "He's actually … crying?"

"I'm not asking what it is that Angel has told you over the years, but I just have one question for you," I started as he waited, to which he consented. "Do you want answers?"

"Answers to what …?" he started to say before I stopped him.

"Everything," I said, talking up to him as he remained silent. "I know who you are, Castor. We all do."

Looking over my shoulder, I still saw the distrust steaming in Snow's eyes, but something told me from her expression she was beginning to feel something from Castor, too, something he thought he was good at hiding.

"You're North's son," I told him, clearly the evidence as his brows arced up in mock interest.

"So what if he is my Father?" he said, hiding his wavering hope. "I ain't never met him."

"Exactly, no you haven't," I corrected him, earning his gaze back. "You don't know what he's like."

"And, you don't know my Mother," he spoke back fiercely, causing me to back up a little.

Seeing Snow react defensively, I stood in front of them both as I said back, "We are not judging you, Castor, nor her. At least until …"

"Until what?" he demanded, still in defense mode as Snow looked hard in my face, seeming to say, 'You know he's asking for it."

I decided to tread easy as I asked him, directly, "Why did you follow us from Terra's wood, Castor?"

"Dusty, what are you thinking …?" Snow exclaimed before she heard Castor clear his throat.

"He wants to see North," Luna said, coming over, joining the conversation. "Don't you? Don't try to hide it, Nick. I know you way better than that, at least … there was a time that I did back before …"

Sighing, Castor just lowered his head and nodded. "I thought you guys needed some help getting home, but I also remembered what Terra said back there. Is he really … I mean, he's Santa Claus … Did he even …"

"He never knew, Castor," Luna replied. "But I think it's about time he did. Won't you come with us?"

"I will," he simply said, as he saw my and Luna's distinct expressions. "However, I have one condition."

"And, what is that?" Snow demanded from where she stood between us.

"Don't ask me to join you guys, I won't help you fight against my Mother," he said, real serious-like but underneath I could tell he was hurting. "You don't know her as I do."

Coming over to lay a hand across my shoulder, I looked up to see my sister's smile as I gave her a grin that said, 'One step at a time.' Turning back to where Castor was standing with his cloak billowing out against the arctic wind as I said, "We agree to your terms. We won't ask you, but maybe you can do something for us."

"Depends what it is," he replied, looking up as we heard Solar call out to us.

"Hey! There you guys are," he said, swerving down to hover his board right just above where we all were standing as I saw Dad scanning over our brother's shoulder in worry. "We've been looking for you guys all night!"

"Dad!" Snow called out, running over to where Jack stood panting to his knees in the Snow as the cold arctic wind left him. However, his strength returned to scoop Snow up into his arms as he held her close.

"Hey, if you guys are here, does that mean we're going home?" Saige called, coming out of the cave stretching her arms as Taylor emerged from the shelter, just as tired, too.

"Uh …" Solar said, counting all of us. "We can try. We may have to divvy up …"

"Um, excuse me, sorry to interrupt," Castor spoke up, seeing that our brother was shocked to see him among us, again. "But, I believe I may have a faster way to get there."

"How?" Snow asked, watching him scoop up a good size chunk of snowball.

"Now, if I only had my sword, I could …" Castor muttered as Blaze piped up from the back, lifting something up into the air.

"You mean this?"

"Here!" Blaze said, tossing him his sword in its scabbard to which Castor caught with an expert hand. "You're welcome."

With a chuckle, Castor nodded his thanks as he tied his sword back to its proper place against his green coarse belt as he whisked his cloak to the side.

Turning to us, and throwing the snowball in the air with a single hand, he asked us, "So, are you ready for a second ride?"

Again, sorry for the late posting of chapter 20. I've been stuck on this story, but I've also been really busy with college.

So, I hope all of you will bear with me and I will hopefully have another chapter up before too long. Thanks to all of you who are still reading and liking this story, I really appreciate that is a story that is worth making you smile. And, I'm sorry that 'soon' wasn't soon enough. But, finally, here it is. Enjoy! :)