There was sunshine. And warmth. But… coldness, too. Auron's eyes fluttered open feebly. He looked around, but all he could see were crying people, others in robes, and… bodies. He sat up quickly, tears coming fast in his sudden, realizing panic, and he scanned the area around him for his parents.
Nothing.
He jumped up, but the exertion made him dizzy, and he tried with difficulty to remain on his feet. After the vertigo had passed, he began to run through the sea of bodies, scanning every face, every familiar piece of clothing, anything that could give him a clue as to what had happened to his parents…
"Auron!" a voice cried. He turned around, his heart leaping into his throat, and his face lifted in expectancy. But his hopes were dashed as one of his neighbors ran over to him and knelt by his side. She had a pretty face, and red hair, but now… she looked devastated. Her calm blue eyes were filled with tears and sorrow, and Auron noted her husband's wedding band had joined hers on her finger. He was dead.
"Auron, sweetie, can you come with me?" She tried to lead him away, pushing him towards a priest, but he dug his boots into the ground and quickly maneuvered around her. She called out to him, but he bolted in the opposite direction of where she had been pushing him. He scanned the deceased with his eyes as quickly as he could, hoping, and yet dreading. But his answer came soon enough as he saw a pair of bodies lain next to each other serenely. He knelt down, tears falling quickly down his nose and chin as he gazed into the still, slackened faces of his parents. Their eyes were closed peacefully, and Auron knew they would never open again. He threw himself at the ground next to them, trying to lie between their bodies, but a priest pulled him away.
"Son, son, please," he soothed, but Auron shrieked loudly in pain, and anguish, and hurt. He had never felt so incredibly devastated in all of his life, he couldn't bear it, he wanted to die, he just didn't want to be here, staring at the dead bodies of his beloved parents…
"Please," the priest begged, kneeling down, but all Auron could do was scream, and struggle, and cry. The priest suddenly held him, putting a hand on the back of his head, and Auron cried into his shoulder for what seemed like an eternity. When his tears had somewhat subsided, he looked up into the kindly, yet careworn face of the man. He had slick black hair and a kind face, similar to his father, though the priest was a little heavier. His eyes had that same warmth to them, and his small smile helped Auron to relax and breathe. While he wiped away his tears, the priest began his dance, and sooner than Auron would have liked, his parents disappeared before him in a burst of pyreflies. They twirled around him for a brief few moments, two of them stroking either cheek, before floating away and disappearing forever. Auron began sobbing again.
"Son," said the priest, "They have found rest on the Farplane. Be happy that they are there."
"But I want them here!" he cried. "It's not fair!"
"Death is the fair price we must all pay for our lives, however long or short they may be. Be consoled with the fact that they are together now, for eternity."
These words did nothing but make him cry harder.
"Come with me to the Temple in Bevelle," the priest said. "They will take you in gladly, and you can be friends with my daughter, Amira."
Auron followed him willingly, giving one last look to his village, and finally, to the spot he had last seen his parents. As they walked over the hill, Auron turned away and looked towards the horizon.