Indigo popped out of the Cats shadow, and he batted her with his paw. She turned around and chased after his tail as it flickered.

"If she wants to join you, then she can go." I nodded, swallowing the lump. This was too important to prevent, not that I really could have stopped the Elder Dragon from doing what she wanted. Lord Bennett was important. I didn't want Indigo to lose her grandfather; she was too young for such a thing, given that they were dragons.

"Go where?" asked Indigo.

"To see your grandfather," I whispered.

"But, what about the Solstice?" asked Indigo with alarm. She jumped up, flying to my shoulder. "We celebrate together. Tree and socks!"

The stockings were hanging from the mantle, but I hadn't filled them yet. I still needed to get a few more things for each of them.

"Maybe you can get him to come for our small gathering," I said with a smile, patting her side. "I can get him a stocking."

She rubbed her head against my neck like the Cat did sometimes. "Maybe… Invite him. Not leave."

"Hey, it's okay if you leave," I said, running my hand down her spine.

"But, you not come?"

"Not right now." I let out a sigh. "Someday, you'll show me the dragon lands, but you need to go there first."

I lifted her off my shoulder and held her in my arms. I glanced at Lady Twilight, needing her to hop in if she really wanted Indigo to go with her. Light from the tree made Indigo's scales almost glow.

"Indigo, asking your grandfather to come to the celebration you are having will do good." She reached out for the little dragon. "I promise I'll bring you back in time for your celebration. You don't need to find your way on your own."

"But safe here, with Sable and Cat!"

My lips parted, but I didn't have anything to add. My heart broke in two. Even with how important Lord Bennett was, I wasn't going to make her go.

"You will be safe with Lady Twilight," said the Cat. "Your great-grandmother will always protect you, just like me."

"Promise?"

"I promise," said Lady Twilight.

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I hadn't realized that Indigo wanted to stay here because she felt safe and protected. Now, I wish I hadn't said she could go.

Indigo flew out of my hands toward Lady Twilight. "Short visit."

"Of course," said Lady Twilight. "You need to be back in time for the holiday."

Indigo grumbled under her breath, sounding like the Cat.

"I'll show you both out," said the Cat.

Lady Twilight's purple eyes stared at me, and she nodded. "We won't be gone long, to us, but I know things are different with the shop."

"We'll be fine. I'll be waiting."

I couldn't watch as she left the room. Instead, I stared at the snow falling. The woods looked the same as always. Dark pine trees were covered in snow. A brush of warmth came from the floor, almost like a question.

"It's okay, Betty," I said. "I know she'll be back. You're not getting rid of us that easily."

I wrapped my arms around myself, smiling at the soft glow of the tree to my right. I turned and headed to the couch, and the fireplace.

"She'll be back before I know it," I whispered to myself.

"She will," said the Cat, as he leaped onto the back of the couch near my head. He stepped down onto my shoulder, then into my lap. "You should take this time to do all the non-kid-friendly things."

"I don't think we have anything like that."

"What about horror movies?" asked the Cat.

I shivered. "I'm not a fan, but I can set some up for you."

He turned around in a circle before lying down in my lap. I couldn't help but pet him as he began to purr.

My mug, filled with hot chocolate, appeared on the coffee table and I chuckled.

"Thank you, Betty, you are amazing." I picked the mug up and took a sip.

The Cat nudged my hand, and I patted him lightly with my free hand.

"So, Professor Eiva… you protected her?" I said, adding a questioning tilt to the end.

"Yes. Her kind was hunted down so others could absorb their magic," said the Cat. "Her kind can see all the various types of magic a person has. Those were some very dark days. She might even be the last of her kind."

"So you hid her."

"My children loved her. Liluth in particular; they were friends."

"And she thinks she's dead. Maybe I can tell her that isn't the case? Somehow let it slip that the dragons might know something about her location?"

The Cat didn't answer as I stared into the glowing red crystals.

My empty journal appeared on the coffee table next, along with my favorite pen.

"Betty, I'll be okay, though reminding me about my homework is good. I'll need to keep in mind that I have to meditate every evening."

"Morning, too," said the Cat.

"The Professor didn't say that…" I grumbled. Hopefully, mediation became easier, and whatever had snapped me out of it the first time didn't happen again. I pulled the journal over to the couch along with my pen, but instead of writing in it I sipped on the hot chocolate and petted the Cat.

"When do you think the Professor will be back? Oh, wait, probably a week." She'd mentioned me needing a week to practice. The solstice was only just over a week away. That was a week of time on my planet, per my phone, which didn't always update depending on the day.

"I hope she comes back."

"Indigo isn't going to leave you for long. She loves you."

"You too," I whispered, hoping he was right. Otherwise, this was going to be a horrible solstice.

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