Everything looks so fuzzy.
The edges of her vision are blurred, she doesn't know where she is at first. She's in bed, but it's cold. Right, back in the home she shares with Cleo. Sleeping here until they've moved into the castle.
Why is she so cold? She feels lost, disoriented, alone. Cleo isn't there. That shouldn't matter, Cleo doesn't sleep all that much anymore. Pearl doesnt need to either, she guesses. Right, she was turned yesterday. Her tongue runs along the two dots on her lip left by Cleo's bite.
It reminds her of them, she keeps touching it over and over. Why does she miss Cleo so much? She loves them, of course, but she doesn't NEED her. Especially at night. So why does she whimper their name into her pillow?
Cleo is up at the castle repairing what can be done easily. She couldn't sleep, she often can't. The nightmares get to be too much after a while. Although this time it was harder to leave the house, for some reason. They continue patching up what she can as they think about the past day.
They did it, it's over, they're done. It's relief and fear and disbelief all at once.
They've turned her. She's their fledgeling. The whole idea feels so backwards and strange but comforting in a way. If Pearl had to be turned, if it was to be anyone, Cleo is grateful she chose her.
She's wandering the halls looking for the next small project when they feel a pang of guilt. Not for the past day, not for the deaths that occurred and the people that were lost not even for turning Pearl. But for leaving her alone.
She's alone, unprotected, back in town. If Cleo had a heartbeat it would be rushing, why are they so stressed? She can take care of herself.
But she's alone, and asleep, and in danger.
Cleo knows it's irrational but runs back outside, turns into a bat, and flies back to Oakhurst as fast as she can.
Pearl is crying. She doesn't know why, nothing is wrong, everything is fine, why is she crying? Why does it hurt so much that Cleo is away? She manages to get out of bed and go to where Cleo sleeps. She takes their pillow and holds it to her chest and she lays back down, surrounded by Cleo's scent. She sobs out their name as a calico cat pads into the room and hops up onto the bed.
"Hey bud-buddy, did I wake ya up?"
He nudges his way into her arms and curls up against her chest. He's warm, and his heartbeat is tiny but consistent.
Pearl whimpers into the pillow and hopes that Cleo will be back soon.
Cleo throws the door open less carefully than she normally would, and quickly heads to Pearl's bed only to find her missing.
It's too late, something happened, she got hurt, she was taken, she ran away, SOMETHING
And it was Cleo's fault, Cleo left her, Cleo left her alone and she's gone.
They search the house before coming to their own bed and finding Pearl, curled up with tear stains down her cheeks and Oscar cuddled up in her arms.
"Y-yeah, I'm f-fine, why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't...I thought...why are you crying?"
Cleo sits beside her and Pearl quickly sits up and leans against her, burying her face into their neck
It's then Cleo remembers the first night's.
All those times newly turned fledgelings would cry out for their sire and sob if they weren't there. How deeply they craved to be close. They remember their own pains to be near Pyro despite how much she hated it.
Cleo pulls Pearl into their lap and plays with her hair. Oscar, annoyed at being disturbed, meows loudly before laying back down and resting his head on Cleo as well. Pearl's muscles finally relax and the tears stop.
She closes her eyes and falls asleep, comfortable, safe, and loved.
