Chapter XXX ~ Auburn Bristles

 As a few of the clouds had begun to depart from the leering moon, amidst a speckle of stars, a wind had blown, taking a tiny blizzard of snowflakes with it. It sparked beauty among the madness and the lingering sorrow of this broken family… It was beginning to transform that once calloused heart of the Magistrate into something as prickly as rusted chains of grief and spite. So much loss at almost thrown him into a full storm of wrath should he never hear his son’s and daughter’s heavenly voices ever again. Locating Doc and the Gentleman was their highest priority among the Diamond being held and hidden, there was no time to waste. 

With a single swift throw of his hand, Frollo led the horsemen along the ruined paths, seeking alcoves and glens alike for any shred of light or breath of the living inside them, but one mark they knew to find was any sign of Quasimodo’s presence. A torn piece of cloth, blood… or even a footprint would have been a beacon of honest hope, however they were left with none. Or so it seemed at first glance… before their came a sheer cry of a horse down the way along the path they were currently on, just passed the distant thick trunked trees only yonder. There was a moment of divine hope… There was a glimmer of sapphire blue twinkled at Frollo’s eye, at which he blinked sharply in order to focus deeply on it to be sure. 

“The Diamond…” Frollo whispered beneath his breath and through tensed teeth. “It is there~ dig deep and keep close!” he barked. “Poison resides but the light remains — Do not be hindered, men!”

The earth began to quake beneath their feet that began to spark fear within the spirit of another prisoner. Fidele. He reared high on his hind legs in fear as this grand herd of horses crowded him from beyong viel of white air. 

During this initial terror, Faer was in his own form of torture. He had to put a pause in his flight, trying to grapple his fuzzy form from his feathery one, and slapped head on into a tree limb.

“- ah - oomph — that’ll leave a mark!” he spat before he slumped onto and snatched the limb with his rubbery arms. “I made it~ so dog gone winded though…” he panted before he almost slipped off. “I’m good-I’m good!” he had to flurry himself to wake up. “Can’t dawdle ‘round…” he choked as he got himself a good hold and a good footing on the snow drifted limb. “Gotta find — where are they? Where could they be…?” his scrambled thoughts continued to scatter into the cold air of the bramble tortured forest. He could see those things reach as far as his wide eyes could see. He soon stood tall, his brow arched and deep when he had to quiet his own voice to listen to the world around him. He had a truth and he held the tuft of thick fur in his paw. Their destined lovers needed to be together again, no matter how tired he was, he was determined to make it for them. For all of them. 

When he felt that he had his breath again, Faer took in a deep breath to refocus and sprinted into a jump.  A flurry of fall orange sparked among the white land as he took on his avian coat again, taking a clumsy flight downward now through the empty handed trees. The wind kicked his tail, the tips of his primaries that caused his flip around and dart more than he wanted as he tried to shield his eyes from the sharp snowflakes being flicked about like thrust pebbles from the carraige wheel. He knew if he was a second too late things could turn catastrophic. Quasimodo was not only his first and only friend in this world but this whole gathering was his family now… and who was he to let his spirit fail — he could not! 

Tears whipped from the corners of his eyes as he pushed himself as hard as he could — If it meant breaking a wing to do so, so be it. Painful cold whipped passed him, his cheeks froze as he darted and pushed so fast and so desperately. The faster his wings would beat, the louder he could be able to tell of the beats of those powerful hooves through the curse of white. The winds were becoming more sheer and biting against them, the deeper they dwelled into the thickest glens of the claimed forest. This spoke of hours of the unknown until Frollo picked up onto the wings of the auborn robin, as his men were attempting to tame the frazzled pony.

“His spirit has been chained, left to die if not meant to trap any wayward soul who dares to see him,” Frollo’s baritone trembled as he marched forward to the rearing, heartbroken pony. 

“The eyes are wild. He knows of something, sire!” sparked one of the men as they soon snapped the line from the tree trunk, finally.

“Do not pull the reign~” Frollo urged as he himself reached out to soothe the young beast’s snout. Those nostrils flared, in hot huffs as those hooves continued their frantic counting in the snow, yet he knew who was in front of his wild eyes.

“Fidele. Fidele. You know who I am, Fidele… We have come.” he droned, as he pressed his forehead to Fidele’s forelock. “You fear, do not fear…”

Snow bowed his head low as he watched from behind as if to greet the found pony who worried pawed at the snow at his feet in worry. His shaking flanks, his flat ears spoke of grief. Frollo maneuvered to gaze into the pony’s brown eyes where he was able to see a coming form reflected in them. Slowly, Frollo, eased back as he recognized the form and color of auborn of the small robin, a mere dot in the center of the dark and sheer snowfall. When he turned to see, a flash of color darted before their eyes before making a clumsy landing and roll into the snow covered ground with a groaning huff. The men were startled and stared intensely at the mound, and just before cautiously stepping close to inspect it. 

Frollo shadowed this before soon holding his hand firm towards his men to still them. “Don’t.” he sharpened which was enough to nearly startle them into submission, and back down. “Do not touch him.” his voice seemed dangerously as he approached the still body himself, glove over his pommel and then to the grip of his sword. 

“Do not approach, men. Do not, do you understand?” he further warned, with that spark of intensity that followed that love he nurtured since he was forgiven. 

“Your Honor… That coat…” uttered one of the men as they lifted their helmet to see the form there more clearly.

“Fall colors, it is no vixen or robin of any sort…” Frollo hummed when the realization slowly hit him. That pang that had been tormented his heart tightened even more so when he saw that mound of fur tremble, and so still now. “…faer.” he uttered before he deliberately kneeled down on one knee beside him, stroking the cheek of fur as he once did to the tiny robin that delivered those precious messages from his son. “Quick -“ Frollo ordered, hushed to one of the soldiers. “… fetch the towels from my saddlebag. Be swift~” 

Frollo’s brow furrowed as he studied the familiarity of the being, realizing that all this while, they were trusting a shapeshifter to keep them all together. Now he has lost his wings… utterly undone before him. He soothed his fingers through the fur of his cheek to lift his gaze to him. Two glassy eyes with dilated black pupils and blue irises opened to him, before a huge tear slipped away. Their mouth hung open to try to speak but they had no strength left. There was trace of fear when they saw who found him.

“Do not move. Do not speak. You have found the Knighthood… Faer.” Frollo deepened, his baritone bearing nothing more than fact. However the act of Faer feeling the man stroking the top of his head and then to his back spoke volumes. 

Soon, a towel was placed into Frollo’s open hand as he kept his other cupping Faer’s cheek. “Be still. You are all right. You will be all right…” he prayed aloud, his heart yearning as this creature was an extension of his son’s love. Love for all beings, great and small. “You will live.” he uttered, lastly, as he covered the shapeshifter tenderly before scooping him out of the snow.

The men all watched in reverence as their leader rose to his feet, cradling the bundle of fall colors as he retreated back to his horse and the rescued Fidele. Faer gave a wet, trembling sob as he clutched Frollo’s dark robes, pressing his cheek hard against the breast plate. His paw clutched something else that prodded the Magistrate’s attention. Faer, even he was tucked in and held close much like a child, shared a squiggly, sad little smile as he rose a closed paw upward to show Frollo. Despite his concern, Frollo took what was offered, and what it was astounded him ~

It was a tuft of deep amber fur. Thick bristles.

“You give me this, Faer… Why?” he had to ask as his hold did not dwindle. “Why do you weep so…? Tell me. Speak.”

“He’s h-here…” Faer managed an awkward croak as he rested his paw back down. “… he’s comin’.” he managed a small nod as his eyes began to droop. 

“Remain with me, Faer. Do not rest just yet… Who? Who is coming?”

“Q-Quasi - …” Faer breathed as his vision blurred, each blink became ever slower.

Having to watch those eyes close, Frollo’s eyes moistened as his jaw tensed yet he held the shapeshifter more closely than ever as he mounted his great horse, leaving no time for argument. He pressed on first toward where he had seen that flicker of sapphire light.

*

Odette cheeks hurt from the constant onslaught as she pressed through upon the back of a powerful buck, that kept his head so bowed to keep his vision sharp as he powered through. It was as though they were going in blind, but Odette held a look of absolute hate in her brightened brown eyes. She was willing to endure it through, with no strings attached and with no complaints as she rued of that deeply. She knew who she was, and who had given his life, all of their lives for just for her own mind to remain intact again. Lo, and behold, there she was. Grumpy and Happy took her left and right flanks as they and the rest of the Seven - minus one - kept each Maiden dead center as they rode through together. 

As she was in the lead, Odette knew the guidance settled into her heart by the Star Fae, especially and refused to slow down. Her thoughts ran to the truth of her father’s spell, and the fate that met the love of her life, and the rage of the man who swore protection over each of their heads… If they were a single second too late, this could end more than in tears. Eleonor was second behind her with Ida, Mary and Carol kept the back with Bashful, and Sneezy. Dopey rode, clutching, as he swiped his eyes. Sleepy was having a tougher time keeping a steady breath, but he kept a tight grip on his mount’s antler.

Her father’s sweet, grainy sort of voice echoed through her healing mind and heart, his words that always encouraged her as a little girl… That he would always be there, that she knew his voice, and that she could hear him, as he would come to her every day. That was their dance, that was the ballet of her daily life. It was so with her Quasimodo… Warmth and care for someone as single as she was at the time, just watching life go by… She truly was a swan, even back then, with mere habits. Now, as a woman, after all those years of considerable observance of those around her, she chose her people with care. She was cautious, always seeing that her doors were latched, no matter the day or the hour. 

Her first heart had prepared her for what they were all about to see… The eyes would decieve but truth would always remain with them. Her heart was broken about this but she hung on to the fact that Quasimodo was alive through it. She could not allow herself to despair, not anymore… She remembered the bedroom. She remembered the emerald light that took the mind of her father right out of him… How he laid there so still, and she had enough to the point that she didn’t dare to run back to her closet. She went right to his side, she called out to him… The guide who told her to give him the key brought him - Richard - right back. There was always someone there, keeping an eye on her and those she meets and touches… It was the very same at this very moment. It was all clear now…

The time spent at Mondfall, the Ravens near the Star Tower, and this labyrinth — They were all steps through these realities, and love was the only key to unlock each door. Quasimodo never faltered, he never angered and he never gave up on her… Richard never faltered, nor angered or gave up, all the same… Now it was her turn. This was the path…

“Odette!” she heard Ida cry out. “I cannot find my bearings, the snow is so thick ~” she called to the rest, trying to see where they were.

“We can’t stop, lass! There is no time to!” Grumpy barked, giving his buck a good kick to the side.

“We press on until we find them! We need to find him, above all~ above the Diamond~ It’s in safe hands!” Odette remarked, bringing her face down to her chest for a second as she felt the phantom heaviness of the brooch that was broken off before.

“It started with a kiss!” Eleonor coughed out. “Always with a kiss… Don’t it, ‘Ette?”

“Remove the corniness of it all, yes, that is the main idea… or plot device, as we used to call it~” Odette heaved a bit of a chuckle. The writer’s intuition of this whole fiasco was too obvious to ignore. In all seriousness though, that was the ultimate shattering of her mental prison… He was the first person, away from her common realm, to ever see her in that sort of light. He saw the real woman behind the feathers, ever since first sighting. She knew what she was looking for during this charge. His face was masked, by the hide of a bear. A massive form of heat and fur, a mouth of thick teeth… Her heart stung at the thought, but she was ready.

“Odette!!” cried Dorothea from the back and Happy gave a wail of shock at the sight of a shadow.

Odette pulled her gaze up, seeing a black mass appear from the side of the path, before a fallen log. Her buck reared high as did the others behind her but she held onto the buck’s mane. That blackness grew tall as it stood high and two strong legs and thickened feet… She screamed before this great sound rumbled through the ground they were on. Odette fell off the startled buck and into the snow before this towering guard in the path. Her eyes saw that massive foot plastered in the snow, of sleek black claws pertruding out from muscle and bristles of deep brown and red. Grumpy tore his pick out as he bounded to her side. However, before he could… before anyone could, the massive beast fell back down onto all fours, over Odette completely — standing over her body like a heated bridge as she took in the moment in stunned silence. She rolled over only able to see the underbelly of thick crimson fur amidst golden brown - and she naturally rose her hands up to press her palms up against the stomach of this bear, gripping tight as to tell him to not charge. Warmth, and a heart so strong and massive thrummed from deep within the heated body… She gasped.

“Odette!!” Grumpy cried as the dwarfs each took a stance before the other women. Eleonor dodged to the right side of the bear to try and get to her but this bear turned to face her.

“Wait!”

“Odette!?” Eleonor panicked.

“Wait, wait - GRUMPY, NO!!” Odette had to scream before Grumpy was so close to chopping down at the bear’s reached paw. “DON’T —“ 

“NABBIT!” Grumpy strained loud before he was bumped by the turn of the bear’s head and he had fallen back into his brothers, who all fell into a pile of stunned dwarfs. Odette let her breath go before laying flat on her back beneath the hide of heat and heart.

“… do not - hurt - him…” she panted as tears poured quick from her eyes.

“Odette…” she heard Eleonor to the right on the path before she drew her breath again. “… you are… under… a bear…? He is not… moving…”

“He is not moving…” Odette repeated, in shock in this moment. She gazed at the body above her, hearing those deep breaths. He was so warm… Slow and easy as the others were taking this in, just as much as she was, she held both hands up to stroke the brilliant underbelly again. “It’s all right… it’s all right… Sssh, it’s all right…” she began to sing to him. She had to be slow as she inched out from under him, keeping her hand soothing along this coat.

“It — oh my god…” Mary could be heard from yonder.

“Do not… move. All right? Nobody move…” Odette ordered in a trembling voice. “… you’re scaring him…”

“Odette - hand - now…” Eleonor ordered to help pull her out from underneath. 

Odette took a hand but it was not Eleonor’s… It was gloved with leather and thickened. A man had taken her hand and a firm quiet fell over the forest. “So… you are Lady Swan?” asked a deep voice that struck her as oddly familiar. 

She locked eyes onto those of solid green and she realized who this was. He was a strong hunter, adorned in green with even black hair near his shoulders, and gruff face and sharp glare… He was there when she was first brought to this world, the Huntsman who brought her to Queen Grimhilde. Eleonor was aside, with a look of incredble warning as Odette was helped to her feet.

“You have come a long way for yourself…” the man uttered one last time before Odette tore her wrist out of his grip as she backed up closer to the bear. 

“You - I’ve seen you before… back in - but I don’t understand~” Odette began to utter. Grumpy had gotten up and had taken his pick as they each took a stance before each girl.

“Do not be afraid. I know you would be…” this man nodded his head curtly as he slightly bowed with no weapon drawn. “It would seem your own heart knows the truth now. I am Humbert, former Huntsman of hers truly. I am certain you know whom I’m speaking about…”

“An’ what, praytell, are you doing here?” Eleonor dared to ask.

“Former Huntsman…” Odette wanted to get to the point, her eyes stinging as she felt the bear shift and turn to her. He had his head low and he soothed the cheek along her arm with his ears back, beginning to take in her scent. She began to bite down on her lip as it all came to her. “… oh my god…”

That snout, as she looked down, was pressed in and that one left eye was hidden by that same mound of bone that she familiarized with Quasimodo’s deformity. That nose was wettened and rough as he nuzzled it along her clothes, her hand as though to confirm that she was sound and safe. It was almost a dog-like action.

“I am his Keeper, miss.” Humbert gave as he was witnessing this reunion.

Odette stood speechless as her own shock kept up with her, and as she feared, her heart was overcome. She had not the strength to look at him yet. Grumpy grip on his pick was shaking until he dropped it.

“ ‘Ette?”

She rose a hand to quiet him for a moment, she just needed to find her voice again. “… if you are his Keeper, th-then… how are we to know if you can be trusted?  You kept him sound, yes, but why?”

“Why…?” the man took one humble step back, shuffling his belt just slightly. “… you saw me as I was in her thrall, my lady. That same thrall that effected you years before. The same thrall your father had seen in that mirror…”

“How do you know of the mirror… and my father?”

“Quasimodo told me.” Humbert glanced at the calmed bear. Odette’s breath was shaking.

She pressed her palm to her mouth, unable to gaze at the bear, despite everything she knew and seen. Yet, she was clutching to the fur behind his ear…

“Odette…” Ida began to speak through her own tears. “… please… look at him.”

“… he’s hurting…” Happy followed brokenly after.

Odette couldn’t handle it anymore and kneeled down, looking away from the Hunstman and into the auborn mound atop of the tired bear’s head. She clutched the fur along the side of his face and buried her face deep into the coat, having her tears leak into the fur like rain. As soon as she went down, so did he… from standing as a bridge, his belly plopped right into the snow with a large huff of hot breath with a chuff as he allowed his head to be held. 

“… Quasimodo~ oh-oh~” Odette began to sob. “… you’re back. Like we said, remember?” she began to whisper, tearfully, so very close to that soft flattened ear that rose at the sound of her voice. “… that you would return ~ I knew you would return…”

There came a seeking paw that dug through the snow for a moment before there came this deep, purring moan that erupted from the bear’s mighty throat. It was not a growl or a voice, but something in between sorrow and ache. Odette tightened her hug about his head when she heard it. Humbert respectfully hung his gaze to the path as he stepped back while the group all hovered gently closer. Whilst weeping, as she could not help it, she needed to see his face completely. Grumpy held onto the most conflicted and most heart wretching gaze in his eye before it latched onto the Hunstman alone, stomping close to where Eleonor was studying the interaction, finding how surreal it all was.

“Actin’ all cute, you think you can keep us fooled ~ what’re you playin’ at, Hunter? We’s know who you worked fer!” Grumpy pointed, tightly.

Bashful tried to reach a hand out to stop him but he was moments too late, even as Dopey trembled and proceeded to bite down against his own wrist. Sneezy sniffled as he gazed upon the might of the bear that went completely melted in the arms of Odette as she seemed entirely engrossed in whispering in his ear.

“You took her hand when you could have very well have killed her right then and there,” Eleonor seethed through her teeth. The man kept his head lowered, and his hands away from his belt as he was interrogated right off. As this went on, Odette began to feel the massive head bob against her chin as if to physically rouse her up from her prayer as she noticed the issue entirely. The hot lick she felt against her palm was rough and it jolted her back to the present moment. Her eyes caught onto Humbert’s green ones as she recollected when she was imprisoned in the Queen’s castle after being magically swept up by shadows. Even then, before even knowing of this magical reality, she could tell something was off about him. It was a spell, and as he put it - a thrall. Achingly, she gazed back down to the bear where she can see that one eye peering up at her. A wet glint of pure teal made her heart turn to ice.

It was ultimately true — all of it. She drew in a deep breath, tight and shrill before she rose back to her feet.

“He went out - He told me to find his father first before he went out — We were sure someone was following us.” she noted out loud after she turned to face the man who claimed to be this bear’s Keeper. “He knew something was going to happen… We both knew.” she choked out.

Humbert slowly rose his eyes to meet hers when she pointed to him. “… it was you. You were the shadow following us after we were separated by the thorns.”

To that, he shared a stony nod. Grumpy and Eleonor slowly parted as they each looked at Odette. “As soon as he left, Jiminy came back after a couple hours… Jiminy was brought back to me. That was when we discovered Quasimodo’s pony tied to that trunk. He was tied there to lure us out… You were the one who tied him there. Were you not?” she asked, seeming accusing at first. “… the last thing he whispered to me was… as I love you…” she ended it on that front, as a cruel lump rose in her throat. “… there was always one man in my life who I trusted more than anything before Quasimodo ever came… To see him like this — ” her voice naturally shattered as she motioned with an open palm toward the laying bear. “… why is he like this? That he has to mirror the horror we’re all going through, and you dare to walk with him?”

“Miss, allow me to elaborate with the greatest respect, dear lady. The greatest respect to you, and the fellowship you have brought to yourself on this journey…” Humbert began to speak softly, and slowly as she was truly beginning to breathe raggedly. “I had tied the steed. I tied him because I was held in the dark as you once were… That Queen required a snare. However, let me tell you now… the man whom you love, he did not fall out of ignorance. He made sure he dove into the dark in order to keep you in the light.”

Odette felt a hot tear streak down her cheek as she listened. Those final words broke her through as she shut her eyes and held her hand taut to her lips to keep silent. Her shoulders were held by her precious sisters in arms.

“ — he fought not for his own life, dear lady. He fought for yours. He is still fighting… for yours. When he had all the rights and all the reason to let me fall to my death, he did not let me fall. He chose to snatch my hand, and pull me back onto the ledge…”

Grumpy backed up as his gaze slowly landed on the bear who now was laying on his side in the snow, much to the horror of the women who were slowly melting down beside Odette. Bashful and Happy closed in, in pure shock and tears, when this truth sank deeply in each of their hearts. The bear, as he was in deep sleep and in agony, felt the soothing arms of his Maiden slowly wrap around his thick head, to slowly perch his cheek onto her lap. She was able to hug his head close…

“ - stop - stop -“ she had to tell Grumpy as they gathered around the massive heap of muscle and bristles of auborn. “What’s done is done and he is so weak…” she tiredly spoke to her flock. 

“I recall my first change when I defied the Queen alone…” Dorothea mentioned.

“I as well, all of us… Our forms are feeble, his is…” Ida spoke with pure ache in her voice.

“Monumental.” Odette finished as she gazed lovingly down at the bear’s right eye. That precious jewel of aquamarine glimmered up at her as she began to stroke through his fur. “Rest, Quasimodo… Rest, my love… Rest your heart in mine…” she began to sing. Humbert watched with a warm gaze as this family all gathered close to the bear’s form. “This road, ever thorned, will never stand against a love so divine… You have seen me once, you will see again until the end of time… Rest your heart in mine, and our love will shine…”

That beautiful eye fluttered as its pupil slowly dilated as she sang to him. Odette slowly rested her cheek against his, her whole body able to arch over. Grumpy could no longer contain his own tears as he oversaw the injury at the flank. Sharing a scathing glance towards Humbert, who came over to check on it.

“… the Magistrate.” Grumpy mentioned, only able to hint of what had to come next on their path.

“In time. Quasimodo had located the Diamond not long ago. So your brother is not far, with the Voice being warmed by the stone.” Humbert spoke as he was a witness of that exchange earlier.

“It’s not lost, then?”

“Naw. Here, compress this herb onto the wound… It should stem the pain from him, for a little time.” Humbert instructed, softly. “None of you are lost.”

*

Tears of Light

Jiminy awoke with a thrumming grogginess, having had not helped but to fall asleep against the warmth and light of the linked Diamond. While beside it in the velveteen pouch of noble purple and blue, he pressed a palm against the stone as he regained his bearings. The pouch was moving, and Doc was trudging through the snow, falling the mighty paw prints left for him to follow.

“… doc? Oh my~ you have left the - Where has he gone?” Jiminy found himself asking out of worry.

“He heard somethin’, and he went off. He’s so big, I couldn’t stop him but he nudged me back.”

“That boy… of course, he would…” Jiminy sighed as he finally was able to poke his head out of the pouch. There was an air of fatherly pride in his voice, even as he shook his head exhaustedly. Hope was as bright as those stars that dared enough to peek out into the darkness they were trekking through. The path was winding upward a few inches, hinting that these tracks had eventually came from upward by this one mountainous hillside. The drips of blood speckled beside these hefty prints further worried the two that the specific injury Jiminy had wept over before was deeper than they thought. The transformation was not much help on that front, for certain. 

As Doc tried to squint in order to see better through the haze on the path ahead, Jiminy kept one hand on the Diamond, even as was peering out to keep watch. He focused forward before he boldly climbed out to reach the top of Doc’s shoulder to see if he could assist in catching any obstacle that could be missed out of blindness. Gripping the brim of his hat tight, Jiminy with a firm brow glanced down at the Diamond.

“Doc. You’re gonna think me mad, but you’ve got to take the Diamond out of the pouch —“

“Taking it spout - Out?” Doc sputtered, confused. “But it has to be guarded~”

“And it is — but it also our beacon, everyone’s beacon. This storm is just a blindfold over our eyes. We have to remember that all of it is only an illusion to keep us trapped for much longer, to keep us in one place and apart. This Diamond, what I saw was true - it’s the heart of our Odette’s father, beating. He’s breathing and he needs us to make sure she’s found and reunited.”

Doc’s breath shuddered before he fumbled with the velvet pouch. His hand shook as if pained to do so however Jiminy’s words held gravity. It melted his hesitation, outright. With a caution, Doc reached in and pulled the Diamond out into the open air. As soon as he did, the Diamond began to glow. Not only that, but it pulsed.

“Oh, my stars~” Jiminy grew even more mesmerized by it. Besides the fact that this stone began as a gift from Evangeline. “Look at it, Doc… Look, it’s - there’s a rhythm. A song~”

The Diamond not only glowed - it flickered at a specific beat. A deep flicker before brightening. It was a heartbeat — it was the most beautiful thing to set eyes on in this dreary, chilling forest. No truth was stronger than the fact that the stone was made alive, born from a father’s enduring love from another world.