[b]Had you readers not liked my story or urged me on I would not be here today. Thank you guys so much. Chapter 59: The Last Day[/b] [b]The Venus sky was beautiful in its own if one looked at it in a different way. Sulfur clouds, though it was dangerous to breathe in, was like clouds. I like the clouds.[/b] And because of the planet's certain atmosphere, lava was a glowing blue. Though it was dangerous and probably stupid, Vala loved watching it slowly crawl down rock surfaces. Something about how they were just blue caught her eye. But such thoughts ceased when Bolt hissed next to her. Stealing a glance to her side and finding him poking at his near fully healed leg. The sound of her sigh caught his attention and he quickly stopped what he was doing. Her brown eyes then looked to hands which were fastening a pouch on her lap. She had forgotten what she was doing there for a second, lost in her thoughts. "Bolt do you have my spare knives?" Her son nodded, shuffling around with the help of her Ghost in the dim lighting to find her spares. He found them eventually but not without some sass from the floating machine. With a small sound, he placed them in her outstretched palms. "Thank you sweetie." A small hum escaped her mouth as her hands went to work on placing the blades in small pockets in the pouch. Bolt hummed with her, resting his head on her shoulder. She rubbed his back for a few times before returning to the task at hand. "Where's everyone else?" Vala stopped momentarily, looking over to her son with a curious eye. He huffed in return, nuzzling himself further to her side. "They said they had things to do, honey. I'm sure they will visit soon." [i]But they will come back not the people we know.[/i] Vala would never say that to him but a part of her felt guilty to not tell him the truth. To tell him that things were never going to be the same. To tell him that maybe after today that she wasn't going to be here anymore. She could clearly see it now. Bolt was going to be captured. Omali would turn away as he broke her son's bones. Ghost would grimace as he cut away at flesh with a swipe of his blade. Shade would close his eyes at his lifeless corpse. Bolt would die; his blue eyes dark, the spark she dearly loved, put out. Her son would die and she herself couldn't do anything. All that would remain would be left are the tears, the pain, the emptiness of losing yet another person dear. Just like Andal. Just like everything this god forsaken world di- "Mom?" Gasping, Vala blinked and looked over to Bolt who was staring at her. The concern and affection in his gaze made her chest constrict with guilt. Without warning, Vala threw her arms around him and brought him close to her as much as she could. Her tears were there before she could even register it. "My baby," Vala sobbed out, feeling Bolt immediately return her embrace "my little boy. No matter what, no matter what anyone says, you are my son. You are what keeps me alive, keeps me running. I don't know what I'd do if I had never found such a miracle like you." [i]You are my sunshine. My one thing I ever did right in this world. One of the only pieces of happiness that I may never see again. I love you. I love you so much.[/i] "Don't cry mom...I'm here. It's okay." It's was so sweet of him to try and placate her. She suddenly felt guilty that she had worried him in the first place. "I'm sorry you have such a worrisome crybaby of a mother." Vala said, voice hoarse and sniffling. "Mom you've always been a crybaby. Her tears stopped completely. She gave her son a scandalized look, bringing her hand up to her chest in surprise. Oh. [i]Oh. It is so on.[/i] "Excuse me?" Bolt flinched, realizing that maybe he had said more than he should have. "If I recall fondly, I remember a certain someone who used to cry whenever I stepped two steps away from them." Vala smirked when Bolt widened his eyes in realization. "That's when I was young! You can't pin that on me!" Bolt exclaimed, grabbing a blanket and bundling himself up into a ball under it. "You're no fair, mom." Was all Vala heard from underneath the squirming lump under the covers. "And I recall a certain someone used to be a little tyrant. Running around, climbing trees, [i]eating rocks.[/i]" Vala had to laugh when one of Bolt's hands shot out and swatted her leg lightly. "You used to be such a little ball of energy." She mused, poking and prodding the lump. "Sometimes you'd make me scared or make me feel like the happiest person on earth." "I'm happy you're my mom." With a grunt, Bolt popped his head out from beneath the blanket. "And I'm happy you're my son." "And [i]I'm[/i] happy I never got eaten by you." There was a screech of rage from Bolt after that. Vala cackled to the comment though, making her Ghost whir excitedly. "It's true Bolt. You did try to eat my Ghost for a while. Scared him silly." Vala voiced, laying next to Bolt. There was an accompanying chirp of agreement from her Ghost overhead. "Because he's a floating paperweight." Bolt grumbled, disappearing back into the confines of the blanket. "Did you learn that from Shade?" Bolt wisely didn't respond. "You did learn that from Shade! I can't believe you listen to him prattle and bicker with his Ghost." Vala said, trying hard to hide her smile behind her hand. "How very dare you, Bolt. How very dare you. I shall get revenge." Came the mechanical voice above. Vala raised an eyebrow at the slightly threatening tone of the small machine. She gave it a look as if trying to say '[i]I want to see.'[/i] No sooner had she done that, Bolt let out a squawk of surprise. Vala did too, rolling out of the way as items came crashing down onto the blankets around Bolt. Sitting up, she scooted away to watch the scene with interest. The items in question were just little motes of light, ether seeds, and weapon parts. Some of them landed on him, bouncing off with a grunt from the Fallen. "Okay okay! I'm sorry! Stop!!" With a small huff, the Ghost retrieved all the strewn things and backed away. Vala watched, a peaceful smile on her face. Her eyes traveled to the cave entrance, noticing that it was already night time. A few stars peeked out of the sulfuric sky and the gentle breeze bringing the scent of her home and the outside brought a sense of peace to her. "Can I sleep next to you mom?" Bolt questioned, tilting his head to the side as she turned to him. Vala smiled, nodding and scooted herself back to him. Laying down, be opened her arms and Bolt rushed in, cuddling her close. "Love you mom." Vala hummed in response, rubbing his back and listened as his breathing evened out. Once or so often she would press a kiss to his forehead, smoothing away the lines he made when he scrunched his face up at the contact of her lips. "Goodnight Bolt." Sleep didn't come easy to her though, no matter how much she tried. Visions of what could or would happen plagued her mind every time she closed her eyes. But eventually, exhaustion took over her and she let her eyes droop. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a small voice told her to stay awake. Then the darkness overcame, drifting her to sleep.