Back to the beginning.

The wind whipped Pan's hair around her head as she was whisked away from the clearing. She clung to Kethaeros, turning her head to catch a glimpse of the woods, to see if she could recognize which way they were going.

It was an impossible task.

The forest blurred into a haze of green and gold as they moved. Intermittently Pan would catch sight of something strange - a patch of wild flowers in impossible colors, or a great beast with antlers woven into a latticework of bone. But these sights vanished as quickly as they appeared.

Pan buried her face in Kethaeros' fur to shield her eyes from the stinging wind. It was warm and soft, just as she had remembered. Faintly, she could hear the steady th-thump of his heart. Strange, she thought, that a Spirit would possess a heart like any other beast. Strange, and comforting in its own way.

Dear one, open your eyes. We have stopped.

Pan opened her eyes to find they were back at their first meeting place, at the base of the wisteria tree by the creek. Kethaeros pried her gently off of him and set her on her feet, keeping a spindly-fingered hand on her lower back to ensure she was steady. Pan looked around, panic rising in her chest as she saw what was missing.

"Where's Tasmin?" She demanded. "Is he alright?"

"I'm right here Pan, don't worry," came a familiar voice as the little fox padded his way into view, before taking his place at her feet.

Have more faith in him. He was able to keep up with little trouble, Kethaeros said before gazing down at Tasmin. You will master traveling Between, in time.

"What about Mollina? Oh, gods, she must be furious with me..."

That is what troubles you? She should beg your forgiveness.

"She isn't, Pan," Tasmin soothed. "She was just as alarmed as you were when Maban showed up. Trust me."

Pan sat at the base of the tree and buried her face in her hands. "It's my fault. If I hadn't panicked, none of this would have happened."

She felt something warm and heavy press into her side. When she peeked over, she saw that Kethaeros had seated himself next to her. He loomed over her, a patient expression on his face.

That is a problem. Magic must become second-nature to you now, as easy as you breathe. Another incident like that one could cost you your life.

"Then why don't you help me?!" Pan snapped. She could feel the anger welling up in her chest. "How am I supposed to feel connected to you if you aren't around? You left before I woke up. You didn't even say goodbye!"

She wanted to berate him, to really let him have it. But as she tried to glare him down, tears stung her eyes and she turned away. How silly, she thought, to act like he owed her anything. She had only known him a day and here she was, acting like some kind of wife. It was humiliating.

The soothing warmth of another's aura pressed against her troubled mind, but it was not Tasmin's. It was bolder, stronger - strong enough to overpower her shame and anxieties, melting them away like snow on the first day of spring. They trickled away until all she could feel was warmth and... regret? What could she possibly regret? But it was not her own.

I thought to give you time, so you would not be overwhelmed, Kethaeros told her. You were not keen on our union; you were suspicious of me. Your kind says that absence makes the heart grow fonder - after our Binding was sealed, I thought to let you seek me on your own when you so desired. I had no intention of abandoning you, and it shames me that I did.

Pan felt the pinprick of a claw under her chin, guiding her head to turn. She followed it, and found herself looking into Kethaeros' three cerulean eyes.

Can you forgive me?

Pan swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes," she choked.

It was not quite a kiss, but Kethaeros pressed his nose to Pan's forehead and chuffed her hair affectionately. Pan closed her eyes and leaned in to the touch. But it could not assuage the guilt.

"I'm sorry too," she murmured.

For what, dear one?

“For not trusting you. I can't withhold myself from you and expect you to not do the same," she said.

Then something stirred in her. Not the guilt that already gnawed at her, but something stronger. A desire to mend, to reconnect. She brought her hands up to his chest, running her fingers through his fur. Pan looked up at Kethaeros with a glimmer in her eyes.

"Can we... try again?" She asked.