A bond with a lesser. That was basically like playing with your food. Or...depending on your food to see. And sharing feelings with your food!

Mayfal didn't like the idea. They especially didn't like the fact that they couldn't control it. Most other creatures had control over their sight. And lessers rarely had gems. This was so much work just to see.

But to be able to see...

Pegasus. Could Mayfal really endanger Pegasus, just to be able to see? Was sight that important?

Maybe this burning process wasn't as terrible as it seemed. Or...it didn't have to be.

"I have a friend who can manipulate water. If she and I were to work together to burn Pegasus in a more...controlled way, but still burn all of the leaves and things you mentioned, that would still work, right? Pegasus would still be safe from larger fires...right?"

The uncertainty was palpable in Mayfal's voice. They really wanted this to work. They desperately wanted to see, even if it was through the eyes of a lesser. But they didn't know if they could sacrifice so much for it.

The Collector considered this, leaning back and humming to himself in brief thought, a soft "Hmmm..."

After a moment, with equal caution in his tone, he spoke: "I am unsure if you have the requisite knowledge of fire and burnings. I can try to describe it as best I can, and you may attempt it that way, if you wish. First, the foliage must all be destroyed. All the leaves, grass; all of the plants and flowers. It may take days to do it in a careful manner, so that the living creatures are not killed, if that is your concern. But it might work, if that is your desire. Second, you must ensure that what is burnt is truly burnt. Turning living tissues--of plants, naturally, though animal works as well--into blackened ash works wonders for the soil, truly. And Pegasus has been left too long without tending. You must simply be careful not to leave it half-finished, yes? -Well, then. ...Do we have a deal..?"

@Mayfal

The Collector wanted everything turned to ash. Because ash is good. This was a good thing. It would make Pegasus healthy. Everything just needed to be...ash.

For a while! Not forever. Just until things grew back. How long do plants take to grow back? How could Mayfal get to every leaf and flower and blade of grass if they couldn't even see? How were they going to do this?

Comet. Comet would help. Of course she'd help. She'd understand. She was their best friend. Would she understand?

Was this right? Was there really no other way? Mayfal could do this carefully but the result would be same if they did it all at once. But they could be safe. They should be safe about this. They had...family in Pegasus. How would this effect their family?

Was there a time limit? That could effect everything. Time always effects everything. How much time did Mayfal have to complete this task? How much time would it take for Pegasus to grow back afterwards?

"How much time...?" Their voice trailed off. Mayfal was quiet with wild thought. Their head was so heavy, and their knees gave way. They couldn't move from off the floor of the cave.

Mayfal didn't know if they could accept this deal. But...they also didn't know if they could turn it down. Sight. Sight was the one thing that they always wanted. But they would have to do something...terrible? dangerous? They would have to do something more difficult than they were expecting.

"Time." It was a whisper. Mayfal thought they were only thinking it. It was a word left over in their mouth from all of the other thoughts. Most of them seemed to hinge on time for whatever reason. Past, future, present, all of it seemed to slip and twist in Mayfal's gut. If only time was the answer. It wasn't. Mayfal thought it was, but it wasn't.

"...Time?" The Collector echoed the word, his voice a purr. "Why, take whatever time you need. Good things come to those who wait, after all," he added, and there was a smile in his voice.

@Mayfal

Time was not the problem. It never was. Mayfal was too young, still, to understand this. They had not lived enough life to stop rushing about.

The only problem left, then, was the image in Mayfal's mind. It wasn't an image of colors or shapes, of course. It was more immersive than that. More harrowing.

The image was the sound of cracking that leaves made when they were on fire. The smell of smoke rising with that fire. The temperature becoming unbearable. And the sound of screams among it all. The screams would be the worst part. The sound of creatures in distress at the loss of their home. The screams, no Mayfal couldn't handle the screams!

They were almost crying, their throat choking tight. From the cold floor of the cave Mayfal coughed up one more question.

"Is there really nothing else I can do to be able to see?" Mayfal hoped so so very much that there was some alternative. That they just had to ask and the Collector would show mercy and understanding. Could he do such a thing? Mayfal hoped with everything that he could indeed do such a thing.

"If your stone were not your eyes-? Then perhaps. They could be damaged as you were forced back into your gemstone, and perhaps they might reform. But your stone is in the way." A pause, and his head tilted. "My time here is nearly up. I am needed elsewhere. Did we have a deal, or not-?" There was an edge to his voice now, not cold or rude but businesslike, the oily croon fading from it.

@Mayfal

This was it. There was only one decision to make. Burn Pegasus or remain blind?

Both options were grueling. Neither option was what Mayfal wanted. But they wanted to see. And they had time if they needed it. They could go slowly. They could burn a little at a time. Until everything was safe. Until there was ash everywhere and no creature harmed.

Maybe this could be a good thing. Mayfal had to try something. This was something.

And yet, Mayfal was still tearing up. Through their swollen throat, they choked out the words, "Okay....it's a deal."

Why was this so difficult? Why was Mayfal crying?

They knew exactly why. They just couldn't bear to think the words.

"Excellent," the Collector crooned. With this one blind, there was little point in a contract; and so he bowed again--perhaps audibly; perhaps not, to the fox--and spoke again. "Best of luck, and remember--you're doing the right thing. Ta ta."

There was a flash, and he had vanished--but Mayfal was hardly to know that, was she-?

The Collector has exited.

@Mayfal

It was done. The deal had been made. There was no turning back now. If Mayfal failed, they would not gain sight and they would have burned Pegasus for nothing.

Were they really going to burn Pegasus?

Just a little. A little everyday. And like the Collector said, this was 'the right thing'. Then why did Mayfal feel so terrible?

Why were the tears still streaming down their cheeks? They lied there, on the cold rock floor of Canis, crying. They couldn't seem to do much else. Not for a long time.

Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes. This was how much eyes were worth. A home. A family.

No, no! It doesn't have to cost that! Just a little at a time, it'll be okay. Just keep it under control.

Comet, remember? Comet will understand. Go find Comet. Everything will be okay.

"okay." It was a whisper. After all of the crying, Mayfal could only manage a whisper. It was enough to get them on their paws again. They stood upright, slowly, and slinked out of Canis. It was time to talk to Comet.

~exit~