Keep the candle burning

Nick used the towel to dry off the last of the dishes. He had been cleaning up for the last hour or two, but that was to be expected, after all, the whole town had been partying after the snow day in his - er, his family's- restaurant. He smiled to himself as he started to stack the now clean plates. Frostreach held this event twice a year, and although he was always too busy cooking for the night's festivities to participate in the daytime events, he still had his own kind of fun on these snow days as he got to cook new dishes and try out techniques he would usually never be able to do with his normal menu. Plus, he enjoyed the energy and joy the town brought with them when they all came in to eat at the Frozen Fish after.

He put the last dish in its plate and let a sigh of relief escape his mouth. That was clean-up done, and now he had to get his mother to bed. Drying off his hands on his shirt, he pulled the small scrapbook from one of the cabinets and made his way out of the kitchen. He looked around the familiar serving area in the front of the Frozen fish. A few tables and chairs were scattered around the room, their surfaces whipped off easily by nick, and on the far side next to the fireplace sat an old Foristeri.

As she gazed into the crackling fire, the red tint of the flames reflected off her many silver feathers. She was getting quite old now, as most of her once black feathers had turned gray and the skin on her face sagged around her eyes and beak, but a glint of life still shone brightly in her eyes. Nick walked over to the aging Foristeri and pulled up a seat across from her. "You ready mum?"

The old Foristeri looked up at Nick, a smile instantly sprouting on her face. "Oh! Neve! Its so nice to see you."

"It's Nick." Nick says with a pained but soft smile. "And its nearly time now to head to bed, did you want to hear a story tonight?"

The sparkling eyes of the old Foristeri look at Nick confused for a moment before she turns her gaze back to the fire. "Ah, right. I'm sorry, its been a been a long day. I must have gotten confused again."

Nick leans back in his chair and gazes into the fire as well, the waves of warmth emanating from it feeling nice on his face. "It's alright." He says softly. "It was quite a long day, but everyone seemed to enjoy it." Nick lets a shot chuckle leave his beak, "did you see Hermann tonight? He was so out of it he was dancing on the table! Nearly broke its legs as he sang with everyone." Nicks smile widens even more. "And- and he said that the meal tonight was one of the best he had ever had! If that's true, then my cooking must be getting better, isn't that exciting!?" Nick turned his gaze back to his mother. She was still staring at the flames, her full attention seemingly on their movement.

"Oh- did that all happen tonight?" She mutters. " I can't seem to recall that."

Nick's smile falters, "Its-its alright. You are probably just tired. It will all come to you tomorrow. If your to tired we don't have to do a story tonight."

The grayed Aves pulls herself from the flames and, looking at Nick, shakes her head. "No, no. I'd like to hear one tonight."

"Do you have a particular one you would like to hear?" Nick asks softly.

"I'd like to hear one about Neve." The Foristeri says, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes.

Nick opens the book he had grabbed in the kitchen and flips through its pages. "Alright." he gently says with just a hint of sadness dancing in his voice before clearing his throat. "Let's see; there are a number of good ones." As he turns the pages, he glances over the plethora of images taped to them. Most of them Nick had drawn himself based on the stories his mother had told him growing up about his father, brother, and her childhood, but a prized few were actual photographs. 

Eventually, his hands stopped turning the pages, and his eyes fell on one particular photo. A shot of emotions ran through his body, yes, this story would be a fitting one for today. Nick gently pulled the picture off of the page and closed the book. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and held the image up for his mother to see.

"Although it wasn't yesterday, nor the day before that, this story takes place not too long ago. You see, there was a brave Foristeri named Neve. The love he had for his family is more than words can describe. He did his best to help his parents in any way he could, and he taught his younger brother many important things."

Nick's mother turns her gaze once more back to the flames causing Nick to place the image on top of the book, his eyes studying it as he continued. " But one day, death knocked at his family's door and stole his father away in the dead of night. The family tried to keep going despite the sadness that sat in their heart. However, no matter how hard they tried, how hard they worked, they found it was not enough."

A tear slipped out of the old Foristeri's eye, causing nick to pause, "We can do a different story if you like." He said softly, worry on his face.

"no, no." The grayed Aves says, flicking the tear from off her cheek, "I want to know how this one ends."

Nick looked down at the image again and mutated, "I'd like to know that too."

"hum?" His mother asked, looking at Nick confused.

"nothing." Nick muttered with his tired, soft smile returning, "where were we? Ah right-" He adjusted himself in his seat and continued. "The family was unable to sustain itself as they were, and so the brave, bold Neve volunteered to venture out and look for a place where their small, broken family could sustain themselves. He would travel as far as he had to till he found a way for his family to make enough sides for them to live together in a warm house and with full bellies. Neve then packed up his things, and with a hug and a kiss from his mother and a promise to his brother that he would return, Neve left and started his adventure."

"Such a brave boy." the gray Aves says in a hazy voice, her mind wandering far from her body as her eyes droop from exhaustion.

Nick picks up the image and nods, "yes he is." Opening the book to put the picture back in he continues. "He is still out there as we speak. He is overcoming many obstacles and bravely doing everything he can for his mother and brother. Rumor has it that he is on his way back home now to tell his mother and brother that he was victorious and they can once again be together." Nick places the image back in its spot and closes the book. His soft voice now lined with determination. "It has been years since we have last seen him. I'm sure any day now, he will come back home."

"You better put the light out for him then, hun." Nick's mother mutters, her eyes now fully closed. 

Nick sets the book down next to him and picks up a small blanket, setting it softly on his mother. "of course, mom. I always do."

The old Aves attempts to say something else, but the words never manage to leave her throat before she passes out. Nick looks at the fireplace for a moment, lost in his thoughts, before taking a deep breath in and pulling the well-worn lantern from off the fireplace's mantle. He silently lights it before moving to the front of the frozen fish and opening the door. 

The night's cold air attempted to attack the lantern in his hand, but the glass case around it stopped its icy touch from getting to it. Stepping through the snow, nick made his way to the Frozen fish's sign and placed the lantern on the hook above the sign. As soon as he put it in its place, the faint southern wind caused it to sway back and forth on its hook.

He stood there for a moment in the cold and gazed down the road out of Frostreach scanning the horizon. "Please come home Neve." Nick muttered to himself, the cold air freezing the air as soon as it left his beak. "It's time to come home."