Escutcheon walked along the road leading back to east, to the colony. He continued walking along the road, until he couldn't make it any further. He sat down, and broke. "I-I-I'm surry Mu-mummmie." He sobbed tears rolling down his face. "I tried." He lowered his face to the ground. "I-I-I tried. I tri-" His voice cracked. He didn't bother to continue trying to talk he just continued to sob. Turkeylegs stood over him looking over him trying to see where he was hurt. The large bipedal bird lowered down and nuzzled him gently, and gave a soft call. The coal gasped down his breath not able to rebuild the dams after he had broken them.
The night wind blew in gently from the coast there was a fog that slowly rolled in from the sea. The moon's beams spread through the fog casting an eerie glow around everything. Escutcheon looked at the moon. He knew that even then his mother was in day light. His red eyes glistened in the soft light. Something flew between him and the moon. He sniffed and rubbed his eyes with his hoof. The thing landed on the ground. The fog bang fell back as the figure landed.
"Whose there?" Escutcheon asked straining his eyes.
"It's me. Is, is that really you?" Escutcheon's ears perked up at the feminine voice. He hid his eyes behind his cloak.
"D-Dusk?" He croaked.
"It is, Escutcheon!" She screamed with joy and ran up to him jumping on him half laughing half crying. Turkeylegs stepped back not sure what to do to the little bat pony.
"Dusk."
"You're alive, I knew that was you a few weeks ago. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it." She sobbed. She nuzzled the colt tears streaming down her face. "Escutcheon, Escutcheon."
"Dusk what's wrong?" He wrapped his hooves around her his voice was hoarse. This must be a dream. "Why are you crying?" He nuzzled her back. It felt real.
"I thought you were dead." She pulled away her tears dropped on his face. They felt so real to, he almost wished he were awake, but this had to be a dream. "The fire, all we found was your bag, and those things." She leaned back down and hugged him, nuzzling him softly. Turkeylegs leaned in and nuzzled the two of them. Deciding the bat filly was no threat to itself or to Escutcheon.
"Dusk." Escutcheon nuzzled back. He looked up and found the filly asleep. He took of his cloak, and gently wrapped her in it, like a blanket, with a smile. "Good night Dusk I'll be home soon. He pulled her close. This was the best dream he could hope for, and soon he'd make it a reality. "I'm coming home Dusk." He whispered as he drifted to sleep. The ground around him shinning blue in the light of the sapphire shard in his saddle bag.