One More Step [Intro – Lone ocarina, gentle piano, distant violin] [Verse 1 – Warm, intimate female vocal] You played four notes beside the fire, Your hand upon my own. You swore our child would learn that tune Before he'd learned to roam. Then soldiers came before the dawn; You stood so we could run. They took you from the world we knew Before you'd held our son. They locked me up and called it law, But one law left him free. I wore my chains and dreamed of roads That he would someday see. [Pre-Chorus – Rising strings] I named him Justice for your heart, And held him through the night. I told him all the world was waiting Just beyond the light. [Chorus – Soaring symphonic power metal] One more step, my little one, One more heartbeat through the cold. I have nothing left to give you But these arms that will not let go. Let the darkness take the mountains, Let the winter claim the road; There is somewhere we are wanted, There is somewhere we can go. One more step, one more dawn, One more night until we're home. [Verse 2 – Driving guitars, urgent double-kick drums] Your freedom lived upon a page I hid against my heart. Then captains wearing the Empire's crest Tore every word apart. They said that you belonged to them; I heard you softly breathe. That night I slipped beyond the gate, With nothing I could keep But blankets and your father's flute, And stories of a place Where wanderers could find a hearth, Where no one turned away. [Pre-Chorus – Building urgency] I followed whispers through the pines, Through hunger, frost and fear. I sang the little song he played To keep your heartbeat near. [Chorus – Fiercer, faster] One more step, my little one, One more heartbeat through the cold. I have nothing left to give you But these arms that will not let go. Let the darkness take the mountains, Let the winter claim the road; There is somewhere we are wanted, There is somewhere we can go. One more step, one more dawn, One more night until we're home. [Instrumental – Frantic violin and guitar chase] [Verse 3 – Breathless, hunted] The horns came crawling through the trees. The wicker scraped the snow. Their burning eyes kept finding us No matter where I'd go. I stumbled, rose, and stumbled more, My voice worn down to air; I wrapped you tighter to my chest And whispered, "Mama's here." Then through the branches, golden light! A tavern, bright and warm! I heard the laughter through the door, A fire beyond the storm. "We made it, love!" I tried to cry. "Just there! We're almost—" [Sudden cut – Piano, faint wind] My legs gave way. [Bridge – Broken, trembling voice] I fell with you against my heart. The door was steps away. I dug my fingers through the snow; My body wouldn't obey. I tried to rise. I tried to crawl. I felt their shadows spread. I heard their jaws of thorn and wood; And bowed above your head. You slept within your winter wraps, Your cheek against my skin. I saw the life I'd promised you, And knew I couldn't win. [Almost silent – Single ocarina note] I kissed your brow. My tears fell warm. I held you from their sight. "Everything will be all right." I couldn't make it right. [Whisper, breaking] "I'm sorry, sweetheart." [Complete silence – The hounds leap] [Explosive orchestral impact – Galloping guitars, furious double-kick, soaring violin] [Rescue Chorus – Astonished, fierce, triumphant] The door flew wide! The night awoke! The stars broke through the storm! A thousand galaxies unfurled Between their jaws and both our lives! She caught the hounds before they struck, Tore wicker from their bones! Their jaws fell shattered in the snow; We were not alone! [Instrumental – Blazing violin and guitar harmonies] [Final Verse – Piano returns, voice full of tears] And there she stood, with silver hair, The darkness at her back. She knelt beside my sleeping boy And drew his blanket back. "Oh, you poor loves," she whispered then, As gently as the rain. The hunter sounded one more horn; She never looked his way. She reached for me with steady hands And lifted me from fear. "You're at the Mughouse now," she said, "And you're very welcome here." [Final Chorus – Full orchestra, cathartic and soaring] One more step, my little one, The longest night is gone. When I had no more strength to give, Someone came to bring us home. Let the hunter howl behind us, Let the winter shake the sky; There is fire beyond this doorway, And tomorrow, you and I. One more step, one more dawn— My darling, we are home. [Outro – Solo ocarina, soft piano, fading violin] Four notes beside a candle flame, The song your father played. When I had no more steps to take, She came the other way. [Ocarina reprises the four-note melody, fading to silence]
