"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
The island had been a bustling horde of activity of late, leaving very little moments of solitude to those who chose to call the lone plot of land their home. Both familiar faces and those still to be learned had traveled great distances – some farther than others. Beqanna had never felt so alive, even the shadows echoed with voices. A newly birthed forced threatened to break upon them, to change the only version of the world he had ever known. Stained red with the color of blood, wounds of betrayal deepened every day.
Stealing a moment, Belgaer had carried himself to the beach as the sun slowly drifted behind the horizon. Above, a colorful display painted the sky in deepening hues of blue and gold. Upon the white sandy beaches, it was easy to be reminded on the constants that had remained despite chaos’ lurking influence. The tide persisted, the ocean continued to roll, and the sea birds searched for their fishy meals. Found upon the white caps of the churning waves he had come to find a peace within the murky expanse. This, however – this time was different. Within the folds of silence, the echoes of his mother’s grief chased away any hope of serenity. The sting of hot tears pricked at the edges of his amber eyes, fresh emotion suddenly rushing to the surface of his usually still expression. Although a bit of time had passed, he hadn’t truly let himself feel the full extent of his sadness, afraid of what he would become should he lower his carefully fortified barricade. The threatening boil of turmoil promised to soon overtake him. Sister or no, he knew that should he ever meet Astarael, she would feel the full force of his wrath upon her.
Suddenly exhausted, he felt his head drift lower in defeat. He was Brennen’s chosen heir and was expected to act according to the vows he’d taken. Even despite his longing to hunt down and eradicate the monsters that had extinguished Khaeli’s light before it’s time, he knew he could not. What was the purpose of power if he was weakened by it?
“They wouldn’t only see us as such, but we will be the kidnappers.”
Those had been the last words she had spoken at the meeting. In her eyes the kidnapping of children is no better than murder. No parent should be separated from their children, not by any mean. That their intentions in live aren’t good, does not automatically make them bad parents. That, at least, is what Amorette likes to believe. After all, there must be something good in them.
Yet, that believe does not erase the horrible sight of her mind. As the group of royalty and trusted had departed, the ebony woman had kept herself together, forced herself to bid all goodbye. Then excused herself, promising Warrick she would find him soon, that she’d only needed a moment to herself.
Her legs carry herself across the unfamiliar beach, her prints soon washed away by the waves rolling onto the beach. First she walks without destination, but that all changes when Amore’s dark eyes land upon his familiar winged silhouette. She walks towards him as the last sunlight graces the day, and whispers his name in the dusk, almost not daring to break the heart-breaking silence. “Belgaer.”
Instead of speaking more, she steps forward to close the distance between them. Even in the dark, she does not miss the grave look in his eyes, nor the twitch of his lips. Her muzzle finds his shoulder, as he stands with his head lowered. Grieving, but who could blame him for that? Her heart cries for them, for those unfortunate souls, but it too pains her to see one grief like this.
Standing there alone the weight of his thoughts does little to offer its comfort. Time appeared to cease existing as he stood there, his eyes trained upon the glittering horizon. It is only as the tide washes over his hooves that he his launched back into reality. The sun is setting behind him and he did his best to set his tumultuous contemplations aside. Quietly he closed his eyes and exhaled, the face of Khaeli dancing upon the black of his lids. His rage boiled and he fought back the curse that begged to be released. It seemed no matter how hard he tried he could not escape the imagery of his baby sister's tortured corpse. Harder still, he could not rationalize how his own half sibling could condone such vile actions.
A soft trill of his spoken name startled him, perhaps more so than the initial shock of cold sea water. Turning towards the sound his eyes widened at the sight of Amorette's approach. She is slow to come to him and he realized how he must seem to her. Tongue turned to cotton his heart lightened ever so slightly. Stiff from standing for so long he stepped out of the shallows and approached her. Bashfully he recalled her presense in his magically induced fantasy. She still visited his dreams from time to time, the picture of her heavily pregnant with their child something his mind refused to relinquish. She was the embodiment of his deepest desire - and here she stood before him.
Amorette, he greeted with the clearly of his throat. I'd have thought you would be on your way back to Tephra...
His thoughts tangled themselves around his words and he felt himself consider a new possibility. He was glad that she had stayed, but he knew that it was most likely not because of him. As heir he was expected to handle diplomatic affairs and Amorette was Warricks right hand.
Is everything alright? He asked, his tone more professional than before. The words of his oath served as his reminder, he was a sworn Kraken and he would conduct himself as such.
It must be horrible for them. Learning that their loved once are no longer alive, too young to leave this life and pass onto the next, is the worst pain for one to ever experience. There is no comfort to be offered, only companionship. Amorette can only be relieved that he hadn’t seen them with his own eyes, though his mind must be able to find the most horrid picture, seeing it with your own two eyes was something she would never wish for somebody else.
However, she does not say it, because it won’t do any good. So instead she offers him a small smile, and a shake of her head. “I promised him to be back soon..” she replies, her gaze casting across the ocean towards Tephra’s looming volcano. The sight warms her heart, only to be filled with dread when she remembers that she has to pass to the forest again to go home.
It kind of makes her not want to go back. Or better, be magically teleported back to Tephra, because that is where she does belong.
His question nearly startles her, and the ebony woman has to offer het chestnut companion an apologetic smile. It soon falters, but she holds his gaze for a moment, before eventually glancing away. She wants to tell him. She wants to feel the relief of sharing that what she had seen, to get it off her heart, but she cannot. Amorette cannot tell Belgear in what horrible state she had found the girls. “I.. I will be fine. Just.. So much has been happening..” she murmurs softly.
Not the whole truth, but far from lies. A lot had happened, was still happening. And all is slipping through her fingers. With a sigh she shakes her head, to find his gaze again. “We will have to be strong.”
