Burst into Stars [Merida/Any]

[Merida]

Merida

from the ashes, a fire shall be awoken

She watches her carefully, her blazing red eyes taking in every curve and dip of her now fully grown daughter, the long, chestnut tendrils as they curl around her face in the icy chill of winter’s wind. They look nothing alike, save for the gentle way their eyes dive into each other’s or now soft and timid their voices are in the quiet of dusk. Merida is unsure of what to do or say, for she wishes she could undo the amount of time they have spent apart and somehow get it all back for them. If she could, perhaps Merida would be living a different life than the solitary, lonely one she is currently living. Besides the giant wolf she met recently in the forest, Merida remains alone – until now, of course.

Loess is still foreign to her, still not welcome of her presence, but perhaps Kuma’s return will bring forth a new story, something that weaves into Merida’s and that they could live out together.

Without realizing it, Merida has taken steps to bring herself closer to her daughter. The pattern of her coat and her towering physique is straight from her father, bringing back memories that Merida had long since tried to forget. She reaches her dark face forward, ebony and as dark as night against the pure ivory of her daughter’s cheek as she brushes her muzzle against her skin in awe, as if Kuma was in fact only a dream.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed you,” she murmurs breathlessly as she brings her chin back to her chest, her voice cracking as it catches in her throat. Merida had been successful at suppressing her true feelings and masked them with her fiery personality and pride, but in this moment (a very rare moment), she is vulnerable and gentle…motherly. She blinks violently, her eyes glassy as tears threaten to spill – she feels different, as if her life had somehow come to meaning something once again – someone cares for her, and missed her as much as she missed them.

A tiny smile, miniscule and barely visible as dark spills over the craggy rocks that surround them, curls onto her lips. “Please tell me you’ve been well in your adventuring, Kuma.” She swallows hard the lump in her throat, and tenderly brushes away the long forelock that cascades down her daughter’s bright and wild eyes with her dark lips.

@[Kuma]