[Scorch/Any] The Bones of the Great Leviathan

[Scorch]

WATCH THE FLAMES CLIMB HIGH INTO THE NIGHT

In the span of time that it took for decades to form, not once did she ever forget her children; not a single one (though sometimes she wished she could forget Leilan for a day or two). They each held a special place in her heart, with memories attached to their names abounding more than she would ever be able to count. She'd only ever given birth outside of the Jungle three times: with Rain in the Valley, with Vi and Volcan in the Falls, and with Blue in Ischia. The rest? In a thicket in the kingdom of her own birth - or, of her own faux-birth, anyhow.

None of that truly mattered when she heard her daughter's cry. It wouldn't be the first time that a child of hers washed up on the shore of Nerine, bleeding and crying - she remembered her reunion with Vi as if it was yesterday, and would smile to remember that her third youngest daughter yet resided in this land. But her blind child was far from her mind when she realized that no daughter of hers would be going so close to the cliff - Blue was far too young to be allowed anywhere near them yet, even with her fascination of water.

She didn't know how she managed to hear it from so far away, perhaps a stroke of good luck with the faeries as they recognized a daughter's need to be reunited with her mother. Irrespective of how she heard her, she did; and so without hesitation, Scorch ran for the waves. The prickly needles of the pines on either side tore at her hairless body, leaving faded red marks in their wakes. It was only as she broke out into the open, near the beach, that the mare remembered that this week, Blue was in Ischia; a blessing in disguise, for she would not want her youngest daughter to meet Sarkis like this.

Sarkis.

"Sarkis!"

The name rolled from her tongue with a familiarity nearly forgotten, a confession of love uttered in two mere syllables as she galloped to close the distance between them. She slowed soon enough as to not startle the roan girl, but tears swam in her magmatic eyes as she beheld her daughter. The last she remembered of Sarkis was listening to the young girl's energetic stories about nature and life, usually with Wrynn by her side as the two girls were close back then, near the time of their parents' death. Leilan had been absent by then, or perhaps he had chosen to remove himself - regardless, he was in her life now, and she would always be thankful to be able to add another child to the list of those who remained alive in the time that she did.

Stepping closer, Scorch immediately wrapped Sarkis in an embrace, pulling her as close as she could without cutting off both their wind pipes. Her shoulders shook gently and soundlessly as she cried, charred lips moving in silent prayer as she thanked the gods for delivering her lost daughter to her.

"You are not lost any more my child, and I will not leave. I am here - please, stay with me."

Stepping back, Scorch started softly and then watched as Leilan approached. Smiling tearily, she laughed at his reproachful greeting, trembling slightly for the nerves of it all.

"Don't you recognize your older sister, Leilan? You and Sarkis grew up together, in the Jungle."

Scorch

Once Khaleesi of the Amazon Jungle