Written in the Sands - the aftermath

[Warrick]

like the sun swallowed up by the earth

He finds her at the edge of one of their lava-warmed rivers, her brilliant wings glittering in the intense Tephran sun. a dazzling display of color and beauty. He hadn’t seen her in a long while, he muses to himself as he approaches cautiously, concern on the Overseer’s face as he notices the lack of grooming to her coat and the sullen look in her eyes. His heart grips tight in his chest as he roves over the possibilities - what has happened that has brought her in this state back into Tephra? She is tear-stained and weary, from traveling and from something else that lingers in the stillness of the humid air, nearly palpable as he walks slowly to stand on the other side of the stream, dark eyes wide with concern and fear.

Warrick’s blue wings shuffle at his sides, letting his presence be made known just in case she hadn’t heard him approach. Her mind seems elsewhere, her eyes looking at her surroundings but gazing past them, as if trying to see something that was not there. The Overseer lowers his head as if he is about to drink as well, but stops a few inches above the slow-moving water to nicker lowly to her, ears flicking towards her.

“Aurora?” he breathes her name, his throat tightening. “Aurora, what has happened?” Warrick’s heart hammers in his chest - perhaps it is something he will be able to easily fix. Besides, Tangerine has not told him of any ill visions, and perhaps that meant her sadness is something far less disconcerting than what he is imagining.

But something tells him that his instincts are correct - death and destruction has found its way into their home, and into Aurora’s heart.

Warrick