the water's high

And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground

Sobs eventually subsided to hiccups, which faded, in time, to silence. It was broken only by the whispers of passersby, who went entirely ignored by the two young women who mourned the vibrant griffin whose life had been cut too short as a result of his bonded's hubris. And then, when Soh had calmed, pressed against Flora like a lifeline, her best friend continued to reassure her, brushing away her tears, offering the sort of certainty that only she could.

And for the first time, Soh began to wonder if it was truly possible. Of course, it could happen - hadn't Alys returned her companion from the dead, after all? - but would it happen to her?

She'd never know if she didn't try.

So she listened as Flora warned her of the days to come, sniffling softly as her silver gaze met aqua, foreheads pressed together as though sharing a secret. "One step at a time," she agreed then, her voice a rasping whisper. It wasn't much, but it didn't have to be - she could take it day by day. She could survive this.

She would survive this. Tarak would have wanted her to.

And maybe, someday, she would bring him back.

And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
You don't wanna know me now

Sohalia