seconds, and first steps.

Seren

I am magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment
Destined to seek, destined to know

Mother's cheek was warm and cool, soft and solid and entirely lovely. Seren wrapped soft, chubby arms around Safrin's neck and hugged her hard, feeling the love. Took it within herself and returned it doubled, in a quiet game of 'I love you more'. They had talked about it, this leaving and parting, of going to a new home. It had been a part of this whole scenario, a perfect vision in her mind. But as with all dreams, they were never quite the same as reality. Seren never knew that parting would be this hard.

Father's words were a comfort, then. It was a door left open, and although some part of her knew it wasn't as simple as all that, Seren grasped the dangled strand of hope and clutched it tight. It gave her the courage she needed to give her mother a final squeeze and let go - oh, how hard it was to let go - and walk those final steps towards Ronin. Her fingers were small and a little chubby as they took his offered hand, impossibly clean in a way they might never be again.

"It's okay, daddy. It will be alright." Straining her neck to look all the way up at him, Seren gave her father a smile, sweet and warm and trusting. And if her breath hitched a little as she held back a sob, it might just be cold Leafchange winds. A shiver, ever so small.

Seren looked long over her shoulder though, blue eyes feasting on Safrin's radiant form.

I am a princess on the way to my throne
Destined to reign, destined to roam