[SWE] It ends in fire

Amalia I took the stars from my eyes, I made a map Warm, happy, safe. She inhales the scent of the two men happily: Rory, dark and sweet like fresh tilled earth; Jigano, crisp and musky, parchment and fur. Hair tickles against her nose, and she isn't sure whose it is. She does not know how long she has been here: all she knows is that she does not want to leave. They have been through fire together, touched death itself and lived to tell the tale. In this moment, bathed in the light of a mythical creature and wrapped in the arms of her newfound friends, the discontent girl is at blissful peace. For the first time since she nearly died, Amalia feels safe, whole... alive. Alas, nothing so perfect can last forever, and sooner than she would like a familiar voice pulls her away. Extracting herself quickly from the men's embrace Amalia turns to find Evie there, the redhead an unexpected sight on Long Night- but then, nothing about this Long Night has been expected. A blush quickly covers the girl's cheeks, suddenly self-conscious about the intimacy of the moment, the way it looked and seemed and felt. No longer wrapped in Rory's arms, she feels miserably cold and terribly alone. "Evie!" the quiet baker exclaims, hurrying to her friend's side, the remnants of a flush still bright on her unusually pale face. "Isn't it incredible?! We fixed the perch, and the Spark Bird came! Just like nani used to say!" With a sweeping gesture of the glowing antler she indicates the creature sitting and glittering in the square. Her voice is haggard, tired, but full of a bolstering happiness, reverent awe. The excitement is giving way to exhaustion, but Amalia is not ready to concede defeat. She would rather sit down here in the snow than leave the incredible glow of the Snow Bird's light. She wants to say more, but then Wessex appears, and Amalia's smile falters as her dark eyes widen in joy and relief. "Wessex-" but she does not know what more to say. I'm sorry we left? I'm happy you're safe? I died, like you? In the end she says nothing, cannot get anything past the lump within her throat. She can only extend her hands to the Ascended, a million emotions written clearly across her tired face. One hand still hopefully in Wessex's and another reaching for Evie's, Amalia turns back to the Spark Bird, a shy and hopeful question tugging at her lips. "Will you sing with me?" she asks, voice trembling, looking from Wessex to Evie with dark eyes wide. "Please? The way we used to, before...?" Before grandmother died, and the world grew darker. Before they aged out of childish things. Not daring to wait for an answer, Amalia takes a breath and begins to sing a simple song, familiar to anyone who grew up in Caido. She can only hope that the others will join in, and they can finally serenade the Spark Bird properly. "Long Night comes and darkness creeps Into your room as you fall asleep Hush little child, don’t you fear Soon the Spark Bird will be here! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, light our way! Make the Long Night bright as day! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, come this year! Yours is the song we long to hear! Wings like a storm and eyes like a fire See as the bird flies higher and higher Bringing light to the world below Setting Caido all aglow! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, light our way! Make the Long Night bright as day! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, come this year! Yours is the song we long to hear! So build a perch and leave a gift! Whisper to Rae your dearest wish! If we are good and do not cry, Soon the Spark Bird will light the sky! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, light our way! Make the Long Night bright as day! Spark Bird, Spark Bird, come this year! Yours is the song we long to hear!" Please feel free to have your character know the lyrics to the Spark Bird Hymn and sing along~ And I knew that somehow I could find my way back