Zerachiel stood still for a moment that seemed to linger forever. And when the high-pitched bark echoed through the caverns he jerked from the surprise. It was certainly Ruby, he couldn’t mistake her scent or her voice, he knew that it was his daughter. Her words were like a melody to his ears and it was then that he realized he had let his children go far too easily. He had been so consumed with his own self pity that he hadn’t taken the time to be there for them when they were around and now… well he wasn’t quite sure where each of them were.

”Yes, my Ruby… it’s me,” his voice answered low as he dipped his head down in anticipation of her approach. His ears perked forward expectantly and his eyes remained deadpan in their endless thousand-yard stare. He had never worried about whether or not his eyes were unsettling for others but now that he is alone with his daughter the thought finally crosses his mind. What if she doesn’t want to look at him because of it? He can’t imagine what it looks like from someone else’s point of view.

She speaks of him being gone, that Siren had said he was, and it brings a strange pang to his chest. His family had thought that he had abandoned them… and maybe he had in more ways than one. It was a painful truth that he didn’t want to face. ”Yes, I’m here… flesh and blood. And I won’t be leaving you ever again,” he promises as he stretches his nose out to touch her cheek, or what he assumed was near to her cheek. She was so incredibly tiny in comparison and pinpointing her exact location wasn’t easy even after all these years. Still, he wanted her to know that he was here for her and that it wasn’t going to change any time soon.

”You smell of… the swamps,” he speaks again as he sniffs her. ”Is that where you’ve gone now?” he asks with concern becoming apparent in his expression. He couldn’t exactly jump in and be the protective parent all of a sudden but her distance was worrying; especially since she was still so young.