~ where innocences burn in flames.
Her skin is warm beneath his touch and her scent wafts into his flaring nostrils. A single ear flick to catch her first words, but he can tell there is a hint of sorrow in her voice and it causes his heart to still. He listens intently as she goes on and describer her dear daughter. And he can hear the pride that is in her voice as she lovingly recalls her daughters personalty. A soft smile traces his lips as she compares the child to a tornado. A chuckle rumbles from his throat at her reference but it is choked out as the image of Sigurdr flashes to the forefront of his mind.
She murmurs into his skin and he can feel the weight of her words the longer she recalls her memories. And then there it was. I lost her that summer. And he sucks a breath in as the realization sets in, that she had lost everything she cared for. He can feel his heart splitting in two, as she presses on, despite the sobering memories.
He listens intently as she speaks of the day that it all changed for her. He can only imagine the pain it felt of loosing her child and her companion all in a single breath. His heart aches for her. "I am so sorry my love," he breathes into the curve her neck. He wants to take her pain away. He wants to take the burden onto himself so she can be free of its weight.
He does not speak anymore but allows her to just stand in silence. He traces the soft lines of her withers and down her belly to just behind her elbow. He does his best to comfort her with just his presence. As the seconds turn to minutes, he finally lifts his crown and places soft kisses along shoulder and takes a step so he can look upon her face. As his glacial eyes find hers, he peers deep into her soul. "You are stronger than you know, my dear spotted girl. You carry it quietly and with a grace that none can rival." He reaches his pink muzzle across the narrow space to press it into hers. A deep sigh escapes his lips as her scent wafts into his nostrils and he closes his eyes. He enjoys this quiet moment here with her, with just the sound of the jungle and babble of the creek.