A ghost in flame

The marching of the drums dimly faded, dancing within the winds as she left the Barracks. Away from the regiment, routine. Away from the clatter, hollers and noise. Today was her least favourite job; Sentry. Spending hours that seemed like days staring endlessly into the wide, vast forest of Yorkshire. Their home. The trees swayed so gently in the subtle Spring breeze, glints of Sun poked from betwixt the small leaves and branches, illuminating the forest floor in drapes of soft, golden light.

While others would have found this calming, Ismailia only found it irritating... She preferred to be in the training ring; homing her skills, perfecting her stances. Her poise. Her position. But better yet... showing her kin what she was truly capable of! Not just standing here; wasting away. Idly dawdling. She sucked in a deep breath, fanning the flickering flames that gurgled within her stomach, willing calm. Her eyes briefly closed as she exhaled, breath dancing into the crisp morning air.

Yet there, came a glimpse; a doused flame. One that caused her icy brows to knit together, ocean eyes scouring into the figure.

Until he came closer.

And her heart felt like it stopped. Her chest constricted like a python around its prey, squeezing, squeezing.

This was just a dream. Just a dream.

khepri tiamat.

With Rose's whispered words on his mind, whether they'd been real or a dream, he'd decided to... go home. This place was not his home anymore of course but there was someone within Yorkshire's walls that was.

The nervousness he felt caused a jitter in his step. He'd been clear for three days and maybe that could have also attributed to it, but he didn't feel clear. He felt foggy and lost and confused and scared. Worse than he'd felt in a long time, actually. But he couldn't risk showing who he truly was to his own daughter. He couldn't risk letting her know what a failure he'd become. He didn't even know why he came to see her, it had been so long... too long since last time. There was tension between them, ever since her mother had died. Maybe he never should have sent her to live with the other Tiamats. He had only known he could never have provided the life for her that he wanted without her mother by his side and turns out he was slowly proving himself right. He was incapable of going days without feeling normal and seeking 'help' and when he did he wasn't himself.

He paused, looking back hazily and thinking maybe he should come back another time when he was clear-headed for real. But then the wind brought him her all to familiar scent and he turned to look and saw her there, guarding the entryway. He blinked, his body feeling suddenly hot as his stomach turned inside itself. He could only see Rose in her face, but that was good. She was beautiful and smart and strong, like her mother. Not weak and foolish like her father.

There was no turning back now so he approached slowly, his head down but his tail swaying gently behind him."Hey Lia... guard duty today?" he asked.

You idiot... that's all you can say?

table by hale. image from unsplash.