Serah

In the aftermath of the fire, she stood, alone, frightened. Her ears were overwhelmed with the crackling of still burning trees, the cries of unknown dragons, and some not so unknown. The smell of ash and blood choked her, furthering her terror. "Where are you?" she cried out, stumbling towards the echo of her own voice. "Brother, where did you go?"

She felt her way along a worn path, possibly a dried up creek. The heat of the fire began to recede, and slowly, she made her way out of the inferno. Constantly turning her head left, right, listening for anything familiar. "Brother..." her voice cracking, fear clawing its way into her like never before. Only silence returned her call.

Fear eventually gave way to panic, which led her to crashing through the tangled growth that threatened to blot out her path. When the panic had spent itself, she found herself still lost, her fearful cries reduced to sobbing. "Where am I? Please, anyone, help me?" She was an easy target, but thankfully, she was left in peace.

Soot and ash caked onto her face, broken only where her tears ran rivulets through it. Her eyes stared, wide and unseeing. Blind from an early age, she had thankfully escaped some of the horrors, only to be tossed into a new one, a place where nothing was familiar, not smell, nor sound, nor even the taste of the air around her. It was bitter, salty almost. Like her tears.

The sound of water lapping against sand called her close, but the acrid taste of salt made her spit in despair. She dissolved into tears again, certain she was going to die alone in a place that would never be home.

"Why are ye waterin' the waves? Thar be eno' salt in them to last a lifen."

She whirled about, ears fluttering as she sought out the source of the voice. "I be here, bairn, but then, ye cannae spy me, can ye?" A rustling of feathers, and a soft tread of feet on the sand. "I be here before ye. Reach out and ye'll bump inta me. Give me a sniff if ye'd like. But pray, do tell me why ye be waterin' the waves?"

Trembling, she reached out her muzzle, and indeed, met a warm chest that smelled of wet dirt and clean water. The tears came again, only this time in relief. "I'm so lost. Something happened to our home, I smelled fire and smoke, and I tried to find my brother, but he wouldn't come, no matter how I called. I don't even know where he is anymore, or anyone I used to know."

"Ye be safe now, bairn. And mayhaps, I might bring ye a spot of light. A fire ye say? Well, so happens ta have been a young lad appearin' much like yerself that came to us smellin' of soot and smoke. Belike he might be your brethren? I can surely take ye to him, if'n ye wish?"

"Yes, please! And even if he isn't my brother, at least I can see if I know him. Guide me, would you? And thank you, thank you so much."