Tropic

Tropic has forgotten for how long she has searched.
She watched gladly, as two of her first clutch rose to serve deities by choice. Yet she let slip a tear of joy as her youngest chose to stay with her wherever she went. Not even her mate accompanies her any longer, and yet her smallest chose to stay by her side.
The two Coatls travelled over hill and dale, mountains and valleys, village and wilderness, for no other purpose than to see the world. Tropic had no impulse of her own, but let her son be her guide, taking them everywhere from the Coatl homeland of Everglow Hearth, to Tropic's own old clan in the Tsunami Flats, and finally back down to the Star Wood Strand where she chose to have hatchlings of her own.
And there, so close to home, tragedy struck. The Shade tore her son away. Tropic let loose tears and rage like never before, uprooting plants and throwing stones aimlessly against water, venting her agony and loss-- yet at the same time she never accepted it. How could she give up hope, when she did not know for sure that her son perished? How could she move on, when he left his scarf and satchel behind?

One night, deep down in the darkest of woods, she finds an illuminated glade of hope -- and there she sees him, her own Secrecy, dozing upon a rock. Two larger, far more powerful dragons converse nearby, but Tropic pays them no mind as she rushes to her son at last.
A new grief strikes her. Her son had faced the Shade directly-- and worse, he did not remember her at all?
Tropic sheds tears of pain. But they are easily drowned by the tears of joy-- joy that her little family is mended at last, and that their journey has ended in a place they can rest.