Elora

"Don't leave me."

She cried it into the freezing wind, one arm extended, eyes pleading. He didn't turn, refusing to look at her.

"I have to."

"Please."

The waves crashed onto the rocky shore, cold water washing over her feet. She didn't move; she felt like a statue, frozen into immovability, grief wrapping heavy chains around her heart. He couldn't leave. Not again. Hadn't he promised? Hadn't he promised to stay? He had promised.

He took a step, wading deeper into the frigid water. He trembled as she let out a sob, but still did not turn, unable to meet her gaze. He flicked his tail and extended his wings, tilting his head towards the sky. A rolling front of storm clouds loomed on the horizon, fleeting glimpses of lightning flickering within their depths. Thunder rumbled, and she felt it in her bones; her world was breaking, the very foundation of her being crumbling to pieces.

Her whisper carried on the wind, her anguish wrapped within.

"I trusted you."

He flinched at that, his spine stiffening as he lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry. I love you, Elora."

"Don't-"

A blinding flash interrupted her, a jagged bolt of lightning lancing across the sky. A massive roll of thunder shook the ground, and she lowered into a crouch, fanning out her wings in an attempt to keep steady. Another wave of chilling water washed over her talons, splashing into her eyes; she blinked in an attempt to clear out the salt, rivulets of water streaming down her face. It smelled cloying, like the reek of betrayal. Anger joined her sadness, and she jerked herself upright, stumbling in the soggy sand.

He was gone.

She launched herself into the air, working her wings furiously. The first drops of rain started to fall, the gale pelting them into her hide like daggers. Tears joined the water pouring down her snout, and she whipped her tail in an attempt to keep her balance in the wind, struggling to gain more height. She could just barely make out his silhouette, already out of reach, flying away towards the storm front. Away. Away from her. She strained desperately, but the wind fought back, shoving her down toward the hungry ocean below. Her muscles burned with fatigue, the first hints of cramping clenching painful claws around her wings. She couldn't... let him...