Hayward

She knew it was too late. She knew her traveling life is about to end. She now learnt 'life will always prevail' was true though the definition of 'life' can be subjective. But she didn't want this to end on their term. She wanted to have one last say about it. After all it was still her life, was it not? She left the Viridian Labyrinth when she had the chance, and slowly moved through Sorienth to find a place of peace. She knew it'd be impossible to go back to the Windswept Plateau without her flight ability, but she also wanted to find a place that would make her Wind heritage special. In the end she decided to go to the Sea of a Thousand Currents to find a clan that resided under the vast blue ocean. A place where only those who have the privilege can come and go freely. In other words, a Water or Wind kin, and she is one of the Wind.

The distance was far and the travel was long. Many moons and seasons passed, she has bloomed, blossomed, withered, then sprouted again. Just as she reached her destination - maybe Windsinger had smiled upon her for once; or maybe it's just the meaning of 'life will always prevail' had a different interpretation - a leaf fell off her and pulled all the other fallen leaves around to it in a whirlwind to make the form of a dragon, time and time again larger than its origin. She now has a companion always by her side, just like a flowering tree always has a butterfly.

A tree and a butterfly under the ocean? Hmm... that notion was quite unheard of, but appealing. She decided she will like that, for her life.

---

---

---

In a gigantic underwater cave near the border of The Sea of A Thousand Currents, Hayward rooted. She was lucky to find Windsinger's blessing upon that isolated place, and Tidelord's gentle carelessness accepting her into His water. The magics of Both is strong and here she grew and thrived. Animals large and small had found shelter on and around her, and formed their own ecosystem. Atlas had stayed with her all these years, and had became a swarm of butterfly-fae that kept the ecosystem healthy.

Life will always prevail.

Hayward looks at everyone around her and smiles at that notion.

Yes, it does. It always does.


art by LionMagnus