Generational Trauma

With half-lidded eyes, a flaccid, stoic expression, and a dual-colored gaze void of emotion, Sephiran dragged himself across the rocky beach of the ocean inlet. His falcon was soaring the skies in the distance, scouring the forest alongside several of Absinth's ravens. His panther was near the borders, and his serpent was back in his den, coiled on a plush bed of furs. It was odd for Sephiran to be without his companions, but he wanted it this way- he was alone, falling into a reclusive phase of solitude, where he could revel in the loss of his beloved Sidi. Her arms were wrapped around him now, caressing him with her plush fur, a constant reminder of what transpired. Really, it was her half-cured pelt strung across his back. He wore her skin over his to make him feel… conjoined with her.

Stopping, Sephiran catches movement in the bay, his head turning towards the breaching whale out of reflex. His falcon appears simultaneously, screeching an alarm and directing his attention to the other side of the beach. His eyes narrow, honing in on his falcon’s source of interest. A silhouette appears, small and wolf-like, and Sephiran connects the pieces. A child. One of his, or one of Aresenn’s, given their litters were nearly the same age.

Driven by impulse, Sephiran canters forward, closing the distance between himself and the child. As he drew near, he recognized the cerulean pattern of his fur, traces of gold woven into the oceanic canvas, as bright emerald eyes took in the world around him. Sephiran hadn’t seen him since the day of his birth- he was grown enough to leave the den now, to escape Absinth’s watchful eye. How delightful.

Exuding an aura of dominance, Sephiran demands the boy's attention, stopping before him and flaring his nostrils. He inhaled his scent, searching for notes of Aurelia, but there were none. Continuing to analyze him, Sephiran creates a tense shift in the atmosphere, a sense of danger oozing from him. His lips pull into a tight line, and for a moment, he’s overtaken by a look of disgust. He looked so much like his mother.

"Speech"