Appreciated

She never thought she would return to the island after her brothers disappearance along with his wife and kids. She had traveled to the mainland and stayed there, spending her time alone or with Aeron. She had grown closer to the monochromed ever since the earthquake and he had helped heal her injuries. Today she lingered along the coast, tempted to venture the island, to see if maybe, just maybe, she would be reunited with her family. It was a useless hope but they had all left her, without so much as a word.

A howl echoed in her skull, it so familiar it hurt. She didn't want to believe it was real. The russet woman ignored it until silence surrounded her again. Limbs would stir, flailing beneath her as she rushed the ocean waters. Her russet form plunged into the waters, legs propelling her forward. Her muscles burned as she swam towards the shore.

The the time she reached it, she was tired, nearly exhausted. She would pull herself from the waters, racing across the beach until she brothers familiar cobalt form came into her sights. She would slide to a stop, water still dripping off her pelt. The queen said nothing, merely staring at her brother. She didn't even know if he was real. Could her mind be playing tricks on her? Could her longing for family be so strong that she was now hallucinating?