There is an agony written across her face, a broken glare in the molten eyes, and the girl wishes she could wash it all away, leave the child with wonder and a smile. Too many youths with their youth embezzled, too many children with their childhoods snatched, thrown to the jaws of an unfair world. Why does this one stick in her mind? Where has she met the little horned firebird with the-

Firebird. Egg!

Natraj makes the connection a second before the child's voice rings out through the grove, shrill and accusing, a stab in their chests. Memories flood through their fuzzy minds, a night of waiting and a day of loss. They'd sworn to protect the child, vowed to defend it; and, oh, how they had failed! The smile falters from her inky lips, falling away into wide-eyed bemusement, confusion and remorse playing games within her gaze.

Guilt swims heavy in the copper girl's stomach as she gazes at the filly, lost for words. What could she possibly say to ease the swelling emotion which threatened to arch up and devour them all? How could she ever, ever make it right, find the child's forgiveness when she had failed so utterly? It takes all she has not to hang her head in shame, to curl up and cry- she is supposed to be a protector, a knight. But knights are strong, and the girl knows this is her chance, the opportunity come to make up for past failures. She forces herself to stay upright, relaxed.

She does not have to force the affection into her eyes.

Three-tailed brother springs down from her back, nose wrinkled in distaste at the ice and snow. On nimble paws he approaches the child, head held low and tails subdued- non-threatening, a smile on his vulpine face. From behind him her voice breaks into the cold, soothing and deep, only faintly lined by the brassy anxiety which rises in her throat. "I'm Tandavi. This is my brother Natraj." She gestures toward the kitsune who has raised himself onto his haunches, waiting to see if the child will approach. She smells like embers and pine and snow, tastes like sunlight and ashy grey. Firechild swallows, unsure what to say. A million options swell in her mind. She picks the one which is honest.

"We found your egg. We watched you hatch. Then... we lost you." Alto voice cracks, and the onyx eyes close, forcing back shame and anger with herself. How could she have done something so awful? How will she ever, ever find a way to make amends? She opens her eyes and steps forward again, wishing she could close the gap between them, take the child somewhere safe, somehow make up for her youthful mistakes.

@[Aithniel]