My wings have brought me over the beach of the Endless Blue, and although I normally pay little attention to the sands below, something has caught my eye. Not the sun that beats down on my onyx wings and torso, nor the crashing of waves upon their brethren. No, instead my gaze is drawn to a gathering around what seems to be driftwood below. Why would anyone be interested in driftwood? I have been in Helovia long enough to know that it may be worth my while to investigate. I descend rather abruptly and land just behind the last row of equines, shuffling my wings before tucking them away. I find a way to the front of the group to investigate what lies before us. Certainly, driftwood is not the only thing here to see.

No, it isn't. There is a large, smooth egg that lies buried in it. My heart begins to pound in my chest. It must be a companion! Like so many eggs that I have seen, yet it seems bigger, grander. As I stand there, a song begins to play in my mind. A siren song, elemental and full of grace and beauty. Like the sea, like the wind, like the flame, it runs through me, as if flowing with the lifeblood within me. It lulls me to a peace I feel has evaded me since Africa's departure. What is this creature that holds sway over me, unborn and cradled by shell?

I take a step back, looking up at those around me. Do they hear it, too? Do they hear what I hear? There are several faces I recognize. Sikeax - the one that turned me to darkness. I turn my gaze from her before the wrath and regret that are buried within me can begin to surface. The sweet song of the egg assists me in moving on from the darkness that lingers. Aurelia - the one I had relations with during my darkness. She has not let me forget it, and had even made a threat, or what I perceived to be a thread, to reveal it to my love. I would have come clean should the moment arisen, but I thought not to break my love's heart with something that I could not have controlled during that poisonous time. Again the egg's song quells the bile that threatens to rise in me. Hotaru - the spy from the Basin. She is a worth adversary, but I have nothing more kind to say about her: she is an enemy, nothing more and nothing less. They, too, seem to have heard a song, but each of them has a unique expression on their faces. Perhaps they have heard something different than I? Some of them begin to sing to the egg, and I try to hide my look of disgust - their songs do not go well with the egg's, don't they hear that? Or are they all tone deaf? When silence comes again, I begin a song of my own. The others melt into the background, and there is nothing left but myself and the beautiful egg that calls to my spirit.

Once there was a bird on the sea
None so beautiful, none so rare
And it came calling to me
And it came calling to me

It told of legends, ages old
Of knights and dragons
Sword-fighting and rescue
To which men raise their flagons

And it came calling to me
And it came calling to me

"You will be the hero,
You will be the knight."
It spoke to me
And encouraged my plight

It told me truthfully
"One day you will be
The most noble of all
Hero of your own story."

And it came calling to me
And it came calling to me

"You will be victorious
And save the innocent."
The bird of the sea cried
"You must remain vigilant"

It gave this prophecy
Then it flew away
Leaving me hopeful
For the next break of day

Once there was a bird on the sea
None so beautiful, none so rare
And it came calling to me
And it came calling to me

I finished my song, and the silence returned. I stayed close to the egg, watching it for its reaction. Its melody continued to fill my mind, and I was relieved at the solace it brought. Perhaps... everything does get better. Perhaps... I can be a hero for this egg.

WC: 741
Wishlist :: Phoenix companion
Prior refusal(s): One (2 parts)