It stirred.
It felt the weight of the ages upon it, heavy and old.
Memories coalesced and searched…
Gone were its gifts, powerful and many. A mind once unbreakable was now lost; only echoes of anger remained, and a sense of futility mingled amidst them. Yet the instinct remained, as it should, thus not all was lost.
As long as the instinct lived, the Chosen would answer to the call.
And answer it did.
A tiny child made her way across the mountain.
A broken bridge lay behind her, a lonely boy its company: a lonely boy, who shouted far too late.
A mind, it felt a mind.
It was weak; fragile—youthful, but it had to do.
It stirred and spread and touched.
It was a mind of mourning, enveloped with loss and sadness all too mortal—and all too easy.
The timeless instinct roused; though many of its gifts were lost to decay, this one last bit would pave its resurrection.
"Mama! Mama, you're okay!"
It stirred and spread and touched; then, it consumed.
It was the Mayor who found them; the lonely boy cradled on the lap of his daughter. In his relief, he did not notice her eyes. Eyes that were once crimson were now tinged green, their pupils slit.
A/N: As usual the normal disclaimers apply. This fic is a WIP and was edited by A Sorrow with a Human Heart. Thank you so much, Sorrow, for your hard work! Also reviews and constructive criticisms are greatly welcomed. Many thanks to those who have read, reviewed and added this to your favourites and alerts.