At The End

by Ariadne Karpusi

( This is sort of based off a post I saw on tumblr that Maris would know the exact moment Quint fades and she sits out in the rain for a while. So yeah I just kinda wanted to write something based off of it. I know it might not be your cup of tea, but I would love it you give it a try) Maris always had the strange sense of knowing when something bad would happen, but not like this

The winds picked up as Maris was settled in her Caterbird cocoon. She could smell a storm on the horizon. This storm was different, she could feel it in her bones. She had to let out a little smile at the little phrase that Welma used to say most of the time. She stepped out of her cocoon and onto the soft grass of the Island. The gentle wind of the pre-storm picked up her hair and blew it into her face. Maris felt anguish tug at her heart. Her fingers went to the necklace that was always settled there since she had left Undertown and her life behind her. There was a ring that lay near her ring was given to her on that special day between her and Quint, and she always kept it close to her, not to lose her past and those memories.

There was a tugging at her heart, and she knew. She knew that her love was gone from her world. The wind picked up and the only sound that filled her ears was the rustling leaves and the oncoming thunder. After the first crack of lighting, the rain started to pour down heavy. The oakelf's went into their own places, but she was rooted there. She sniffled, before she felt the tear escape and roll down her cheek. Her hands began to shake and she fell to the ground. The tears fell steady as she gripped the ground tightly. Why did he leave her? Why did he have to leave her now? She drew in a shuddering breath and fell forward. She let a bit of a scream as she let her forehead hit the ground, the rain pounding onto her back. Maris didn't care at this point, she didn't want to be tucked away in her cocoon, safe and warm. She wanted to be on a sky ship, riding the winds with Quint,Tem and Stope again.

It had been a long while of her sitting out there in the rain, but a small warm breeze blew through, and she felt a strange calm pass over her. It felt like she was back in Sanctaphrax, standing near the East Landing, and watching the sun set with Quint beside her. Even soaked to the bone from the pounding rain, she felt different. She sat back, and felt a smile cross her face. Sadness wasn't what she felt now. Tranquility passed over the island and the heavy rains, became a soft drizzle. Maris brought a damp sleeve up to her face and rubbed away what ever tears may still occupy her cheeks. She stood and looked up, The dark clouds gave way to an amber sun as the warm breeze turned into a comforting gale. A new sun brought a new tide. Her father told her at times. She lifted the ring to her lips, and gave it a soft kiss before looking up into the Open Sky, wishing him a safe passage.

He may have left her now, but soon she would rejoin him and her father in the Open Sky one day. Sopping wet, she made her way toward her own small grove of trees that surrounded her cocoon to change and settled down into a warm set of clothing and settle underneath the thick comforter she had with her to start this new day, this new time.