Grief
The sun fell warm across Sofia's back as she hurled through the clouds, her legs tucked firmly beneath her while her white wings dipped and waved. All around her, Avalor's swans flew in unison, creating a unique dance that would have enchanted any onlooker.
Rather than mimicking them, Sofia fought to escape their company, just as she had used the amulet to escape everyone on the ground below her. She could still hear Elena and Hugo begging her to come back, mixed with other voices of friends and servants were certainly startled by her transformation into a swan. She shut them out; she shut them all out with whatever will she had.
Didn't they understand? She just couldn't bear it! She couldn't bear their condolences and hugs and tears. She didn't want to cry with them; she wanted to SCREAM. She wanted to roar until the whole world shook with her rage and rip the clouds apart, just as she had done with her mother's letter. She wanted to change into a dragon and breathe fire on Rudistan and Ramblingham for what they had done. Couldn't they understand what they had done? Why couldn't they understand?
"Sofia!" The swans darted away as a flying horse dove into their midst, cutting off the one with the shimmering amulet. Sofia caught herself before she flew straight into her husband's chest. "Sofia, please, come back down! You're frightening everyone!"
"I don't care! I don't care!" Sofia dove towards the ground as she tried to outfly Hugo. "You don't understand!" She led him a good chase, feeling her heart beat and her wings strain as she tried to outrun him. In the end, her strength gave out, and she collapsed into his arms as he finally caught up with her.
"Callista's dead!" she wept, vaguely aware of her amulet returning her to human form. Hugo's arms cradled her as he allowed his horse to guide them back to the palace. "She's gone! She's gone! They killed her! They've ruined everything! I'll never see her again! It will never be the same again! I should have gone home! Oh, why didn't I go home?"