Kingdom of Ash

voice shaking as she held that small,
impossibly precious flower in her palm, “And
return home.”
Glennis bowed her head. “And so the curse
is broken. And so we shall go home together
—as one people.”
The curse was broken.
Manon just stared at them, her breathing
turning jagged.
Then she roused Abraxos, and was in the
saddle within heartbeats. She did not offer
them any explanation, any farewell, as they
leaped into the thinning night.
As she guided her wyvern to the bit of
blasted earth on the battlefield. Right to its
heart.
And smiling through her tears, laughing in
joy and sorrow, Manon laid that precious
flower from the Wastes upon the ground.
In thanks and in love.