Magic T3 - Loss, darkness and comfort....

Suzaku and her companion were no strangers to death, whether it be the prey thy'd hunted, or a foe they'd vanquished... but the loss of one they actually cared about... they'd never dealt with that... and Suzaku could only imagine how much harder it was for her rider, for despite his general snarkiness and usual attitude, for those he cared for well. She watched the proceedings, the glittering stars far above witnesses to the ceremony, her companion on Meiron's shoulder rubbing her head against his fur and Meeth by his side; truthfully Sorcha and Tyna had more contact with the old T'tere than shje had, but neither dragon had accepted his passing; so Suzaku had volunteered... aaaaand then roped Meeth into it as well.

Suzaku leaned back on her hind legs, phoenix fires banked as a sign of respect as the coffin slowly made its way from the old T'tere's home and stable towards the sea; his dragon, a light dragon coiled around it, her own breath ceasing as soon as her riders did; she too was part of the ceremony. As the convoy passed where Suzaku, Meiron and Meeth were stood, she crooned softly; the darkness rising around them in a dark comfort, her riders hand clasped tight on Meeth's. 

The procession continued past the townsfolk who had gathered, a sign of respect for the old T'tere rider and towards the sea.. and the next part of the ceremony; for while the T'tere was of the air, he'd wished to be cremated out at sea, both he and his dragon. The three of them followed; the sea air welcoming in the darkness... and the darkness it was watching... Suzaku wasn't sure if anyone else could sense it, but the presence... it was old.... endless.. the darkness that engulfed them all, held purely at bay by the small flickers of light that the townsfolk.. yet it harbored no ill will, a silent witness to the ceremony.

The T'tere's family waded out into the waters, the floating barge released and as ocean dragon appearing to tow tit out into the dark sea, once at a distance the dragon returned and Meiron stepped forward, his expression blank, but his eyes showing the emotions running rampant. He picked up the bow and used her fires to light it... before joining the others who'd volunteered for this part as a sign of respect..... the darkness was lit as the volley was released, each arrow striking the barge and setting it alight. The funeral pyre crackled, and the darkness continued to press in, wrapping the observers in its wings, a soothing balm that hid the tears and the emotions all the while accepting the death....

Suzaku continued to watch, like her companion and Meeth offering him comfort and companionship as the pyre blazed, until finally the flames started to die, the barge falling into the ocean. Only now did the townsfolk disperse, not to return home... no ... rather to attend his wake, to celebrate his life, the square coning alive as people descended, the sadness still there, but memories and stories flowing of the old one and his life..... and of all the lives he'd affected over the years, and Meiron was no exceptions, his disgruntled expression as the old riders rivals laughed and brought up his time as a 'stable hand', Meeth's expression curious as she listened.

Suzaku's companion remained perched on his shoulder, though Suzaku lingered in the darkness at the edges, dipping her entire body in a sign of respect for the dark matron who remained, a hidden observer of the one who had passed into death ... and beyond.