Memories and the Ocean [Flynn, Amaranth, or Invite][NR]

She walked a good twenty feet or so from the waters edge, figuring that would give her plenty of time to search through the memories that filled the objects inside of the chest; at least until she got soaked by the incoming tide. But, she had a little bit before she had to worry about that.

She folded her legs underneath of her as she sat on the sand and placed the cloth wrapped chest down in front of herself. Carefully and slowly she unwrapped the thing. She still had no idea what was inside of it. All she knew was that she could hear the sound of objects moving around, heavy sounding ones.

With a deep breath she slipped the gloves off of her hands and reached forward, grasping onto both sides of the chest. At the first touch of her fingers memories flooded into her minds eye, black and white in color which indicated them being from the past. At first it was a blur, years after years of memories. But, for now at least, she wasn't concentrating for the older memories, she wanted the ones that dealt with her.

After a moment of searching she found them, they felt fresher to her, but still so distant, so long ago. It was her mother, singing to her while inside of the womb. Talking to her, though she couldn't understand the words. Another of her mother having a necklace specially made, a locket of sorts, words carved into it that she couldn't understand but which read "To my daughter, you are my greatest gift".

Niala pulled herself out of the memories, repressing them. It was always easier after the first time she touched an object to do so again without being consumed. So, after a moment she reached forward again and unlatched the old looking latches, opening the curved lid and unlocking the treasures inside. Suddenly the idea of her father having touched these things, angered her, it made her feel as if he had violated some sort of part of her mothers memories. But, she couldn't let herself to think like that, this was supposed to be a good thing, she wouldn't turn it into an ugly one.

She picked up the gold locker within the box, wrapped in soft cloth. Shaking hands clasped around it as the memories started again... tears began to stream down her face. She could see it all now. Her mother loved her, always had. She had been happy to know she was pregnant with Niala. She had sang to her, spoken to her, talked to her about her dreams and the plans for their future. She had everything planned. But all of those plans had come crumpling down.

She snapped back to the memories, her body doubled over, face wet with freshly shed tears. Eyes were shut tightly, but there was a smile on her face. This was as close to her mother as she had ever gotten; her mother had loved her, and through those memories she had seen she could feel it. She could feel all of it.

Out of the water he came; freshly home and happy to be. A moment taken to roll in the sand; an old tiger's pleasure indulged. Mark his territory; let it mark him in return; nature at it's most primal. He would find Demi later; likely about the time he found the girl again. There was much to talk about between them; he had an entire history to fill in for her, and he was highly curious about her own life. Anything to know another of his kind; that innate desire for company, to have something, anything that was his, and of him, revived and stronger then the tiger's need to be alone. Tiger's where lonely, solitary creature; Daoine where not.

And after only a few moments of walking he spotted the shadow in the darkness; a form crumpled over itself on the beach. Gentle winds brought the scent of familiar, the girl Niala. Tears, salty in a bitter way that the sea was not; she was crying then. The box, he surmised.

A shift to his humanoid form; two legs not as efficient on the soft sands; but the ability to speak and the ease of movement otherwise needed. He could offer comfort in ways she would understand in this form; help offered with greater ease. Slowly, silently, he approached; until he was only a few feet away. "Niala. It is... done. He cannot harm you anymore..."

Something else was happening on Amaranth's beaches, but this was far different than the demonic presence she and her father had dealt with previous. This was sadness.. and sorrow. And... a ghost? The hell?

Soft footfalls would lead her towards Flynn, the crumpled lump that was Niala's form, and a ghostly female who looked like a much older version of Niala herself. The female was transparent, in fact, Amaranth would have missed her if she hadn't sensed her. A ghost was as a ghost did after all. Being a ghost had its benefits after all.

"Niala... my friend..."

Amaranth stepped forward, holding her hand out towards the ghostly female who stood about six feet from Niala, the ghostly woman having her own tears. The ghostly female walked over to Amaranth who stood about a foot or so from the girl. As soon as the female's hand touched Amaranth's their forms switched: Amaranth's became intangible while the female's become solid. This would also make it possible for everyone present to hear her speak, compared to normal ghosts whose voices couldn't be heard without the intervention of modern technology.

Amaranth looked to the ghostly woman that was Niala's mother and offered a smile. "So long as I'm touching you she can feel and hear you. But, it won't last more than a moment or two..."

Niala slowly raised herself from her bent over position, that same smile still on her face despite the tears continuing to pour down her cheeks. She turned her head, looking to Flynn and then shook her head slightly. "It's.. not him. She loved me. I always... I always wondered. I wanted to think she did, but after everything that my father said and did I thought that maybe she didn't. But she loved me, she wanted me..."

Her voice trailed off, gaze moving over to Amaranth and then... to the female who suddenly came into view. It was like looking at herself in the future: there was no question as to who this woman was, it was her mother. They had the same hair, though her mother's was far longer, and the same eyes and nose. Niala shakily rose to her feet at the same time the ghostly female moved forward. They collided somewhere in the middle, a mixture of arms and hugs.

"My daughter. I've always loved you. I've been stuck in the shadows, trying to reach out to you. But now I see that you're safe, safe and happy." Niala's mother raised her knowing gaze to Flynn. She had been there all along, waiting to see what happened to her daughter, waiting for her daughter to find peace so that she could perhaps move on. "Thank-you for taking care of that man."

Niala could only hug the woman, her body shaking as more tears flowed down her cheeks. But she didn't care. This was what she had wanted all along. A hug. To feel herself wrapped in her mother's arms. But she knew it wasn't going to last. Amaranth's words had said so. She could only keep her mother here like this for a short period of time.

As if her mother were thinking along the same lines she spoke after kissing Niala on the head. "Listen to me, child. I love you, I have always loved you, and I always will. I want you to promise me that you'll reach for your dreams. Be the best you that you can, and don't let what happened to you in the past hold you back, you're better than that darkness. I just wish I could stay here with you, keep you safe, teach you the things you should know." Niala's mother looked to Flynn. "Consider it the last wish... but take care of her for me, I beg you. Teach her the things I cannot be here to teach her. Her life has been far too cruel too soon. She has a right to have a proper childhood, to grow knowing love..." Already her ghostly form began to lose its solidness.

Interesting... that was not something you saw every day. To give a ghostly apparition solid form; even momentarily. He would have to inquire about that one day. A nod of agreement; he was happy to fulfill the wish of her mother; it would benefit them both to have someone to speak to, teach and learn from. While never a father himself; he had helped to raise children; and he was very, very good at being the kindly, spoiling uncle figure. Fun times.

"As you wish, so I shall do."

He was slightly disturbed by the effect this ability had on Demi; but she obviously knew what she was doing; so he wouldn't complain. That was for later.

For now, he merely sat in the warm sand; allowing the rest of what would happen to play out; give the final moments between mother and daughter to them without his interruption.

Amaranth held on, keeping the ghostly woman solid for as long as possible; at least long enough for a last hug goodbye. Then her grip slipped, form becoming solid as she fell backwards to lay in the sand, staring upwards. Her form flickered between intangible and solid before remaining solid. She found herself feeling like she could do with a nice long nap, or a whole bunch of sugar, but other than that she was fine.

After a moment she sat back up, blinking. "Hnn... tired." She looked to the pair and just shook her head, eyelids drooping. "I'll be in my room if I'm needed." With that said her form sunk into the ground, heading off to her underwater lab for a nice long peaceful nap. Besides, that would give Flynn and Niala time alone to talk.

-Thread Exit.-

Niala watched as her mother faded from view, having been given one last hug before she did so. Her gaze then moved to Amaranth and at how tired she looked. She found herself figuring that to make another ghost solid like that must take an aweful lot out of her; and didn't blame her for wanting a nap.

Finally she looked back over to the wooden chest, picking up the locket and sliding it in place around her neck, even though she still had no clue as to what it said. But, it had been a gift her mother had meant for her to have and so she would wear it, along with the pendant that Alec Kane had given her.

She closed up the rest of the box and cradled it back to her chest before looking to Flynn. Her brain felt like it might explode with all of the emotions and thoughts running through it, and she found herself thinking that the idea of just doing something to distract herself from all of it would be nice. "Today's been a long day...", she said softly.

"Indeed... It has been a long week; truly." He felt the serious need to go home; spend some time with his family; alone and just them. Too many reminders of a hard life, and watching someone as young as Niala having to deal with things even an old warrior such as himself was unprepared to deal with... yeah. A break, or at least some distraction, was highly needed.

"I believe I need to return home, now. We all need time to process and such. You are free to come with me, if you wish. You and I are practically family; in a strange sort of way; so you are always welcome to stay with us."

With that; he was shifting back to tiger form; long time spent in it had made it his default form when outside. Four legs where just easier to move on for an old man like him. A short nod of his head and a flick of the tail; and he was off at a slow walk. There wasn't a rush really; and this way she could follow if she wished.

-exit-