While strolling through the forest, Chynni found Lenneth moping under the shade of the forest canopy, propped against a tree stump. Her eyes, soaked with her tears, covered her face. An ivory necklace, much too small for her neck, was clasped in her forepaw by its string.

A human she had befriended had passed away. Tarbas was his name. He’d often visit her cottage somewhere in these very woods to trade for her herbs and vegetables. He became a regular visitor, and they regarded each other as friends.

Lenneth wanted to meet him in his town earlier that day. But instead of being greeted with his voice, she was greeted by his smell. Out around the town outskirts, the smell of his scent and his blood. She couldn’t see what happened to him, but she couldn’t hear his breathing or his heartbeat. When she felt his face, he felt cold to her touch.

Her heart sank with terror. She didn’t know what happened to him, but she was too afraid to find out. As she felt the tears rising, she yanked off the necklace from his still neck and retreated back into the woods. She came to this shaded clearing to grieve.

'she's new to this', Chynni thought, looking at her sorry state with initial indifference. A look at the pendant in her paw told the dragoness all she needed to know. 'One day you'll will see many more passings than I have, maybe..."

Though her logical cynical mind speak such thoughts, the dragoness felt something welling in her heart as she listen to the narga's cries. It grew so palpable, she had to put her hand against her heart, pressing past her breasts. Her powerful yet cold heart felt an emotion she felt so rarely nowadays, she almost forgot what it was called.

Compassion.

Sympathy.

Pity.

She feels sorry for her. She doesn't know why, but she has to cheer Lenneth up. But how?..

With a conceding sigh, the dragoness walked closer to the taur. Lenneth's ears flicked as she approaches. She hears her coming, but she did not come out of her curled posture to acknowledge her. Once Chynni was just inches away, she sat down on the stump Lenneth was huddled against. She rested one hand on her thigh to support the weight of her chest.

Her throat rumbled as she hummed quietly to herself, to get her voice in the right pitch. Then she began to hum louder so that Lenneth could hear her. Her echoey, multi-toned voice made a slow, haunting melody. Lenneth opened her tear-soaked eyes. Her attention had been roused. Still sobbing, she looked up at the dragoness. Her voice she had associated with that of a mother figure. She knows this song.

Then Chynni opened her mouth to sing.

"Hold fast, tides are turning,

And the fires' burning.

Who Shall Not be Returning..."

Lenneth steadied her voice so that she could add to the last verse.

"...We shall sail together."

Ruvik happened to come along to hear the song. He recognizes it. Chynni often sang it to herself to cheer herself up and console herself long ago. To remind herself to stand fast and forge on even as people, cities and worlds burned around her. He saw Lenneth in her sorry state.

He wasn’t sure why his dear friend’s crying, but he wished to comfort her too. Slowly, he slithered over to the two and coils his body up, then opens his mouth to join in, adding his deep, baritone hums to the verse of the song without words. He closes his eyes as her immersed himself to the melody they were making.

Then Constance entered the clearing to listen to their song growing louder. Soon, even Sigrun, Dragana, and finally, the Curator joined them. Each adding their own voice and tone to the sombre chorus. The noises of the woods seem to grow quiet, as if the forest itself was listening to their song. A song that they had carried through the ages, as timeless as they are. The meaning of the song had since been associated with the dragoness and her tribe. Their shared turmoil and their endless journey. The bond they had forged over the ages.

"Hold fast, tides are turning,
And the fires' burning.
Who Shall Not Be returning,
We shall sail together..."

---

For quite a while, I've associated this song with Chynni and this little group of immortals. The lyrics of the song can be interpreted as how they persevered through the passing of ages. They won't be returning home because their home had long since left them. I was inspired to finally write down a story about the song and its significance to them. One day, I'll draw a family photo of sorts of them, huddled together.

The song, Who Shall Not Be Returning, is Copyright of Sea Of Thieves and Rare Ltd UK.
Characters in the story are mine.