The cavern was large and simultaneously deceptively small; the majority of its size was in depth beneath the ground, where the lake of salt water wound and weaved its way to its source. Inside that dark, mirrored surface were two glowing orbs, each easily larger than a fully grown Elf, though far enough below that they seemed less imposing. They burned brighter in acknowledgement as a rumble like thunder sounded through the room.
Dead? He had known she was not quite like him, but also not like Children; death had been a concept that only concerned others. His little ember-mate was strong and hot and protected by shadow. Death was for fleshy, bloody creatures that could not defend themselves. She was dead?
One arm slithered from the sea, serpentine as it stretched along the cavern floor to circle the token left behind. He did not touch, just surrounded in a phantom embrace. Her familiar heat still emanated from her bone, but there was no bite or sound or embrace in return. The tip of his tentacle stroked lightly over one of her horns.
Surely he was meant to say something, but the sea-terror could not fathom any adequate response. A pitched whine joined the rumble in an eerie song. He should do something, then, but all he wanted to do was dry himself and feel the blistering warmth of his ember-mate’s touch. Another dozen arms surfaced silently to utterly surround and engulf the skull.
“Where?” he boomed, voice thrumming from the depths. There was only one thing he could do, only one thing that mattered: he would have his revenge. Their homes would flood, their spouses would drown, their spawn would bleed — they would know the pain he did, and then, they would be dead as well.
*WAILING*
