and i'll never let this go [Vatra]

xRayne Colton

x"You guys go on ahead," Rayne waved cheerfully at her friends who were on their way back the cabins. Although they wondered why the daughter of Apollo chose to stay behind, they nodded and bid her goodbye all the same. Smiling, Rayne watched the boys and girls walk away, empty picnic baskets and beach balls under their arms. As soon as they vanished out of sight, she turned back to face the ocean, her smile slowly melting into a thin line. She watched the waves roll in, how they washed away shells and rocks to the sea. The seawater even came close to a clumsily-molded sandcastle, no doubt a work of a toddler. Rayne's breath caught in her throat at the sight. Henry loved going to the beach.

Alone, Rayne sat near the shoreline, just close enough for the waves to lap around her ankles. She pulled her shawl tighter around her small frame. The spring air did not cause the cold that slowly wrapped around her though. Seized by a pang of longing and ache for her now gone younger brother, Rayne hugged her legs to her chest and stared at the darkening horizon. A long time had already passed since the last time she became like this. She could give herself a break tonight, letting the smiles and the cheerfulness fade away. She was alone after all - at least, she thought she was.

can't help it if i space in the daze