i'll be here.

💠

one could not measure the amount of relief that phoenix felt upon seeing little pearl there at the doorway of the temple.

"oh, pearl!" he gasped out, holding his arms out as the tiny girl ran up to him, her own arms extended while she cried. he didn't hesitate to sweep her up into his arms, holding her close to his chest tightly. she sobbed and he felt his heart sink the slightest bit, so he sat down, and began to rock the both of them back and forth slowly.

"i know, i know, it's gonna be alright pearls, i'm here, i'm here now, shhh..." he crooned quietly. little whimpers and wails came from her still, but he did all he could, even running his fingers through her hair. "you must have been really scared, huh?" he asked, a small smile on his face, eyes closed. he felt a nod and sighed before she sniffled quietly. "i- i thought i was gonna d-die in here- a-and that i would never get to see you or mystic m-maya again- i was so lonely-" she managed to stutter out, clutching onto phoenix as if he were her lifeline. "i was so- so scared- the bridge-"

"hush," he spoke, kissing the top of her head and pulling her away gently to wipe her tears. she felt cold even with her coat on, her cheeks freezing. "i would never, ever let that happen to you, pearls... i promise. i'll always be there, no matter what- not even a bridge collapsing can stop me," he chuckled, ruffling her hair. "... i don't have the best of news yet, though. we haven't been able to find.... to find maya," he hesitated ever so slightly, not wanting to upset her more than she already was.

she just seemed to wilt though, the sniffling beginning again, and he just held her as close as humanly possible. "we'll find her as soon as we can though, don't you worry about that. she's going to be okay, you know? she's very strong," he attempted to comfort the quietly crying girl, and she looked up at him with those large, childlike eyes. he smiled, pulling her back again just a little, tilting her chin upwards with his finger so she could look at him properly. "mystic maya will be okay, i know she will. she is next in line to be head of khurain after all, right?" he questioned.

pearl nodded, though she still trembled like a leaf in the wind. he didn't know 100% how she felt, but still knew some of that feeling- and just kept her close, stroking her cheeks or hair to calm her down, whatever he could do to help. "are you cold?" he uttered after a moment of silence, and after a moment she nodded. "come here," he mumbled, scooping her up and bringing her inside the coat he wore, right next to him and zipping it up to her height. "all better?"

another nod, and she seemed to be relaxing now as time passed by. they sat there in comfortable silence, until phoenix decided to speak again.

"so you've been here the whole time?"