Zephyr
Cheryl was with the Scions when she had heard it. A piercing cry that echoed through her mind and made her body feel as if it had been shocked with lightning that froze her mid-step.
"Cheryl?! Cheryl, what's wrong?!" Alphinaud questioned worriedly, noting how wide the female's eyes where. The others stopped as well, wondering what was going on.
No sooner had those words passed through his lips, the summoner took off in a mad dash.
"Cheryl, wait!!!" Alisae shouted as they ran after her, confused as to why their dear friend was suddenly acting in such a concerning manner.
"By the Twelve, I have never seen her run so fast before!" Thancred rasped in between breaths as the group struggled to keep up with her.
The summoner just kept running and running to where she heard that cry, her pupils sharpening as it rung out through the air once more, piercing the silence and urging her forward. She ran around the bend and saw them.
A raging behemoth and a small Auri child, shaking in fear and scrambling backwards, crying out in that same shrill voice. She did not hesitate.
The soulstone of a warrior slipped through her fingers and she whipped out her axe, charging head-on into the Behemoth and knocked it to the side, skidding to a stop just in front of the child.
"Oh gods..." Y'shtola gasped as the finally caught up, out of breath from all the running. She gasped once more upon seeing the look on her ally's face. It was one full of a primal fury unlike she had ever seen.
Her knees were bent low, her eyes burning with anger, a snarl slowly creeping up her thoat as the Warrior of Light stared the Behemoth down with no fear, a silent determination eminating from her soul.
Cheryl then let out a fearsome roar, inhuman and chilling to the bone as she slammed her foot down onto the ground, raising her axe in preparation to fight, baring her now prominent fangs to the beast before her.
Or perhaps it was she that was the beast?
The Behemoth growled and raised a foreleg to strike her down.
It never did.
It was dead in mere seconds, the edge of the axe soaked in blood as it fell to the ground with a loud thud. The sapphire eyed Au'ra then returned her weapon to her back, the fury no longer present in her eyes.
The Scions stood there in shock, bewildered by what they had just witnessed. Urianger was the first to break out of his stupor and ran to the child's side.
"Art thou alright, little one?" He asked gently, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. The boy, however, did not speak, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the back of the woman who had saved him.
The other Scions rushed over to Cheryl's side, begining to question her sudden behaviour before she simply turned, knelt down, and held her arms out for the child.
The boy, of sky blue hair and wispy green eyes, burst into tears of relief and joy before running into her arms tightly and hugged her.
"Mama!" He cried out, shocking the Scions once again. Did this boy just...call her his mother?
This time, Alisae was the first to speak, crossing her arms and her eyes softening at the sight of the boy hugging her friend so tightly.
"I believe you owe us an explanation, Cheryl."
The Warrior turned to look at the young Elezen and smiled, nodding her head before she stood up and lifted up the tiny boy into her arms, a fit of happy giggles bursting from his lips. The Raen smiled and gently rubbed her horns against his, a clear sign of affection amongst Auri.
The group then walked back to the inn in Mor Dhona, settling down before the woman looked up to her friends and spoke.
"Everyone, this is my son. I did not birth him, however. He was adopted and raised by me long before I came to Eorzea."
Her son looked up at them and gave a sweet smile, causing Alisae and Y'shtola to struggle in an attempt not to go 'Awww' and begin squishing his little cheeks.
Alphinaud looked relieved for a moment, placing his hand over his chest before he smiled.
"So you had heard his cry and rushed to his aid because he was your son. I was wondering why you had suddenly bolted."
"It's surprising really, I would never expect you to be a mother," Thancred said without thought which earned a glare from the adventurer.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Thancred raised his hands immediately in defense, not wanting to earn her wrath after being a bit too familiar with it. Urianger shook his head before he looked at the Warrior.
"Pray tell us, what is his name?"
The brunette looked at her son, and nodded at him with a warm smile. Now, with his mother's permission, the boy gave a wide grin and bowed.
"My name is Zephyr! And it is nice to meet you!"
