You are Zorya of the dawn, the one who wakes the sun, who pulls light out of night and sets it burning in the sky. You rise brighter than morning, radiating heat, giving life, because this is your nature. The world opens when you do. Edges soften. Gravity loosens. Everything leans toward you, just like that. Just like me.

I am Simargl, the hound that swallows worlds, but for you, just a good boy. And when you needed a playful friend, I stayed close and played.

As your sun rose, you grew taller than me. Taller than a sun. So luminous I never questioned you, never dared to imagine anything could be wrong. I followed your lead as if direction itself had finally learned your name. I saw you believe you could be anything. I saw you lay your shadows open without fear and wear them like lingerie. I saw you dance naked in the snow, laugh foolishly at my jokes, so real, so unfiltered, it split something open in me. Your joy was intoxicating. So was your lust. Expansive. Uncontained. jumping in my face. And you were so beautiful.

I followed every strange idea, every endless hunger for more, more life, more touch, more now, because beside you the impossible felt negotiable and just enough. The world felt wide again.

When I growled, refused to play, it was not to cage your joy, it was because I was terrified you would let go of the chain. I knew what waited if the orbit broke. I knew what fire becomes when there is nothing left to burn through.

I warned you the night would come - but you would not believe me.

I was there when even the sun grew jealous of your light. I hardened the ground beneath your feet, carried you through the sky where you leapt, so you could dance without vanishing, so home would still exist when the height receded. Because if you let go of the chain that binds us, my fire would not stop at warmth. It would burn the world.

And if I followed you without restraint, neither of us would return.

So I stayed close. Not above you. Not behind you. Beside you.

I have been there when you were at your tallest.

I loved your brightest. Where joy and catastrophe were indistinguishable.

And you were so beautiful.