Post by Deraj on May 14, 2023 15:13:04 GMT -5
Riverwatch had fallen quiet since the rangers' defeat at the hands of Castle and his rovers. Quieter than normal, at least. Quiet most of all was the now dormant house of Tserim Arryth. Within its darkened walls a mess of supplies and gear told the story of a hasty departure; bloodied clothing splayed across the bed, damaged leather armor hung carelessly from an open dresser drawer. Arrows scattered on the floor beneath a quiver hanging from the wall, tipped by a hand that had hastily taken its contents.
Miles away, the ranger kept a steady pace in his northward run towards the Deep Forest of Yew. He hated to run at times like this. It was always the run that would invoke those most intrusive thoughts. Thoughts of losing Xuri, and his other failures. The vision of the rovers stealing that which mattered most to him in this world. Memories of others he failed to protect. Visions of rangers standing before the mysterious Stone of Brannoc, swearing oaths beneath its branches. Memories of the ghostly image of Corinna manifesting before the Shrine of Spirituality. Thoughts of a job that had been left unfinished.
Under the twilight glow of the evening sky, the ranger stepped off from and road into the deep wilderness. Though it would be dark soon, he had no time to wait. A single lantern would light the way. His instincts would do the rest. Here in this forest he was in his element. But alone, he hated it. As a child he would always wander the Spiritwood with his brother at his side. As an adult, it was with his fellow rangers. His heart belonged to his people. But his people kept going away for some reason.
The ranger stepped through a thicket and descended into a small hollow steeped in mist. Only barely visible was the top of a burrow at the other side. Fragments of sky and star could be perceived above the dense forest canopy. The light of the lantern struggled within the fog, emitting a faint, pale glow. There the ranger waited, gazing across the hollow and into the burrow with a grim expression.
It wasn't supposed to be like this, but then, things never really go according to plan. The reason why life's struggles often seem so futile, is because we can never see beyond the pain well enough to know how adversity shapes our souls. That must be why there is always something getting between us, and keeping us from each other.
From the burrow, Tserim could see the glow of light reflecting off two eyes. A hard growl warned Tserim away as a wolf emerged from his den, until he seemed to recognize the ranger. He paused, stopping in his path to regard the man.
Tserim whispered under his breath. "Aodh."
Aodh, the once-companion of his elderly friend, Cian Brannoc. He slowly approached Tserim, regarding him with a calm warmth afforded to an old friend. Several over wolves emerged as well; companions of the old druid. Eimhear. Conall. Aisling. Eogan. They all seemed to recognize Tserim, but it was only Aodh with whom he seemed to have a special connection. So many years ago, it was Aodh that found him on the brink of death in the ruins of the northern outpost, and laid by his side as he remained trapped within the Balance. Somehow, they had formed a connection that seemed to bond them at an almost spiritual level. Aodh was getting on in his years, but Tserim knew the wolf's senses were still as sharp as ever. The wolves gathered around Tserim, as he pulled a lock of hair from a pouch. Presenting it to the pack, each wolf took in the scent, knowing the task that was being given.
"Aodh," said Tserim, "I must ask for your help one last time, if you can give it. Help me find her.." He gently shook the lock of hair as he spoke. "Find her, Aodh!" The wolves barked in turn at Tserim's plea until the elder wolf let out a low bark, and set off. Tserim joined with the rest of the wolves as they followed, running with them through the night woods.
After his long journey, Tserim was exhausted and in need of sleep, but it would have to wait until he found Xuri. It wouldn't be over until he brought her out of captivity. Until he could bring her back from the darkness that he knew that she struggled with. Until she was returned to the warmth of her friends and family once more.
He had a job that remained yet unfinished. A promise from long ago that was not yet fulfilled.
Miles away, the ranger kept a steady pace in his northward run towards the Deep Forest of Yew. He hated to run at times like this. It was always the run that would invoke those most intrusive thoughts. Thoughts of losing Xuri, and his other failures. The vision of the rovers stealing that which mattered most to him in this world. Memories of others he failed to protect. Visions of rangers standing before the mysterious Stone of Brannoc, swearing oaths beneath its branches. Memories of the ghostly image of Corinna manifesting before the Shrine of Spirituality. Thoughts of a job that had been left unfinished.
Under the twilight glow of the evening sky, the ranger stepped off from and road into the deep wilderness. Though it would be dark soon, he had no time to wait. A single lantern would light the way. His instincts would do the rest. Here in this forest he was in his element. But alone, he hated it. As a child he would always wander the Spiritwood with his brother at his side. As an adult, it was with his fellow rangers. His heart belonged to his people. But his people kept going away for some reason.
The ranger stepped through a thicket and descended into a small hollow steeped in mist. Only barely visible was the top of a burrow at the other side. Fragments of sky and star could be perceived above the dense forest canopy. The light of the lantern struggled within the fog, emitting a faint, pale glow. There the ranger waited, gazing across the hollow and into the burrow with a grim expression.
It wasn't supposed to be like this, but then, things never really go according to plan. The reason why life's struggles often seem so futile, is because we can never see beyond the pain well enough to know how adversity shapes our souls. That must be why there is always something getting between us, and keeping us from each other.
From the burrow, Tserim could see the glow of light reflecting off two eyes. A hard growl warned Tserim away as a wolf emerged from his den, until he seemed to recognize the ranger. He paused, stopping in his path to regard the man.
Tserim whispered under his breath. "Aodh."
Aodh, the once-companion of his elderly friend, Cian Brannoc. He slowly approached Tserim, regarding him with a calm warmth afforded to an old friend. Several over wolves emerged as well; companions of the old druid. Eimhear. Conall. Aisling. Eogan. They all seemed to recognize Tserim, but it was only Aodh with whom he seemed to have a special connection. So many years ago, it was Aodh that found him on the brink of death in the ruins of the northern outpost, and laid by his side as he remained trapped within the Balance. Somehow, they had formed a connection that seemed to bond them at an almost spiritual level. Aodh was getting on in his years, but Tserim knew the wolf's senses were still as sharp as ever. The wolves gathered around Tserim, as he pulled a lock of hair from a pouch. Presenting it to the pack, each wolf took in the scent, knowing the task that was being given.
"Aodh," said Tserim, "I must ask for your help one last time, if you can give it. Help me find her.." He gently shook the lock of hair as he spoke. "Find her, Aodh!" The wolves barked in turn at Tserim's plea until the elder wolf let out a low bark, and set off. Tserim joined with the rest of the wolves as they followed, running with them through the night woods.
After his long journey, Tserim was exhausted and in need of sleep, but it would have to wait until he found Xuri. It wouldn't be over until he brought her out of captivity. Until he could bring her back from the darkness that he knew that she struggled with. Until she was returned to the warmth of her friends and family once more.
He had a job that remained yet unfinished. A promise from long ago that was not yet fulfilled.