The Sky and The Star

[Moenah 1069]

The Sky and the Star

 

 

The evening creeped in over Talon's Port quite beautifully- the tavern was busy with celebration and chatter, nevertheless, today was a day the people of Tai Ping had been dreading since the very first victim claimed. From the front gates, the Talons citizens would turn their head to the sound of a loud gong. Soon after that, it wasn't long before the sounds of sobbing and wailing trailed into the area. Marching slowly through the streets, dressed in all white, the Li-Ren funeral procession made its way back to their own district going over a mile, exactly 30 bodies on stretchers they alone carried.

 

When they finally arrived in Tai Ping, one by one, each of them would take a body, gently and respectfully laying them in the pyre in front of the towering shrines. Some family members, some close friends, some even children- the actions of their murderer simply unconscionable, and no one in Tai Ping dare have any forgiveness in their heart for his soul. With that thought reigning strong in the back of their minds, along with the treasured memories of the victims while they were still alive, as the last body was laid on the pyre, it was finally set ablaze. As they bowed their heads in respect, Xiu-ying of the Li household would clasp her hands together, her palms pressing into one another as she intoned to the crowd.

 

"We gather here today to mourn the losses of the Tai Ping Massacre. The lives of our precious family, friends, and neighbors were snatched violently by a despicable group. Today, we pray that the dead pass on peacefully into their next life - that their karma cultivated in this life bring forth good fortune and prosperity into the next."

 

As she signaled the end of her speech, Waibiao, the Hou-zi monk, situated himself by the edge of the pond, wringing the water from his robe. He, too, had something to deliver.

 

"Hualian and his disciples smile upon these fallen this day, the loyalty of Huajiao in full."

 

He cupped his hands to drink from the pool of the fallen, wetting his lips and raising his head to deliver his small, brief song.

 

 

Quote

" Like the night sky, change is nigh,

Come to me dear, do not cry.

Though the end may near, do not fear,

Your loved ones are still here.

Though small we are, we are not far,

Our hearts will keep them,

Like the sky and the star. "

 

 

Perhaps it was the smell of burning ash finally reaching their senses, or the heartfelt tune of Waibiao's song, but just like that, the Li-Ren began to fall apart. Once again, Talons would hear the sounds of their wails, their agony, their pain. Both the Li and the Chen household were the loudest among them, both matriarchs just barely escaping the clutches of the murderer themselves at the time of the massacre. But, now, all that sat on the pyre was ash - and with heavy hearts, the victim's ashes were collected in urns and the procession would move to the Tai Ping crypts, granting the souls their final offerings to carry with them as their souls moved on. No doubt would this event forever leave a scar on Tai Ping, but with time, the scar should heal. And each attendee would keep every victims memory alive.

 

As the sky kept the stars.

 

Spoiler

OOC: Whew! Uhm, I meant to write all this 4 days ago, but I had goddamn, no motivation like usual. TIME TO PUT CREDIIIITS ANYWAY ANYWAY

 

Thank you @Kemobrown , @Moo_bot , @tadabug2000 , @Kaydovee_ , and @Waibiao for the spicy event emotes which took up half this post and thank you to everyone who attended that funeral event that day we love y'all I love y'all

 

 

[tadabug2000 4919]

Chen Yunya could still remember her own near death, fingers moving to hover just over her throat, as the memory of being choked and then rushing water overcame her. Quiet, her eyes glazed over.

[Kemobrown 567]

Li Xiuying's fingers would clutch at the silken sleeves of her old hanfu. Dried, dark red splotches marred its once pure white threads. A deep, rumbling anger burned within her as she stared hard at the mark of her past failures.

"This will be the last time..." she mutters, closing the closet doors. Darkness envelops the old piece of brocade, marking a new leaf turned.