IN PURSUIT OF FREEDOM

[Junoix 2301]

 

“Did you find anything?”

The council turned expectantly to a single seat, sighs released once the leader shook her head. It was her daughter, the Elsaner, who had posed the question, fingers pulling at each other.

“Tensions are high. The Mother Circle is constantly attacked by darkspawn, and we have ne been around much. Arguments are forming, and we can't keep having them fight for us.

The Eldiraar spoke true, and the Eliheiuhii did not deny it, deep creases formed between her crimson brows. She turned then to the Eltaliyna, who could only shrug as she was gazed upon.

“Do you have a plan? If ne, we should come up with one quick. We may need to consider a more long term solution here. Arle is running out of herbs.”

Leaves crunched underfoot as two more joined the fold, two Druids: the Jade and the Woad. The former bore a proud-feline grin, as the later approached the fire. Within the elf’s palms laid a totem of greenstone, masterfully carved with clear devotion.

“In the image of our Elder Tree, as requested lari’onn.”

The commissioner stood, her eyes of sage instantly brightening.

 

“Mar’ayla, mal’onn. Now we can begin - At the break of dawn, we shall plead for guidance, and see who answers our call.”

They all gathered before first light, forming a circle within a small clearing. Within the center stood a makeshift altar and the Eliheiuhii, a dagger of ironwood in her grasp. An Oyashiman druid of Song and her shinobi watched from within the trees for unwelcome guests. A herb witch scattered herbs at the circle’s feet, chanting her own religious psalms of protection. The community it seemed had come together in union for such a ritual, full of hope and perhaps desperation. The blade sliced along the leader’s palm, her blood dripping down onto the altar and totem of jade.

“O’ Aspects and Mani,
Of sky, sea, and earth,
We call to thee in our time of need.
Guide us to the forest we seek.
Nae lye anniler ito asimulum.”

 

The crawling morning was naught but silence and golden light. She prepared to face her people in defeat, but as the sun appeared upon the treeline, there rang out a great cry amongst the leaves. With the rustle of twigs, a bird took flight; a hawk set out over the ocean’s expanse. The leader’s words were reverent as she spoke.

“We must pack quickly. We must follow the hawk.” 

By midday they were at sea, sailing in the vague direction the hawk had set forth for them. Only when their feet met land again did the group spot it once more. The journey was long and strenuous, even for those most accustomed to the wilds. A druid, the Kodiak, gave out his homemade liquor, and a rose-haired high elf told strange tales to keep spirits high. A dwarven druid, a master in navigation, aided the forestborn in keeping track of the hawk. Over plains, through storms, and up mountains the party trek, until finally they scale their final peak. Below the snowcapped range waited a forested valley of rising plateaus and cascading waterfalls, and then finally did the hawk cry once more.

“We have found it. Here we shall rebuild and be reborn. Here we shall spread our roots and grow as great as the pines. Here, we shall learn the true taste of freedom.

[VenomKNight 52]

The Eldiraar smiles, looking over the valley as he steps alongside the Eliheiuhii. "This will be ayla, lari'onn." He removes his helmet, lightly tracing the Caerme'onn markings upon his face. "A new start, where from the ashes we will rise once more."

[Tav 4336]

No matter how lengthy the journey promised itself to be, the Prisgoth still found great respite on their trip; survival concreted itself as the ultimate test, and the home they sought was drowned in uncertainty, yet there was still the nightfall glistening with several stars on its body, and the chirps of a cricket that reminded them not much was different from before. 

 

Though as the hawk soared amidst the sky, guaranteeing a light amidst foggy beginnings, his simplicity in nature eventually found its end; coming and going like it always did.