“…No.”
Keuvra exhales, releasing a long and steady breath. A look sowhere between disappointnt and acceptance settles across his face.
“I won’t do it,” I say, turning away from the reflection of the prey-animal. “I want to save Ellyntide, but I won’t do anything that severs the union between and my mate.”
I look to Kuro and cast a reassuring smile. Her face brightens with relief like the sun revealing itself on a cloudy day. With a playful little chitter, she bounds towards and wraps her wings around . “Asha…!”
We nuzzle our heads together, basking in each other’s warmth. It isn’t lost on that I’m probably the very last hope for the Kingdom of Ellyntide. Seeing… no, feeling a reflection of my prior self has reawakened those powerful instincts to protect my family. But I’ll never fly a path that leads away from Kuro. The Farlands could fall from the sky and drown in the ocean below, but I still wouldn’t care as long as I was with my mate. There’s nothing on this moon I want more than her.
“Don’t worry,” I speak softly into her ear. “I’ll never leave you, Kuro.”
As we embrace, I feel the watchful eyes of our deity gazing down at us. After a mont’s silence, he rumbles in a voice like molasses, “We anticipated your decision.”
In an instant, the scene around us changes anew. Gone are the nightti scents of Felra, hastily replaced by the familiar slls of Ellyntide. But scents are the only thing recognizable — we find ourselves in a primitive scene at sunhigh, one utterly different from the Ellyntide I’m familiar with. Buildings made of stone and thatching scatter the surrounding area, interspersed between farms, pastures, and livestock pens full of cows and pigs. There are no roads between the buildings, no steam carriages to ride on. The sky is free of floating islands and airship-prey, and the distinctly acrid scent of boilers and steam generators is absent.
Directly before us in this unfamiliar world is sothing truly remarkable: A small flock of three Kin are perched on the periter of a crowd of Lemurs, gazing intently at a patch of disturbed moon. Two Ruffys stand in the center of the gathering, presiding over a recently planted tree sprout. Their clothes are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before; dull-colored tunics drape across their body, adorned with colorful markings and simple leather armor. Despite our abrupt intrusion into this world, nobody seems to notice our arrival.
Kuro flinches, started by the sudden change in scenery. “What the—“
“—This sprout, diminutive in size, will grow to forever serve as a lasting monunt to the shared cooperation between the Lordanou Clan and the Snowfell Flock. May our Kin gaze upon its branches for all ti.”
The crowd remains silent as a tall male Ruffy finishes speaking. A woman beside him produces a small, circular object from the front of her tunic and hands it to the male.
“Asha,” Kuro whispers, tilting her head closer. “Can they see us? What’s going on?!”
A quick shake of the head is the best response I can muster. As it turns out, I know precisely what’s going on. Kuro and I are in Varecia. At least, the place that will one day beco Varecia. And this tree sprout… I’d recognize its species anywhere. This sprout is…!
With the round object held firmly in his left hand, the Ruffy uses his right to pull back the sleeve of his tunic. Strange purple symbols resemblant of the Goddess Language are colored into the fur near his wrist and begin glowing in a pale light. I gasp as the sa symbols appear in the air above the sprout, surrounded by a circle of light in the shape of a wisteria vine. Falling light bedews the sprout, collecting into a pool at its base before quickly seeping into the ground. The Ruffy conceals his wrist, and a light applause breaks out between the Lemurs. After exchanging a confused glance with the female Ruffy, the Kin join in, rumbling in approval and thumping their tails against the ground.
“The Elder Tree…” I whisper. “Kuro, this is the elderus that grows at my den in Varecia! It was…”
My voice dissipates. What’s happening here, anyway? Was this so kind of planting ceremony?
Keuvra answers.
“By the Goddess….” I trail off, positively spellbound. So, this is why an Elderus Lithanteum is growing in the middle of Varecia. History had long since forgotten the origins of the Elder Tree, but now I know the truth! It was a gift from the flock! I can’t believe it!
Despite my awe, sothing seems to be bothering Kuro. She ruffles slightly and remarks, “But, this wasn’t in the story you taught the flock. You teach us that Farlanders are inferior prey-animals, beholden to foolish gods. Why aren’t these Kin rcilessly preying on the Lemurs?”
Keuvra says simply.
As the joyous crowd of Lemurs begins to disperse, the two Ruffys at the center of the ceremony approach the group of Kin.
the male Ruffy exclaims, speaking inside my head.
A pale red drakon side-eyes the cows. “Are you certain these prey-animals won’t disturb the gift?”
The male Ruffy nods.
The female Ruffy continues.
The talons of a tawny drakaina curl inwards. “And what about the night chills?”
Reviews
All reviews (0)