So, it was over. They had won.<br/><br/>Karessa had felt much joy when the people of Soluunar emerged victorious. But their camp had felt very tense, and so she had decided to leave them be for now. It was not yet her time to approach them. Instead, she had gone off to be left to her own thoughts, looking out toward the battlefield. Mainly about things that needed to be discussed with the others, and about where the people of Soluunar would go from here.<br/><br/>She could feel it in her very being, just how great her joy was. It was pretty exciting to say the least. But was she getting ahead of herself? Should she not be so optimistic, looking toward the future? Some might believe this, but she felt differently.<br/><br/>Soluunar was changing, and now that change could flourish and become even greater.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Even with the encouraging words of the Elder God who was like a second father to him, the God of Hunt still felt a sting of defeat. The battle was won, their world appeared to be safe for the moment, but all he could do was stare down at the name that he had etched into his bow. For a man who preferred the company of animals to humans, he felt that he and this woman shared a bond though it had never been spoken and they never had the pleasure of meeting. From afar he had watched. Admired her skill, her tenacity, and the fire that burned so bright within her soul it almost seemed as if the Auburn locks upon her head were aglow with that same flame.<br/><br/>Celebration on the eve of their victory was tainted by the lack of mourning he felt the others honestly shared for the fallen archer. At her funeral pyre, he had waited until most had departed before he approached. Bow in hand he drew the blade he had used to carve her name and slashed a wound across his bare chest. <br/><br/>“By the light of Sun and her lover the Moon. With the strength of the Wolf given to me I swear that each arrow fired and each spear that is thrown I shall slay a monster in your name. They will fall and die a swift death. Their spirits will be cursed to darkness while your own will travel the spirit world with my Wolves until you are led back home,” the words were carried on the wind with the blade still fresh with his blood and dipped it into the ashes then smeared it over the open wound. “Tá mé do bhfeice. Do laoch. Do arrow.” <br/><br/>Done with this Weylyn stalked off into the night, flanked by the female Alpha of his pack. Lost in his own thoughts and musings, he did not see the Lady Karessa until the wolf at his side nudged his leg. “Oh, My Lady,” a rough though deep bow was given. “Forgive my intrusion. I had not known you were here and did not mean to disturb you.”</span><br/><br/><br/>The Elder Goddess of Frost turned to face the God of the Hunt, taking her focused away from her thoughts and giving it to him.<br/><br/>“Ah, Weylyn, this is a nice surprise,” she said calmly, welcoming his presence. Her expression was warm, and she even smiled a little. “I was enjoying the quiet, but, rest assured you have not disturbed me from anything.” With everything going on in her mind, having someone to pour her thoughts to might prove to be a good thing. A quicker way to gather her thoughts, perhaps, and have someone to tell her if something she said was silly.<br/><br/>“How are you faring?” Karessa added, curious to hear his thoughts.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> Weylyn nodded and moved a bit closer, "I fare...well enough..." the words came out in a halting fashion as if he struggled to gather his own thoughts and feelings. "This battle, though won, does not feel it. It feels...empty and hollow. So many have died and so many more are going to die. I fear for the world..." <br/><br/>Like a flood gate he poured his thoughts and feelings to the Goddess. Guard down now and vulnerable before her, with no regard to any pride. In this moment they were one of the same and he felt he could share with her. "What of you? How do you fare?”</span><br/><br/>“I…” Karessa began, choosing her words carefully, “I feel good.” Weylyn’s words echoed in her mind a few times, and she was thrown back into the battle. They all appeared again to her, the faces of the people who were lost, who had lost others. Those who had been caught in the blast of ice… Even her optimism flooded back to her, ready to burst out as his thoughts had. But she managed to keep her composure.<br/><br/>“We both want what is best for this world. A lot of lives were lost, yes, but I feel whatever comes next will ultimately decide how the people of Soluunar move forward,” she continued. Was that the right thing to say? She retreated to her thoughts again, for a moment. Her brow furrowed in thought and the corner of her mouth pulled down into a slight frown.<br/><br/>Then, she looked up, focusing on the wolf accompanying him.<br/><br/>“Your wolves are full of energy as always, I see.” Karessa decided to try to shift the conversation a little. He looked… troubled. No. Tired perhaps.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> He nodded, "She is without her mate. A human male of some note worth and potential has claimed my male Alpha. The hope is that he will make something of himself and not be a coward or a worthless lump of flesh." <br/><br/>Bitterness in his tone with little hope for the man, but his wolf seemed to think otherwise. "How can you have such optimism? This place feels so empty as if they are on their last breath before death shall come and steal it away."</span><br/><br/><br/>There was a long silence between the two of them.<br/><br/>Karessa turned away, looking out to the wilderness. She closed her eyes and let out a steady breath as if she was trying to find the right words. Then, she turned to the God once more and spoke, “To be honest, that isn’t an easy question to answer. Soluunar has felt empty to me… well… since Thaam was transformed into a frozen wasteland. Many were lost there, too…” A pause, then she added, “I don’t think I know the answer myself, but... these people are survivors. They have lost so much, yes, but I believe their determination will shape a good future. One year, two, two hundred… Later generations will remember what these people are going through now.”<br/><br/>She stopped talking, feeling her emotions starting to pour out much quicker than she wanted. There was a faint ember in her eyes when she spoke. While she did not disagree, an emptiness lingered, she was not about to let that become her focus. Not everything was lost in that battle.<br/><br/>“There is still hope, as long as they continue on.”<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> “You are wise, m’lady” Weylyn said with a smile. “I would take to listen to you more often. I think that the both of us would do good to listen to one another more,” the hunter who has now missed took a seat beside the Goddess. The wolf at his side chose a spot nearby by to lay down and so it was that silence consumed the trio as night continued on.<br/><br/>“When this is over, how about I help you reclaim the frozen lands? Between the two of us we should be able to do something about it, yeah?” Optimism thick in his voice as he felt that once this war was over his own path in life would not be the same. There was more out there for him to do, he just needed to find his way. </span><br/><br/><br/>“Oh my…” Admittedly, his words had caught Karessa by surprise. For a long time, she has wanted to reclaim Thaam, for a long time she had thought it impossible, a dream. But… “I do believe you are right. Once this is over, we shall get to work immediately. I would love to have you at my side.” It would take a long time to undo the wrongs that had been done but, with Weylyn’s help, she was confident that it could be done.<br/><br/>It would be done.<br/><br/>“Perhaps Thaam’s revival would be what the people of Soluunar need… Anything for them to see hope for the future,” she added, her thoughts already going to work.<br/><br/>--------------------------------<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">For Soluunar…</span><br/><br/>Alistair took a long drink from his mug, staring at it for a moment after it was empty. The God of the Hunt’s words still rang in his mind. That gaze was… horrifying, and continued to burn deeper into his mind. It pissed him off to say the least. Or maybe he was using anger to hide that the God had hit the nail harder on the head than any realized. Of course, he was not going to admit that to anyone, not even himself.<br/><br/>But at the same time, he still could not believe he came face-to-face with a God! A lot of people could say that they have seen them, fought alongside them, but not many could say that they have spoken to them. It was a damn good day. Not to mention, the wolf was still at his side. He really has seemed to have taken a liking to him if he didn’t leave when his master came. It was really, truly was a good day for him.<br/><br/>But the words exchanged between him and the God of the Hunt were still in his mind, mainly one world in particular: Hunt. Prove his worth.<br/><br/>Alistair scratched at his chin, glancing at a sword that had been laid aside. A thought started to form: he could just… get out of here. Sneak away. Nobody would notice him if he did that. Hell, he hardly had people come his way now. But… why should he? Prove himself… He was already alive, and that should be enough of a blessing. Or so he thought.<br/><br/>Sneak out of camp<br/><br/>Hunt.<br/><br/>This was his chance, and he knew if he did not take it, he Weylyn would feed him to his wolves. He wrapped his arms around him and shifted his weight, biting his lower lip. Damn it… He didn’t want to go out there. Many people already believed him to be dead. Normally he would have some tale to tell, and honestly he did have things he wanted to say, but the more he thought, telling tales would only attract the God again…<br/><br/>“Fuck it.” Alistair grabbed the sword by the hilt and hefted it on his shoulder. It was a just a standard longsword, and in pretty rough shape, the blade worn from use, but it would work. “I guess we’re going hunting…” He said to the wolf. All he had to do was cut up a few corpses, right? Maybe he could find one that was already dying…<br/><br/>There were a lot of things happening around camp. The chattered seemed to be everywhere. Some people were saying something about Barth missing, and being found again. The Heart Guard. Someone else being arriving at camp, and a lot of other things that just seemed to go in one ear and out the other as he moved closer and closer to the edge. All he cared about was getting out of there and getting back before the God decided to come check on him.