The temperature had plummeted so suddenly that it hit Alistair like a ton of stone. He let out a shaky breath and wrapped his arms tighter around the wolf’s neck.<br/><br/>As a huge chunk of ice nearly took his head off, he yelped, gripping the wolf even tighter. If that was even possible. “Can’t you move faster? Get to that camp!” He ordered, sighing with relief when the wolf picked up the pace a bit. He barely escaped death the first time, he’ll be damned if he actually did die before he got back to the camp. Not that he was actually thinking much about that near death experience in the trench anymore. It was his own cowardice that refused to let him die.<br/><br/>But it looks like today was his lucky day anyway.<br/><br/>“What..?” Looking around, Alistair could see the Tutar slowly beginning to back off and retreat. “Yes!”<br/><br/>He was unable to contain his excitement. Forget almost dying, this was a moment to be remembered in history!<br/><br/>-----------------------------<br/><br/>They were retreating. Karessa almost could not believe that all of her work was having such an effect on the Tutar. Tears began to sting the corners of her eyes. No, she could not get emotional at a time like this. Not until she knew for sure that they had all gone, she could not let up on her onslaught. Not even a little bit. But she could not help it. It was just… too much.<br/><br/>Karessa pressed on, continuing to hurl ice.<br/><br/>She was not going to let one of those monsters escape. But she also knew she needed to take care not to exhaust herself. She was, after all, in Soluunar. Even a powerful Goddess like herself needed to be sure not to overexert her energy within this world.<br/><br/>Her will, her desire, her motivation, her emotions were just that great. She wanted to see Soluunar flourish, to see an age where there was peace. Someday, Soluunar would rebuild and be more beautiful than ever before. Someday, future generations would look back on this moment in history as the day that the world was saved. A dawn of a new age. For this would always be an important reminder to what courage truly was. The length everyone would go to defend their home.<br/><br/>Someday, people would be able to inhabit Thaam once again. The people would no longer fear Frost. Perhaps not next generation, or the generation after that, but someday it would happen. That was her one wish.<br/><br/>Finally, she stopped. It was over. The ice remained where it was. It was almost reminiscent of what Thaam looked like now. A vast, frozen wasteland littered with ice and death. The Tutar caught in the attack were frozen where they stood, faces contorted into hideous snarls. A masterpiece and something terrible at the same time. What did the people of Soluunar think of such a sight?<br/><br/>Karessa let out a slow breath and relaxed her body. It was time for her to join the others wherever they were gathering.<br/><br/>She wanted to speak with the people of Soluunar, and the Demigods, herself. Even if some Gods and Godesses would not fight, she would assure them that they indeed had allies.<br/><br/>-----------------------------<br/><br/>Alistair was one of the last people back to camp.<br/><br/>Immediately, he noticed the dark mood that loomed over everyone like a huge cloud. It was very unsettling and made him sick to his stomach. Shouldn’t they all be celebrating? The war was over! The Tutar had retreated and Soluunar was saved! Right? So that means that everyone should be in a good mood. They were alive. Those lost were to be remembered as heroes (though little can be said about Alistair) who fought bravely.<br/><br/>He didn’t have much time to think more on it as the wolf brought him to where the wounded were. He didn’t want to leave the wolf’s back, but was given no choice when it sat down causing him to slide off. So many people had come back looking like they had seen better days. Some looked far worse than others.<br/><br/>“I’m one lucky bastard,” he muttered to himself.<br/><br/>The smell of smoke and fire was in the air. It was followed by a horrible scream. Alistair couldn’t help himself and turned his head to look. An action he regretted immediately. Someone was being burned alive. He swallowed hard and looked away. He almost didn’t want to know what had happened out there while he was hiding away. It was probably best that he didn’t, they might do the same thing to him.<br/><br/>Then again…<br/><br/>Alistair turned to a few people sitting near where he was, “Man, I really am one lucky bastard.”<br/><br/>One of them looked up, “It isn’t just you. It’s all of us. Our chances of survival were slim the moment we put our lives on the line for all of Soluunar. We’re all lucky to have lived though that…”<br/><br/>“Well, sure, but I mean…”<br/><br/>“What do you mean then?”<br/><br/>“I was face to face with those monsters. See these gashes?”<br/><br/>Another man spoke up then, “Oh, so it’s you? Didn’t you charge right into them like a fool, and get thrown into a trench? We all thought you were dead.”<br/><br/>Alistair chuckled, “No, no. That was someone else. I had actually fallen in taking on a Drorghan bare handed after my axe was left lodged into some sorry Tutar.” That seemed to get a few reactions, though he could tell they were still reluctant to believe him. “It’s true,” he went on, noting their disbelief. “It was just myself and the Drorghan, face to face. I was afraid, yes, but I knew I had to take that bastard down if this war was going to end.” He raised his hand, clenching his fist. “It got me good, and I was trapped in that trench, but when the Gods and Demigods arrived, I knew I would live to see another day.  I was blessed with this wolf here!” He grinned, and then added, “I was chosen by the Gods; they saw me as a hero.”<br/><br/>The other whispered amongst each other.<br/><br/>It made Alistair feel pretty damn good.