In some distant corner of Dawn’s mind, she heard the strange words resonating through the air, rife with ancient power and dark prophecy. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the words even though they thundered against her like a tide. She hated prophecy. She didn’t want to be guided by some outside force, a pawn in some grand game.<br/><br/>The tales Lucian had spun when he’d visited the Vale had always been filled with destinies, fate, and prophecies. They’d always ended in sacrifices or gigantic battles. In the end, there was only really a loser; nobody really won. She wouldn’t go along with anything like that. She was where she was because she<i>chose</i>to be, not because she was woven into some divine plan.<br/><br/>At least, that was what she<i>wanted</i>to be true.<br/><br/>Dawn followed Ashy’s trail of destruction without thought, like water rushing down a tunnel. The sloshing of blood and guts against her boots didn’t seem to bother her. Her grey eyes seemed to gaze forward, looking but not quite looking at the same time. Had she used too much magic? It definitely<i>felt</i>like she had. Every movement was like walking through tar. She hurt everywhere. She reached for the spark of magic inside of her and wrapped herself around it, using it to distract herself from the ache in her muscles. It hadn’t consumed her. She was still all right - for now, at least. But she wasn’t sure how much more she could do to defend herself or the others.<br/><br/>She’d never had to fight anything like the strange creatures attacking them now. She knew they were like the creatures that had destroyed the Vale - they were touched by the same shadow, felt<i>wrong</i>in the same way. That alone summoned enough fury within her to let her press on through sheer force of will. In the past, she’d had to fight fey, beasts, and even people to protect herself. She hadn’t always succeeded, especially in the beginning. It was lucky - although she wasn’t sure she could call it that - they’d been after something other than her life.<br/><br/>This dark army was different, though. They were organised in a way she’d never seen before, and they attacked with a discipline that didn’t feel natural. Ashy’s bizarre frenzy didn’t seem to faze them at all, even as they marched over the bodies of their fallen to block the path to the docks. They’d slaughtered the Aviari without even as much as a pause. And she knew they were responsible for far more than that, prophecy or not.<br/><br/>The docks were a sad spectacle, though they barely registered in her mind. Fleeing Aviari packed the ships. Some were missing limbs. Others’ beautiful feathers were streaked crimson with blood. There was a sadness and sense of loss in the air that weighed heavily on her. And still, the dark creatures kept advancing, trying to keep as many of them from escaping as possible. She reached behind her, touching her right shoulder through the slash in her robes. Why had they slaughtered the Aviari but tried to take Verita alive? Why had they held back when fighting her? If they’d wanted to<i>really</i>hurt her, she’d have a deep gash on her back instead of unblemished skin.<br/><br/>Dawn blinked, suddenly tuning in to Verita’s words. Darion had to leave? She didn’t understand. What made him so different from them? Why could he go with the Aviari? The attack, Verita’s prophecy-speak, Darion’s departure... none of it made any sense, and she hated it.<br/><br/>She tilted her head as Verita took her wrists, her grey eyes tired but full of unspoken questions. Slowly, she shook her head. “I won’t follow you, Verita. But I<i>will</i>go with you. I have my own fight to take to this darkness, beyond what happened here tonight.” She closed her hands around Verita’s, trying to steady to erratic beating of her heart. “Regardless of destiny or anything like that, I’ll go with you. But the path isn’t yours alone. I will walk it with you, as long as I can.”<br/><br/>With that, she hopped onto one of the boats. She glanced at Foran as he spoke, almost not recognising the Ramen. “I don’t... think anyone is hurt. Not on the outside, at least. Ash tore a path through those things somehow, so if anyone’s not all right, it’s probably her.” She wobbled a bit and quickly sat down. The mana-fatigue was really getting to her now. Hopefully, she didn’t have any more fighting to do for a long while.<br/><br/>She watched through heavy-lidded eyes as each person climbed into the boat and gave a weak smile. If they were okay, at least, not everything was lost.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>