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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2701611" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 4: From Here to There (Part III)Well, I'll be damned.  If Spider_J can update today...then so can I <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />~Fune-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    Aramil stormed from the foundation, directly into the vengeful drizzle outside.  The yet unturned colorful leaves were frail, inept shields against the assaulting heavens; Aramil’s leather was quickly soaked through.  The half-elf was in no mood to entertain guests, no mood to even loot the scattered goblin and ogre corpses.  Rather, he preferred suffering alone under the weight of his own morose emotions coupled with futile guilt.  So, he delved into the forest with no destination in mind.    Zayda Silverbough watched the half-elf with a burning interest as he stomped away from the desolate structure.  He plodded directly across the corpses, not even bothering to avoid the muck of spent blood and ruined flesh.  Quickly, she moved to follow him silently hopefully to satisfy the curiosity of her own mind.    Cassock chatted idly with Mialee, apparently the daughter of an Elvish leader.  Ana rolled her eyes while moving to help Spinum in relighting the campfire.  The mage was earnestly considering the best way of clearing the muck, water and slight layer of snow from the aged kindling.  Without as much as a sound, Ana stalked right up beside the wizard and focused upon his task.  He acknowledged her presence with a nod and then shook his head.    “Everything is soaked clean through.  If the half-elf had bothered to wake anyone for their shift or tried to keep the damned fire clear—” he complained but was silenced when Ana patted his shoulder.    “He’s having a rough time.  Even Ariel is leaving him be,” she glanced to the spot her adopted sister had curled up in.  She was covered with Aramil’s blankets, seemingly asleep under the heavy cloth.      “You could talk to her you know,” the mage suggested, still refusing to draw his eyes away from the dead campfire.      “And what would you know about it?”  Ana’s words were rushed and tipped with anger.    “I know you probably don’t feel comfortable around her yet, especially since your father had replaced you and your mother with her.  But, the fact is she is your sister, whether or not you understand what that means.  And now, just like you and just like Aramil, she has lost someone she cared deeply about.  And that,” the mage continued with a somber teaching tone, “I understand quite well.    “You have to understand, Anastrianna.  I never felt like I belonged with my father or brother.  I always felt an outsider when I was beside them.  I did not and still do not understand what they were fighting against, although their ideals are beginning to clarify in my own mind.”  The mage sighed, cutting his response short and shifting uncomfortably.  “The least you could offer her is a little comfort.  Do it for your father’s sake if not for her.  It would be what he wanted, yeah?”  The mage weaved his hands back and forth and uttered, “Accendo Sphaera.”  Spinum smiled as the five-foot sphere of flame burst to life, quickly evaporating the moisture, and setting the drying wood below ablaze.  Warmth stretched away from the orb, quickly bringing the feeling of life back to his skin.  “Well, I’m no woodsman but I think that should do,” he turned, smiling boastfully toward Ana but she had moved away.  He caught sight of her huddling beside Ariel and smiled again; a true smile lacking pride.</blockquote>

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