A recent conversation with Deimos had planted an idea in Loren's head. So he made his way back towards the Climb, a metal sculpture of a bird in flight clasped in his hands. Astra trotted along beside him, bleating as the temperature shifted from freezing to flaming as they made their way through the tunnel.
Patting her head, he led the way through the Burrows to that strange temple-like structure he'd been in once before. There was a new addition there, one he eyed but didn't approach. Instead, he went to the pile of bones. Laying his little gift on top of it, he cleared his throat. [say]"Tanau, I was wondering if you might tell me if you had kin other than the Eirachi."[/say]
How dare this Ice-Dweller return to their lair, ask their god for help.
How dare.
Oh, yes, they still remember. They remember his cold, the way he and his friends froze their precious lava, tried to freeze Tanau. They remember the pain of it, and now as they appear around him in a series of points of bright, flickering light, angry and hot and never quite within reach. How dare they seem to crackle and hiss. How dare, how dare, how dare.
Well. Maybe it's time for the Firebrand to learn what real cold feels like, huh?
The fire motes circle closer, winking and flickering in a dizzying pattern-
-until, suddenly, they're gone. Loren is left in darkness, feeling no different than before.
For now.
Loren has been cursed! He has developed a deep phobia of snow and ice! To break this curse, he must do the following:
- complete a thread spent entirely outside in the cold (at least 5 posts)
- burn himself (intentionally or not)
- hurt someone else with his water magic (intentionally or not)
As lights started to appear again, Loren smiled. He rocked back a bit, waiting for Tanau to appear. However, the fiery spirit didn't show up. Instead, more and more of those sparks flickered into being in front of the healer.
It soon became apparent Tanau wouldn't actually show up. The Firebrand grimaced and narrowed his eyes at the motes. He tracked the closest ones, preparing to stand up.
Before he could, they swarmed him. He yelped and patted at his clothes and body, trying to put them out. However, as they winked out, he realized there was no damage.
Frowning, he gave himself a more thorough examination. Finding no burns or harm, he shrugged. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at the altar once more before heading away from the Climb.
He'd find out on the journey back through Halo exactly what had happened.
-FIN
