For the Journey Ahead

Luka

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade

Luka smiles down at Pad and places a calming hand on the wolf's nape, happy to provide comfort and to let Pad's presence chase away the lingering strings of jealousy that don't live long inside his chest. Their family is so open and supportive that it's hard to feel that way for very long. In fact his sister's awful pun shakes him out of it swiftly enough, making him groan loudly and boo under his breath if only to see her and their dad both grin.

Following his father with reignited intrigue, Luka looks over the blue wrapping concealing two items, one of which is clearly adorned with his name. Glancing back at his dad for confirmation, Luka picks it up and begins to unwrap it carefully, peeling back the tape and preserving the wrapping paper as much as possible. Within is a small box, and Luka pops it open curiously, finding a leather pouch with marbles within. It's solid in his hand when he picks it up, and as he looks over and spots Soleil's gift which is clearly a weapon, he turns to his dad for explanation; clearly well-trained not to play around with what might also be a weapon inside the confines of their house. "These are beautiful, dad. What do they do?" Even if they were simply precious stones, they're beautifully crafted with their strange ivory sheen, but Luka knows his father - talented as he is - wouldn't have simply left it at that.

And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid