NOAH
The mud monster fell, a shuddering collapse of slurry and stagnant magic. The healing followed in its wake. The ancients fled like shadows pulling back from dawn, and across the clearing the others dispatched their lingering memory muddlings with efficiency. Noah caught Liam’s eye and waved him off, jerking his chin toward the path Maea had taken. One by one the rest drifted away, cradling their eggs, adrenaline ebbing into weary silence.
Then the clearing settled. It was still, for a moment. Just the two attuned, and the sounds of the Greatwood returning to normal.
“Sohalia,” Noah murmured. His glacial eyes thawed over with worry, traced over the Luminary as if checking for injuries missed. The egg was already tucked away in his pocket, its memory already forgotten. He crouched beside her, grounding himself in the solid press of earth beneath his boots, and waited for her to look at him.
Then the clearing settled. It was still, for a moment. Just the two attuned, and the sounds of the Greatwood returning to normal.
“Sohalia,” Noah murmured. His glacial eyes thawed over with worry, traced over the Luminary as if checking for injuries missed. The egg was already tucked away in his pocket, its memory already forgotten. He crouched beside her, grounding himself in the solid press of earth beneath his boots, and waited for her to look at him.
I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone
