The white sheep of the family
Loren probably should’ve come straight out to the tree he’d seen when the gods had instructed him in his task. However, the Greatwood was an unknown quantity to him—especially given the blight and the snow all around, the dark and white making a stark contrast with one another—and he had felt almost compelled to take his Roses elsewhere first. He could only put off the inevitable for so long, though. So, after having one too many encounters with the blighted in the Hollowed Grounds (honestly one was too many, though there’d been more than that), the Launceleyn decided it was time to see if the woods proved to be any safer.
Unfortunately, even with divine guidance, his tracking and woodsmanship were still pretty terrible. So, he got lost, and went in circles a few times, and almost turned back more than once. As a result, night began to fall before he reached his destination. At that point, he probably should’ve gone home, not wanting to be caught in these woods after dark. However, he’d come to far already, and so he persisted, and was eventually rewarded with the sight of the great tree appearing before him. He almost cried out at the sight, but the urgency to plant his rose just meant his feet picked up the pace.
As he burst into the clearing, though, he was greeted with the sight of an unfamiliar man. Slowing, the Launceleyn regarded the stranger cautiously. It didn’t take long to see the splash of crimson in the other man’s hand; immediately, relief coursed through the summoner. This man, whoever he was, was an ally and not a foe as Loren had feared.
”Hi there. Glad to see a friendly face for once.” The Launceleyn made sure his voice was low and not at all threatening. He’d come from behind the stranger, and the last thing he wanted was to startle the other man into doing something foolish. Already, Loren’s own Rose was in his hands, and he knelt next to the ground the other man had cleared, scraping away a bit more snow at the foot of the majestic tree that dominated this clearing. Under other circumstances, Loren would have examined the Mathair much more closely, but planting the flower took precedence over all else.
Soon enough, the summoner reached bare ground, and he pulled a trowel out of the pack he’d brought. Breaking up the frigid dirt, he eventually cleared a spot for the Rose. Reverently, he placed it in the earth, and then cautiously patted the soil back into place. Only then did he turn to the stranger and hold out his dirt-streaked fingernails. ”I’m Loren.” It was past time to introduce himself.
Unfortunately, even with divine guidance, his tracking and woodsmanship were still pretty terrible. So, he got lost, and went in circles a few times, and almost turned back more than once. As a result, night began to fall before he reached his destination. At that point, he probably should’ve gone home, not wanting to be caught in these woods after dark. However, he’d come to far already, and so he persisted, and was eventually rewarded with the sight of the great tree appearing before him. He almost cried out at the sight, but the urgency to plant his rose just meant his feet picked up the pace.
As he burst into the clearing, though, he was greeted with the sight of an unfamiliar man. Slowing, the Launceleyn regarded the stranger cautiously. It didn’t take long to see the splash of crimson in the other man’s hand; immediately, relief coursed through the summoner. This man, whoever he was, was an ally and not a foe as Loren had feared.
”Hi there. Glad to see a friendly face for once.” The Launceleyn made sure his voice was low and not at all threatening. He’d come from behind the stranger, and the last thing he wanted was to startle the other man into doing something foolish. Already, Loren’s own Rose was in his hands, and he knelt next to the ground the other man had cleared, scraping away a bit more snow at the foot of the majestic tree that dominated this clearing. Under other circumstances, Loren would have examined the Mathair much more closely, but planting the flower took precedence over all else.
Soon enough, the summoner reached bare ground, and he pulled a trowel out of the pack he’d brought. Breaking up the frigid dirt, he eventually cleared a spot for the Rose. Reverently, he placed it in the earth, and then cautiously patted the soil back into place. Only then did he turn to the stranger and hold out his dirt-streaked fingernails. ”I’m Loren.” It was past time to introduce himself.
Will blood tell
