He had carried the broken bundle of flesh and bone back towards the room that held Roana, singing softly as he paced, and Isuma had dragged the lantern behind, all cheer gone from her golden eyes. He had continued to sing as he moved mechanically, putting the body to rights as best he could in its mangled state. The room was cold, chilled by Sugar’s frostbreath to keep decay from setting in when they still had most of a week left, but he didn’t seem to notice it, anymore than he heeded the wound that had been left in his shoulder by the retreating monster.
He had been too late.
He didn’t heed his bloody hands as he took the lantern into his lap, sitting beside Caiside as he continued to sing, voice clear and quiet though his shoulders shook with grief. The gryphlet climbed to his shoulder, nestled against the side of his neck to provide what comfort she could as tears slipped down her companion’s cheeks, blurring the sight of the body and the terrible things that had been done to it.
There would be more, of course. During LongNight there were always more.
But for now this was already too much, and he hugged the lantern to his chest as if to protect the souls he hoped had already found their way to its light while a strength born of rage kindled slowly deep within his breast.
He had been too late.
He didn’t heed his bloody hands as he took the lantern into his lap, sitting beside Caiside as he continued to sing, voice clear and quiet though his shoulders shook with grief. The gryphlet climbed to his shoulder, nestled against the side of his neck to provide what comfort she could as tears slipped down her companion’s cheeks, blurring the sight of the body and the terrible things that had been done to it.
There would be more, of course. During LongNight there were always more.
But for now this was already too much, and he hugged the lantern to his chest as if to protect the souls he hoped had already found their way to its light while a strength born of rage kindled slowly deep within his breast.
