& oh, poor atlas - the world's a beast of a burden
He seems uneasy again, though Amalia is beginning to suspect that may be his baseline. Still his quiet acceptance of her apology gives her a happy flush; she pushes a lock of damp hair behind her ear, revealing a collection of shrapnel-like scars on her temple.
"We thought so too, for centuries. But three years ago it came during LongNight and kept the monsters away. It was beautiful." Wistfully she remembers that incredible moment, walking out of the infirmary and seeing the blazing bird upon its perch. It had been worth the price of dying. "It came again this year... toward the end."
They've reached the skeletal remains of the perch now, still not torn down. Made of metal with faded decorations, it's already showing signs of disrepair, scorch marks on its massive branches. Stepping towards it the Shield lays her hand upon the iron, closing her eyes for a moment. "I made a promise to help return it to its home. If all goes well we won't need it, next LongNight." It's clear from the sudden edge in her tone that she does not have a lot of faith in all going well. Whatever assurances Sam has made do little to soothe the anger that fills her, thinking about the decision to condemn them to another year of torment and her brother's part in it all.
"We thought so too, for centuries. But three years ago it came during LongNight and kept the monsters away. It was beautiful." Wistfully she remembers that incredible moment, walking out of the infirmary and seeing the blazing bird upon its perch. It had been worth the price of dying. "It came again this year... toward the end."
They've reached the skeletal remains of the perch now, still not torn down. Made of metal with faded decorations, it's already showing signs of disrepair, scorch marks on its massive branches. Stepping towards it the Shield lays her hand upon the iron, closing her eyes for a moment. "I made a promise to help return it to its home. If all goes well we won't need it, next LongNight." It's clear from the sudden edge in her tone that she does not have a lot of faith in all going well. Whatever assurances Sam has made do little to soothe the anger that fills her, thinking about the decision to condemn them to another year of torment and her brother's part in it all.
you've been holding on a long time
