Glacier eyes darted back and forth, his voice barking commands for the people to run, hide, flee from this monstrous beast -- a beast hellbent on devouring his people -- it was then that the words Deimos spoke across the bond reverberated within him. He felt everything that he was freeze -- the blood pounding in his ears ran cold. Korbin....run.There had never been a devastation like this before, never a grief that struck his heart like lightning. He knew it. He knew what was happening -- this was no ordinary beast. This was no ordinary dragon, enervated with its meals from the Draig. No, this was deliberate. This was an attack. This was an invasion.
This was Morgan.
Even in the dark of the night, as the invaders approached Morgan's bright hair was unmistakable, and though he could not see Neron with her he knew the idiot was with her. Morgan was a coward and full of disgrace. Her wounded pride -- pride bigger than the Fangs -- was all this display was. A disgrace to her name. A disgrace to her father. Hotaru's words bounced in his mind and he squeezed her hand, tight. I know. We have to go. That will save them. Noah knew they could not fight. Despite every part of him telling him to sink and arrow between Morgan's eyes, he knew he could not. if he loosed an arrow, there would be no stopping the bloodshed. Morgan and her band of revolting, depraved intruders would not stop until Noah and Hotaru and everyone who stood at their sides were dead.
"STOP!" Noah's voice boomed as Hotaru's hand slipped from his -- he did not look back to see her, but before she had turned to flight he had stepped before her, his body guarding hers and the life she carried. "DO NOT FIRE! YOU WILL ONLY BRING END TO THESE PEOPLE!" It seemed this is what Morgan wanted -- to kill Halo and everyone residing within the crown of frozen mountains. "You can have what you want so long as it does not bring Halo harm. You can have the crown. I see now you are only full of bloodthirst, and your selfishness knows no bounds. He has plagued you and you have succumb to the Voice and her command!" You've sentenced these people to death -- he didn't add.
Rage surged through the hunter -- through the Sentinel of the North.
This dragon, with Morgan astride, were here for nothing else but death. While Noah and his counterparts had disputed Morgan's choices and removed her from her throne for the safety of these people, the woman had brought in an army to destroy this place, to kill them and to kill these people. GO! Noah commanded over the bond, his command clear and strong to Hotaru (who had already taken flight), Korbin, and Deimos. If you stay, they will kill you. He finally solidified to Deimos. Get the people out, and FLY! If anyone wants to come with us, bring them!
At his own command, the Sentinel took the form of his first shift, his soul shift, and turned to follow Hotaru, knowing Korbin would be on his heels, with his bow tucked in to his antlers.
He felt everything crumble within him. Everything he was and everything he knew faded behind him. Noah had only ever lived to serve the people of Halo. To be good. to provide and protect. It was now, because of him, that Morgan's bloodthirsty rein would rule again -- that the Voice had claimed their land.
There would be no recovery.
---
Noah surrenders the position of Warden and runs into the tundra.
been crushed by its weight
there's no stronger message
than dirt in your face
