[SE] Kept on searching high and low here in the dark

I will still be here, stargazing

Deimos or Zenith pick whichever of the threads I made you prefer! This one will be the creature.

---

Halo had a habit of being cold even when the rest of the world was warming. Iskra pulled his jacket up closer to his neck as he and Goose walked through the woods. The man and dog had traveled through many a forest, but he had to admit, this place creeped him out a fair bit. Still, it had some specifically colored wood that he was looking for. He spent a lot of time chopping down trees, ripping away life that had taken years of struggle to thrive, so once in a while, it was nice to take that and turn it into something pretty instead of just feeding it to the fire. He planned on carving something for Melita. An apology.

Suddenly, Goose paused, the hackles on the back of his neck lifting faintly. Iskra, not one to ignore his trusted best friend, paused. The snow crunched underneath, and the silence rushed in. They both strained to listen. Iskra took the moment to breathe against his hands, willing some warmth back into them. He'd foolishly forgotten his gloves. It had been warmer when he'd started this jaunt. "What is it?" he asked, uncertain if they should proceed. The trees were apt to hind any manner of things, friend or foe.

Iskra

code by sky

Moments and days after Starfall were blurs of mending properties; rest, reflection, repose from the crashing parallels of both success and failure. It had been difficult to recall the past motions of when they’d been incapable of rendering a monster completely vanquished – but perhaps a life lesson instilled back into his bones. They’d have time to conjure possibilities and pragmatics through it all, once they’d taken care of regional concerns.

Ordinarily, he might ignore his own necessities, but the last few months and seasons had embedded the age-old rule of taking care of himself a little more. So while recuperation of the mind wasn’t quite there yet, his body had been taken care of – and the few additional scars were nothing in comparison to the whole lot. So he took his hours in the sky, surveying his land, Thunderbird wings outstretched and looming, a sentinel returned to his favored outset. An instant to breathe.

The liberation wasn’t entirely whole, but he’d take what he could get. Belial floated alongside, hooting and hollering, while Zuriel followed below in his slow maneuvers; no speed, no swiftness, no need when he was searching and prying. The unicorn hadn’t left him alone since he’d returned anyway – he couldn’t tell if she was angry with him or simply rattled just as he was – internally.

Spotting Iskra down below, he and the peryton began a leisurely, non-threatening descent, where Zuriel might have been the cause for their concern and alertness; though the unicorn would likely argue that she’d made no sound, snorting as he landed and shifted from massive bird to Sword and Warden. "Iskra," he gave in a casual nod and rumble, as if this had been a normal, every day happenstance.

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

The brave face Goose put on vanished quickly as Deimos, Belial, and Zuriel came upon them. The dog's bravery slipped with a yelp as he scurried back to hid behind Iskra. The energy of the moment put Iskra further on edge, and he stepped back, fingers dropping towards his axe. He was no warrior, even if it sang in his bloodlines, but he wouldn't go down easy if he could help it.

Feeling like a fool when the Resurrected Sword and his companions came into view, Iskra exhaled heavily. The hand that was ready to quickdraw his tool instead rubbed haggardly down his face, a quiet laugh escaping. "Deimos, boy am I happy to see you and not the Voidshade Ursur I thought was breaking through those trees." Although, truth be told, Deimos was equally as terrifying. At least the Warden shouldn't have any reason to rip him from limb to limb, just perhaps a disappointment at his continued failures to help the city as best he could, which was cutting enough. Goose remained behind Iskra's legs; while his tail was no longer tucked, the dog was still unsettled.

Iskra

code by sky

Zuriel gave the dog a very cool, haughty look, while Belial thought it might be a new playmate – though the latter refrained as Deimos’ cool warning slipped through the bond. Rather than object, the carnivorous deer flashed its fangs from his settled portions near Deimos’ feet, tilting his head vaguely – perhaps enticing the other beast to play.

The Warden’s brow arched in similar accord to his unicorns, but instead of being alarmed at the notions, he simply seemed resolute, shifting his bag higher along his shoulder – and maybe still a little surprised when others announced they were ‘happy’ to see him. Maybe the woodcutter simply preferred his presence to any of the Family’s cretins. “It would be nice to go a day without needing to be involved in anything void related,” he snorted, but his eyes scanned the horizon lines, listening for any telltale signs of impending beasts. “If something does come our way, I can take care of it.”

Then his gaze went to the ax. “Do you need help with anything?”

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

Iskra reached down absently to pat the top of Goose's head, ruffling the dog's fur and flopping his ears back and forth a bit. It helped break the steady eye contact Goose had kept on both Belial and Zuriel, his wary gaze darting rapidly between the two, unsure which was a more serious threat. At the reassurance of the hand, the beast let loose a yawn and licked at his lips, but he did not leave the safety of Iskra's side. "I don't think we'll be so lucky for that yet." Iskra murmured, aware of the work steadily being done around Caido, but also recalling the recent broadcast where a new garden had been planted by the Family. Not to mention his bad luck at finding flowers, although inebriation might have played a role with that.

Reassured by Deimos' offer of protection, which was for the best since they had spotted some Ursur scat earlier, Iskra nodded. As for what he was doing? His best. "Well, I'm not sure how to explain it." Iskra grabbed the back of his neck with one hand as he tried not to sound like a silly babbling artisan. "I want to make a wood carving, but I have a certain color in mind, and it has to be the right side... and shape." All answers that were not actual answers he realized with a slight frown. "I don't know how to explain it, I just know when I see it."

He suddenly strode towards a nearby bough, gesturing at it while talking over his shoulder at Deimos. "Kinda like this, but see how this twists right here, that won't be good. So something a bit larger and no twists on the end - the middle would be ok. I was hoping for the lightest shade with some dark intermixed." He wasn't entirely sure what altered some of the bark color. Soil nutrients, sun, rain... so many factors to the trees, and he was not one that grew them.

Iskra

code by sky

Zuriel snorted and rolled her eyes, before opting to give Deimos a slightly wider berth at the lack of impending danger for the moment, taking a few steps away in order to peruse through the snow with her muzzle. Belial stayed right at the Warden’s heels though, sharp eyes intent on the dog, before doing several bounding leaps and circling around Deimos as he took a few long strides towards several of the trees. His gaze was for other malicious creatures potentially amidst the wood – like the man-sized spiders that always sent guild members and trackers thundering into these parts. “True. We have not been the most fortunate.” But perhaps recent actions would change things.

At least the Citadel was safe.

Given the Sword’s own creative mind, he wouldn’t have been bothered by the artisanal discussion. His brow arched at the notions of a wood carving though, with certain hues and blends and complexities. Nodding at the description, of no notches, knots, or twists, he went on searching as well – though, with an offer in place should naught be decent enough for the upcoming work. “Well, if you do not spot one in particular, I can make the wood for you.” The carving, of course, would be entirely up to Iskra.

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

Iskra had not spent enough time in Deimos' company to appreciate the craftsmanship he could unleash. He knew enough of the the Warden that he was grateful such a man led their city; someone who did more than rule, but who worked hard for the region and its people. Deimos spent the time amongst them when he could spare it, and when he could not he was not idle, but rather fortifying their safety and their comforts, brandishing himself as a wall upon which their threats could break against. Deimos had always been many things to Halo, and thus to Iskra, but a man diligent in artistry had never been one that crossed Iskra's mind.

"Thank you," Iskra grunted, as he reached up for a bough, pulling it down for inspection. "I think there is something to be said about the search though. Especially for this particular item." He'd look 50 years if he had to, although he supposed the window for it to be meaningful would have passed by then, and at what point was the pride worth exchanging for some magical manipulations? Not yet at least, when it had not even been 1 hour. Iskra released the branch, deeming it inadequate.

A growl split the air as Goose flattened near the ground. He'd stayed still when Iskra had moved to check the woods, but the dog's attention was not on any of them. His fur rose stiffly along his back and his tail lifted like a sentinel behind him. A distance from them, but one that seemed uncomfortably too close still, an actual voidshade ursur rumbled through the mud and thickets. He either hadn't noticed them yet, or chose to ignore them, for now.

"Goose," Iskra hissed between clenched teeth, fingers snapping in reprimand at the mongrel. "Quiet."

Iskra

code by sky

Deimos could be many things, but complacent wasn’t one of them. There were too many things to be done – and whether that laid in creative designs, tools of the trade, sedition, or unrelenting, driven aspects across regional divides, he stuck to it. The setbacks Halo had experienced bit at him still; and he, amidst all the others, fully intended to do something about all of it. Even in rest and recovery from their latest expedition, he was still out and about, combing through the winter scenes, amidst the intrepid, undaunted folds of their wilderness. Nor was he bothered when Iskra didn’t take the offer readily – shrugging his shoulders and leaving it up for grabs whenever. He searched too, something casual and mindless, rather than a constant influx of machinations and calculations.

Though between Goose’s raised alarm, Belial took flight, and all the ease of the day slipped away from him. His frame became a tense, walled figure, immediately contemplating and considering the best option. He could easily shift into several recalled beasts and fend it off with electricity or fire; or simply varnish it away with Air enchantments until it was rendered into nothing.

But then it just kept sauntering through, lumbering along, acting as though they weren’t even there. Puzzled, but still not letting his guard down, he snorted. “Not sure if I should be offended.” But not gaining its attention was suitable too, and it certainly made enough of a racket as it carried through. Rolling his eyes, he continued to use lower tones, in case it opted to change its mind, for a more teachable moment. “Anyone ever tell you what magic works best on the void nonsense?”

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

At Iskra's commands, Goose quieted to a lower rumble, tongue flicking between bared teeth as his eyes remained locked on the lumbering beast. The dog was frozen to the spot, unwilling to break eye contact with the infected bear, even after it had passed them and begun to vanish from view. Behind him, Iskra let out a relieved breath, some tension easing as the risky moment passed. The woodcutter even gave a quiet laugh at Deimos. "You asked and the universe listened," Iskra said, also keeping his voice lower to avoid changing the bear's trajectory. The void had simply needed to remind them it was still here, but that yes, they could go one day without it requiring a battle.

Quietly, Iskra returned to his task of inspecting branches. "No, I'm afraid I've mostly kept my head down." Kept it buried, was more like it. "I... don't really know how to fight, and my magic is still pretty weak; haven't been studying enough either." I'm useless, is what he heard himself saying, and some dark part of him agreed. "I feel like I'm so behind everyone else sometimes, that it's not worth trying to catch up any more. So I just keep doing what I'm good at, chopping wood and feeding fires." He skipped over several undesirable boughs as he spoke, glancing at Deimos, certain the more than capable man would feel he was wasting his time here with such a hopeless wretch as he.

Iskra

code by sky

“A rarity,” he snorted in response, still quiet and muted until he could hear the thundering, lumbering movements becoming lowered and suppressed, stifled by distance. Belial’s own keen eyesight lingered within his mind, and the disappearing ursur gave him some credence, though his form never quite retained any relaxed posture thereafter. His gaze remained rooted on the spot for a few more moments, before he began tracing back over the portions of timber nearby, glancing back at boughs who showed no sign of blended hues.

Though he chanced a look at the younger man as more self-deprecation seemed to be slipping through. Deimos had never been an individual to remain idle, and though he’d once actively avoided being a part of the throngs, the past few years he’d been so immersed in it that his evasions scarcely seemed to matter. But he didn’t like the idea that any of his citizens didn’t have a way to defend themselves – and though circumvention was a plausible device – Caido sometimes didn’t give a damn. “Understandable,” by way of keeping his head down, steering clear of the chaos unraveling around them. “But if you ever find yourself in a situation, air and gravity seem to be quite effective against anything made up by the void.” Pausing, piercing gaze landing upon more timber and idling through it with his hands, he gave more offerings. “And the barracks and academy are always open to you too, if you do decide you want to study.” He just didn’t want the younger man to regret it – this way of lingering, instead of chasing and defending and learning.

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

Iskra nodded through the brush, clutching that useful tidbit tightly in his mind. "Thank you, that's good to know." Iskra could not do much with it sadly, as he only had his basic axe at his side and his weak flames at his disposal. He had enough wilderness survival to have gotten by all these years hacking through the more wild parts of Halo, but the void had certainly made things more dangerous. Even for him, a speck of dust to the Family, he still had to contend with their infection that had spread throughout the lands and driven some of the flora and fauna mad. What worked against the normal threats out here, couldn't always stave off the void.

"I suppose I ought to," Iskra admitted warily as Deimos mentioned the barracks and academy. "I didn't expect we'd contend with the void as long as we have. That bear is just one of the many ruined creatures I've come across as of late around here. Cutting wood has become more unpredictable." Iskra took that trusty axe from his belt and saved off a piece of the dark wood, seeing what the color underneath looked like. It was the first promising one he'd found, although it didn't quite fulfill his vision. He'd take it for now, but keep looking. Carefully, he used the edge of his axe to neatly shave the limb from its parent bough.

Iskra

code by sky

The Sword hadn’t put timeframes on the void until recently. Perhaps he thought they would’ve been gone far sooner too – or had believed they’d have found the answers lying elsewhere. But specific dreams, information, and clues all pinpointed directly to Starfall itself – so while they could bristle at the Family all they wanted, the notions still lingered in the maddening descent. “Hence why it is good to be prepared,” Deimos countered, though with a long sigh; the relief from his return being replaced once more with that age-old trepidation. It’d be a rinse and repeat sequence of events for a while – trying to gain their fortitude and might, footholds and ground, while something else became infected and diseased. “I only heard the broadcast while we were on the island,” and truth be told, his concentration had been entirely on their matters at hand. “But Hak Etme will likely need to be healed soon too.”

He shook his head and wandered further into the midst of wood, content to pick over portions and pieces. Zuriel followed while Belial remained airborne, wings extended as he hovered nearby in long swoops. Before long though, the Warden pinpointed a piece that could’ve had some portions Iskra could use, so he lifted it up from the entanglement of other boughs, growth, and snow, showing it off. “Would this work?”

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul

I will still be here, stargazing

Little by little, the shale Iskra bore around him like a cloak crumbled away. Each attempt at hiding recently had been disrupted by some soul or another, strangers and friends alike. For the first time in a long time, Iskra felt like he'd lifted a hand above the wreckage and felt someone's grip reach out in turn, a silent promise to lift him up if only he wouldn't let go. Was it the threat facing Caido now that inspired a greater sense of community in others, that had them reaching out now when he had not felt their fingertips before? Or was it small changes in Iskra that had wormed their way in over the years despite his best (and worst) efforts? He wasn't certain, he only knew that there was a shift.

Deimos had always been a savior for Iskra in that regard. He had offered the man a home and a meager purpose. He had helped keep Iskra alive all these years, buried or otherwise, even if he didn't fully realize it. So Iskra savored this private moment with the Warden and his murmured wisdom of preparations and cautious thoughts of dangers descending upon them all. "I'm guessing you've also got plans to rebuild the springs?" Iskra asked already expecting a certain answer. "I'm happy to help where needed." That was the truth of it. If he did not have the magic or the might to stand against the Family or Starfall as the Resurrected Sword could, he'd find his own strengths and abilities. He could help them rebuild their cleansing waters. Iskra was not the strongest, but he could provide manual labor; he'd always at least been good at that.

Training in the barracks or the academy still felt daunting, as if asking for a strength that Iskra was certain he did not possess. Perhaps he'd find it in the rubble once he was no longer buried in it

Deimo's question lifted Iskra's gaze to the bough he held. Iskra walked closer, scrutiny molding his face as he ran a finger down the wood's exterior in appraisal. "Excellent eyes, that will work perfectly!" Iskra's voice lifted with a warm excitement as he found the branch not only suitable, but precisely what he'd needed. He kept hold of his own subpar find, a backup, just in case. "Excellent timing too, I don't really want to linger where the voidshade ursur are." Although he knew they were more than safe with Deimos' talents, he'd rather not tussle with infected wildlife if he could avoid it.

Iskra

code by sky

Waiting for the piece of lumber to be designated as useful or not, the Sword nodded at the impending plans. “Yes. At least put it in the Citadel, and then we can go from there.” Whether or not they’d put void cleaning factions back within would be up for debate – as he had no intentions of drawing more ire or fire upon his citizens any longer. Those could be addressed later down the line, in pending and drawing seasons. Permitting another small smile, he handed over the wood as it was deemed reputable. “I will keep you in mind.”

As for lingering around, he snorted. “Cannot imagine why,” he hastened in his dry rumble. “Then we can head out.” Motioning toward his own entourage of companions, they’d be able to start making their way back towards home, motions in place for the future.

[FIN]

deimos

Never let them drain the river of your soul