Before the storm

D e i m o s

Send a heartbeat to the void that cries through you
Relive the pictures that have come to pass

“It is all in how you wield it.” He nodded, in agreement, concurring with all the things left unsaid. How many times had he taken the information from his grand sleuths and utilized it for war? For upheaval? For the spread of sedition? To ensure the Aurora Basin was a paramount, revolutionary brand, sizzling and smoldering despite the rapacious length of ice and snow? The world knew their reputation, every newcomer, every stranger, wandering into their midst, had heard of their legendary rites and assaults, their sieges and attempts. The mountains had never been weak-minded or cowardly, a rise of the courageous, greedy, stalwart, avaricious, and everything else in between. And now, how much had they learned and gathered? How much of their Outlander expanse still existed? While they would never be Naturals, never born into these threads and atmospheres, they’d attempted to assimilate, to learn, to no longer sink or pummel their heads into sands, dirt, and loam, striving to help instead of hinder, attempting to assist rather than hiss and snarl. There would always be a learning curve. There would always be a distinction of ignorance. But they were already far better than they had been – all fallen and flickering from the Spire’s portal, dismayed and irritated, exasperated and confused. Surely, with more efforts and exploits to come, with the call of LongNight, with changes and shifts constantly on the horizon. For now we stand alone, the world is lost and blown And we are flesh and blood disintegrate with no more to hate