He had kept meaning to return to this place. He had questions - everyone did - but he had not been on Caido when the previous excitement around the Spire had happened. The first time he had come to study it he had found Rory digging in the snow. Since then he had been swept up in an ever-growing cascade of research in the Atheneum, research outside the Atheneum, performing at the Rathskeller, arguing with stubborn young fools, and shepherding new arrivals in out of the cold.
Gods least fortunate, he was tired. But it wasn't as though sleep brought much relief these days. He should have been snug in his den, curled up in a ball of white fluff with his nose tucked under his tail for warmth as the snow outside insulated the holt. Later, he would be. He had to at least try, didn't he? But for now, he wandered, questions haunting his thoughts and guiding his feet over the snow. The night was bright, at least, no clouds masking the moon and stars, but still snow fell gently, meeting the white of his hair and melting away to invisibility against it.
Perhaps studying the Spire at night would reveal secrets that the sun outshone in the day.
Perhaps answers would fall from the heavens alongside the snow, or the gods would appear and explain the purpose of the spire and the barrier.
Or perhaps he would stand around getting frostbite like a fool, and Isla would chide him tomorrow when he came sheepishly into the infirmary for treatment.
Unexpectedly, however, as he reached the edge of the empty snowfield surrounding the Spire he found that he wasn't the only one there. There was a... woman? ... and almost certainly an Ascended, given her lack of clothing. But Seiji and Nairi had arrived with little more, and what if this was another such lost soul? So the bard gathered himself and walked softly out across the snow, not trying to be silent, but also unwilling to break the silence of the night more than he had to as he approached.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly when he was near enough to be sure of being heard.
Gods least fortunate, he was tired. But it wasn't as though sleep brought much relief these days. He should have been snug in his den, curled up in a ball of white fluff with his nose tucked under his tail for warmth as the snow outside insulated the holt. Later, he would be. He had to at least try, didn't he? But for now, he wandered, questions haunting his thoughts and guiding his feet over the snow. The night was bright, at least, no clouds masking the moon and stars, but still snow fell gently, meeting the white of his hair and melting away to invisibility against it.
Perhaps studying the Spire at night would reveal secrets that the sun outshone in the day.
Perhaps answers would fall from the heavens alongside the snow, or the gods would appear and explain the purpose of the spire and the barrier.
Or perhaps he would stand around getting frostbite like a fool, and Isla would chide him tomorrow when he came sheepishly into the infirmary for treatment.
Unexpectedly, however, as he reached the edge of the empty snowfield surrounding the Spire he found that he wasn't the only one there. There was a... woman? ... and almost certainly an Ascended, given her lack of clothing. But Seiji and Nairi had arrived with little more, and what if this was another such lost soul? So the bard gathered himself and walked softly out across the snow, not trying to be silent, but also unwilling to break the silence of the night more than he had to as he approached.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly when he was near enough to be sure of being heard.
