The news from Halo's wardens had come as an ill tide, indeed. Safrin, defeated and brought low by the mysterious threat, was a state of affairs that the mermanta could barely comprehend, and certainly did not want to believe.
It had taken time to wrap both head and heart around the report. Time that, perhaps, they did not have. Nevertheless, Hadama had needed to come to terms with it before he could share it with his people. There were notices to post, but first...
First a visit to the shrine at Aumakua, to pray for Safrin's healing and her swift recovery.
Surfacing with his offering in hand, the mermanta swam towards shore to place the glittering object on the flat rock he used as an altar upon the beach. It wasn't until he lifted his head in prayer that he saw the second moon.
He stared it, unblinking, for a long time. A muscle jumped occasionally in his jaw.
Then he bowed his head in prayer, a steely veil falling forward to hide his face and the moon from his view.
Gods help them all.
It had taken time to wrap both head and heart around the report. Time that, perhaps, they did not have. Nevertheless, Hadama had needed to come to terms with it before he could share it with his people. There were notices to post, but first...
First a visit to the shrine at Aumakua, to pray for Safrin's healing and her swift recovery.
Surfacing with his offering in hand, the mermanta swam towards shore to place the glittering object on the flat rock he used as an altar upon the beach. It wasn't until he lifted his head in prayer that he saw the second moon.
He stared it, unblinking, for a long time. A muscle jumped occasionally in his jaw.
Then he bowed his head in prayer, a steely veil falling forward to hide his face and the moon from his view.
Gods help them all.
