The air in Aspen Dam was cool and damp, filled with the sound of trickling water from the river that wound its way through the vale. The young Morningstar stood at the edge of the river, his cyan eyes scanning the area for anything he could use. The tall aspens swayed gently in the breeze, their pale drunks a start contrast to the dark, rocky earth surrounding them.

He adjusted the ornate satchel slung over his shoulder, already holding a few promising finds: a bundh of sturdy branches that stuck out the top and strips of supple bark. "It must be strong enough to withstand the breeze," he muttered to himself, his voice low and thoughtful. "And graceful enough to do him justice."

Stepping carefully over the uneven terrain, Oath's gaze settled on a fallen tree just ahead. Its wood was aged but firm, its branches forming natural curves that reminded him of the lines of his brother's body. He lowered himself beside it, running a paw along the bark. Oath did not believe in coincidences, he believed in blessings.. his eyes closing as he fought the tears welling within them. There was no greater sign than this to prove to him that the Gods were in favor of his brother.

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN

Making her way to where she was meant to meet Oath, Atreyu tried her best not to cry. There was an ever present lump in her throat that she just couldn't swallow away, each attempt bringing stinging tears to her eyes and childlike sniffles to her nose. They were to make an effigy today and Atreyu already had it in her mind that she would settle for nothing less than a perfect representation of Vayne. She was sure that Oath would feel the same way, and judging by the scent of him on the air, he had already beaten her to their meeting spot. Stepping carefully through the uneven terrain, Atreyu almost seemed to float sadly across the ground.

Once she caught sight of Oath, she stopped for a moment and watched, barely hearing his murmured words as he spoke to himself. Black ears perk up as she sees a fallen tree he has spotted, her holographic gaze softening as she spies the curves that Oath had seen. Not wanting to startle him, Atreyu clears her throat and steps forward to stand beside him. "I see you have found us a starting piece..." Warm vocals are both sad and comforting, though her voice is thick with tears. "I brought some paints as well...to capture his likeness better." It had taken her forever to get the pigments just right for his eyes, the teal color had almost been impossible to create - but she had managed. Laying out the paints from her satchel, Atreyu then turned her attention to the piece of wood that would represent Vayne. "How do we get him out of there?" Her voice seemed hollow, wondering how they would get the piece of wood from the tree.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by alo

The Morningstar's ears flicked as Atreyu's soft voice broke through his focus. He turned, his cyan gaze meeting her holographic one, the weight of her sorrow mirroring his own. "Yes... it is a good find," he murmured, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. His eyes drifted to the paints she laid out and a faint smile touched his lips. "You've thought of everything... he would like that."

Looking back at the fallen tree, he ran a paw along its rough surface. "We'll carve it out.. together," he said, his tone resolute despite the lump in his throat. "I've brought tools." He would lean, sliding his satchel off his form and opening it to reveal not only the branches he had collected but a two very sharp small blades, offering one to her. "One cut at a time, we'll do this right - for Vayne."

As he began to work he found that the old wood gave way to the blade quite nicely, and the meticulous task did well to keep him busy and less focused on what they had lost. Each stroke was deliberate, almost reverent, as if the act itself was a prayer. "He deserves this," Oath murmured, more to himself than to Atreyu, his voice slow and steady despite the ache in his chest. The shavings fell around them like soft whispers to the ground, with each piece removed, a shape began to emerge; a hint of the figure they hoped to create. Pausing briefly, he glanced at Atreyu, "We'll bring him back, even if just for a moment."

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN

Atreyu leaned into her brother for support as she came up beside him, listening to his sorrow-filled voice as he spoke to her. Yes, Vayne would have approved of her choice to bring paints today, he liked to be prepared. All of that preparedness didn't help him against the worm though, a thought Atreyu instantly began to sob over. Images of his form being dragged into that gaping maw...the sounds it had made as the worm devoured him whole... Atreyu closed her trademark eyes, tears rolling down her face at the wretched memory. Holding out a paw for one of the tools Oath said he brought, the spotted band leader tried to give a reassuring smile to her brother. "You are good with these, we'll have him out of there in no time." Once he handed her the tool, Atreyu would move to the other side of the branch, beginning the long job of freeing Vayne's likeness from the tree.

The lump in her throat threatened to choke her until Oath's voice cut through her mourning fogged brain, his words causing her to try and swallow through the pain. She wasn't feeling the best after the experience at Forgotten Isle, but had chalked it up to stress and nerves. She was never afraid of anything, but that worm had her nervous. What if it came back for the rest of them? What if it hadn't actually died? "I just hope it helps him reach momma and dad, maybe Kiska knew he would need them in the Summerlands." She was trying to rationalize the losses of both her parents and her brother in one short year, trying not to be angry at the gods for taking so much from their family.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by alo