no hope in the eyes of the dead
meadow / high risk prompt
11-04-2022, 07:54 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-07-2022, 07:38 AM by Audra. Edited 1 time in total.)
_________________________________________________________________ A green light emanated from all around, lighting up the skies in a spectacular show. Every shade from lime to chartreuse made its way from the Stone Steppe to each corner of Boreas and Auster. Familiars of all sorts spread whispers that a veil had been dropped. The thin layer of reality separating the living from the departed had disappeared. Surprisingly to her, this Samhain was much different than the Long Night. While the faint buzz of fireflies still terrorized her waking moments, there was no permanent night, no low-hanging bulbous moon, or creepy man in a trench coat. There was still a question in the back of her mind as to what or who the gods of the statues were, but that would be a question for another day. Unlike the days of the Long Night, she now had someone to beckon forth. The journey from the Stone Steppe back to the Sparse Pines had not been easy for the petite woman. Having decided to leave her companion back at the castle in Auster, she was alone to traverse her way through the northern areas of Boreas. Skirting the base of Fenrir's Maw and doing her best to avoid the valley of the Polar Sound, she made her way to the Wall and into the pine tree forest in record time. Losing half of her eyesight was still troublesome at times and this trek proved that without Mack, she would always have difficulty maneuvering around. Not getting injured was a priority as she worried about what would happen if someone noticed her absence. Yet, she knew had to do this alone for herself, no matter what. Even if Artorias got mad or Laeta became anxious, she had a good explanation. No one but herself knew about her connection with Torben. That had been a secret swept safely under the rug. At the time, her heart had still been on the mend from her breakoff with Avantika. No doubt, she guessed the other woman blamed her for the issues in their relationship, but Audra wouldn't allow that to harm her well-being. Knowing it had been best to separate and spend some time outside of the castle, she had not expected to be shown attention and affection. Two of the things she had yearned for the most. Standing there, on the outskirts of the pines where snow and wind had swept away most of the spilled blood by now, she could feel the tears bubble along the edge of her vision. Her breath hitched in her chest as she took a seat. One moment, he had been fast asleep beside her and the next he was gone. She hadn't even heard him get up that night. For as large of a beast as he had been, he had been as nearly silent as a shadow leaving her room. Audra wasn't sure if he had left to help the others once the shrieks of panic began echoing over the lands of Menagerie or if he had needed some air, but she had wished he would've taken her with him. She could have offered her life instead of his. He didn't deserve to perish the way he had. Seeing the area now where it had all taken place, she closed her eyes hard. Crying now would do no one good. She had to do what she came here to do. Hoping to get answers, to see him one last time before returning, Audra removed the satchel from around her neck. Placing it on the ground beside her, she opened it up to reveal a variety of items. Removing a few small candles, a mortar and pestle, and a bundle of herbs, Audra placed them in the spot where his scent had been the strongest that day. Placing the candles in a semi-circle before her, she set the mortar and pestle with the herbs inside in the middle of the semi-circle. Reaching out to the ground beneath her, she grabbed a bit of dirt that surely was still tainted with blood and hair to sprinkle it over the herbs. Pleased that her setup was going well and that she was in the right mindset, Audra started what some might call a ritual. Lighting the candles, she began grinding the herbs as best as she could. Once that was finished, she would grab a candle gingerly between her teeth to light the mixture of dirt and herbs. Quiet hisses and pops leaped from the bowl as she sat back on her haunches. Closing her eyes and inhaling the pungent scent of the mixture, she tilted her chin up to the heavens. With the sky alight with a myriad of greens, she began to call out for Torben. Whispering under her breath, she called out to him over and over until her throat rang hoarsely. "T-Torben, if y-you are out th-there, p-please answer m-my call. T-Today is a d-day when th-those of the d-d-dead may in-interact with the l-living. Please, if y-you are out th-there, answer me. I-I miss you," Audra's eyes stayed closed while her heart slammed against her chest. One tear would roll down her cheek to land in the middle of the burning mixture with a sizzle. A shiver rolled down her spine as a breeze whipped through the area. If he didn't answer her call, she would miss her chance to get the answers she needed. "P-please, Torben, p-please don't f-fail me now," her teeth chattered as she fought to say the words. _________________________________________________________________ A U D R A
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audra's companions are to be assumed next to her unless stated otherwise