new life stirs from the ashes

The teenage Morningstar moved through the grove of aspens, his steps heavy with grief. His cyan eyes scanned the flood plain, but his mind lingered on the memory of his brother, lost to the monstrous worm on the island off the coast. The soft babble of the creek, tangled with beaver dams, felt distant, frowned out by the echo of his sorrow.

Freshly gnawed saplings and grazing elk blurred into the background as he paused near the waterway, his reflective red horns catching the sunlight in start contrast to his somber mood. The Judilian band relied on his vale, and despite his pain, Oath knew he had to protect who was left. Drawing a steady breath, he pressed on, his duty the only anchor to his currently fractured heart.

As he neared a quiet bend in the creek, Oath lowered himself to the damp earth, bowing his head. He whispered to the Judilian gods, his voice trembling. "Guide his spirit," he murmured, his cyan eyes closing tightly. "Let my brother find peace in your embrace, far from the horrors of this world. Give me strength to carry on, to protect those who remain." His horns caught the dappled light as he raised his crown, his resolve renewed as his eyes looked to the sky. His heart still ached, but his faith in his Gods provided some relief.