It's a terrible day for rain
Audra's funeral
01-29-2024, 06:34 PM
Artorias sat for far too long out in the cold and the rain, staring at the funeral pyre that stood out amongst the rolling hills of the plains. The oil-soaked wood had been doused until saturated to ensure it would burn continuous and hot for as long as it took, despite the drizzle that was falling from a cloud-laden sky. Even the heavens above seemed heavy with the emotions of the day. The Lord of Cinder, heartbroken and despondent, simply stared at the body laid out carefully atop the pyre, wrapped in fine cloth and surrounded by flowers and wisteria branches from Hearthstone's gardens. He still couldn't believe that was Audra up there. None of this felt right; none of this should be happening. When his dear friend had departed the Hallows with Gloom, she had been in bright spirits and had a happy future to come back home to. Instead, she had come home carried on the back of the woman she loved, cold and lifeless. Gone—just like that.
Artorias lifted a large paw and rested it upon the still form of his friend. He could still see that moment clear as day in his head and it wrenched his heart every time he thought about it. Audra, the wolf he had loved like his sister, was dead. Gloom had told him she had fallen ill while up in Boreas, and over a short period degenerated quickly until she had perished. That tore Artorias up even more, to know that his wolf had been sick so far from home, without her family to care for her, and had died without their love. His only saving grace was that he knew she hadn't been alone; Gloom had made sure of that. All he could hope for now was that Audra's final thoughts were remembering how loved and cherished she was back home. He knew she would be sorely missed here for all of their days...
With all the necessary preparations made, there was only one thing left to do. Artorias tipped his head back and called loud and clear for the members of the Hallows to convene to bid their final farewells to their beloved friend and pack mate. Then he sat solemn and stoic beside the pyre, the hood of his black cloak pulled up around his face, hopefully obscuring some of the sorrow pulling at the carefully managed facade he wore. Gods knew this would be difficult for them all. He was likely to cry before this was done.
ooc: The second round of posts begins February 13th
01-29-2024, 09:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-29-2024, 09:47 PM by Gloom. Edited 1 time in total.)
Honestly one of the last things Gloom wanted was to think about a funeral, she knew it was tradition and considering this had been Audra's home it only felt right. That didn't mean Gloom had to be okay right? Because she really wasn't. She'd been avoiding the site of the pyre like it was her job, she couldn't handle looking on the... On Audra. As far as Gloom was concerned she was doing her grieving, had been since before they'd left and had only added onto her grief. She looked, well... Like shit. She wasn't eating much, she was sleeping most days after she'd cried herself into unconsciousness. First her mother and now her- Well she didn't know what they'd been, and that was almost worse... So many things left unsaid, because she'd been too much of a coward. She always was.
Artorias' call only served to make Gloom's stomach feel heavier than it already did. She wasn't sure she'd ever be ready, to "officially" say goodbye. To have to be around others who'd known Audra better than she had, had meant more to her than Gloom probably had. To be surrounded by wolves and still feel apart from them when all she wanted right now was comfort and familiarity, and no one here could offer her that. She still hadn't decided what she was going to do, if she would stay or not. She'd promised herself she'd at least stick around until the funeral but after that? If she was being honest all Gloom wanted right now was her brother. (Okay well she wanted her mother and Audra too but those two were now much too far beyond her reach.) The woman dragged herself towards the call, eyes turned downwards, because she was already crying or rather was crying again and didn't have it in her to summon her courage to be anything more than a useless crying lump. Audra deserved better, and Gloom couldn't even do that. Luckily it seemed she was the first to arrive, which meant she could get herself settled without having to worry about who else might need her condolences... Huddling in upon herself Gloom sat and tried to steel herself for what was to come. She was just gonna cry through it and that'd have to be okay with everyone else.
Image by AlienLion |
Updated 04/30/23: Still on indefinite scarcity, please do not remind me of threads I am behind on right now.