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.

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN

Lysanias moved slowly as he navigated his way through the dam, not long enough ago his father had him and his sister trudge through the area in search of frogs. Now, he found himself simply exploring the acreage that the band was currently inhabiting. He had begun to understand that soon enough they would leave and find a new junction to call their temporary home.

Red and blue eyes regarded the sight before him, landing on the unnaturally colored form of a Morningstar. He had begun to think of them as a sort of family, especially since he thought of Gany to be another dad to him. He was not quite so sure how he could have two fathers but he hadn't really asked his parents. With a shrug he picked up his pace, his paws falling as heavily as they could against the ground as he approached his sort of uncle.

Cranium tilting slightly left as he looked him over curiously. "Uncle Oath?" He questioned, peering over him as he caught the end of oaths prayer. "What are you doing?" He just about demanded, not because of rudeness but simply because he did not know better and had a way of not quite understanding his own tone.

The Morningstar's cyan eyes opened at the small voice, his reflective horns catching the light once more as he turned to face the pup. The sight of Lysanias, with his mismatched red and blue eyes, tugged at something in Oath's heart - a bittersweet reminder of family lost and family still here. He took in the pup's curious expression and unfiltered tone, the demanding question bringing a faint, almost tired smile to his lips.

"Hello Lysanias," Oath greeted softly, his voice steady despite the storm within. He lowered his head to be more level with the pup, his imposing figure tempered by the gentle way he regarded his nephew. "I was speaking to the Gods," he explained simply, though his words carried weight. "I prayed for your uncle Vayne, for his peace, and for the strength to protect you and everyone else." His gaze softened, and he leaned in slightly closer, adding, "What brings you out here, little one? Are you on patrol like me, keeping us safe?"

He hadn't expected to meet his nephew like this, raw from loss and still carrying the heavy mantle of his duty, but perhaps it was fitting. The boy was part of the next generation, a reminder that even in his grief, there was something worth fighting for...

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN