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

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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

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Lysanias's eyebrows furrowed as Oath spoke, skepticism clear in his gaze. He found himself often more confused by the prospect of gods than he found himself believing in them. His father claimed to be one sometimes, yet his father bled and lived amongst them, which was not very godly to him. And if there were Gods, wouldn't they do more to protect their people? He paused briefly trying to wrangle his thoughts, trying to figure out what to say to Oath. But soon enough, his uncle offered him a way out of commenting on something so unknown.

"I want to learn, I want to keep my mother and my sister safe." his voice was firm as he spoke, yet it wasn't because of confidence, it was more because of necessity, "I do not want to see people hurt those I care for." He nodded his head, for a pup he was determined. His view on life was already shifting in the way of being more negative, he found himself caring less and less with every day that passed. Found himself questioning why they tried as hard as they did, yet even then when he saw his sister, his mother, Ganymede, and even his father, he yearned to make sure nothing happened to them.

A muscle in his jaw ticked as he moved to meet Oath's gaze, "Why is it that I crave to protect them? I do not understand, I feel so conflicted with it all." He asked, while his words spoke of vulnerability and confusion, his voice did not falter. "Why protect anyone at all?" he grumbled out the last part, the furrow in his brows deepening as he all but glared up at the man before him. Expecting a yearling, nonetheless, to know the answer to all his qualms.

Oath regarded Lysanias quietly, his cyan eyes thoughtful as the pup's questions and emotions spilled forth. The weight of the boy's words wasn't lost on him; they were heavy thoughts for someone so young, but grief and hardship had a way of forcing wisdom too early. Oath could relate. He allowed the silence to linger a moment, his gaze steady and calm as he searched for the right response.

"It's not an easy thing to understand," Oath admitted, his voice low and measured. "This... drive to protect. It doesn't always make sense, especially when the world feels cruel, and the ones we love can still be hurt despite our best efforts." He paused as thoughts of his brother overwhelmed him, his horns catching a glint of sunlight as he turned his gaze to the aspens swaying gently in the breeze. "But we choose to protect because we love. Love, even when it hurts, is worth fighting for."

Oath shifted his gaze back to Lysanias, meeting the boy's conflicted glare with a quiet serenity. "You crave to protect them because you care. It's not weakness, nor is it foolish. It is strength. A strength that sets you apart from those who would hurt others." He lowered his head slightly, his tone softening. "Why protect anyone at all? Because... even in a world like this, protecting them makes it a little better - even if it is just for them."

A faint smile ghosted across his face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You are young, Lysanias, and you will find your own answers in time. But for now, know that your feelings are not wrong; they are a sign of the good in you. That is something to be proud of, something to hold onto."

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

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