Private Tales Let the Lost no longer be lost

[Tadrielus Galawen]

"Still the best in centuries," he gave a weak smile.

There was little else for them to do, and he encouraged Caliane to sleep. The noise had died down outside, either because the avariel were winning or the shadows had decided to retreat. A heavy cloak of guilt weighed on Tadrielus. There had been no way for them to know that the creatures of the cave would follow them, nor that they would align with the dark monsters from this attack. Surely this can't have been the first time.

He paused on that thought. This society was hundreds of years old, and clearly connected to that dark cave. This could not have been the first incidence like this. He found himself wondering why there had not been better defenses. Was there truly no way to prevent this, or had the ways just been lost to time?

He spent the next hour or so considering how one might ward a city of this size and... unique architecture. The beasts had been susceptible to light and soul magic, pretty basic wards should work.

There was no way to tell time in their small, windowless cell, so Tadrielus did not know what time it was when their door was opened again.

 

[Caliane Ruinë]

They were not comforting words to fall asleep too but they were all she had.

Sleep was not hard to find, exhausted as she was. It felt as though she had barely closed her eyes than she was being rudely shaken awake again by a guard, though different to the faces from the night before. This time it was a young female with wings of gold and green and an older female with gloss black hair and eyes almost as dark.

"You are summoned to the Court of the Elders, wake up. Both of you."

 

[Tadrielus Galawen]

Tadrielus stood by the guard, as close as he could get without raising alarm. He did not care for the way she jostled Caliane. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly, as the pair of them were escorted out of their small room.

The morning air was tainted with the smell of old charcoal and.... wrong. Whatever those creatures had been, their presence had left an impression that would take time to wash away. The branch was empty, a stark contrast to their first day in the great tree. Even the dappled light that made its way through the canopy appeared muted and grey.

They met up with two other guards, a young man with hair just a shade lighter than Caliane's and sky-blue feathers, and an older woman with chestnut skin and wings of pale pink. They took up the rear as the quintet made its way to the highest bows.