Fable - Ask Nobody Ever Looks Up

[Oriane]

Oriane fought hard to not fall back onto the reality to combat the hopefulness in Ostára. It was just instinct with war brimming at the edges to disturb the peace they both saw in the Falwoods.

"We can plant a tree in Thyasari, to remind us and our friends of the battle we fought together." She turned to look at the Arrow, a smile growing on her face. "You truly made acquaintances here with the Aerai..."

Oriane could not truly say she made any connections within their allies. Her whole life had been spent with the Avariel, and her comfort and duty went there first. Instead of socialising and getting to know the Aerai, she had been sticking with the Thirteen and waiting for the war to begin.

 

[Ostára]

Tára wrinkled her nose and laughed.

"I'm not sure these trees would grow on our cold mountains," but the smile on her lips showed just how much she appreciated the thought. "Perhaps they will let me stay here if we manage to rid them of their demon problem. I... think it would be nice. To spread my wings a little... but I feel like father would freak." She confided with wide eyes.

 

[Oriane]

Oriane cut a side glance to Ostára, watching her curiously before allowing a smile to appear on her lips. She wrapped an arm around he younger Avariel's shoulders, bringing her in close. "Forget your father. What about me? Who is going to race against me when I am bored?" Ori even pouted, putting on the show of missing the younger one without having to say the words.

"I think you are still young enough to want to explore, and now that we are free to leave our home... it isn't a bad idea for you to finally leave the nest. I'll even keep your father company so he doesn't worry about you all the time." She offered. The Hammer was someone she was comfortable with spending time with. They had known each other too long now, working side by side and fighting the same wars they have been part of. "I think after this war, he will see that you are happy exploring the rest of Arethil."

 

[Ostára]

"I hope so," the youth sighed and spread her wings. "I am glad he has you, Ori. Otherwise I would worry," she gave the older Avariel a smile and then nodded to some flickering fires in the distance.

"I think that's the next one, shall we?"

It took three more fireside visits before a sickly feeling crept over her. It started as a feeling like she was being watched. An icy cold that crept down her spine. As they drew closer it turned into a feeling that clouded the mind too. Her shoulders sagged a little as doubt, grief, fear edged in...

"This is it," she said, suddenly realising the feelings were not fully her own.

 

[Oriane]

Oriane managed a small, brief smile at Ostára's happiness of her friendship with the Hammer, but saying nothing else on the matter, her amber eyes followed to where the Arrow pointed. Little conversation was shared between them as they continued on, as if they knew they were bound to find something, to come across the telltale sign that they have found the Lingering Dread.
She had made peace with such feelings in her time, but to feel the desolation and despair again was almost disarming. Still, the Avariel wielding the Spear, set her jaw and weathered the feelings.
"Four hours flight from our camp." She noted. Oriane breathed in and exhaled heavily. "We need to confirm we have seen him, Ostára."

 

[Ostára]

Ostára looked nervously at the fires from where they had decided to alight to try and catch a sight of the monster. Everything about this camp felt wrong. Even the creatures seemed somehow more sinister. They would snap at one another at the slightest wrong look, and they watched in bated breath as a fight broke out between two of the demons over a scrap of what looked like skin. She couldn't suppress the shudder that ran down her spine.

"We need to get closer," her voice sounded far more confident than how she felt. Her eyes scanned the surroundings but there were no other high spots they could take. They had camped on a flat plain of earth beside the curve of a river. To get closer they would have to land.

 

[Oriane]

"Give me a second to think." She whispered.

Her amber eyes scanned the area, like a trained veteran would when assessing something with small chances of success. There were no more places close enough to listen in, and to station themselves in the trees meant trouble for their wingspan. It also cut off their view of their escape route.

So it would have to be on foot, closer to that dreadful aura.

"Either we both hit the ground, or one of us does. The other can keep lookout or go back to our camp and alert your father."

The Spear looked to the Arrow, a small smile on her face. It was clear who would be the one going on the ground, and who would fly away if things went wrong. Oriane had no family left, but Danika had her father.

 

[Ostára]

"We're stronger together," Ostára hissed back, a horrified look in her too-wide eyes at the thought of leaving Oriane grounded and close to that... thing. They had not yet glimpsed the beast but if its effect was this bad so far from it, she dreaded to think the weighted feeling from being closer or even looking upon it. "If someone were to happen upon us together we would have a better chance of overcoming them - and escaping."

 

[Oriane]

"And all the same, I can keep them distracted long enough for you to make it to your father."
Oriane straightened her spine, casting her gaze at the treetops again in search of a break in the foliage that could conceal an Avariel's descent. The Spear sighed, jaw setting for a moment. She looked to her friend, her colleague.
"Alright. Convince me on how we should go about this and I may reconsider my choice. One day, there is a possibility I will no longer wield the Spear, and someone else will have to take the mantle in recon. What would you do here, Ostára?"

 

[Ostára]

Some of the panic receded from the younger Avariel's eyes when she realised Oriane was not going to force her to take off and take on the burden of approaching the monster herself. Alone. Taking a calming breath, Ostára thought through the options like her father had taught her over the years.

"I would stick together," she repeated more firmly then took another breath. Why, she could hear her father ask. What's the benefit? "They'll have extra patrols out if their Master is here, wanting to conceal his identity. One of us can make sure we're keeping an eye out for scouts whilst the other is focusing on trying to find Arkivhom. We could tackle it like a scouting party. One goes first, clears it, the other joins whilst the first scouts the next section. That way we know each area is clear and we're close enough to each other to help if something does go wrong."

 

[Oriane]

Oriane tried not to look impressed by the Arrow's plan, but it was one never had never expected to be proposed by an member of the Thirteen still considered green to war. She did not embarrass Ostára by pointing out the good points to her plan, but rather nodded to her.

At least her father was smart enough to teach Tára how to think.

"Then let's put that plan into action. On my word."

And the golden Avariel shrouded in her magic of keeping hidden disappeared into the forest below. Seconds passed, and then the signal came with a glint of the Spear Oriane wielded, meant for the eyes of her scouting partner. The first section was clear.

 

[Ostára]

The Arrow's wings slumped in relief when Oriane agreed to her plan. It had been one her father had told her of years ago, a story from his own spying mission on a sect of orcs who had taken up residence close to Thyasari.

Tára scurried after Ori once she gave the signal and ducked down beside her to take a proper look over the camp. They had started on the Eastern side where the shadows were thickest with the moons position. There was nothing to be seen but the backs of skin-made tents and sombre drinking. They continued on, meticulously stopping at every point. It was only when they reached the far North West side that Tára finally put a hand out to motion for Oriane to look.

"See, through that tent in the centre. I think that's him," she whispered.

 

[Oriane]

Oriane steeled herself, forcing her gaze to remain trained on where Tára had pointed out.
She held her breath, stilling.
"Visual confirmation. Good." Her hands curled into fists, maintaining their cover of concealment. "We should return to camp. Spread the word. If anything happens in our retreat, you are to keep flying, you hear me?"

Her amber eyes were serious. They now held crucial information that needed to be heard by their allies. Oriane's order was much like the same of their scouting to this point. She was more experienced, able to keep a number at bay, but Ostára had a father to return to. Friends. She had a future she could live.

Oriane always knew she would die alone and fighting.

 

[Ostára]

Ostara didn't dare argue, not with the look in Oriane's eyes. Instead she gave a single nod to show she had understood and the pair slowly retreated back to the darker shadows that might hide their escape.

Every step, the Arrow expected for some horn to sound or a shout to go up to mark them but nothing came. The camp was eerily quiet, its inhabitants subdued despite the presence of their master. Eventually they made it to the crop of trees from which they had started their scout and the pair were able to safely take to the skies and on towards their own camp.