Sun Mote Copse red breath

one by one they were held under-water, and one by one the light snuffed from them. as their bodies piled arunik'ra watched the proceedings without remorse clouding her features. it was the way -- and the only way.

as eshamun softly prayed arunik'ra took the time to silently study the composure of her compatriots. surprisingly, it was not the new accolytes that showed their reservations -- it was ar-khalba. the red priestess' gaze did not harden, but she watched the male for a long time after.

as the others hunkered down to carry the limp bodies arunik'ra broke into gentle song, a prayer in their old tongue given life by lyric. she dug as she sang, her slender frame a grim sight. to an outsider it may have seemed strange to be rejoicing while resuming the deportment of undertaker; but to arunik'ra, this life was the only life she knew.