Sunspire Mountains to linger is to die

Ghost eyes clouded with a familiar resentment as Tabriëlle watched Kigipigak’s dismissive silhouette slowly fade. And although his strong, white build was no longer beside her, she could still feel his despising gaze upon her- disgusted- even after his departure.

That same look she recognized in Stjornuati. A look of- not quite pity- but something worse.

Had she become such an unrecognizable creature? Deplorably deformed beyond all repair. Were there things too cruel to come back from? Too exhausting to recover- at least alone.

-Alone-

Stjornuati’s firm words jolted Tabriëlle from her confining thoughts, and her heart dropped. She had expected as much. It just hurt to hear it spoken aloud- in the open- so…bluntly.  Perhaps she should have told him she was good at something. Maybe offered a skill or two? Appeasement. No- that was not her way, and she could not bring herself to do it. A high-pitched ringing sounded in her ears as Stjornuati’s form blurred. She needed to rest.

“I understand,” Tabriëlle nodded. “Please forgive the intrusion. I will leave immediately."

And with that, she lowered herself and turned shakily to face another hurdle- her frail outline disappearing against a backdrop of ice- as if she had never been there.