Broken Antler Fen i drive into corning, and all the spindles whine

it seemed each time arcturus took leave, wraen aged a little more. at first it was in small ways -- ways he could easily push aside or ignore, like maybe the stiffness was because she slept funny that night, or the tiredness in her eyes was just because things had been a little more stressful than usual lately.

yet, now the evidence seemed insurmountable; in her eyes lingered the first signs of old age, in her expression (which arcturus believed to be tight), in the way she carefully selected how she walked, or the places she picked to nap -- all signs pointed towards something arcturus simply did not want to face.

his expression broke in a smile as wraen greeted him, though for a moment his gaze seemed to linger as if troubled. "moonspear has fallen." arcturus delivered without formality, his throat tight despite the simple manner in which he spoke. "i found but one -- the rest are either dead or gone". and he hoped, certainly, it was gone -- but his heart knew otherwise.