Sun Mote Copse seems every castle is made of sand

set a few hours after this

arcturus had never been a runner.

his entire life he had always faced things head on. he had always fought, pushed, coerced his way through.

but now, there was something in his life that could not be fought. no matter where he sunk his teeth, it would never change what had just happened.

revui, dead.

no matter how many miles he put under his heels, he would never escape the image of his brother slumping to the ground.

it should have been him to defeat revui. it should have been him to defend his rank, to stay on the 'spear. he had never wanted his brother dead, and now that part of his life was seemingly sealed off forever.

he did not know why it was here he came. in truth, the beta had fled moonspear in a mental fog, his sensibilities overcome by anguish.

all of this, his fault.

if only he hadn't been so proud.

if only he hadn't been so stupid.

if only --

and so, the mountaineer found himself near the firebird's borders. maybe it was his unspoken feelings for wraen that drew him here -- or maybe, it was his need for support in an hour of absolute desolation. maybe, it was because this was the one area he knew his powerhungry, bloodthirsty sister could not corrupt: the sanctity of his hidden world.