Cassiopeia's View Pétra

The mountain range stretched impressively, cutting its jagged shape into the sky, rising from the earth below like a titan forest of stone. In the distance was the great beyond. Further than that, than the forests and plateaus, was the ocean.

From the peak, standing upon the shelf was a speck of auburn. Arsenio looked out across the lands cloaked in sun to see the glint of sea blue in the horizon. The misthofóros had never seen the endless water before.

Hunger struck through his belly. Arsenio scanned the stony steps that would lead him down into hunting grounds and began his descent.

moonspear was gone.

he stumbled through the mountains, shocked at the revelation. moonspear was gone. . .how? when? they had been such a rock among their range. had existed since he had come to these lands. and now, they were gone.

aditya caught his breath at intervals, thinking of chaiyya.

and the others. so much had changed. those dark women had ruled these crags, and with their absence, it seemed dead quiet. barren. lifeless, endless. . .

the ruddy man attracted his gaze and he stared, and then called out—

you—are you alone?

he must be. the barrier mountains were devoid entirely of life.

A single rock slipped from beneath the wolf’s paw. Arsenio felt his weight shift rapidly, threatening to swing him forward and down the rocky slope. He swung himself sharply, gritting his teeth together until a pressure popped in his head, and steadied his footing. The stone beneath his paws was fragile, crumbling away.

The sound of a man’s voice drifted across the rocky climb. Arsenio drew his ears to a point and turned toward it. Cold blue eyes fell on the golden agouti shape of an older male. The stranger looked as though he traveled alone, as well.

Naí, I am alone.