Can't believe that this book is finally over. I simply cannot believe it. I might have said that Ar'kela's pov will be no more, but this is written from her pov. I just felt that this would be the perfect end. The prologue is going to be changed (Again). If you are reading this, then you will have three more bonus chapter for this book. I will ramble in the end.
Epilogue: The First Hunt
*********
The first rose uncurled its violet petals shyly like a bride on her wedding. The tiny icicles of frost that was always clung to the barks finally understood that time had come for it to leave. The frost flowers melted away and the sun gave life to the actual flowers of the forest.
The birds which had fled its home, returned faithfully to give tune they learned from the other lands. Where the snow once laid, green blades of grass and the falling brown twigs made the difference.
The sky was no longer covered with thick folds of clouds. The stars were free from their prison and the birds made new records of flying high. The hibernating animals woke from their deep slumber and gave life to the forest. The frogs belted in their baritone by the bogs and the Nightingale trilled in its voice by the glen.
All because it was spring.
She knelt down and touched the first rose. The instant her finger touched it, it bloomed fully exposing its inner most secret. She smiled as she took in a deep breath. The air was clean and the sky's tears had cleared it in the past few months.
Her grey clothes were made for the winter. She wore it to blend with the night when it snowed. Being close to nature taught her things no teacher ever could.
A thick brown belt held her hunting daggers and it supported her quiver of arrows. Her bow was in her left hand, ready to kill anything that disturbed her peace.
"Ar'kela," he called, panting.
He had come faster than she gave him credit for. But then again, if he were not this fast, then he would not be a Guardian.
"What it is, Quan?" she asked, her fingers skipping over the violet edge of the rose.
"The west won," he said. There was a hidden happiness in his voice. "The west won!"
She could not find it in her to reciprocate it. She knew what was to come. That thought alone terrified her.
"Yes," she whispered. "I know."
"You are not happy?" he asked. "We won, Ar'kela. We won."
"No, Quan." She got up, standing to her full height. "We did not. It was just the beginning. We won in the west. But we are going to lose the east."
"What are you saying?"
"We were so blinded by the war in Yerinah, that we never saw the original plan," Ar'kela muttered, ashamed with herself. She should have known. "Icathus is lost. It is no longer under Cathales."
"What?" Fear was strong from him.
"Yes," she said. "The second King Kinsey Cathale stepped out of Icathus, it was captured by Phorcys, an Immortal. Lady Mae Cathale is the suffering victim."
"If what you are saying is true." He did not continue further.
"I know," she said, dropping the flower. "Vritra was raising an army of Immortals right under our nose. I failed to see it."
"What are you going to do?" Quan asked.
"I am leaving for Anthyse as planned," Ar'kela said. "And you will accompany Gedion as always. Arian will take care of Darpan. Everything will go as planned. What Vritra did not know was he woke the lover's fury. He will indeed face her wrath."
"You are going to do nothing?"
"Yes." She gathered her skirt. "When Lady Cahira Yithare enters Icathus, he will know his mistake. She will wake the ties so old, that even he will not have any power to stop her."
"The ties are us, right?" he asked. "The Guardians?"
"Yes, again," she said. "We are forced being apart. We cannot be together for long. Did you not notice it? When the Spirits are captured, we lost our prized strength. Unity. We will get that again."
Moments passed and the disturbance that was far, far away was nearing.
"Is it all?" she asked.
"No," he began hesitantly. "Will you be alright?"
"Don't worry," she smiled reassuringly. "I will be. Kacela is coming to Anthyse with me. She will help me through."
"That is good."
She hummed. The soft sun rays exposed her natural highlights in her hair. Sighing, she pulled the hood over her head. Her unnatural features would attract more danger than driving them away. Though she could trample down the dangers, it was always better to avoid them.
"What are you going to do now?" Quan asked, his brows meeting.
Her grey skirt shuffled as she took a step back. She drew an arrow from the quiver. Her eyes met his red ones for a fleeting second. Confusion overtook his features. His thoughts were clear. He wanted to know what she was up to.
She shook her head, few rouge tendrils spilling from the tight bun she wore.
"Let's hunt."
I have lots to say.
The character index is up. You can refer to it whenever you want.
I am starting to make the map again. I don't know whether I will be able to do it this time.
Now that this book is over, I am going to start uploading the next book by next spring. Why spring? The next book title is 'Spring's Tale'. And at that time, my final exam for 12th grade will also end and the updates will be regular.
Look out for the update by 20th March 2018. If you want to read more, jump on to the next book on my shelf, Blaze. I am planning to write that book meanwhile. I might not accomplish this, but I am still saying.
A lot more is to come, Follow me to get the updates regularly.
Thank you for reading till here,
~Quill
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