The stars were said to watch over all who gazed up at them, when it rained it was said to be the stars mourning, and during the day when you couldn't see the stars it was said they were resting so they could shine brightly once the moon rose.
The stars were also said to be the souls of the fallen, watching over friends and family they had left behind
A lone Voltaris sat in the cold watching the stars, her eyes shining brightly as she thought about all this. She wondered if her son was watching over her? Or any other fallen Voltaris.
She sighed, Amaya could see her breath in the cold air she was used to the crisp frigid air entering her lungs living on Mt. Velgren her whole life she was used to the harsh conditions.
The stars reminded Amaya of snowflakes, each one slightly different. To some they all were the same, but Amaya had learned to look closely at things, or you might miss what's important. Amaya sighed, getting to her feet she had been away from her daughter, Ember long enough.
She walked back through the dark the stars were fading into the early morning light by the time she had walked all the way back to the camp she saw Achillean holding a very sleepy Ember she smiled slightly thankful that he agreed to watch her while she went out to watch the stars the Nestoris smiled slightly Amaya smiled back once she got to the camp she took Ember from his arms since she was small she was easy to carry she let out a little cough Ember had been sick since Amaya had left the Voltaris camp
"How far are we from the nearest healer?"
"A few days why?" Achillean's golden gaze met Amaya's
"Ember, she's been sick since I left the main Voltar-"
"You know where the main camp is?" the Sendaris from last night spoke up
His eyes were dark pools of emptiness that scared Amaya.
"We are not to be attacking the Voltaris,"
"We could eradicate them for good! We co-"
"Enough!" Achillean hissed.
Amaya flinched slightly; she had not known Achillean for long, but she had never seen him so angry before.
...
Night had fallen as soon as it had risen, the stars were once again out, shining brightly
She enjoyed watching them. There were few great things about having grown up on Mt. Velgren, but Amaya loved watching the northern lights. The colors dancing across the sky like a river always amazed her. She wished she could see them now it had been many years since she had seen them. Part of her wondered if the spectacular lights still appeared during the night. She glanced down at Ember, her little hand holding Amaya's
The snow wasn't thick here so the small child was not having any trouble walking across the open plain Achillean had invited them to travel with them for the time being Ember was slowly learning to trust him through the skittish Voltaris would need time, after the attack with the Sendaris she didn't trust so easily. Amaya paused glancing up at the star-filled sky she could clearly see each star her eyes drifted to a certain one it seemed to shine the brightest out of all of them. It wasn't the North Star, but a new star perhaps? Amaya didn't know until her heart ached a feeling of loss.
It was her son's soul star.
Amaya smiled through the weight of loss her son had died protecting Ember, it may not have been legendary or filled with Impossible feats, but to Amaya it was full of honor, dying to protect someone who could defend themselves, was to Amaya the bravest thing an Ardoni could do.
"Momma, I'm tired," Ember whined. Her voice was quiet and weary.
Voltaris children were taught from a young age that they should never be loud, it could attract unwanted attention, such as an Ardoni hunting party. so like most Voltaris children Ember hardly spoke and when she did, her voice was low and quiet.
Amaya nodded picking Ember up the child's hands were cold as they hugged for warmth
Amaya's sunset gaze met Achillean's golden eyes; he must have seen the tiredness in them.
"Alright let's stop to rest and set up camp,"
His voice rang out loud and clear, Achillean had done this before, the way he held himself full of authority around other Ardoni, he had to be only a little older than Amaya
He seemed to have lots of guilt hidden in his eyes, they say the eyes are the window to the soul, in the Tidesinger's eyes Amaya could see someone whose childhood was ended too soon someone who had faced a heartbreaking betrayal somehow, and loss, loss was the harshest thing she could see,
And then there was regret, Amaya wasn't sure what he was regretting, or why, but it was clear as the stars to her.
"Why are we stopping!?" The Sendaris from before growled it was clear he didn't respect the Tidesinger as much as the others
His inky black stare burned into Amaya calling her afraid of him was an understatement, she was terrified of him.
"We are stopping for the night." Achillean's voice was level "I don't want to get caught in a snowstorm do you?" He asked
The Sendaris muttered a curse under his breath before turning to set up the camp.
They chose a small grove of trees to set camp up inside. It provided good shelter from the quickly worsening winds and snowfall
Amaya helped Achillean set up a tent while Ember watched. Amaya knew they were safe mostly but she still didn't trust the nameless Sendaris.
Soon the camp had been all set up, it was late into the night and Ember had Already fallen asleep Amaya picked the sleeping child up carefully not to wake her and walked into the tent once again the floor was covered in thick blankets keeping it nice and warm Amaya set Ember down so she could rest before walking out of the tent to sit next to Achillean.
Who was having trouble starting a fire
"You need more wood," she commented as she stood next to him.
"Your right, I'll-"
"I'll get it your tired I'm not oblivious,"
Amaya told him he nodded letting her walk-off
Because they had settled in a grove of trees, there were small branches littered all over the floor, Amaya had gathered quite a few before turning back a low growl alerted her spinning around she came to face a large wolf its mouth parted open in an angry snarl she could see its ribs poking through its silver and white pelt, its pale yellow eyes showed signs of insanity as salvia dripped from its fangs the wolf took a step towards Amaya at this point she had dropped all her wood picking a good branch to her as a weapon against the wolf. Amaya swung it at the wolf hoping to scare it off.
But a hungry wolf was a dangerous creature.
It lunged for Amaya who let off a scared shriek she was knocked backward by the weight of the wolf she tried to knock it off of her but she wasn't strong enough.
Pinned under the wolf Amaya shut her eyes hearing the snarling get louder and feeling warm spit drop on her cheek her heart drummed in her chest.
The weight of the wolf has swiftly removed the sound of a mobilium song ringing in her ears. she opened her eyes seeing the wolf laying across the snow Achillean stood in front of her like a guardian, his staff glowing yellow from its enchantment. the wolf let out a growl before turning tail and running.
"Are you alright?" His voice was filled with concern for the Voltaris.
Amaya nodded getting to her feet her legs felt like jelly as she walked, Achillean much to her surprised picked her up bridal-style carrying her back to the camp Amaya whispered a 'thanks' under her breath the effects from walking all day was getting to her, Amaya closed her eyes despite the bitter cold, she was warm.
"Amaya?" He whispered.
The Voltaris' eyes fluttered open. "hmm?"
"Look,"
Amaya looked at the night sky. The northern lights returned.
pale green, pink, red, yellow, blue, and violet all danced across the sky the streaks of light moved like a river it looked as if they were zooming through the stars as if it were some sort of obstacle course.
Amaya sat on the snow next to Achillean
"Have you ever seen these lights before?" Amaya asked.
Achillean shook his head, his eyes wide with awe of the lights.
Amaya smiled "living on Mt. Velgren has its perks,"