"Ambrus...I'm slipping. I need you... I need your strength and your patience... I'm losing control of my emotions, I'm losing the trust of my people."
Insignious' voice shook just above a whisper from where he kneeled on the floor of the little church nestled deeply in Tempestclan. He was alone, on his knees before the altar. A rosary of natural gemstones and a brass star (the symbol of Ambrus) was wrapped between his fingers, the heavy pendant swinging as he pressed his lips to the beads.
"You are the god of resilience and redemption. I need that now, more than ever." He said softly and sadly, looking up. "Please heed me. I beg of you..." Placing his hands down, he lowered himself and pressed his forehead to the floor in a complete bow. "Your faithful servant. Amen."
The sun was bright as the doors to the church opened and the leader stepped out, a hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His other hand he ran through his hair, recently cut short for the first time in decades. He looked up, watching a single ash flutter around him and stick onto the church's front step. Ashes had been falling for days now. First from the prison, then from the burning of Maelstromclan. Etoah and Kazumi had filled them all in. It had devastated Insignious to hear it, but he felt his heart could not possibly sink any lower these days. Darkness seemed to be closing in like an all-consuming wave.
Stepping out into the cobbled streets, he started on the way to his house. With the incredible efforts of his people, the prison remains had been sorted and were already being redeveloped. The clan members who had died were buried now, safe in the ground and away from all this madness. Bleu and Sera he'd kept close to himself as often as possible, and when he couldn't look after them, they remained in the care of Nahva. The day after the prison fell, Tadi had come to his home and cried to him about how sorry she was. The poor girl seemed to believe this was all somehow her fault, despite how much he'd tried to reassure her otherwise. A small piece of him was almost expecting to find her gone one of these days, for her shame seemed almost too much for her to bear.
Since Insignious' and Kahu's journey, he'd spoken very little to the warden. He was ashamed of himself but deeply frustrated with the warden as well. Still, it was the day they were to begin their long trek for the clan leader meeting, and he had asked Kahu to join him days prior. So be it.
Stopping by his house, he went in and grabbed the backpack he'd already prepared. It was a day's journey to the Dawn Pavilion, the place in Infernoclan territory where the leaders gathered, and they'd need food, water, fire and bed supplies. Slinging the pack over his shoulder, he patted himself down to check the weapons he had hidden on himself before stepping back outside and looking for Kahu.
Leaning impatiently against the wooden doorframe, Kahu crossed his arms and cast his gaze away from the two ladies. While Zinnia and Kazumi fretted over his lack of preparation for the upcoming days ahead, the warden's thoughts remained elsewhere, stuck on the journey he and Insignious had gone on days prior. It created a rift between the two, but being a man of business, he still went about his daily duties and routines-- outside from the fallen prison, of course.
He'd been dragged over to Zinnia's estate after she inquired about his latest mission, and to her dismay, deemed that he was hardly ready at all for leader's meet. Kazumi had found it particularly humorous, dedicating herself to resting in bed and pointing out items he might need for the journey. Whatever she came up with, Zinnia would run to grab: anything from a bedroll, canteen, rations... he had on him only weapons that morning when the pinkette approached him.
"Um, Kahu? Geez, I've never seen you so spaced out before. Are you sure you're going to be alright for this trip?"
"Yes." He couldn't help but roll his eyes at his cousin's concern and take the bag thrust upon him. Unlike a good majority of the clan, he was able to will himself to rest, regardless of the responsibility that weighed atop him. Yet, there was still a sleepless irritation about him, although the ladies ignored it as they readied him.
"Bet, then. Good luck, lameass."
Kazumi scoffed, flipping over on her bed without another word. Kahu expected it, but huffed anyways, backing out of their unit with his newest bag in tow. It was obviously not his; embroidered with flowers and plant-life alike. Even the bedroll was softer than he preferred it, but with Zinnia's insisting, he said nothing than a mumbled "Thanks," before she nodded, gave him a hug, and shut the door.
His footsteps crunched atop the fallen ash, direct in his path to the leader's home. Just as the man stepped outside, the warden approached him, unintentionally fixing to hide the bag's features from view.
Looking over, Insignious' eyes immediately caught the colors of Kahu's bag. If it weren't for the uncomfortable tension between them, he would have playfully teased the warden. But instead, he turned away and walked on. "Very good." He said tersely. As they crossed through the courtyard on the way to the entrance, Sig nodded and said his good mornings to those they passed. Some of the members watched uneasily as their leader took leave, muttering to each other about their worries. At the entrance, Etoah was waiting to see them off. He was fully garbed in his new armor. To Insignious' surprise, Bleu and Sera were there as well.
As they approached, Bleu held out a flower for each of them. "May your journey..." The boy stammered, looking up at Etoah for help. The deputy leaned down and murmured to him, and he nodded in thanks. "May your journey be blessed, may your return be safe."
Insignious smiled warmly at him, taking the flower he was given and sticking it behind his ear like a girl would to make the boy laugh. Bleu giggled and gave them both a hug on the leg.
"-return be safe!" Sera echoed from behind Bleu, rocking on her heels as grinned up at the two.
Taking the flower into his hand, the warden tied what was left of the stem onto his borrowed bag. It matched the perky design, looking as though the plant-life jumped off the fabric itself with a sprinkle of color. However, immediately after fixing it into place, he felt the hug of the child, giggling and breaking the lingering tension. Once again his hand reached down, but only to give a few pats on the boy's head as thanks.
"We'll return swiftly with you both in mind."
Although he wasn't particularly close with either of the kids, he tried to confidently assure them. Yet, his gaze eventually drifted over to Etoah as he gave him a respectful nod. Normally, the duty would be of the deputy's to accompany the clan leader.
"I can think of no one better to look after the clan in his temporary absence."
The deputy straightened and gave Kahu an honored bow with his head. "May your journey be blessed, may your return be safe." He said quietly, "Be cautious, both of you. The demon and his men are out there. Take this," Reaching behind him, he held out a little wooden crate with a handle. Inside it, beyond the wire windows, was a dove. "Send it if trouble befalls you."
Insignious sighed with a smile, taking the box by the handle. "Faithful protector. It will only be a two day trip."
"Even so. Can't be too careful."
Though he was only a few years older than the leader, Etoah still spoke as though Insignious were his unruly child.
"God you look fuckin' weird with short hair." The deputy added in a low voice, getting Sig to crack a smile and snort a little.
"Shut up." He laughed quietly, giving Etoah a brotherly shove. "Alright. See you all later." He said, waving enthusiastically to the children before turning and walking out through the entrance.
Kahu hadn't realized it, but as they walked through the clan's exit, the tight corners of his lips were pulled upwards into the tiniest of smiles. Only by fixing his bag on his shoulder would his expression fade, lost to the wind and thick forestry around them. The ash from their shoes left tracks wherever the cinders failed to reach, staining the grassy route they took. It continued for awhile, as it'd been silent since the pair left Tempestclan behind them.
And yet, eventually, Kahu decided to break such silence, bringing up old memories with a simple inquiry.
"Do you recall when you first met the other clan leaders?"
The question caught Insignious off guard, but he was glad to hear his companion break the tension.
"Ah- wow, that takes me back." Adjusting his backpack as he started to climb up a hill of gnarled roots, he sifted through his memories.
"Masaru was the clan leader of Galeclan back then. I met him when my company and I were first crossing through the area in search of a place to settle down. He was so generous and sent us on our way with all these supplies and all this food. A big wagon full. He would have sent more but there was only a few of us altogether, and we couldn't bring any more than that with us." Sig watched a large bird fly overhead, one that made the dove flutter about nervously in its cage that he carried. "Dante Aphelion, I met him when we had already settled. We hadn't established any jobs or leadership roles, we had just gotten tents secured and food cooked and wounds tended to. Just a raw, battered lot of adolescents. I was worried though, unsure about what and who lived around us, so I took a walk. A long ass walk."
He shook his head and scoffed as he recalled it. "I got completely lost, walking straight and yet going in circles. That's what Infernoclan does, though. There's no way to find it unless they let you. But anyways. I was totally lost. Just a dumbass fifteen or sixteen year old that was going on his first patrol- I guess that's what you could call it. The trees never opened up, there were no hills to climb and see what laid before you in the distance, it was just flat monotonous silver trees that went on and on and on." Looking over his shoulder, he smiled and pointed at Kahu in his usual animated way of speaking. "And then, out of nowhere, Dante was standing between a few of the trees. Not walking or moving, just standing there staring at me. Now remember I'm like dying here because I've been walking for hours, its getting dark, I have no fucking clue where I am, I must have looked ridiculous. And here's this tall, odd looking creature of a man just watching me, like..." He searched for the word, "Like an angel, honestly. He looked like an angel. So, even though he sort of scared the shit out of me, I ran over to him. I told him I was lost, and that I was just trying to learn who our neighbors were going to be, you know?"
Insignious stopped in place so that Kahu could catch up, looking into the distance. "And he just, looks up at the trees and says, 'Open the way, return him home.'" The leader smiled at his companion, his tired eyes shining with wonder, "He was talking to the trees. It was the neatest thing."
Taking a breath, he looked forward and continued on. "Then he told me his name, he told me of his clan, and he told me I needed to turn and leave before it got dark. So I did. Something about that guy- you just know you should listen to him. And, that's how I first met him."
Kahu listened intently to his partner's story, having only ever heard of the previous Galeclan leader. He knew a bit about Tempestclan's origins, being that Insignious was quite honestly its first and only clan leader. A young clan that feverishly fought for survival. Yet, having never been one for campfire stories, the warden hadn't known the man's personal tales.
"Interesting." He remarked as he closed the distance between them-- which, from anyone else, could've been regarded as a very bored response. For him, however, he took note of the greened branches overhead, curious on the truths to such a worldly oddity.
"And is this meeting point held somewhere within this captive woodland space you referred to?"
"Nah, it's held on the very edge of their territory, before the trees get wild. Hakon Kolbeck, the current leader of Galeclan, refuses to meet anywhere that he's got a disadvantage. I don't blame him. His clan has been through enough. Apollo has the easiest journey, since his clan is-" Insignious paused, catching himself. "I mean- ah, well, anyways."
Brushing the feelings off quickly, he looked back at Kahu. "This is your first time meeting Dante, isn't it? Maybe Hakon too?"
Insignious paused before Kahu could interject; the harsh reminder of his brother's untimely departure. He hadn't the words to console the leader after their awkward feud, so he continued, nodding his head with his reply.
"For Dante, yes. There was never the need to approach his territory, before."
He paused as he pushed away a lowered tree branch from their path, noting the small bits of ash still stuck within its leaves.
"I've never personally acquainted myself with Hakon, however, I believe I once caught a glimpse at the border. I assume he and his group were giving chase to prey as it neared our territory. A flurry of agile bodies, faster than the wind, and quick to catch whatever poor four-legged animal it was. The tallest one was who landed the final blow, but I couldn't make out more as they descended the hill in the distance.
...Of course, it clearly could have been another, if any more of them are even remotely as tall."
"You can't mistake him, for sure." Insignious replied, nodding. Looking over, he grinned at Kahu again. "Well- ah, I can't wait for you to meet them. They're really quite the phenomenon. Hah, though, I suppose," He turned his smile away as it glazed over and grew foggy. "Under these circumstances, it won't be- uhm- it won't be so - hhhh fuck it, nevermind."
With a frown of grief and annoyance at his own unstable rambling, he went quiet. Before the massacre, the leader had never struggled so often to string a sentence together.
Moron.
"You're not much of a talker, Kahu, any reason you asked in the first place? I'd be surprised if the silence was bothering you."
"Silence is a gift." Kahu once again nodded, not at all surprised by Insignious' questioning.
"But so is it to know of the characteristics of our allies. As this is the first time I'm meeting the others, I recalled my first judgement of you."
Ever so slightly did a smirk appear on his face, if only for a second in time.
"If you find it necessary, I am willing to both speak on your part at the meeting as well as draft a proper counterplan, should you find yourself overwhelmed."
An offer not spoken out of the leader's weakness, but rather as backup to the struggling man who lost more than the other clans could imagine.
Insignious' face reddened at the mention of Kahu's first meeting him.
"Oh-" He started, both surprised and...not, by the man's offer.
"I... I appreciate your support." Was all he could say. He wanted to deny the very idea that he'd need backing up, but he knew better than to have faith in himself right now.
The leader was quiet for the next few hours of the journey, only making small notes along the way, such as "Ah, careful where you step here-" and "Oh wow, that oak tree finally fell. Shame." Over their heads, the foliage grew more entangled and the summer leaves began to turn grey and brown. The forest grew quiet and whispery, and Insignious knew they were being watched. Twisted shadows fell over them as the sun took its leave. The dove in its wooden cage fluttered with anxiety, and he gave it a few quiet "Shhhh"s.
Reaching over his shoulder, Sig unslung a canteen from his pack and unscrewed the cap. "Almost there," He noted to Kahu, taking a sip of water. "Ambrus be with us."
As the land swallowed the two whole, he tensed up and nodded, muttering the short prayer under his breath. It was one thing to be warned of the land's odd habits, but to see it for himself as the sun fell away was a bit unsettling.
The whisperings coming from the trees in hushed tones were unmistakable, however he could barely tell one word from another. Only as darkness settled in did a small lantern in the distance appear, swaying slightly by something the man couldn't see. And yet he had the feeling that whoever it was holding onto the light could see the two men clearly.
"Looks more like a ghost than an angel." Kahu teased, aware of the differences from his story. Nonetheless, he started towards the light, squinting at the figure in the distance. As he did so, he realized that there was more than one being watching the two. Glancing over at Insignious, he checked for confirmation that the two beings were indeed the ones they'd be meeting up with.
"Honestly, sometimes I think they're both." Sig replied in a low voice, not at all joking.
As the pair made their way towards the light, Insignious recognized the tall, silvery figure of Dante Aphelion, and his advisor Rudian at his side. The Infernoclan leader was ethereal to say the least, with his long platinum hair and elegant robes gleaming under the glow of the lantern. His hands were tucked into their sleeves, as they usually were, and he had a warm smile for the two guests. There was something else in his eyes, though. A deep, painful sympathy.
"Welcome Master Zervas, Master Okrugli." Dante said, giving them an honored bow.
Insignious bowed in return with a polite smile, not bothering to ask how the man knew Kahu's name. Infernoclan always seemed to be aware of everything.
"We were informed that you'd be arriving a bit earlier than the others," The angelic man continued, nodding his head slightly in the direction of the trees as if to thank them, "So we thought we would take a walk and meet you on the journey. Before we reached the Pavilion, I..." He paused, his smile fading, "I wanted to express my heartbroken apologies for your great and terrible loss."
At this, the small amount of color still in Insignious' complexion drained. He took in a sharp inhale through his nose, gaining an ounce of courage before nodding briefly.
"Thank you, Dante." He said, clearing his throat. "It's been...yes, a terrible loss for all of us in Tempestclan."
As he replied, Dante's expression hardened, but he spoke no more on the subject despite how he wished to. "Yes...Well, come with us good sirs. Let's give you a place to sit after your long journey!" All together, they continued forward. Dante was in front, walking gracefully on a path left unseen to the outsiders. Behind him, Insignious exchanged a little childlike smile with Kahu as if to say, 'Aren't these guys neat?'
It wasn't long before the grey, endless trees parted, gradually revealing a long field of tall grass. The pasture rippled under a soft breeze, shimmering under the starlight. In the middle of the field, raised on a platform of stone, stood the Dawn Pavilion. It was a tall, marble structure with ornate columns standing in a wide circle. Atop the columns was a dome roof, from which hung long metal chimes that sang softly as they clinked together. The entire pavilion was aglow with moonlight, leaving the surrounding field in a blanket of darkness. Dante led them across the grasses and ascended the stone staircase. "Come, sit." He insisted, pulling one of his pale arms out of its sleeve to gesture to the scene. White wooden chairs all sat in a large circle, each carved with swirling floral designs. A round, low table of ivory marble stood in the middle, with silver goblets and a large bottle of what would appear to be wine. Each chair was paired with another close by, arranged for leaders and their escorts.
Casually, Insignious took his seat, the same one he always picked. Dante did the same and rested his palms on his chair's armrests.
"We will be joined by Yomi Sorir of Solarisclan this evening." The man said, looking towards his companion. "Rudian, if you would, go and make sure they find us alright. It is their first time visiting." Sig turned his head but kept his eyes on Dante. "You sent for her?"
"I did. Such horrific events should not be kept a secret, wouldn't you agree?"
Insignious nodded in silent agreement before asking, "You don't think Kolbeck will have an issue with an unexpected guest?"
"Not to worry, I informed him in advance." Dante said, smiling as he reached for his goblet. "Do help yourself to this, young masters, it's an absolutely marvelous red wine made by one of our brewer's apprentices." The man could talk all day about literally anything, but he did his best to keep things simple during this time of sensitivity.
