From the center of her frosty ring, Eira sighed.
We leave at dusk in two days.
Fusil... Ugh... I can't stay knowing I might have to face a living ancestor, they're... they're the reason we exist. They're the reason we fight, we can't dishonor them by murdering innocent ukitu. It goes against everything we believe, every ideal the ancestors ever taught us. I can't let Kalam's fanaticism corrupt our purpose.
I've got the day to get my stuff packed. I can't be seen in this armor, so I'll steal some clothes from one of the farms. Then I'll need to tell Galilahi... what do I tell her? Maybe... I got a letter from my brother and need to go meet him... yeah... yeah that should work. She can tell the Giving Cart and they can keep it going.
I'm gonna miss this place.
"Ancestors, did I really just think that? I've been here too long."
Eira's eyes grew heavy as she planned on how to tie up the many loose ends that she-
CRASH!!!
A wall of ice instantly formed to protect her from the sudden debris that came flying overhead. She rolled out from under it when it went silent and bolted to the top of the hill. Sitting in a heap of sticks and splinters was an oak tree, roots bound in a clump of earth, leaves raining down from the sky. Nervously, she approached the tree.
In its trunk was a heart-shaped knot.
Eira's heart dropped. Her eyes darted towards the entrance of the huntsmen's hideout and saw bronze flashes filing into where the tree used to be.
Eira swore every third step while sprinting back to the hideout as fast as her coldsnapped legs could carry her.
