A man with striking features and broad shoulders, soaked in blood and moonlight, came running out of the woods and into town. The screams awoke almost everyone but filled with their own terror didn't dare go outside until he managed to squeeze his name through his hurried and hushed tone. "It's me, Bast!" It was one of the men Eho sent out. Every awake soul rushed out, surrounding the man. Torches lit up Ambra like a beacon, no darkness left even in the deepest of corners. Vesless was also there, though she didn't know the man, just that people called him The Burly Prince. Ves listened and watched as he told his story.
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His eyes were bursting with a rare wildness, a pure terror that no one here had ever witnessed. He was missing part of his left hand, with gashes across his chest and legs and for worst, a cut from his left temple down to the right side of his jaw. He looked like a boulder who's only enemy is time but a lot of it has passed so it's full of cracks and breaks. Only time can be a threat to something so strong, Ves thought. The Burly Prince spoke between groans and sips of water his wife, Etnis, brought him. He flailed his arms about and spoke of a monster in a fog so thick you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. He raved of the men that stood beside him as they were cut down one by one without anyone seeing it coming. He wouldn't admit it but he was the first to turn around and run. Others tried but weren't as successful, if you can call his retreat that. He was falling apart in more ways than one.
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His wife waved a hand and took his shoulder to lead him home to nurse his wounds. The villagers stood there coated in their orange hues under the moonlight, speechless and searching for answers in the sea of shocked faces. They knew they needed water, they knew they've just lost anyone close to capable of getting it back, they knew they were doomed. Everyone looked towards Eho.
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Eho didn't hold any answers, though, his face only held a blank stare. If you squinted you could almost see the tiny dark rain clouds over his head and the mist of shame and puzzle encircling him. The chatter died down, along with the adrenaline and everyone returned home, too tired to think about the awfulness of the situation. Eho, he didn't sleep. He couldn't. He picked a random direction and starting walking. The guilt dragging behind him like a ball chained to his ankle. He couldn't face the coming morning, the questions, the look of guidance on everyone's faces.
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The morning came like it always did, the dry river bed a mocking smirk of mother nature reclaiming what's rightfully hers. The villagers took notice of Eho's absence, it deepened their worry but none had the knowledge, or courage, to follow him. Everyone did what little they could to regain some normalcy to no real avail. A gloom followed everyone.
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Vesless tried her best to stay strong, for her mothers sake. Fetching her food and telling her the comings and going's despite her failing memory. Ves was scared, the same as everyone, frantically searching for any kind of comfort to grasp onto.
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Days and nights of a quiet sadness passed.
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