As the sun began to rise over the charred ruins of Whitestone, Athena wiped soot from her face, her hands trembling from exhaustion. She moved mechanically, lifting debris and helping survivors to the makeshift triage center.
"We fought so hard to protect this city, and yet..." she thought.
Her eyes fell on a young girl clutching her mother's lifeless hand. Athena knelt beside her, her heart breaking at the sight. She whispered soothing words to the girl, though they felt hollow.
She glanced around at the others, each working tirelessly. Vex was organizing search parties, her voice steady despite the chaos. Keyleth used what remained of her magic to mend wounds and coax dying embers. Pike used her magic to heal as much as she could before she grew weak from the strain.
Percy was gone, meeting with his sister and their allies about the steps to take to try to rebuild the city. She couldn't imagine what was going through his head after seeing his city turn to rubble for a second time.
Athena looked down at her hands, streaked with blood and ash. Her mind raced to the screams and cries she heard last night. A survivor grabbed her arm, shaking her out of her thoughts. "Thank you," they said softly, their voice cracking with gratitude. Athena managed a small nod, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Still, as the hours wore on, the faces of the dead seemed to linger in her mind, each one a reminder of her perceived failure. She caught herself looking toward the horizon more than once, as if expecting another attack.
Fortunately, the sky was only a dull gray from the ashes that coated the city's lands.
As the sun dipped low once more, painting the ruins in shades of red and gold, Athena sat for a moment, staring at the distant mountains as the group, finally reconvened with each other, and sat around a low campfire among the rubble.
"Thordak knows this place now, and Raishan knows it's unguarded," Keyleth began breaking the silence. "If we're gonna get Ripley, we need to do it soon."
"Scanlan could try to find her again with Mythcarver," Pike suggested with a small smile. However, her face quickly morphed as her shoulders dropped. "If he was here."
"I could check with my old contacts in the Clasp. If anyone knows how to catch a snake, it's a guild of thieves," Vax said.
"No need, I've got her," Percy announced walking up to the group. He held a small rock between his fingers. "Obsidian Thermite. A rare rock scorched by divine fire during the Calamity. This can only be found in one place....the Isle of Glintshore."
Percy tossed the rock to Vex. "She didn't just leave this behind. It was intentional. An invitation," she said inspecting it.
"Clearly. But we'll be going anyway."
"I see nothing wrong with that plan," Grog said cracking his knuckles.
Vex stood up, however, her tone changing to a low tone, "Darling, I know this is personal for you. Are you sure you can contain yourself?"
"You said I'm a changed man," he said, turning to her. His eyes, sharp with determination, held a flicker of vulnerability as they met hers. The fire in his gaze softened, just enough to let her see the weight of his resolve and the care beneath it. "Let's hope you're right."
Vex gave a quick smile to him, before her expression turned serious as she addressed the group. "We'll leave at first light, then."
Grog raised his right hand, "Right. Uh, side note. Where is Scanlan?"
YOU ARE READING
A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM
Fanfiction"I don't know if I believe in the gods...but I believe in you, Vax." Athena never had it easy growing up in Tal'Dorei. Orphaned at a young age, she was selected to begin the brutalist of training to become a weapon as apart of a masked order of kill...
