Forbidden unity

The bearer of the seal

Allura and Arguyas had fled from the burning ruins of her city. Not a single survivor apart from them had emerged from the ashes and rubble. 

Allura was in no state to desire moving from her place on the ground. Exhausted and in pain from the fight. Her head couldn't wrap around what had just taken place only mere moments ago. That entire attack was both cold blooded and cruel. 

Arguyas was furious that his brother had done no learning from their father, and chose to follow in his shadow of destruction and pain. He knew he was the only one in his family who felt that war was ridiculous and unnecessary. It only caused more harm to innocent lives. 

Arguyas got them to a small, slightly dilapidated old huntsman shack in the woods to rest for awhile.  The house was made of a weathered and mossy oak wood that was ranging in several different shades of brown. 

The shack was covered in moss and climbing vines. Small holes littered the straw roof and the windows were smashed out in several places. The floor groaned in protest under their boots and the walls seemed to whistle a mournful tune as the wind blew across the holes in the wood. 

Furniture still laid strewn across the cabin. In the far back left corner stood an old wood burning stove with the door hanging off its hinges and squeaking as it swayed back and forth. A tiny stool sat at a table that was fallen over and missing a leg. 

The far right corner held a chest with a few pieces of yellowed and tattered linens spilling from the lid that was slightly ajar. A single lonely lantern sat atop the chest with a single half melted candle inside and droplets of rain water on the inside of the glass. 

Their was a round maroon colored rug spread across  the floor that had many holes scattered across it. The tinge on the outside was frayed and strung out as if slowly pulled apart at the seams by a desperate animal. 

A tiny broken down baby cradle sat on its side to the left of the rug by the creaky stairs that lead to the inaccessible second floor. A tree had fallen into the roof above the stairs and smashed into the stair case making it impossible to go up. 

Then by the door stood an old bed. The sheets were ripped and yellowed by the weather. A small pillow and blanket lay bunched up on the bed and a tiny water logged book underneath that seemed to have become home to several insects over time. 

Allura was much to exhausted to care that the bed she was about to collapse upon looked as if it had become a breeding ground for disease. She plopped down on the bed and slowly closed her eyes letting out a long hard and shaky breath as her eyelids fell heavy and presented the darkness underneath. 

Arguyas slowly covered her up in the tiny blanket and made sure she was comfortable before going out into the forest to collect wood for the stove, to keep them warm at night. 

While out he did manage to find a few small animals to bring back for dinner. Skinning and cooking them while Allura rested. 

Not too long into the evening there was a small and gentle knock at the door that grew more and more frantic as it thudded against the creaky wooden door. Each bang made the door groan in protest against the force of the blows.

Arguyas was cautious of the knocks on the door in fear it may be an enemy after them. He slowly rose with his weapon in hand and inched towards the door, growing ever louder with the frantic knocks of their unwelcome guest. 

He slowly opened the door, only to find a decrepit and withered old man standing there under a dark brown cloak. He carried in his right hand a walking stick that was a massive knot on the top and was carved with pictures of animals all around it.