Quicksilver exited out of the cage, stretching his body from being cramped within. Artemis entered and he kept his attention over to what was happening before him. All around he saw the small host of noble Gryphons and the diamond dogs were packed together for the upcoming departure. Many of the dogs had gathered the necessary supplies, while others carried whatever they had, either a shawl or a small pup in their paws. The gryphons had donned on armor and whatever they could find and gathered as much, if any, weapons they could should the need arise. He prayed in his heart that it would not be necessary. The whole group was moving toward the small entrance above the area, the same one that was close to where the monstrous creature resided.
He can see the gryphons, although much to their chagrin, were flying the dogs up toward the hidden path. Some of the nobles were vehemently against carrying such creatures in the talons, yet with a quick word from Glenwing the issue was sorted out. Although, Lupin had to coax his fellow kin that the gryphons intended no harm upon them. Quicksilver couldn’t help but feel pity for some of the diamond dogs. A few were so traumatized that they would not allow any of the gryphons to get near them. Lupin had to encompass some of the dogs with his own paws and allow two gryphons to lift his body up while he carried them aloft towards the hidden path.
Those dogs had seen much bloodshed and he can see in their eyes how frightened they were.
“What do you make of him?” he heard Gretchen speak. He turned to her and she gestured her head back towards the king. He looked and he saw him with his daughter, the two comforting one another. She wept in his embrace but it appeared he was more pained for their departure. Many thoughts and familiar feelings of uncertainty and of ill wrapped around his heart. Yet, he couldn’t have them linger. Not after hearing everything from him.
“There is so much more I wish to ask. For all my life I had framed all the blame onto him for all the misgivings and grievances that my people endured and for what my family suffered and for what my sister and I went through. I fought alongside my fellow brothers in thick and thin against any gryphon getting in my way. I killed my fair number of them and hated every single one since I felt that they were all connected to him, the one who sent them all to die in this war.” he paused, his eyes lingering low.
“And yet?” Gretchen replied, the snow crunching under her talons as she drew close. Quicksilver lowered his head, his mane, now seeming longer in front of his face, dangled in front of his eyes. There were still such lingering doubts, still so many things that would tear off the right path, but there had to be some small hope.
For nothing will end so long as hope remains.
And for life to be given another chance.
“I feel as if none of this should make any sense. But the more I think about it the more I should trust him. I can sort out my thoughts later but for now at least,” he turned to Gretchen with a knowing smile, “at least I can trust you in helping me make the right decision. For you…” he looked into her eyes, the same glow from the fire nearby appearing in her eyes, “And for me.” he said and her cheeks seemed to swell from her feathers on her cheeks.
“Fletchling… I”
“We tarry for too long. We cannot linger.” the voice of Lupin came at their left. Quicksilver turned his head and saw the diamond dog already at their side. Gretchen’s head turned to the side, looking almost ashamed. Quicksilver didn’t question the move but the reply he wanted to hear still longed in his heart.
“What do you mean Lupin? It’s the dead of night and the only thing we have to worry about are your drunk friend and the guards guarding the front entrance.” Quicksilver said, but the diamond dog shook his head.
“It’s not that. It’s the storm. It’s coming.” Lupin said, his voice rising.
“Storm? But everything looks calm.” Quicksilver said, his eyes looking above and seeing nothing but the gentle snow coming down around them.
“You ponies may not know this but for us diamond dogs we can sense when a storm is coming. Whether you may sense it or not if the clouds were high or if the sky was clear as day, it matters not. We diamond dogs know that a storm is coming and this one is a big one. We best get out of here now before it hits and hunker down until it passes.” he said and the concern was not mendacious in any way.
“For once in my life I would have to agree with this dog,” the voice of Glenwing came in and the large gryphon appeared by his peripheral vision. Quicksilver watched as the older gryphon strode forth, carrying himself with some small manner of military decorum that befitted his rank of being right claw to the king. Towing in behind him Artemis followed, her head was low but she held something in her talons. She was holding it close to her chest and didn’t want to part with it.
“I’ve seen these dogs cower whenever a storm was to come to pass and I want nothing more then to be ahead of it before it strikes.”
“How long do we have until it arrives?” Quicksilver asked, watching as Lupin looked to the skies.
“If I was to guess it will be within the hour, maybe less.” he said, his ears flat against his head. Not wanting to waste any more time, Quicksilver began to head towards their exit.
“Then let us not waste time,” Quicksilver stated. They followed close behind as they went, a small gathering of the remaining diamond dogs and gryphon nobles moving into the small pass above. A few diamond dogs who refused to be carried climbed their own way up the wall, holding their precious cargo in their arms or on their backs. When they reached near the top they were lifted by their sisters and in the safety of their families, with a few gryphons hovered nearby to help if some had fallen. Quicksilver stopped near the edge of the diamond dogs, watching as the last few older or infrim dogs were being carried up by their companions. While he waited he turned to see the cyclops staring at them.
It was an eerie sight. The massive beast watched only a dozen or more yards away and he thanked the goddess that his chains were short. It licked its chops from the poor gryphon he had not too long ago and the blood was still visible in its fangs. The creature made a sound that sounded like laughter but it felt like the sound of rumbling boulders bouncing off each other. It’s massive head leaned forward, still smiling all the while at us.
“Što više trčiš, ja više lovim.” (The more you run, the more I hunt.) The creature said, in it’s own tongue, reverberating the same laughter within its own chest. The cyclops leaned back and rested back against the wall of the mountain, the impact making the ground shake underneath him.
Whatever he spoke it didn’t sound promising or of any good. The sooner they leave. The better.
“C,mon fletchling,” Gretchen spoke, snapping him from his thoughts. He felt her talons wrap closely around his waist and was pulled up into the air. He could feel the claws flat against him but the tips of her talons would prick into his ribs but not enough to bring him discomfort. She was being extra cautious with him and for that he was grateful.
A moment later the two landed at the top, being welcomed by a few diamond dogs who carried him down onto the soft snow.
“Thank you for doing this,” Tala spoke, releasing Quicksilver as he got to the ground level. A fellow diamond dog, a small pup from the look of it, that came just below his knees, was holding his gear that they had placed here earlier. The blue eyed dog had hope in it’s eyes, believing in him to lead their family out of here. He returned with a friendly smile and accepted the gear, the small pup gleamed from his. He then double checked to see if everything was in order.
The food was in the right place, wrapped tightly in a cloth so they wouldn’t jumble about. The blanket was stored over and ready for use if necessary, the music box was set in the center, protected by the cloth, and finally both the letter and the journal from Dugalle was inside. He sighed, his breath caught in the air as he knew what he needed for the road ahead. He tightened the bag as best he could and, with the assistance of a friendly dog, he managed to ensure it was secure upon his back. With that in mind he turned back to see the rest of the gryphons coming up. The remaining dogs were soon brought up and the gryphons were well wishing to be done with this place; he turned back to the main group that had spread amongst the path.
At first the sight of all the dogs watching him caught him off guard. They were all packed together, stretched out among the path, a few gryphons intermingled with them but for the most part they all were awaiting for him to guide them. Among them he saw Lupin with his mate Jade, who the former was checking in with her. It would appear they all wanted him to be ahead of the pack and to lead them on.
He glanced over to the gryphons, wanting to check and see what they were up to. Some were conversing with Gretchen about what they should do next once they escaped the camp. A fair number wondered if they should leave the dogs to their fate and take flight, but Glenwing and Gretchen managed to convince them otherwise. Others still questioned her relationship with him and he saw a few give him uneasy leers. Though the gryphon language she used was not something he was familiar with, he could see that their earlier perception of him had changed, albeit with some uncertainty among them. He would worry about the issue later since they needed to get out of here quickly without disturbing the camp's inhabitants.
“Alright, let’s move,” Quicksilver said, the parting dogs away for him to lead on down the path.
He passed by Lupin and Jade, the former nodding to him in turn, and allowed him to pass and lead them onward. He kept himself marching in a single file line, going down the same path as before. The soft shuffle of snow was apparent but as he glanced back and could see many of the dogs following in a line behind him and walking in his own steps.
The less noise the better perhaps.
He continued marching, allowing himself time to think. The more he allowed his mind to wander the more concern grew on him. What could they all do once they escaped the vicinity of the camp? How will they slip away and escape any of the sentries or for that matter get into the mountains? Lupin said a storm was coming and it could be on them within hours if not sooner. Would the gryphons tolerate seeking shelter with the diamond dogs? Would there be any time to secure all of their supplies for the long arduous journey home? And if they escape would Gretchen…
He paused in his rumbling thoughts, Gretchen filling him with what had gone through these past few months. He turned his head and out of his peripheral vision he saw at the back of the column that Gretchen was speaking with Artemis and with Glenwing. Whatever they conversed he knew not, but he knew it was right, she needed to speak among her kind. She could be relaying what had transpired between her time and with the passing of Dugalle. Glenwing was stoic and silent, nodding his head and replying in turn whenever Gretchen had finished up. Artemis was also quiet, her head low and uncertainty still lingering over her.
He had seen it before when he was back in Prancy and the sorry sights of the ponies that had suffered so.
“Hold, the path is blocked,” a voice came ahead and he swiveled his head to see some of the gryphons up ahead and panic coursed through him at what he saw.
The path ahead was buried in snow.
He rushed over to the covered mound, disbelief running through his mind. The whole snow was packed together and was roughly the height of a small watchtower. He had remembered clearly the path being open for them to escape.
“We came this way, it should not be blocked,” he said, his voice low among the group.
“Let me check,” a gryphon noble said, his wings opened up and he went to the height of the snowpack. He was anxious, uncertain as to how far they would have to dig in order to escape. A short moment passed and the gryphon returned.
“It’s not that much, the length of two gryphons perhaps, but it can be accessible,” the gryphon said, making Quicksilver feel somewhat at ease, if only but a little.
“Let’s not waste any time but be diligent. We cannot allow the guards to hear us,” He said, and the gryphons nodded in approval.
“We can help, tell us what to do,” Tala offered, and Quicksilver saw a dozen of her fellow dogs come forward, eager to help however they can.
“There is not much space, but let’s see it done,” Quicksilver said, parting to the side as the first few dogs came forward.
The work began in earnest, two diamond dogs were digging in the front, pulling down large armfuls of snow out of the pack, they would then pass of the large bits of snow to their sisters and they would disperse it as best they could on either side of the wall. The few gryphons that helped ensured that there was enough snow moved from the top so that no larger pieces fall on top of them. Quicksilver helped were he could, using his hooves to dig deep incisions into the snow and helping where he could.
“Need help lad?” the voice of Cross Sabre perked his ears.
“By all means,” Quicksilver replied, too focused to look at the thestral. Sabre joined his side and dug with him. Quicksilver had to pause briefly when he noticed how big he was. The stallion was a good head taller then him. Probably as tall as some of the farm ponies who had met back home. Though, if the thestral still had his wings, he could imagine appearing far more bigger in size.
Returning to the work before him they dug deeper and deep into the snow. Both Quicksilver and Sabre were in the middle while two diamond dogs were on either side of them. Above, six gryphons were busy ensuring that the snow above did not fall down. They would fly back with scooped up mounds of snow to the back of the line, while another gryphon took their place. Behind them was a small train of dogs, each one doing their part in helping move the snow along and sending the packs of snow onto the sides of the walls.
The snow was bitter and cold but they were moving fast. He couldn’t imagine if he and Gretchen had to do this alone if they had only come for a few of the prisoners. He was glad he decided to help everyone out. The first few yards passed and more of the fresh snow was giving way. It wouldn’t be long until they reached the other side.
“How’re you holding up?” Quicksilver asked mid dig.
“I hurt all over and pissed off at that gryphon for tearing me wings and I'm chilly to the bone. Other than that I’m fine,” he said, his voice dry but still carrying wit. Quicksilver acknowledged with a grunt as he continued to pull more snow. A few more moments passed, more snow being pulled away and the path slowly becoming more clear.
“So… mind telling me… why a thestral is out here with gryphons,” Quicksilver said through breaths, shuffling away as a diamond dog pulled some snow away from his side.
“I would hafta tell that story over a pint when we escape. But I can give an ole short version if that suits your curiosity,” Sabre said in his deep tone, pushing his way further in and causing more snow to come down behind them, and the path, thankfully, was more visible ahead of them.
“Short would do,” Quicksilver said, grunting as his hooves dug deeper into the ice and fallen snow.
“I’m out here lookin for my kin. They had come out here searching for a suitable colony fer themselves. We;ve been trying to find a home for all of us thestrals, until several months ago we found a mountain that would be suitable. We had sent word to them but mee didn’t hear back from them for many months. They sent me and a couple of mates out to investigate and find our missing tribe. When we arrived out here we ran across them gryphons, the king and his flock.” Sabre motioned his head back to the gryphons.
“We helped them out of a jam when they were low on supplies and we trusted each other to a certain point. However, when that twat bastard found us he took us all in and I lost all of me mates that came along with me.”
“Sorry to hear that,” he replied.
“Bah… we all knew the risks. Consider it a shepherd searching for his lost flock. You want to ensure they are all still alive and well even though the paths may be perilous.” he said, surging forth to break the last of snow and the path before them was now clear.
“Oh that dosey does it.” he said, and with the path cleared the two parted to allow the first of the diamond dogs to go through.
“Straight ahead the path will lead us just outside the camp, from there keep moving down the mountain.” Quicksilver stated, encouraging the diamond dogs and allowing them a taste of freedom to come. They hurriedly kept apace followed closely by the gryphons, a few deciding to fly overhead as quietly as they could.
“Well Sabre, if ever the time comes… I would like to take you up on that offer for a drink and to learn about this new land you now call home.” Quicksilver stated, and Sabre nodded.
“Aye… that aye can do. Once we get out of here,” he replied, albeit his voice being lethargic.
It would seem that he still hasn't got enough time to rest. And only time would tell if he had the strength to make it out of this alive.
“We must press on, we can’t linger,” Lupin reminded us all in a quite tone, pressing forward with his mate and following behind the pack.
“Let us go fletchling, Gretchen’s voice carried over to him. He saw her striding over, with both Glenwing and Artemis in tow. Glenwing still carried himself with whatever pride he had, though he was close to Artemis, making sure he matched her stride. Artemis was still silent, her face appearing pale as if she had seen death come before her. Every step was dragged across the snow, and her eyes held a gloom of sadness across her countenance.
After all that has happened he couldn’t blame her for what she has gone through.
“Will you be alright?” Quicksilver asked her, but she didn’t answer. Glenwing, on the other hoof, pushed himself in the front with a guarded wing protecting her.
“You are not to speak to the princess, The king’s daughter is all that he has left and she will need my protection now more than ever.” Glenwing stated, showing defiance.
“I merely wished to check on the princess and her condition,” Quicksilver retorted, “I want to ensure she will be ready for the long journey ahead.”
The older gryphon eyes narrowed and glared at him with much venom.
“By what right does a stubborn equine decide a humble gryphons fate?,” He took a step forward towards him, his wings expanding more to their full height. They were massive in stature, but the colors where less pristine then when they once were, the blue fading near it’s edge but the red trim still stood out. He stopped a foot in front of him, his head hanging over quicksilver.
“I’ve lived long enough to see the whole bloody war and the king bronzeclaws reign. I’ve watched young soldiers fight and die alongside me far too often due to them rushing headlong into the fray. The horrors that I have seen and the fights I’ve witnessed and endured are what made me who I am. I be wary, young whelp, of provoking this old bird. For I belong in a profession where fledglings and unwary gryphons usually die young.” He said, never once losing his gaze on him. Quicksilver held his ground, not backing down.
“Oi now… don’t get your knickers in a bunch. Aren’t we all trying to escape with our skins still attached?” Sabre said, replied in a gruff tone.
“You stay out of this, thestral, this is none of your concern,” Glenwing snapped harshly to Sabre. The thestral snorted in annoyance.
“If it weren’t for me and my lads dying for ya, you wouldn't be alive to tell about it,” Sabre replied, taking a step towards the royal. Before it could escalate any further Quicksilver opened his wings and put himself between the two. His wings brush against them both and he felt the noticeable pressure burning on his wings and he grimaced from the pain.
“Enough of this,” he spoke in a quiet tone, “ We are right in the middle of this camp with possibly a thousand or more soldiers. We can argue and be bitter over everything that has happened to our lives but now is not the time. Let us get out of here first then we can go after each other’s throats. Deal?” Quicksilver said, sternly. He wanted nothing to defuse the situation before it turned to a raging fire between them.
“Eh fine by me,” Sabre said, turning away from Glenwing. The noble chuffed and said nothing, only returning to Artemis' side and placing a wing over her. She didn’t mind it, nor did she show any emotion. However, she did lean a little into him from his touch. The two went past him and went on ahead, the snow falling down from above. Quicksilver’s gaze went upward, seeing the small flakes landing all around them. Some flurried around in dizzying heights, others fell heavy onto the blanket of snow.
It was only a matter of time when the storm would be upon them.
“Fletchling?” he heard Gretchen next to him. He looked at her, noticing her concern. He gave a half smile.
“I’m alright, just tired,” he paused for a moment before looking her in the eye, a sense of tiredness looming over him, “It's just, we can’t settle down, we are so close to escaping. And yet, I have no idea if we are able to reach safety with our feathers still intact. How we can get through the storm without getting stuck in another hole in the mountain. I just-” he was about to say when he felt a wing gently brush against the side of his face.
“Fletchling,” Gretchen said, her voice tired but calm. The snow around them still slowly descends around them. “Whatever happens next, I will still be here. You’ve proven that more to me everyday. You, of all ponies or gryphons, have been able to lift me up when I was at my weakest. Let us forge ahead and together we shall make it through this. You’re still my Begleiterin. And forever you shall be.” she explained. Quicksilver's face was flushed, feeling some comfort from that word she used, and he lifted a hoof to rub the back of his head.
“Thank you, though, you are going to have to explain to me what that is. I know some words of the gryphon language but not all of it. He said, to which Gretchen blinked in mild confusion, her outstretched wing returning to her side
“Oh… I haven’t told you that yet, let me just…” she paused, her eyes fixated on his hoof.
“May I see your hoof?” she asked, her talon open to him. Quicksilver was confused at first but he allowed it. Gretchen seized the hood and turned it upright. The whole hoof was covered in snow and ice, the sole completely covered and rose several inches high.
“It's nothing to worry about,” Quicksilver attempted to wave it off before Gretchen moved her other talon over the area where the ice was thickest.
“I noticed you’re standing off, I’m just surprised that you didn’t notice it at all.” she commented, her talon tracing the edge of the ice, a few flecks being pulled back from the touch. She repeated the pattern, scratching and pulling the talon back to scrap more ice shaving off the sole of the hoof.
“Honestly for us equines we don’t have much feeling in our hooves.” Quicksilver stated but Gretchen appeared undeterred from scratching.
A moment passed between them, then another, as the two waited under the star lit sky. The sound of the scratching and their breathing was all that surrounded them. Quicksilver wanted to protest, to speak up that they should get going and join the rest of the group. Yet, despite that urge, the subtle movements of her talon removing the ice and the soft noise it emanated, made him feel at ease. It reminds him of a time long ago when he was in training and he got his hoof stuck in a rope trap. He had panicked back then of trying to get out, but the harder he tugged the tighter it would get. It was only once he had calmed down and helped him he was able to escape.
In this moment, a calmness had wrapped around him with Gretchen by his side.
“There we go, it’s all clean.” she said, letting go of the hoof. He observed it for a moment, the inner recesses of his hoof was clean of all of the ice. How it got that way he didn’t not know, though, he had a hunch that being near the waters of the hot spring could have been the cause. He felt her prod into him.
“Come, let us be off,” she began moving along the path and he followed by her side.
“Gretchen,” Quicksilver began to say, but his words died in his mouth. What he wanted to utter was uncouth and yet he could not contain the nagging question. For her part she did not notice at first but he could see one one of her eyes watching him. She was waiting, patiently waiting, to listen to what he had to say. Taking a deep breath in, he had to tell her honestly.
“Gretchen, once we escape, will you return home to Gryphonstone?”
Gretchen stopped in her tracks, the snow padded softly from the abrupt halt. He stopped as well but his gaze never left her sight.
“I don’t know,” Gretchen replied, albeit softly, “I don’t know what will happen next. The Princess must be escorted to safety and far away from that bastard,” a pause hung in the air between them, “We will need to plan, regroup, and for the most part survive this winter.”
“Yet, we can’t, can we.”
Gretchen turned her head till she was face to face with him, her feathers bristling in the cold air that hung around them.
“What are you suggesting,” she asked.
“We have to make our way back to Prancy. Get to the Princesses of my land of Equestria and finally put an end to this war. We need to escape these mountains and into the safety of my people. If we can do that, there might be hope for everyone.”
“Fletchling, the animosity runs high between gryphons and equines,” she broke eye contact and moved a few paces forward in disbelief, “ I am skeptical of the fact that they would treat us fairly,”
“And how is my treatment any different?” he stated, taking a few paces forward and matching her, “ we equines will be understanding of your plight and they will get us the help we need.”
“And what of Sharpclaw? He will no doubt be gathering his forces and strike against your people before we even reach them.”
“Then we have little time to waste, and we must get to them before anything else happens.”
Gretchen turned around to face him again, only this time she had a look of annoyance upon her countenance.
“It is too dangerous. You can’t fly, the guards will be watching every crevice within these mountains when they find out their prey is missing and they will hunt us down to no end.”
“Which is why we need to get out of these mountains before anything else happens, we need to escape the coming storm before we end up trapped by the cold and their talons.”
“You're pushing a decision that is not easy to make,” Gretchen stated, her feathers puffing out. Her same demeanor from their first interaction resurfacing. “I can’t risk my people and the life of the princess for this dangerous trek. It is folly.” she stated, “ We are ending this conversation here, we must go now,” she said, turning to leave.
“Don’t you even trust me?” Quiksilver asked. She stopped in her tracks, her annoyance dissipated and her eyes widened. He stepped forward while she remained where she was.
“You managed to convince the other gryphons that I was to be their friend, that I had formed a special bond with you. Does that mean nothing to not even consider my proposal?” He took another step, then adding, “Do you not even consider what we have done together, the time that we have spent together?” Gretchen remaining in place as her feathers bristled.
“Fletchling, that is…” she tried to speak but he kept pushing to her.
“Does that bond mean nothing, am I nothing to you?” Quicksilver stated. Gretchen remained motionless, but her eyes were the most telling. The suddenness of his question caught her off guard while he remained defiant in his belief. She was shocked, for there was no doubt, but there was also a sadness that he could see in her eyes. A sadness that he saw when they had first met General Quill dead inside that cabin.
“Fletching, you must understand. They won’t care… they will never care about... this… I,” she tried to speak, her words becoming hard to understand as she fumbled to get out in the open.
“What is there to understand? I care.” he said, taking her by surprise, “I cared as we leaned into each other’s shoulders. I cared to be by your side as you had for mine. I cared when you were alone when Quill died. I cared when I finally heard the truth from Bronzeclaw. Do you not see that I care for your safety Gretchen? For you? For you I cared.”
“Fletchling,” she uttered, her breath shuddering in the wind but her eyes betrayed her. She looked… hurt. Seeing this he withdrew himself for a moment. Letting the words linger between them. When she didn’t respond he took a deep breath, clearing his thoughts, and speaking once again.
“Are we to stand by and do nothing? Hide while the hunters find us in our burrows? You seek to hide while Sharpclaw decides to kill and maim everyone till he gets what he wants. I’m offering a solution, a chance to escape, and you want to hide? I can’t stand idle, not with that mad gryphon on the loose. Because I cared enough for you, to see this through to the end. Will you let me help you once more?”
He waited for a response from her but she said nothing. The sadness in her eyes remained strong while she still lingered. Quicksilver wondered if he had pushed too far. Yet, his conscience was burdened with that nagging thought. A question that he tried to unwind and for his mind to be clear. For only she had the answer to his question.
Would she be willing to stay by his side?
“Oi Quicksilver,” the voice of Sabre came from down the path, breaking the long trance between them. He saw the thestral wave a hoof to him. “Don’t get cold hooves now. We gotta skedaddle. The dogs are getting anxious.” he said, waiting for them to move. Gretchen was the first to look away, and Quicksilver could hear her sigh deeply.
“Fletchling,” she started, not looking him in the eye. “Please don’t bring this up now. You don’t understand. The tradition that my people have. I ask that you be patient, please.” her last words were heavy with grief, almost sounding regretful.
“Please Fletchling, just wait for me.” she said, walking down the path and leaving Quicksilver were he was.
“Gretchen,” he tried to speak but she didn’t stop to listen. However, he couldn’t stop himself from what he was feeling in his heart.
“Gretchen… will there even be an us?”
Gretchen didn’t look back, her silence remaining between them.
He remained there a few moments longer, not even hearing a reply as she went deeper down the path. The snow coming down was becoming heavier and the wind was picking up and he adjusted his pack while feeling his heart longing to hear what she had to say.
He followed down the trail shortly thereafter, his actions weighing heavily on his mind. He inwardly sighed, defeated, yet, the ember within him still burned for an answer.