Precedent scene: The Market (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/the-market/2961499/) First scene of the story-arc: Chaos and Death (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/chaos-and-death/2889324/?p&ca) ________________________________________ Louise was outside the village, searching for dry wood, accompanied by Slikke, Sigrid's dog that she had left in the custody of her mother. Louise was safe with the dog who was big enough to scare most of the creatures of Hvittland, at the exception of giants or evil shamans. But no giant have been seen in the area for a while and Seidr, the shaman of the land, was protecting the region against the curse of the maleficent shamans. The presence of Slikke reassured Louise, but she felt uncomfortable to be alone in the wild. It had not been always the case though, but things had changed since the Orcs attacked Húsjaðriáin (Husyathriaïn) six months prior. Even if she wasn't there during that terrible night, the kidnapping of her grandson and of most of the children and women of the town, the death of Sven, her son in law and the wounds of her husband that had never healed since, had marked her beyond words. That is why, when Slikke started to bark in the direction of the road coming from the south, her heart sank. First she saw nothing on the road, but after a moment, five silhouettes followed by a horse or possibly a mule, appeared. They were too far at first and all she could discerned was that a dwarf was in the company. Louise wondered what to do, stay or leave, when the attitude of Slikke changed. Maybe it was that the wind had modified its direction, or maybe it was something else, but his aggressive barking and growling transformed into happy yaps and he started to jump around Louise, like if he was trying to tell something. Intrigued, she tried to take a better look at the group of travelers. They were still afar but she was now pretty sure that the companions of the dwarf were four women. One seemed to be a dark elf and another one, with her staff, seemed to be a magician, like the one who arrived to the village the days before, even if she was not wearing the tradionnal hat of her caste. The two other women looked like warriors. She let her eyes fixed on the warrioresses, a blond and a redhead, as a thought crossed her mind. Could they be...? The group, now seeing Louise had stopped, observing from distance too. Louise saw the two tall women talking to each others and pointing at her direction. Her intuition growing bigger and bigger and not being able to hold back longer, she started to walk toward the travelers, followed by Slikke. Slowly first, but accelerating quickly as she was coming closer, even pulling off the basket of wood from her back that was encumbering her, to go faster. Meanwhile the two warrioresses started to run toward her too. It has been ten days since the group had left Flóilogn. Usually in the good seasons the trip to Húsjaðriáin only took seven days, but in winter it could be much more longer. Fortunately for the five companions the weather had been relatively clement (for a Hvittlandish winter) and they managed to travel fast. The trip went well and even if they didn't found shelter every night, because of Delphine's magic, they never suffered of the cold, even when they were traveling at night (the days being short because of the season). When they crossed towns or villages, they never had problems to find shelters, even with the presense of Romatzo. It would be an error though to say they had always been welcomed with open arms. Some were clearly unhappy to welcome a dwarf, or a dark elf (Minalva was the first wood elf, or even elf in general, that these people were meeting, for the most part.), in their inn or house. But the hospitality tradition seemed to have been stronger than their prejudices. Or maybe it was simply because they looked like the kind of group you did not wanted to make angry. They were now approaching of Húsjaðriáin, the birth place of Sigrid and Marina and their final destination, at least for a time. Marina and her sister were more and more impatient to arrive. Suddenly, they heard a barking noise coming from further north, on the road. The path taking a turn, they weren't able to see who or what was ahead of them. But, "I know that barking.", thought Sigrid. Although, she kept it for herself, not been completely sure. They decided to continue to advance like before, but to be on their guard however, in case of. Once they took the turn, they saw the dog and a person far away. Minalva who had the better eyes described them to the others. When she did the description of the woman, Marina and Sigrid stopped. " Do you think that's our mother? asked Marina. - I don't know someone else in the area matching her description and the dog is clearly Slikke. Now I clearly recognize his barking, responded Sigrid, pointing to the dog and Louise. - The woman is approaching, remarked their elf friend." The two sisters looked in the direction of their mother. They stayed immobile for few seconds, then started to run towards her too. " Mother! they called her both at the same time. while coming closer. - My darlings! responded Louise, finally reaching them." Marina, who was the most in front greeted her mother by taking her in her arms and hugging her tightly. Sigrid did the same soon after. Slikke, was jumping all around the three women, exited by the return of his mistress. He was happy to see Marina too, whom he has known before she left, when he was a younger dog. Further back, Romatazo, Minalva and Delphine kept some distances to let privacy to their friends and to let them enjoy the reunion. Minalva took a better look at Marina's mother now she was closer. Blond, with some grey hair strands here and there. She was little compared to her daughters, who were at least one head taller than her, but for a human Tyrnaelvan, she was in the average. But there was a part of her body that was not average. Minalva leaned near Delphine and whispered, chuckling: "Now I understand where Marina and Sigrid's large lungs come from." Delphine put a hand in front of her mouth, repressing a laugh. " Mina! Don't makes me laugh in such a situation, she wispered. - Sorry, responded her friend, revealing her white teeth in a cheeky smile." Looking at this touching reunion, Romatzo got lost in his thoughts, wondering how things would happened if he came back to Herrshilta. But he knew the meeting would not be as happy as this one. Although, for a moment he missed his familly. His mother, his sister and his grand-father. His dad though, it was another story. " Let me look at your face. said Louise to Marina. It has been so long." She was crying, but she was happy at the same time. " Look at you. You are even more beautiful than before you left. - You too, mamma." responded Marina smilling but with tears in her eyes and a trembling voice. A part of Marina was sincere, but she also found that her mother was looking much more older, compared to the last time she saw her, five years prior. Sigrid was observing her mother too. She said nothing about that to her sister, even later, but she found that their mother looked several years older than when she left the country almost seven months ago and it broke her heart. Several minutes passed before Marina presented quickly her companions to her mother. Louise was impressed by the friends her daughter have made. It was not given to everyone to befriend with what looked like a powerful dwarf warrior, a magician and a wood elf fighter. The reunion and the presentation made they were now all more impatient to reach Húsjaðriáin. Louise had not finished to fill her basket of dry wood, but it could assuredly wait. ________________________________________ Yay! New storyline picture finally. I need to try to write faster these texts... I don't have too much to say about the picture itself, only that it has been fun to create, like always. :) About "Húsjaðriáin", should I continue to write it this way, or should I write it "Husyathriaïn" which sould be more readable for everyone?