» In the End

R I X E N I watched as Hope and the god who called himself Kisamoa interacted with one another. The latter did not look too thrilled that Hope was here. His ears were pinned to the sides of his head and his lips were curled back in a scowl. Perhaps he was… jealous? The doe’s voice was hushed, as if she did not want anyone in the crowd to hear what they were saying. Still trying to make sense of what was going on, my ears flicked to and fro, a clear sign of my interest in their conversation. Unsurprisingly, Hope held her composure even through what looked to be Kisamoa’s seething remarks, although it was too loud in the clearing and I was not standing close enough to make out exactly what was being said.  Finally, Hope turned to address the group of horses once more. She praised us for using our orbs to heal the Rift, but more importantly, she gave a motion in Kisamoa’s direction. Her biggest compliments went to the stallion, who she credited with beginning the struggle against the sickness that had plagued this land for so long. It was a battle that I assumed had begun some time before my arrival here. I remembered Kiada telling me something about it in the Green Labyrinth, how Kisamoa had been born up out of the Helovian gods, crafted as a guardian of the Rift (though arguably he hardly looked it). So busy was my mind with these thoughts that what would be Hope’s last words slipped the range of my hearing.  Then, as if on command, the orb that had been travelling beside my shoulder ever since Otem had shared hers with me burst into what seemed to be a million pieces. A large fragment collided with my shoulder. I felt the impact below the dark hair draped along the base of my neck, just where it connected with my withers. Looking around me, I could see that everyone else’s orbs had done the same. Kiada seemed just as surprised by it as I was. Craning my head around, the glowing mark was just visible at the edge of my vision, a permanent reminder of all that we had accomplished together. I did not mind it in the least. "It’s… a mark?" I breathed, half to myself, but certainly Kiada could hear. My emerald eyes shifted back to Kiada, "You have one too, behind your ear." I observed upon spotting the glowing shape behind her ear, unsure whether or not she could see it. These markings must have been what Hope was referring to, but upon looking up again the great deer was nowhere in sight, disappearing into the depths of the Rift as mysteriously as she had emerged. I wished she could have stayed longer, but something deep within me knew that she would likely emerge again, even if some amount of time had to pass by first. On the bright side, it was something to look forward to.  "Talk." they heard me singing and they told me to stop quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock

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