Hounds Rising
Parting Gifts

The morning finished, and the afternoon started to linger. Myla could feel the uneasiness of the group but tried to push past it, as she was also nervous. She walked out in the main chamber to see everyone sitting around, just waiting. Mr. Muffins stood up, patted his pockets, and then looked about momentarily before speaking.

“Well, I guess it’s time we head over there.”

They all stood and stepped out of the Archmage’s Tower one by one. Myla looked back and watched as Leaf closed the door, which vanished when he locked it. She looked down at the cobblestone pathway and followed them out of the Iredale District, then out of Moonbright.

Outside the stone and wooden walls that made up the town’s perimeter, Myla noticed a group of guards standing near the gate. Seven or eight of them, all looking over at a cart about thirty feet to the side of them. They walked towards the carriages, but she noticed a young eladrin woman working on a small fire.

Maybe it was her nervousness, but everything seemed too bright. Thoughts that weren’t her own moved in and out of her mind, and she felt out of control. They stopped in the middle of the carriages as people were packing their last possessions and getting ready. The group looked at each other, then split away in different directions.

Myla walked through the carriages, listening to the many voices of the carnival troupe as they readied for departure. She could hear Rhokhishi talking with Lopper and Rags around the corner. She could see Mr. Muffins grabbing his case, with Nuv and Kiks running in circles around him. Lyla had already met up with Torra and Elysium. Leaf, Myla couldn’t see but could hear his voice in her head amongst the others, so she knew he was still nearby.

On the other end of the carriages, she walked over to Shaynth. Their hair was black braided behind their head. Myla could see that they had changed out their usually more relaxed clothing for something with more fur, as there was a slight chill in the air. As Myla walked over, Shaynth stopped what they were doing, turned around, and gave a small smile and nod.

“Hello, little one.”

“Hi Shaynth.”

“I know a lot has happened recently, but what is on your mind?”

Myla took a deep breath. Then, as if exploding, she started speaking.

“I don’t know what to do, Shaynth. I left Airelon so long ago… I made it to Lunaris and studied, and then everything happened with Lyla, which we still don’t really have any information on. Then, Yla has been giving very unclear visions, and now Nix is gone, which is my fault, and Ramona was evil! We’ve been staying with the new Archmage, whose mentor just died a few days ago, too, and it seems like everyone wants to stay behind, but is that the right choice? I still have so much to learn from you, Shaynth. People’s thoughts never seem to disappear, and the migraines worsen. I just… I don’t know what to do.”

Shaynth listened quietly, then stared in silence for another minute before taking a step forward. They took Myla into their arms and just held her tightly. After another few minutes, they held Myla out in front of them.

“I can’t answer for your destiny, for Yla, or even the things that have happened in your past,” Shaynth said, slowly saying each word. “I do know that Nix’s passing was not your fault. If you had known, you would not have attacked. The blame falls on Ramona, along with the betrayal we all feel. It will take time, but you must forgive yourself for something you couldn’t control. No one here blames you.”

Myla held back her tears. While it didn’t answer her questions, it made her feel better.

“What about the choice I have to make? Should I stay here or follow the troupe?”

“There is no easy answer for that, little one. But I do know that we won’t be far away. You know where the campground is, Myla. I have seen you map most of the area, so you will know when you are close. For training…”

Shaynth turned around and rummaged through their bag next to the carriage.

You know I can reach you whenever you need me, little one.

You’ve been practicing too? Myla asked them, hearing Shaynth’s voice in her mind.

“In more than one way,” Shaynth turned and handed Myla a small, colorful item.

Myla took it in her hands and looked at it. It was a wooden circle, roughly six inches at the two ends, about an inch thick. On the front, she saw a painting of the carnival, with small figures out in front of it. It was a miniature painting, but Shaynth used various colors so Myla could see each person individually… the carnival troupe.

“This is amazing, Shaynth! You’ve gotten so good.”

“Well, I’d like you to have it. A parting gift.”

Myla’s tears pushed past the barrier she had up. They fell down her cheeks to the grass below them. She wrapped her arms around Shaynth’s midriff and held them as she cried. Shaynth held her back, and the world moved around them as Myla felt calm come to her.

She said her farewell and moved to replace Lyla. She held the painting against her chest, like a child holding a doll, and she moved through the carriages to Elysium and Torra’s. Everyone had already met back up, and she walked over to Lyla. As she stopped next to her sister, Lyla handed a money pouch in her hand.

Elysium said that he wanted to make things easy. He bought all your paintings and my woodwork. That way, we could have a “clean getaway”.

That was nice of him.

“It’s going to be a lot quieter with you lot not being around, but it makes sense,” Elysium said, shaking hands and hugging the group.

“We’ll be at the campground til Spring, like always. If you need anything, we’ll be waiting,” Torra followed, a handkerchief in her hand, where she had been stopping tears from running down her face.

“Oh! One other thing.”

Elysium walked around the carriage for a moment, then returned with six horses.

“They’re technically the property of the Arcana Emporium, but we won’t be needing them. Why don’t you take your horses with you?”

They all expressed their gratitude, and then Elysium handed one of the reigns to Leaf.

“This one… This one was Ramona’s. While she might not have been who she said she was, the horse has never lied, especially since it can’t speak to me,” Elysium laughed at his own joke.

“Thank you, Master Elysium,” Leaf responded and bowed slightly, then shook his hand.

They spoke together for a little longer, Myla content just listening rather than speaking. They said their farewells, then turned back to Moonbright as Elysium and Torra moved to their carriage, yelling out instructions to the rest of the troupe.

The group stopped, turned, and watched the troupe move North. After a time, the troupe became just tiny dots in the distance. They walked back to Moonbright, unsure of the next step.