Orc & Siren One

Burzog walks along the worn path between hills, looking for the rendezvous point. They had agreed to meet in this area after separating for a few weeks to work on personal tasks. Burzog hears his traveling companion before seeing him… a familiar voice is mixing with the sound of the wind through the tall grass.
“Every rose has its thorn
Though it’s been a while now
I can still feel so much pain
Like a knife that cuts you the wound heals
But the scar, that scar remains…”
Lying among the grass there he is, Raine.
“Such painful lyrics on such a pleasant day,” Burzog greets.
“The day is pleasant indeed when it leads us back together, friend!” Raine responds as he rises and gathers his things. The wicked scythe is still with him and seems to pulse with recognition to Burzog’s presence.
Part of their travels is to gain knowledge about the origin of the wicked blade, a memory that has been taken from Raine along with the mystery man who gave it to him.
“On to the next region to spread word of the Astrel Convergence!” Raine exclaims. Burzog has been tasked with spreading word about a great gathering and reaching each nation as a representative. Their personal journeys work well with keeping one another’s company. “I had another memory of HIM, a glimpse of a battle we were in along a mountain ridge road. The enemies were bound in dark wrappings covering their features and had an assortment of curved blades. We were hampered by both sides… I saw him using the scythe to deadly effect… my barrier protecting our backs… and that’s about it so far.” Raine gets that lost look in his face as he tries to find more.
Bruzog places his hand upon Raine’s shoulder. “Another piece is found. Take comfort in that and hold fast to hope.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
On they walk in companionship as the sun moves with them.

“Looks like we won’t make it to the next town this day. Let’s find a good spot to make camp.”
After doing so and with a soft fire lighting their area the friends settle down.
Raine’s face is etched with worry and he catches Bruzog taking notice.
“The nights have been difficult for me. There is someone out there that I know I care about and cared about me that I don’t know how to find. Someone who needs help and the fear for him, the want, it’s eating away at me.” A tear falls as Raine shares. “I don’t mean to worry you, sorry to be in such a state.”
“I understand what you mean my friend and you have no need to apologize to me or anyone else, though our experiences differ we have in common a separation from those we love. Those that I long and fear for I do not speak of often, nor in depth, amongst our peers; but I dream of them still…” Bruzog said, offering a cloth to Raine for his shed tears.
“I see at night in my dreams the sun set low in the sky, the wind rippling the tall grass as far as the eye can see at the foot of the mountain like an ocean of burnt gold… my love, she beckons to me but my feet are still. I look down as I feel my hands being taken, and see it is my son Lokar and my daughter Nazasha pulling me along. I always look up again and see my eldest, my beloved daughter Biral step out from behind her mother, my dearest Nokhana,” Bruzog’s voice cracked as he uttered his wife’s name, trailing off he curtly looked away and searched for kindling to help keep the fire going.
“How beautiful the image of you with your family. Thank you.” Raine responds.
“What of you though, Raine? What can you tell me of your lost loved one from your dreams, I truly wish to know if you feel the inclination to share with me,” Bruzog said, pausing from his gathering to look at his friend. He did not like to see Raine in such a state, with others it was easy to be cold, impartial. But Raine had grown dear to Bruzog, a true friend; one who’s pain carried over to the old soldier as well. He walked over a set his gathering of branch and twig beside the crackling flame of their campfire, and then sat down beside his friend and gave him a hopefully comforting pat on the back and shared a small smile with him… uncommon from the often stone faced Orc.
“He is a leader among his people, strong, and fierce. He needed help for them all and stole me to give them that. I remember being taken and the fight I put up… but I also remember fighting beside him, being protected by him, comforting him, and… caring for him. It was three months of my life that only comes in flashes. So many unanswered questions. I keep hoping that dreams reveal more, or flashes to come as we walk… but time will tell. We have a new town to visit tomorrow and rest to get tonight.”
“May it reveal what is unknown.” Burzog shares as they settle down for sleep.