Moonlight blocked by thick clouds.

A pair of ghosts sped down the forest road. Minds linked, hearts breaking.

Memories flashed through both minds.

Aeldr laughing, his honey hair in disarray. Aeldr sparring with her, grinning grimly. Aeldr kissing her. Aeldr giving her the Companion hair ring. Aeldr at their wedding. Aeldr holding their daughter. Aeldr smiling, Aeldr laughing. Aeldr. Her light. Her love. Her life. Her world.

Tantor running next to her,. Tantor prancing for her. Tantor next to her at their Chosen's wedding. Tantor neighing. Tantor's jokes. The nights at the campsite watching over their Chosen. Tantor by her side as she foaled their filly. Tantor. Her partner. Her stallion. Her friend. Her lifebonded. Her love.

:Ambush. Damn them. her partner, her lifebonded, her love.: thought the young woman as she fled. :Lera, focus. We need shields. I can't do that, you can.: pleaded her Companion Seiyra.

They had been fools. They had relaxed. At the worst time. And it had cost Aeldr and his Companion, Tantor, their lives. Lera carefully wove her shields around her and Seiyra. She could hear the pursuit. Seiyra may have been a Companion but her reserves were down to nothing and a normal horse could easily catch up.

Hooves pounded behind her.

Shouts rang out.

Bow strings twanged.

Silent arrows flew.

Two more ghosts died that night.

Leaving a pair of orphaned ghosts behind waiting.

A filly and a girl.

Eira lifted her head to look at the bleak sky as her namesake drifted down in little white puffs.

:Chosen, we should head back.: advised the white mare. :Not yet Catrin. I like it out here. It's so peaceful.:

Catrin snorted. :Well don't complain when you get sick. Heralds aren't invincible girl.:

:I kno-: the young girls reply was cut short by a mournful tone. The duo knew who had died. Their fathers. And if they had died then it was likely that their mother were also in danger. And then the Death Bell rang out again. Their parent were dead.

The pairs heads whipped in the dreaded sounds direction. Whirling Catrin raced towards the Heralds collegium.

Eira had other ideas. :Catrin! Stop, let me down!: when her companion showed no signs of stopping she vaulted of the back of the mare. :Eira! What in haven are you doing?:

"Leave me alone!" cried the girl as she ran away from the only one who could comfort her. She ran in to the softly falling snow as a wind picked up, swirling the pure snow. Very much like the emotions in two young hearts.

as Eira ran the snow and wind grew in strength until the world was a white haze of cold. she reached the inside of a grove, in her pain Eira lost her footing, and fell. she turned over, sill laying on the frozen, snow covered ground. she stared blankly, eyes unfocused. the tolling of the death bell a dull sound,muffled by the now raging blizzard. even so the mournful sound reached her, and she curled into a ball.

unknown to the girl a strange aura had surrounded her, pervading the entire space,seemingly coming from the grove and the girl. Escaping in waves, it pulsed in time with her sobs, growing stronger. the arrival of her frantic companion went un noticed as she allowed herself to be consumed by her grief. the strongest pulse yet blew the snow away from the girl, panicked Catrin knelt next to Eira protectively, she latched her teeth on to the girls sleeve. her mind had all but blocked out her own pain.

A final pulse and both vanished.