Numair had been home in his tower for two weeks, with only Cloud and Spots to keep him company. He did not use magic, never again he promised. After Cloud had arrived at the swoop Numair had decided to get away from the busy life of a mage. Everything he did reminded him of Daine. The focus on his wrist, "the one that malfunctioned," he thought bitterly. "Or am I the one that malfunctioned?" All he knew was that the focus never focused, it just jumped around the world never stopping long enough for Numair to find her, if she was alive.
Even eating reminded him of her, so he no longer ate. The tall mage who had been so thin before was now a scary sight. Not that anyone visited. What was the point of living. Death would be better than this life of continuous agony and grief.
Suicide was a very present thought in Numair's mind. But he knew that the black god and his Daine looked down upon those who committed suicide. The girl had always thought anyone could live no matter what problem one was faced with. "But she never knew how much the pain could be, " Numair thought as he walked along the beach near his tower. "Every day alone, only animals. No Daine..."
Cloud saw the stork-man in sorrow. There was nothing she could do for him. Not a thing. {And I should snap out of this too.} her horse scence told her. But...
And all of Tortall suffered. News travels fast in the animal world. Deer did nothing but mope and let hunters take them as did many animals that were hunted. Horses were no good to their masters. Darkmoon (Alanna's mount) ate little and would not follow commands. Wolves did nothing but sing the death song. And Brokefang, he knew she was gone and his pack suffered. Even Frostfur felt sorrow. The entire animal world was in mourning.
The humans noticed this, Onua's ponies were less spirited this spring as she brought a new herd from Galla. Lindhall Reed saw it in the kings zoo: the animals never played or ate, they just laid there. Even Squire Kel in the palace saw it in the dog Jump and the sparrows.
And then on the beach Numair saw the sorrow in another creature. A tiny dragon. "Kitten!" Numair exclaimed running to the dragon.
Even eating reminded him of her, so he no longer ate. The tall mage who had been so thin before was now a scary sight. Not that anyone visited. What was the point of living. Death would be better than this life of continuous agony and grief.
Suicide was a very present thought in Numair's mind. But he knew that the black god and his Daine looked down upon those who committed suicide. The girl had always thought anyone could live no matter what problem one was faced with. "But she never knew how much the pain could be, " Numair thought as he walked along the beach near his tower. "Every day alone, only animals. No Daine..."
Cloud saw the stork-man in sorrow. There was nothing she could do for him. Not a thing. {And I should snap out of this too.} her horse scence told her. But...
And all of Tortall suffered. News travels fast in the animal world. Deer did nothing but mope and let hunters take them as did many animals that were hunted. Horses were no good to their masters. Darkmoon (Alanna's mount) ate little and would not follow commands. Wolves did nothing but sing the death song. And Brokefang, he knew she was gone and his pack suffered. Even Frostfur felt sorrow. The entire animal world was in mourning.
The humans noticed this, Onua's ponies were less spirited this spring as she brought a new herd from Galla. Lindhall Reed saw it in the kings zoo: the animals never played or ate, they just laid there. Even Squire Kel in the palace saw it in the dog Jump and the sparrows.
And then on the beach Numair saw the sorrow in another creature. A tiny dragon. "Kitten!" Numair exclaimed running to the dragon.