Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon (2/2)
But… she couldn’t help thinking of someone else whenever they met.
It always made her sad. Even in this secluded place sometimes news passed through. She heard tales of the things he did. Crescent Moon’s safety was due in part to Squall’s protection, but she knew he was watching out for them from his far-away capital, sending people to keep their little patch of desert secure.
The rift in their relationship had never healed…
Squall responded in a gentle voice. “I came to see the little one. How is he?”
Luciasha held a small boy against her chest, no more than two years old. He was sleeping soundly. Even in this inhospitable desert the boy looked healthy and adorable. Obviously the product of tender love and care.
“Who’s this?” Her eyes turned to a tall man by Squall’s side. He wore drab gray clothing and had many weapons strapped to his back. The stranger was slightly older than them.
“Ah, I almost forgot. This is my brother, Frost de Winter.”
This was Frost? She was surprised to finally meet him. Luciasha first heard the name five years ago Sandbar Outpost. He was praised as a great demonhunter and talented military commander. It was later that she learned from Squall about their shared blood.
Frost dropped his hood, revealing a bearded and handsome face. He was in his thirties, but the burdened look in his eyes made him look much older. The dashing air he once bore was gone, but it was replaced with a grim sort of resolve.
“Can I see him?”
“Of course, you’re his uncle.”
Luciasha carefully handed him over, and Frost’s calloused hand took the child from her. His dour features broke ever so slightly and there was the faintest hint of warmth as he stroked the boy’s cherubic cheeks.
“Does he have a name?”
“Everyone here has taken to calling him Wolf Cub. A pack of wild wolves was roaming near the camp the night he was born,” Luciasha said with a gentle laugh. “He doesn’t have a proper name. We wastelanders don’t care much about that.”
Frost nodded. He looked down at the pure little life and stared in silence for a little while. Soon a terrible war would come and many would die. In all likelihood most of humanity wouldn’t survive. One day it would fall to Wolf Cub, little Skye and Cloudhawk’s disciple Azura to fill their shoes. Architects of a new era.
Frost and people like him… all there was left for them to do was leave these young people with the best chances possible.
Squall broke in. “We need everyone to pack up and come with us right away.”
Luciasha was surprised by this news. She didn’t like the idea. “We’re fine here. Why should we leave?”
“The final fight is coming. Nowhere on this planet will be safe. We need to bring you somewhere else, where the war won’t touch you.” A coquettish smile touched Squall’s lips. “Cloudhawk’s opened a portal to another world. It’s got a huge city. Safe. There’s hot water, bread, comfortable lodging… you all will live there.”
Cloudhawk…
It felt like it’d been an eternity since she heard that name. A long time ago – in another life – they were like brother and sister. After Adder all of that changed. She bore him no ill-will anymore. Actually, she felt guilty for what happened. These days he was a god-like figure, standing at the front of humanity’s rebel army. She was just a little mouse hiding in the sand dunes.
Squall continued. “Come on. You have to leave, for me and for our son.”
She nodded. “Alright.”
Crescent Moon was abandoned. As they left, Sprout stopped every few steps to look back with a downcast expression. This had been home. No one bullied him. He was happy. Now it was all going to change.
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