Isianu's Quest

Isianu dreamed. She was in a great field, the grass a fantastic orange-purple. White mountains loomed in the distance and the sky was almost the color of the grass. Ahead of her, another werewolf was standing. A soldier in white armor. She tried to speak, but couldn't make herself heard. For a long time she stood, until the figure finally turned. It was Trent, except that his eyes were completely white. The wind began to howl and scream. He was speaking to her, but the sounds could not reach her over the howl of the wind.

The ground split open and the gigantic form of Bernuka emerged, armored, with glowing orange eyes. She found herself standing in a small town, the town she had just escaped from, as Bernuka crushed the buildings underneath him. She tried to hide from his rampage, but no matter where she went, he followed. Finally, exhausted, she felt the cold hands close over her...

Back to Chapter Five

Isianu found herself back in the dream. The pink-orange grass of the field waved slightly in the cold breeze. In the distance, she saw mountains against the red-streaked gray sky.

A figure was striding towards her. Just as in the dream, it was Trent. His pupil-less eyes were regarding her emotionlessly and his appearance was odd... as if the colors of his fur and clothing were leeched away.

He drew near. "[Wait. Wait here.]"

Isianu looked around at the surreal landscape and then at herself. Her memory was slightly hazy, she remembered the stampede, finding Kupita, that arrogant human Strom, then the sensation of cold steel entering her... The realization of what happened came to her and she couldn't help but cry and mutter to herself. "[Why did this have to happen to me? I, I had so much to live for and so much to do for the world. I would have liked to at least dealt with my father in some small way.]" Letting out a dreary smile at Trent and sighing, "[But of course I guess you went through the same thing when this happened to you?]" Standing up straight, putting on a proud air, she said "[Very well, I shall stay here. Let Cheraniun know that Isianu Veenous is ready to be judged for her deeds in life with a light heart.]" She stood in a relaxed military stance that she'd seen so many times in the Goranthor court, for some reason she thought it was appropriate in this situation.

Trent stood impassively. "[Not at this time.]" The werewolf did not appear to have been looking at her at all, and now turned his pale white eyes to the sorceress. They seemed to look right through her. "[I do not understand this mad rush into death.]"

Isianu's head bowed towards Trent she said rather solemly, "[I know, things look so easy on this side, but from my point of view I had little choice. I could not leave my friend there to be trampled to death, just as I could not just sit there and hear that you were dead. We all take consiterable risks in our time, risks that might have this as a cost, but sometimes we need to take them in the hopes of something better. I personally am not all that sorry for what I have done. You as a great warrior should understand more than almost anyone I knew in life, sometimes the deeds we do can make up for the way we leave this world.]" She shrugged and looked around her for a second and had a notion come into her head. "[Do, do you mean that I'm not COMPLETELY dead yet?]" Various feelings of hope almost overwhelmed her senses, but Isianu tried to stay calm and unaffected. "[I would like with my heart and soul to have another chance in my mission, I only hope that next time I might be strong enough to handle the enemies in front of me. That and probably be able to find some other way out of my problems than fighting and intimidating my enemy. So, what ever my fate, I await it eagerly.]"

"[Choosing to live is often harder than choosing to die,]" said Trent. "[I find you lacking. Such a rash being is a danger to all.]" The wolf paused, as if considering. "[Very well. We shall remain until this error is rectified.]" He went silent, standing at attention.

Isianu turned her head slightly to the side and looked at the ground, not wanting to look Trent in the eye due to her embarrassment. "[I am sorry Trent, it's just that I did not think there was any way to get back from here. That and I agree with you, I am too reckless and over confident in my own abilities, humility has never been my strong point...]" She then turns her head back towards Trent, a slight smile appearing on her face with a tear in her eye. "[I am just grateful for a second chance, especially seeing how I fowled up most recently. I would be deeply honored that you stay with me and teach me to become a more considerate being. It was something I hoped I could just pick up in my travels, but it seems I need it further drilled into me.]" Standing up straight, almost mimicking Trent to the letter, Isianu said in a sure voice, "[I am ready to start the first lesson when you are teacher.]"

Isianu had the impression that Trent was amused, although his demeanor did not change. "[You already have a far greater teacher than I. Furthermore, whether this wrong will be righted is not certain. I have no more power to interfere in this then you do. Even now, I risk catastrophic repurcussions.]" The werewolf bowed his head, again thinking long before speaking. "[You must also use care. The power to pierce the veil between worlds must be carefully watched over, and with great discipline.]"

The Lupine sorceress bowed back at Trent and said, "[Well one would think so, it's not every day someone comes back from the dead.]" Isianu then stood up and said, "[I only wish you could come with me, I miss being the only Lupine in the whole country, but if you have duties here, then I understand your need to stay. I will try to do this with the upmost caution, it's just that I have absolutely no idea to go about this. Do you know of someway I could start my new quest or lead me to someone who has that knowledge?]"

Again, the sense that the werewolf was amused. "[You are confused. You believe that I am Trent. You believe that Trent is dead. You believe that your senses tell you truth. You are mistaken on all counts.]" After studying her briefly, "[There is nothing I can tell you regarding your quest. I am limited in that respect.]"

She was taken aback by the information that the spirit, is what she could call it now, had told her. Trent was still alive? She had seen the soldiers drag his body out of Neihl's tent, but she wasn't that close to the body and could only go on Neihl's word. He might still be alive, but for what reason? At the moment, Isianu didn't care, she was just glad that he was alive, but there was still the problem that she wasn't. She looked up at the Trent-like figure in front of her and asked, "[Very well, I will not burden you with my needs in getting back to the land of the living. I only ask you this, if the man who's visage you wear is not dead, where is he? Even if I can not return, I would at least like to watch over him...]" Isianu then realized that she never had a good look around this astral landscape. She would probably have to depart soon for her quest, and she should probably work out which direction she should go in.

"[I do not see him; I merely state what I know to be true. His life force has waned of late, but he lives.]" Isianu took stock of her surroundings. The surreal field seemed to stretch in all directions to the horizon, although there was a range of dark gray mountains in one direction against the lighter gray of the sky. Trent watched her search, cautioning, "[Patience.]"

Isianu's curious nature faded and she looked back at the spirit, saying "[Of course, I'm just a little confused about what to do, that's all. If I am to wait, then wait I shall.]" Looking the Trent- spirit in the eye and giving it a slight smile, she added, "[I would just like to thank you for your patience with me. I know that sometimes I can be a little hard to handle, expecially for someone like you.]" With that Isianu stood there and waited for what would come next. She tried to use her time as best she could, reciting her magic lore, and tried to work out various philisophical problems such as Does magic control Lupines, or do Lupines control magic?.

Trent simply stood there. His pale eyes gave her the feeling that he was not looking at her, or at least not seeing her as she was used to being seen.

Finally, Trent spoke again, cutting into her thoughts. "[A being and its magic are one and the same. Neither can control the other. They are of one mind and one will. Does the flesh control the body, or does the body control the flesh?]"

Isianu stood in the field. The silent stranger stood nearby. The sky began to darken. The wind began to howl. She felt a pain in her chest. A wrenching sensation followed.

G6 Chapter 7