Snippet #2728180

A few weeks later

A lone black and gold cruiser drifted through the darkness of space, swallowed by a sea of stars. Meteors danced around it mingled with debris from ships long past - destroyed or lost - remnants of lost civilizations at the end of the universe. One of which might've belonged to the Azleir family, once. In the distance was a lone planet of blue and green, beautiful and small, already looking significantly different from what it was just a month before. Planet X.

Within the ship a woman of blonde hair sat at it's controls, leaning back into the black leather of the pilots seat with a sense of finality. What used to take a month to get here now only took two weeks, but to Caithe Azleir it felt far too long for her liking. She was anxious, had been since before she had set off, hugging Anaszia goodbye and assuring her that she would be fine that, no, she didn't need accompaniment and yes, she truly did need to do this alone. With a final wave to the Queen she had entered the cruiser and spent two long weeks pondering her words. What would she say to them? Would they even accept her? Would they even care?

But she had to do it, if not for them then for her and, most importantly, Kahu's memory. A hand went to her stomach wistfully.

The controls of the ship beeped softly, telling her that her ship was approaching the atmosphere. Butterflies flew inside her once more, fluttering worse as she steered the ship into the planet and through the clouds, revealing a sight almost unbelievable. Planet X was no longer an unforgiving, mountainous jungle full of death and mutation, instead a beautiful world of beaches and ocean. Forest-covered volcanoes peaked out of the ground in the distance, surrounding stunning archipelagos situated in crystal blue water. The Eight were no longer here and the planet was thriving.

Caithe glanced down at the piece of paper Kahu had given her once, coordinates for his village - his home. She landed the ship gently on soft white sand and, with one last deep breath, stepped outside into the cool breeze. It was very warm here, much warmer than Ulfire. Taking off her black and gold jacket she noticed small lines of smoke lifting out of the brush of palm trees and followed them to their source - a large village.

Children played in the streets with dogs following them and barking happily. She walked through relatively unnoticed, watching Kahu's people tend to everyday chores, washing clothes, chopping firewood, preparing food and mothers lecturing their kids. A group of men in the distance dragged a boat of wood covered in nets out toward the sea. It wasn't until Caithe had reached what seemed to be the middle of the village did people start to notice her, some muttering in hushed whispers, others less subtle in their surprise. She heard a child yell to his friend, "Is that the Wordsmith?!"

Caithe swallowed, butterflies increasing as a woman holding a basket of fruit approached her carefully, "Um, I was wondering if I could see the...the leader of your village? I have news of his son."