© 2002-2024 Evie and Heidi
Part 5

Wildlight was silent as he thought and as he looked at Pyre. Some of the strangers who had passed through Stormrise didn't have soulnames. It was a thought that he couldn't fathom. It was said those who lived in the sun village that Pyrite's family visited from time to time had none. He would feel naked without his; like there was a part of himself missing. He could understand how Pyre felt and why she needed to leave. And the fact a soulname was calling her backed up his feelings of her belonging in the first place.

**Some have found theirs later, than you** he sent, hoping it would be some comfort. He squeezed her shoulder for a moment before finally letting go. **But if it's calling you, I know you'll find it. I have no doubts.**

He managed a smile. Things were turning out a bit better than they had initially seemed, at least. Pyre was leaving, but she'd promised she'd return. **May the High Ones be with you on your Journey, and may you return to Stormrise soon.**

**Thank you Wildlight..** she answered him with honest feeling. The silence hung over the pair for moments when something came to Pyre's mind. Looking down she reached to unstrap the sheathed dagger from her thigh. **I want you to hold onto something for me..** she began, fussing with the strap them releasing it from the knot. She folded the laces up neatly and held out the ornate dagger that matched the sword she kept on her back at most times. **It's one of two things I have left of my father, all I know of him. I will comfort me to know that a part of him still remains here in Stormrise, and that I can come back for it.** A small smirk flashed on her lips and she could not help but remark. **Even if I do lose my nerve to return in the days ahead, I won't have much of a choice if I want it back I suppose.**

The firey-haired chief carefully took the dagger. He remembered the weapon, one he recalled being one of Stonetoss' most prized possessions almost longer ago than the NOW would let him remember. With a chuckle at the huntress' comment, he promised to keep the item safe. "If you don't come back, we might send a search party after you," he teased.

Then, leaving Pyre to finish her packing, he nodded a farewell and headed out of the den she had come to call her own. Though he didn't know her well, he felt sad to see her go. It was as though the happiness that had come from Quill's returned was somehow dampened because another of the tribe was departing.

The thought troubled him somewhat. High Ones, he hated feeling like this. He couldn't deal with emotions like this and the strange calls from the air above. He told himself it was because he was too tired, had eaten too many dreamberries. Yes, that was it. Sleep would bring another day, would make everything better.

So, carefully tucking the sheathed dagger beneath his arm, he took both himself and his weapon to the confines of his den where both his strange feelings and the strange dagger he held, somewhat protectively, would be safe.