Under the snow moon
Big thank you to my guild Mistspread [FOOLS] for hosting a wonderful full moon tarot night guild event. Special thank you to @lesbiancharrāĀ for being an excellent photographer and the card reader! Thanks to all those who read this story and provided feedback.Ā
The wind howled outside the mouth of the cave, occasionally triggering an eerie hum that echoed through the tunnel. Snowflakes swirled at a breakneck pace ā the blizzard was picking up, and it was going to be a long night.
Solvi prowled along the cold rocky walls, her footsteps soundlessly landing in Saharās, the snow leopard that preceded her. Saharās spotted silver coat blended almost seamlessly with the surroundings as the feline cautiously stepped forward. There were ice imps in this cave, and while they were only a minor threat, they remained a nuisance. Best to avoid them, particularly as they attacked in swarms.Ā Together they quietly traced the outline of the underground system.
The pair had initially entered the cave seeking shelter, but as they wandered deeper, the soft sound of voices bounced off the walls. Solvi could make out both male and female voices, so it couldnāt be Svanir, and they lacked the rich timbre of Kodan. As they snuck closer to the source, it sounded like... a party?
Solvi rounded the corner, bow in hand with a notched arrow, ready to get the drop on hostiles. Sahar crouched low, bracing to pounce. A large room came into view, carved into the belly of the mountain, and the occupants were revealed.Ā
To say it was a party was an overstatement, but it was a merry band of... she couldnāt quite tell. There were many sylvari ā surely theyād freeze in this arctic weather? ā and a handful of humans, as well as a number of charr. The last were not a big surprise, considering the proximity of the charr tribelands to norn territory, but these didnāt look like legion soldiers.Ā
āRelax,ā she whispered to Sahar. Solvi stowed her bow. These people were unlikely to pick a fight, and theyād likely be more inclined to share the warmth of their fire with her if she approached them in a friendly manner. She considered removing her mask, but decided that sheād rather not run the risk of being recognised. Not everyone was a friend.
Now that she was out of the blizzard and had a chance to warm up, the snow that peppered her hair and clothing started to melt. Her skin seemed to steam in the glowing light of the fire ā a sight not uncommon with norn, natureās most efficient furnaces. She waved at the group as she approached them. Most were in animated, enthusiastic conversation. Another, more broody type, sat in the corner of the room. Solvi caught a few words. Something about murder, killing and the Pit...Ā None of my business.Ā Perhaps sheād approach the cheerier group first.Ā
As soon as she made it within the circle of strangers, a peculiar-looking pink-clad charr padded her way towards the red haired huntress. The chardās soft white muzzle filled Solviās field of vision, sniffing the giantessās person.Ā
āYou have a strange energy! Would you like me to do a reading for you?ā the white charr asked.Ā
Solvi looked at them with a quizzical expression. āA... reading?ā Strange gathering indeed.Ā
The stranger nodded. āWith my cards. Youāre norn, arenāt you? Do you follow a Spirit?ā
āI do,ā the huntress replied. She glanced at Sahar, who had begun to pace around the charr, picking up her scent. Solviās green eyes darted back to the stranger. āMy chosen totem is Wolf. He guides me when I need it most.ā The crackling fire flickered for an instant, the silhouettes of the caveās occupants dancing against the rock face.
The charr nodded knowingly, their friendly demeanour slowly putting Solvi at ease. āMy cards offer guidance too ā except that instead of calling to a Spirit, they use magic. Sit down, make yourself comfortable,ā said the feline, waving to the warmth of the fire. āDo you have a question you would like answered?ā
Solvi stepped forward and settled herself down beside the kind stranger. Sahar did not need to be told to relax, as soon as her companion had sat down the snow leopard curled up beside her, muzzle towards the flames. Solvi knew that Sahar was keeping a keen eye and ear on the crowd, despite her restful appearance. Comfortable and steadily warming up, Solvi took a moment to ponder. She had many questions, though most, she knew, could not be answered ā yet. Her duties as commander had led her to making many grey decisions, of which their integrity was ambiguous. What did the ranger want to know? What could these cards answer? Could Trahearne have survived? What would he have done? No, thereās no use in torturing yourself over that againā¦ and thereās no point in wondering if this struggle against the dragons will ever end. Surely there was something she could think of that didnāt awaken feelings of frustration. She wanted to know about something close to her heart, something almost forgotten. Solviās eyes twinkled as the question surfaced from the depths of her memory, a wisp of hope, loss, and love. She looked to the charr.
āThere is something that weighs on my mind. A long time ago, Iā¦ I lost my pack.ā Solvi furrowed her brow, trying to remember. She was so young when her parents had left her and her brother in Hoelbrak. The details were lost, like the horizon in a snowstorm. āI would like to knowā¦ if it is still worth looking for them, and if your cards can show me where to go.ā She suppressed the urge to shift uncomfortably. Itās only memories. They wonāt hurt you.
The question was asked. The charr revealed a deck of cards in their paw, padded digits gently grasping it. āIāll shuffle the cards now. While I do it, focus on sending your energy towards me. When the cards are ready, I will draw them for you.ā Solvi nodded, locks of red hair falling from her braid and sticking to her face as the snow melted. She closed her eyes, bringing her mind to stillness. Soon she felt the soft hum of energy that connected her to her snow leopard, but rather than following that thread, she searched for another. On her journey to become a soulbeast sheād learned that all things were connected, living and dead. Solvi found another hum, a different frequency that felt like the charr beside her. The norn focused on that lead, and tried to convey her emotions across the energy. Feelings of confusion, grief, and unshaken but dwindling hope. In her mindās eye she saw herself, young and small and vulnerable, clawing in rage at the Wolf shaman that delivered her the news. The body of a child was too small to contain such enormous emotions, and even now as a fully grown norn, Solvi could barely fit the grief back into the small box sheād hidden away deep in her soul.
Inhale, exhale. The cards were drawn, sharp claws handling them with the delicacy of a feather. Ace of cups, seven of cups reversed, knight of cups. What they showed meant nothing to Solvi, but it only took the space of two breaths for the charr to understand.
Solviās interrogator cocked her head to the side curiously. Solvi noticed her four ears pricking as the charr interpreted the cards. āCould you tell me some more about your pack?ā she asked, whiskers twitching. āHow many were there, why did they go?ā
āThere were three in my pack, but only two were lost.ā Solvi thought of her brother, with whom she had not spoken inā¦ Spirits, itās been many winters. Though Wolf taught her pack was her brothers and sisters, she could not help but feel guilt for the way sheād left things with her true brother. āI was only a pup when they left. It was forā¦ā How do I explain that they left to forge their legend? āā¦ work. They sailed south, and vanished. The trip was meant take only a few months, but when a year passed I was told the ship on which they sailed wasā¦ lost at sea.ā Solvi was thankful for the mask that covered her face from the nose down. Though it could not hide the storm in her eyes, it did hide her clenched jaw. She swallowed the waves of emotion that threatened to burst her cool faƧade. It felt odd, talking to a stranger about something so personal. Perhaps thatās what made it easier: there was no judgement. The thoughts of an unknown person weighed less than the thoughts of people she cared about. The edge in her voice softened. āOver the years theyāve found some signs of it. Bits and pieces washing up on the shore, but no crew made it back.ā
āOh! The cups is a more clarified suit with that in mindā¦ā pink eyes peered over each picture, seemingly unfazed by the tragic nature of the story. āThe ace of cups, a crow looks into a cup overflowing with water ā in the background, a crow holding a sun falls down. The aces are usually almost divine gifts: great potentials and opportunities.ā The charr pondered, claw gently tapping the second card. āThe seven of cups reversed. Upside down itās the image of a crow surrounded by cups of different things, some good, some bad. Sheās lost ā shrouded and stuck in opportunity.ā The claw traced the outline of the final card. āAnd then the knight of cups. He has mastered flying alongside a white horse as they journey along.ā
The pair exchanged a glance. āSo I think, overall what these cards are saying isā¦ the seven of cups is clearly your crew, right? They must be adrift somewhere ā trapped or lost or maybe even scattered.ā The charr hummed. āItās reversed, so they are kind of trapped by a ring of possibilitiesā¦ mist world waters. Itās not an issue of having a way out, itāsā¦ finding the right one for them.ā Solvi saw the picture drawn by the reader in her mind: her parents, caught somewhere in-between worlds, the ship surrounded by fog. The reading continued. āYou also have the ace of cups, which is overflowing with potential. I think this is you and your goals. The crow falling with the sun in the background symbolises the falling of your pack. Youāre looking into the cup back on them and trying to find them in the waters.ā
Obscure inner truths were revealed, knowledge untapped now bathed in light. While the answer remained elusive, Solvi saw new ideas in the charrās words. What stood out to her the most was the presence of this black bird in each card. She reached a gloved finger and pointed at the corvid. āThis looks like Raven. He encourages thinking out of the box, and this is certainly an unusual method. Maybe Raven has some guidance for me, and Iāve simply been asking the wrong questions.ā
A smile drew its way along the strangerās muzzle. āMaybe you should go as the crow flies,ā they said with humour.
Solvi laughed, enchanted by these cards and their reader. āYouāre clever and wise. Thank you for this reading. May the Spirits guide your hand when you next seek the counsel of the cards. What is your name?ā
The charr seemed surprised. āVetrius, uhā¦ā they paused for a moment and glanced at the cards. āPathreader.ā Vetrius smiled. āI am sure our paths will cross again.ā
Solvi returned the smile, though it was hidden under the mask. āI have no doubt it will, Vetrius Pathreader. Come, Saharā she said, and the snow leopard came to its feet, stretching its spine. Solvi rose, her own legs feeling stiff from sitting on the cold floor for what felt like hours. Most of the eclectic group of people had left. The blizzard must have blown itself out. The norn brought two fingertips to her left cheekbone, touching the green tattoo just under her eye, and then turned her hand for her palm to face Vet. Her own way of saying āI see youā. āThank you, again. Take care in this snow.ā
With that, Sahar took the lead once more, guiding the pair out of the depths of the mountain. The wind had settled, and the night had cleared to reveal the full moon casting her silver light across the snowy ranges.
