Private Tales Touching the Void

"Who are you?" The tone was soft but the strained sounds of a drawn bowstring showed that who ever spoke those words meant business no matter how soft or gentle they sounded.
"I have killed bandits before and i will again. If you didnt see those bodies I hung up and think you would be the lucky one not to join th-..."
She stopped mid sentence as the cold temperature began to drop even lower as energy began swirling around Eleanor and the shrine.
"I bring you a guest, and pupil and you treat them with hostility?"
The cold voice came from the shrine as a gasp could be heard from the person behind her as the sound of someone collapsing was muffled by the snow.
"Forgive me.." She was able to gasp out as she slowly rose.
"Good. Now be kind to each other my children." It said with a chuckle before the energy seemed to disappear. "So..your a new priestess.." She heard the soft voice ask. Still catching Their breath. Her face concealed by a hooded cloak. "I had always thought I'd die here alone..." She said seemingly to herself.

"Yes I would say so.."
said Luna with a slight nod as her left eyebrow arched slightly.
"You must be tired, hungry and undoubtedly full of sad tales ,and unanswered questions..." She let out a soft sigh at the sight of this child. Ruined by the very thing she served.
The thought seemed to dissolve from her brain like grime being wiped away with cloth leaving no trace of its rebellious existence. "The child was important. Keep it alive and take care of it." seemed to slide into its place like a puzzle piece forced to fit. "Come inside or your death will be sealed by this cold young one."
She said as she approached Eleanor, slowly unclasping her own heavy fur lined cloak and draping it over the girl, and seemingly unfazed by the chill that seemed to crawl into ones bones no matter the layers one wore. She placed an arm around the girls shoulders and slowly helped guide her towards the thick oaken door.
She pushed it open easily and guided Eleanor to a bench before busing herself with stoking and tending to the fire happily crackling in the fire place.
"So.."
Luna said, her eyes never leaving her work as she laid wood into place.
"My name is Luna and this is my shrine...Now please. speak freely. I will answer what I can..."
She finished gently as she rose from the fire and sat on the bench next to Eleanor. Her hands were stained with blood from the days sacrifice and some blood had splattered on her cheek leaving a crimson streak. Her raven hair was long and flowing with some sections twisted into dreadlocks threaded and decorated with animal teeth. She seemed truly savage.
However her demeanor was a calm, subdued, gentleness that seemed almost comical...or unnerving depending on how someone looked at it.

"Our master uses us for many reasons.... You are closer to his realm than most, you see things many can not..You posses powers that when coupled with the powers my master grants, will make you a very powerful mage, and a powerful mage is always an asset."
She said frankly.
She then quickly rose and grabbed a kettle from the table the bench was next to and left before quickly returning with the kettle full of snow. She retrieved a small corked bottle full of dried leaves before crushing and sprinkling them over the top of the snow as it began to melt. She watched the process begin as she glanced at Eleanor in a way as if to tell her she could continue with her questioning as the snow slowly melted in the kettle.

The water began to boil as Luna let it for a few moments as she responded "Our master's shrine needs up keep and I do so faithfully."
She seemed content with how long the tea had boiled and poured it into 2 tin cups, before handing one to Eleanor. She truly felt bad for the child remembering the first cold nights she herself had spent here. In the broken shell of a cabin.
The wolves lonely howls waking her through out the night. While the girl had Luna, Luna felt she must be in the same frame of mind.
The setting was the same even if it was slightly more comfortable than it was in the past didnt change the jarring nature of it all.

"The other one? Who do you speak of young one?" Luna asked calmly after a small sip of her tea. She rarely could remember much, and "the other one." was said as if she would have affiliation.

"Ah..Elise..When she came here she was full of anger and hatred... Bastellen simply offered her directions to point it."
Luna said softly as she refilled Eleanor's mug and began busying herself with food.
"Though Dread Weavers are neither known for their gentleness nor their mercy, but as a priestess of Bastellen they are sworn to keep you safe..... Im sure Elise cared for you in her own way. There are to few of us now to not care for each other."
She said plainly as she finally returned to the table with a plate of dried meat and half of a loaf of bread on a plain wooden plate
"Its dried wolf meat and half a loaf of bread I baked this morning.. Its not much but Im guessing you havent eaten due to your lack of supplies. So eat. Then continue with your tales and questions."
She said nudging the pate towards her and began to reach to place a hand on her cheek , brush the strand of white hair falling in her face and tell her that she was safe and to be at peace with the past...But she stopped half way and quickly drew back hoping Eleanor hadnt noticed. She had to remember..She used to be comforting..used to be....But that was...before....
Now? She thought of her cold, dead touch and her flat, dead tone..She doubted that would bring much comfort.. So she contented herself with nudging the plate a little closer before sitting down with her usual unnervingly, silent grace waiting for her to eat and continue patiently.

Luna sat and nodded quietly. "I traded myself for my parents." She said with a note of sadness that seemed to match Eleanor's.
"Now lets get some rest young one. I have much to teach you. I will handle the sacrifices, hunting and rituals in the morning so you can rest as long as you need. When you awake I will show you the duties you will need to do daily and answer any more questions you may have."
She rose silently and stripped to her undergarments. Her body was a tapestry of of old scars varying in freshness, some where slashes, stabs, from blades and teeth, and others puncture wounds from arrows. She slid into the bed under her numerous bear pelts. She left the kettle and plate out but hung her robes and armor next to the door by her bow.

Luna heard the sobs and reached out before she could stop herself. She pulled her closer to herself the way a mother wolf pulls in her cubs. She held her close. There was a soft loving tone in her voice which was much but was the first and one of the few times Eleanor would hear that much emotion in her voice. It almost sounded human as she attempted to soothe the undoubtedly still shaken, and frightened girl.
"Calm yourself young one. Im here." She whispered giving her a small squeeze before releasing her grip and closing her eyes. If the girl found comfort she could stay. If she did not Luna did not wish to hold her captive. She had remembered her first night. How she longed to hear the breathing of anyone..to hear anything that showed there was more than wolves and misery in the tundra. She had not gotten her wish. The tundra had hardened her like a wolf without a pack to fall back on for safety.
She became what she was. An animal, no better than Elise...just slightly kinder... The least she could do was be what she had not had for someone else. Maybe Eleanor would turn out different...She began to drift off as Eleanor's breathing and the crackle of the fire began to lure her into the void of dreams. The waves. The whips and chains...The tower...the alter...blood...the screams were all there to meet her as she slumbered racked with the pain of past guilt and injuries. Tormented by a past that clawed at the back of her brain like the whispers, and still she calmly slept.

The rocking of the ship. The cracking sound of whips and boots clunking on the old deck. "You left me." She heard the voice. She didnt look up. She knew who it was. "Why." The voice whispered in her ear.

Her eyes snapped open. The first soft beams of light were cutting through the trees outside telling of the sunrise soon to come. She rose silently. She was careful not to upset Eleanor as she dressed and slid her bow and quiver from its hook by the door with a ritualistic dagger strapped to her side as she took her leave like a ghost.
The sun was steadily climbing as Luna returned from her snares and traps. A lone male deer was draped across her shoulders with two rabbits and a squirrel strung and hung from the deers long antlers.
She placed the smaller game to the side as she laid the buck on the alter. She took her ceremonial dagger and slit the animal from stomach to throat allowing its blood to flow across the alter top and fill the runes inscribed across it. After the ritual had concluded she closed her book before strapping it to her side.
She retrieved the smaller game and made her way inside quietly as she stoked the fire and built it back to its crackling glory.

She set the kettle to boil as she picked some jasmine from her cupboard she added some to the already quickly melting snow. Luna then busied herself with cleaning the rabbits and squirrel at her small side table. She was careful with the snow rabbit pelts making sure to maintain their integrity. The tea began to boil as she set the raw meat on a spit and began to cook it. She took the kettle and poured the tea in the same tin cups as the night before.
"Are you well rested young one?"
She spoke finally as she sat down blood stains up to her elbows as she sipped her tea slowly enjoying the jasmine scent.

Luna nodded slowly.
"Good. I was going to show you your duties as a priestess when our meal has completed. And if you have any questions."
She said as she pulled the meat from the fire. Setting it on a plate she set the steaming meat in front of Eleanor along with a couple of dry biscuits. She ate slowly passing her new found companion a fork and knife. She rose from the table and went to the bed before sliding a large trunk out from under it. She returned yet again with a small bundle of three items.
"This will also be yours if you want them."
She said softly as she slid a folded white fur lined cloak much like Luna's own it was slightly large for Eleanor, but it seemed it would fit well enough. The inside of the cloak was lined with snow rabbit fur as opposed to Luna's that seemed lined with wolf fur.
A large tooth tied with leather fit through a small slit in the left collar to hold it in place. On top of the folded cloak was a small ceremonial dagger.
This was an exact replica of Luna's own. The runes began to glow a soft blue as Luna's fingers brushed its black leather sheath. The third and final item was a black leather holster with silver clasps large enough to snugly hold her book.

"Soon your emotions will dull. This is normal and to be welcomed."
Luna said softly as she finished eating and rose to leave waiting at the door for Eleanor to follow. Soon they were trudging slowly towards the shrine. A lone howl sounded from the distance.
Luna sat in a meditative pose as they arrived at the shrine.
"Sit."
She said softly as dark energy seemed to begin to form around the shrine, licking her ear and wrapping around Eleanor softly. Urging her to sit gently.

Luna Placed a hand on her shoulder
"Quiet that fear child. The darkness is not your enemy. It will hide you and shield you. "
She slid a small strand of white hair ,that had fallen in her face, behind her ear.
" It consumes all, but you are a part of that consummation. not the victim. Feel peace my child...and drift.." She said softly as the darkness continued to swirl around her and Eleanor thickening slowly as it licked at her cheeks and ears, like liquid smoke.
"You fear me girl?" The voice asked softly...