Episode Seven, Part 7:

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏɢ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ

Let the years we're here be kind, be kind. 
Smaller than dust on this map, lies the 
greatest thing we have: the dirt in 
which our roots may grow, and
the right to call it home.

Wynnlow walked, determination heavy in his step as he approached the Sovereigns Quarters. No one was allowed inside unwelcome, but yet, no one tried to stop him. Even Dreea and Kodiak watched him as he passed by, knowing his intent, and still made no effort to get in his way. It was as if they all understood why he needed to get inside. 

Wynnlow hurried inside. The hallways were vaguely familiar to him, but he still felt a little lost. Eventually, he reached the end of a hall, and the markings on the door confirmed to him that Sol would be inside. 

He took a deep breath an knocked, entering moments later when he didn't get a response. 

"Wynn?" Sol asked, immediately sitting up on the edge of her bed. She wiped quickly under her eyes, trying to disguise her signs of emotion. 

"Yeah," he mumbled, slightly awkward as he ruffled his hand through his hair, quietly closing the door behind him. He wandered over, slightly unsure where to sit until he decided upon the stool resting her bed. 

"I-" He tried to speak, but how could he know what to say? What could  you say to a girl who's father had just be killed by her command, that would make anything feel any better? 

Sol waited patiently for him to speak, not minding the silence one bit. 

"I- I shouldn't have said what I said. If I pushed you into your decision... I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry." 

"No." Sol answered, already knowing everything else he was thinking. "I made the decision, no one else. Sooner or later I'll realize it was the right one." 

Wynnlow looked up at her. He could see she was holding back, sparing his feelings for the sake of not ruining anything for him, but it was evident that she believe herself. 

"There's a fire tonight, in the centre of the grounds." She changed topic without even a beat. "I've arranged something for your family." 

Intrigued pulled in Wynnlow's chest, not even grasping at any idea of what it could be. 

"Should I be worried?" He asked half-heartedly, earning the faintest of smiles from his friend. 

"No," Sol laughed. "Just tell everyone that they should be there." 

-

By the time evening arrived, Wynnlow was restless with anticipation. The fire had been burning for half an hour and almost everyone from Basilisk was outside, dancing and cheering under the evening sky. 

He walked behind Ares and Fabian as they made their way through the endless sea of people, eyes in search for the Sovereign. 

As they caught up with the rest of their family, a hand reached onto his shoulder, turning him around suddenly. It was Sol. 

"Good. You're all here." She stated, glancing around for confirmation. 

"Yeah..." Wynnlow mumbled, scrambling for an explanation. "Look, Sol, what is this about?" 

The Sovereign didn't pay any acknowledgement to his question as she sprung over towards Kodiak and Joren, muttering something to them that Wynn couldn't hear above all the noise. He trailed after her, hoping that she would lead to some answers soon enough. 

Before anything else could happen, Wynnlow caught sight of Sol stepping up onto the platform; a guardsman beside her blew into a large horn and its sound pierced above everything else. Everyone's eyes fell upon Sol, the chatter instantly distinguished, and the only noise that could be heard was the constant burn of the fire. 

 "Basilisk!" She yelled out. "Tonight we come together for honor. Honor in the echoes of victory." There was a boldness to her voice. A power so captivating that Wynnlow's breath hitched in his throat. 

"Tonight, we accept into our Clan 9 people. People who have so much to offer us. People who saved my life." 

Sol looked over to Wynnlow, a smile beaming proudly on her face. She gestured him over, and Wynnlow - still grasping onto her plans, hurried over. 

Sol made room for him on the platform, turning to face him as she then began the pronouncement that announced Wynn as a Basilisk. 

"It is by valiancy that you have come this far, and valiancy you shall continue to bear. Into our house of courage, we accept you. Into our fight, we accept you, still. Though waters may rise, and fires will burn, we'll remain through the seasons as one. One nation. One clan. One people." The masses of the crowd recited the chant along with her, something about the unity welcoming Wynnlow home. 

And then Sol paused for a moment, her voice quieter, as if her and Wynn were the only two people left around. As he stared back at her, unable to refrain from matching the smile on her face, all the coldness the world had stored into his heart melted away. 

"And you will now be known as Wynnlow of Basilisk, from this moment until your last." 

- 

After the celebration had died down, and most people had drifted away to their tents, Wynn found himself standing before the fire that dissolved as quick as the night had into day. 

For the first time that he could ever recall, the world had reached a still. The early reds as the morning sun approached seemed frozen in place for a while, and tomorrow seemed miles away. 

There were people scattered around the camp. Not even a fraction of the amount that were there the evening before, but enough for their to always be someone in sight. 

Leaning up against the fence, not too far off in the distance, were Bas, Fabian, and Harlow. He had no idea what they were talking about, but he felt complete; and the ceaseless joy from Harlow finally having his brother back was more than he could have ever asked for. 

Suddenly, his thoughts were pulled away as the sound of footsteps approached behind him. As he turned over his shoulder, he saw in the moonlight, Sol tiptoeing towards him. 

She didn't say anything, and neither did he for a moment. They simply stood beside one another, letting the warmth of the fire engulf them, searing away one last time, the reminders of what they had endured. 

"So what happens now?" Wynnlow asked, gazing over at her. His hands were in his pockets as he swung slightly in his stance. 

"Nothing." Sol breathed out. "I think everything is going to be alright for a while." 

"I'm glad." Wynnlow replied. "Now that I'm home." 

Sol shifted, turning to him out of fondness, as did Wynnlow - trying to distinguish what she was feeling. Before he could, Sol leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Wynn stumbled, but without even a beat, found his arms clothed around the small of her back, holding her just as tightly. 

"Now that you're home." She murmured back.

 Sol kept hold of him for a little longer than she expected, only pulling away when she heard someone walk past. Wynnlow couldn't tear his eyes away, perhaps transformed at how not only Sol felt like a different person to him, but how in himself he felt changed as well. 

"I'll, um... I'll see you tomorrow." Sol told him, back stepping a little. 

"Yeah." Wynn smiled. "See you." 

-

-

As the man began his steps his steps into the forever desert, the harsh winds beating sand into his face, he forced upon his mind the one thing that would push him to endure the conditions. The promise of inheritance. 

Raiden, Celeste, and Gizelle overtook him, barely even acknowledging his hesitation as they marched into the DeadLands like there was nothing to fear. 

"You gotta keep the peace up." Someone muttered to him as they brushed past, their shoulder catching onto his. 

Kane stumbled, and then realizing that he had fallen behind, scrambled to catch up to Row as she pledge forward. 

"How long will this take?" He asked feeling the warmth already. His overgrown beard was irritating his skin and it only added to the heat that seem to smother him. 

"Getting there isn't the hard part." Row told him. "It's finding your daughter. If she's in one of the Clans by now, she won't be sacrificed to us without a fight. For your sake, I hope you're right about her. If all of this was just your way of making it back to your people, then this won't end well for you." 

"No." Kane answered quickly. "I'm not lying. Elara..." He considered the words, the name of his daughter speeding him up a little. He danced on the vision of bringing her back to everything that had been destined for her - even before she was born. 

It wouldn't be long now until succession. Until Elara would fall heir to the province. 

 "She's the one you've been waiting for." 

Seven // Part Seven

End of Season 2.

14th Novemeber 2019, 11:23PM.

I actually can't believe this book is finished?? I had several breaks from writing due to a lot of things, but I started it again last week and I haven't been able to stop myself.

There's been so much in S2 that I've been wanting to reveal; Sol having a sister, the relationship between her and Noah - the son of her father's enemy, the king of the opposing Clan. Not to mention Sol disappearing. I was so excited for that (and it was really frustrating to write and enduring), but I'm proud of the way it turned out. And of course, how it changed her relationship with Wynnlow.

For now, I'll leave you with these cliffhangers: Sol believing that everything is going to be okay, not knowing that Noah has announced war. And Wynn finally being home, only for his father to be ALIVE and on a mission to retrieve Elara.

After everything he has been through to keep his family together, and now being a true member of Basilisk, how we he handle Kane wanting to take Elara away?

Find out in Season 3.