The Final Moment
It was dead quiet, and all she could feel was the cold. Her body was numb, and all she could see was white.
“Kiht!†A voice rang into her mind. The voice was familiar, but she couldn't quite tell who's voice it was.
Vision began to return to her. The white was clearing slowly as blurry shapes took form and danced chaotically about her field of view. Echos of sounds began emanating from the dancing forms as the numbness in her body began turning into a burning sensation.
“Kiht, wake up! The Clan needs you.†The voice again. It was louder, and clearly from outside Kiht's own mind. It was the voice of R'shesha Otharn.
Kiht's vision began to clear more as the forms in her field of view became warriors doing battle. Their opponents were Ixal and their wolves. Dashing across the snowy plain from the decks of their war balloons, the bird-men charged with no formation at a group of Miqo'te with one Elezen to their flank. Squawks and shouting filled the air as metal clashed on metal. The barks and snarls of wolves added to the noise, and were punctuated by the yelps of those who suddenly had weapons meet their hides.
Moment by moment, Kiht's body began to rediscover sensation. She was standing - her muscles and determination had locked her into a stance as the ice tried to make her a statue. Her gaze drifted to the sound of the voice, and she saw R'shesha standing next to her.
“Where am I?...†Was all Kiht could manage in a quiet, weak voice.
However, from that moment on, a new blur returned as her head suddenly felt like it was going to explode. One of the Ixal war balloons was struck by a flying object or person, and its flight bladder burst with a loud, deep pop. The vessel plummeted from the few feet off the ground it was hovering then a burst of fire scorched the area.
Ixal and wolves alike got set ablaze as a roar filled the sky. A large form abruptly landed onto the battlefield as the few remaining Ixal scattered. The sounds of it all suddenly became muffled. Kiht's momentary lapse into alertness was fading once more.
There was shouting and more roaring. Kiht could not tell what was going on. It was like the battle she had escaped followed her. Were the Gods not done trialing her? Had she not suffered enough? She wondered.
Suddenly, her body was overcome with pain. This was not from the cold, and no mere return of sensation. This was the pain of her soul being ripped to shreds. She could not even think about what was happening as someone or something was attacking her – it was killing her.
No more noise, and no more vision; she only felt intense pain. She wanted it to stop. She wanted to beg it to stop, but she could not muster her voice, or perhaps she was too busy screaming.
Memories flooded into her mind as if to occupy her from a pain she could not escape. Her mother, her first spear, her first hunt, being hauled off to Gridania, her first mentor Yvelont Navarre, sparring with Wood Wailers in their barracks, the Calamity, the Dusk Watch unit of Twin Adders, her first trek to the scorching Thanalan, a red-haired mercenary woman who would become a Free Paladin, a suave midlander man who helped her clear her name in Gridania, her first crush Kendha'to Burwani, her first Moon-sister Rinette Molkoh, her first lover Lyn Konge and a group of Hyur and Elezen gathered around her who were looking to her as leader.
The memories were as potent as the pain, and her mind was able to hold onto them, but she felt her body giving out. The pain did not stop, so her mind continued digging for memories. Her first hunt with Sanja Polaali, her first real mate Rinh'li, various members of the Morbolvine Clan, placing a bomb collar on her neck to save someone she shouldn't have, being forced to join an attack on an Ul'dah gate, being saved from taking part in the attack by her cousin, training in Coerthas with Nheu'a Polaali and the founding of the Shroudwolf Clan. However, even her memories were beginning to fade, and a darkness soon overcame her.
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It felt like mere moments later, but had actually been several bells time. The blackness was replaced by a brightness as Kiht slowly opened her eyes. She was in a room on a bed. Enju was sitting next to her feet and several members of the Shroudwolf Clan stood over her.
Was it all a dream? She wondered. Their faces were heavy with concern and relief. Her body began to once again regain its senses. It was not a dream. It was all real, and the trial was over.
Kiht was home.
