Journey to the North Pt.2

Albho was a very small village hidden inside a cave deep within the Crystal Mountains, a veritable asylum close to the Frozen North. Despite it being a cave, there was a luminescence shimmering from the town, gems and crystals lining the roof of the cave above the wooden huts and cabins that the inhabitants called home. Unlike most villages and cities, there were a variety of species living here: Pegasi that had developed thicker and more complex feather layers, griffins with similar adaptations as well as larger builds, yaks known for being able to brave the cold, as well as a few dragons that were pale in color but still retained the heat of their ancestors. The homes were aglow with the warmth of comfortable hearths lit ablaze and the families that never strayed far from the fireplace. Bright colorful lights of red, blue, and green glistened along with the bright yellow glow of the street lights. It was a winter wonderland to those whose eyes first feasted upon the beautiful scene. Amity stepped through the village alongside Séideán, one of two griffin sherpas that had guided him to this place. There was a quiet comfort as the sound of hooves and talons crunching snow sounded in the red stallion's ears before it turned into the soft pitter pattering of small pebbles and gravel against the cavern floor. Cabins began to approach and fade behind them as they began to confront a larger cabin building. It was much wider and taller than the rest of the housing structures in the village, an insignia of three winds flowing from east to west etched into the arch above the entrance. Amity couldn't help but let his eyes wander about, taking in all the sights to see and the beauty in simplicity of village around him. But he had come here for a reason and the obstacles he had overcome was not worth a small sightseeing trip. "Our village elder is here, Guard. Be sure to pay your respects before you speak with him for he is highly respected and the villagers will not take kindly to nothing less." The tall, grey and charcoal colored griffin warned before stopping in front of the arches. Amity turned to face the two of them, looking determined. "I understand, Séideán." Amity quietly bowed his head towards both of the griffins who had accompanied him on his journey. "I'm very grateful for the both of you in heeding my selfish request." He raised a hoof up to the griffin male, claw meeting hoof as they shook in respect for each other. Amity turned towards his female counterpart, leaning in and giving her a hug as they shared kisses to each others' cheeks. "Thank you, Séideán. Gála. I hope to meet you again, sometime in our lifetimes or the next." The female raised a claw and pounded her scarred chest with the pride of a warrior as her mate nodded with a warmer smile. "Until then, Amity Guard." Amity paused for a moment as he stared at the two. He did not want to forget them. He closed his eyes before letting out a breath, opening them and turning towards the Elder's building and moved forward. Always moving forward. A crimson hoof stepped quietly into the large cabin, the scent of a floral incense filling his nose as Amity made his way inside. All along the walls were murals, paintings of various depictions of very familiar past events, curiously suspicious recent events, and events that, perhaps, were for a time beyond. The room glowed with warmth as a crackle from the fireplace made him turn his head towards it. There, in the center of the room sitting on his knees, was an elderly unicorn. His beard traveled down his chin, flowing down like a silver waterfall to the floor. His mane was a large tuft of hair, a lion's mane of the same silver hued hair. His body was riddled with wrinkles, a testament to the youth he traded away for wisdom. "Elder Nysnö." Amity quietly came before him, kneeling down in the same manner before bowing his head politely. He held it for several seconds. "I have heard of your wisdom from far away lands. That throughout your years, you have taken and given life in a manner that could only be called miraculous." A pause. Stillness grew between them like the first sprouting of a seed. But it would be short-lived. The wizened unicorn slowly lifted his eyelids, revealing the glowing gray eyes behind them that stared emptily back at Amity. Amity knew better, those eyes that felt as if it could see his spirit, soul, and intentions as clear as day. "I ask you to return my parents back from the dead."