Reminiscence

Alexis was getting progressively more curious where in Kupen‘s name Evander was leading them.

She quickly realized he had not been kidding when he said it would be easier to get there with her aid, because walking ‘off the beaten path’ really didn’t cut it for what they were doing right now.

They were navigating deeper and deeper into the woods neighbouring Cailleton, and it felt like they had left the well travelled trails of the woodcutters, foragers and hunters an eternity ago. Working their way through dense underbrush in between age old gnarly trees, it felt like they were stepping into a world that humans very rarely visited, ancient and mystical.

Evander however seemed to know exactly were he was going, with Alexis compensating for his missing leg. As far as she could trust her sense of direction, they had been zigzagging through the woods a bit, most likely getting around impassable sections, and were now curving back to the mountain slope.

“Almost there. A bit of a tricky descent ahead, really gonna need your help there.”

Evander explained, finally showing some signs of fatigue. Quite a feat given his age and his handicap. Certainly hadn’t let himself go after having to retire from mercenary life.
However, while he could have probably mastered the journey so far without support if he really had to, the aforementioned descent not only included a very steep and slippery slope down, but some actual climbing. So yeah, that one he might not have been able to do without her help, even less so make the trip back.

There was a wistful smile on the old mercenary’s face. Alexis sensed that whatever this place was they were going to, it held deep significance for him.

They did make it down in one piece, thankfully, and found themselves next to a small babbling brook flowing forth from in between the cliffs rising in front of them. Evander took her arm and they followed the brook towards the cliff. Coming closer Alexis saw that there seemed to be some kind of opening, so narrow it was not easily noticed.
And this was were she was led through.

It was… a peculiar feeling, striding through this natural rampart. Almost like entering a courtyard. Or maybe even a temple?

A short walk alongside the brook and the small passage opened up to an almost perfectly round indentation into the mountainside. And arranged in a circle five tall menhirs stood watch, covered in ancient runes, their meaning lost to the ages.

Evander came to a halt next to her prompting Alexis to stop as well. He gazed at the mystical scenery in reference, as she did so in silent wonder.

Letting go of her arm he took her hand instead and gently pulled her closer to menhirs.

“This, ‘Lexi, is where we founded the Wulvers all those years ago.”