Reunion

Snowcloud rushed over to Arran the moment he turned around.

"You're so thin!" she exclaimed, concern in her eyes. She reached out and squeezed his arm, and when she felt his emaciated arm, her expression turned to shock. "Are you all right?" she asked in a doubtful voice.

"I'm fine," he responded. "I was a bit hungry when I woke up, that's all." He forced a grin, then added, "A few weeks of proper eating, and I'll be back to my old self."

It was a lie, of course. He had lost much of his strength, and just regaining it would be a matter of months, not weeks. But Snowcloud looked worried enough already — she didn't need to know the extent of the damage.

Still, she gave him a skeptical look, clearly unconvinced by his words. But before she could say anything, Brightblade spoke up.

"I take it you succeeded in unsealing your Destruction Realm?"