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The young Initiate stumbled to an abrupt halt. Coughing, she dropped to her knees and retched on the bitter, gray trail. There was hardly anything left to vomit, just blood. The mountain climb had already seen to that. Choking, noxious vapors swirled around on currents she could never feel. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she pulled her gaze upward. Still so far. A wave of nausea and despair swept over. How could one lowly creature make it to the top of this horror? She must. Fleeing from the thralls of the dark army had almost broken her. Every step now was a song of agony. This volcano would likely finish her off.

She laughed with a terrible rasp followed by a wheezing intake that refused to give her needed oxygen. Maybe the dark army would have been a better death. The hated volcano simply and effortlessly drew the life out of her. Even here, outside the awakened caldera, the heat set upon anyone foolish enough to seek the top of the mountain. Each step seemed to bring more heat and less air. She struggled to her feet and pressed upward, ever upward.

She and her Master were the only ones left. The last of the free Seers. All other Eyes had been gathered into darkness. She must reach him, if he was even still alive. There was no way of knowing whether she climbed the volcano for any reason other than death. Her mind told her to lay down and let go. Her Master would not be there, at the top of the mountain. But she stayed on her feet. Angry perseverance was all she had left.

At nightfall, she made it to within hailing distance of the rim. The air above the rim boiled and moved. A sickly brown light filtered through the toxic atmosphere. Every shadow had the look of a demon. Every noise a deadly trap. Between the darkness and the dirt from her journey, she found she could no longer recognize her stripes. A terrible way for a tiger to die she mused. She began to circle the mountain, keeping the rim in sight. Along this route should be a doorway that led to her Master's last keep.

In the darkness, she tripped and fell landing harshly on her left wrist. Immediate and intense pain. She began to sob. She could go no further. She had failed her Master. As Initiate, her last act would be to die ignominiously here on the volcano. A life unfulfilled.

A strange sound seemed to fall from the rim. Straining, she lifted her head. It sounded like someone playing the glemfelt. The deep, resonant sounds of the heavy strings vibrated all the way to her position. Her Master was alive. As she stared she noticed a soft blue glow emanating some forty feet above her. Her heart sang. She must reach it. Trying to rise to her feet, she found she could not leave her knees. In agony, she began to crawl forward using her right arm and legs. Upon reaching the light, she found it emanated from a cave opening in the side of the volcano. Moving forward, she crossed the threshold into the cave.

The blue light encompassed all the cave. The light notwithstanding, the cave was cramped. With only a table and a chair, the hovel spoke of short occupancy. The chair was occupied by a large, silver elk. The Initiate heaved a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. Here was Handrean, the Great Seer, her Master. He was not looking at her but he spoke quietly, "Asul-Carith, today you have made me proud. Prouder than any other time in my long life. You have sacrificed all for the cause of freedom."

Asul-Carith went to answer but then caught herself. She noticed a bald head and trickles of blood running from the ears and nose of the elk. "Master, you have cleaved your horns!"

The old elk forced a smile and answered, "Yes, it matters not now. I will die today and I needed the power of my horns to maintain this protective spell."

"No! Let me take your place Master!"

"Asul, it cannot be so. Do not cry for me. You have the tougher road ahead. I am sorry that I was unable to help you on your journey or heal you now that you have arrived. I feel a terrible guilt that you had to give so much all on your own. I fear I have been unable to do anything but maintain this protective spell and observe a few people."

Although, the elk continued to stare forward twin droplets began to run down his face. "You are my greatest work."

"Master..."

Each lapsed into silence.

"Did you bring the talisman?"

"Yes," the tigress answered and handed the talisman to the elk.

"Once I began to use the Eye through the talisman, the protective spell will fail. I will record any information I perceive in the talisman. When I am done you must take the talisman. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master. But what will happen to you?"

"I will pass on. This is my final act."

"Is there no other way?"

"None other, my Initiate. This will be your final lesson. Sacrifice for others is the most noble of actions."

"How am I to proceed? I could barely crawl here. I cannot make it back down the mountain."

"The last of my energy will go towards creating a portal. Take the talisman and you will travel to safety."

The tigress responded, "I will do as you wish Master."

"Then let us begin." The elk grasped the talisman in two hands and began to chant. The protective blue light faded. Green tendrils rose from the talisman. The tendrils sought the elk and soon surrounded him. The old Seer began to speak.

"Darkness must give way to light The world must turn to the right An age beyond, the two will grow New hero and villain will show Each will be imbued with power Two dragons to lead the hour By wing and flame they will fight All be won or lost by might Two will fight but one will win Light or dark will rise again"

The ancient elk slumped in his seat. He reached out the talisman toward the tigress. "Take it. Protect it." Asul-Carith reached forward and pulled the talisman from his hands. The elk closed his eyes and died.

Light began to coalesce, the features of the cave disappearing before the brightness. Then Asul-Carith forgot herself...