Smoke still fills the city, ash still falls from the sky. The damage in Denocte has been done but the effects of the food storage fires will carry on for weeks and months to come. There’s something eerie about this particular morning. The sun just barely trying to peek over the horizon while the rest of Denocte is still. The sky is filled with pinks, yellows, and oranges, trying so desperately to break through the smoke-covered city. The only sounds the once vibrant city can hear is the steady “clip clop” of Isra’s hooves as they move through the cobblestone streets while surveying the damage.
 
And out of the fog of ash and smoke comes something beautiful and unusual in this part of the city. A young female clouded leopard guides her cub through the city, her eyes searching for something with a very clear purpose. Her movements are soft, fluid, and absolutely quiet. Her coat blends in with the natural colors of the wood and stone that make up the citadel. It is when she rounds the corner and sees Isra that she pauses. Their eyes meet and just as soon as Isra makes eye contact, there is a pull that happens. Isra may not quite understand it yet, but that pull to follow the leopard will be strong. 
 
The leopard stands strong for a few moments longer, allowing that bond, that pull to intensify. And when she finally breaks that eye contact and turns, she is silently demanding that Isra follow her and her cub. It is with soft, purposeful steps that she then leads the queen to the source of the ash and smoke that fill the sky.
 
When she gets to the first fallen food storage, her cub enters the debris-stricken room. The cub goes to the center and slips beneath the cover of a fallen beam. Once he returns to his mother’s side, it is clear that he is carrying something within his teeth - stone that looks very similar to a ruby. It is a colorful gem, harboring colors that mimic the sunrise - red, pink, purple. The colors swirl together and upon closer inspection, it can be noted that this is not a ruby, but something far more precious and unique.
 
The cub places the gem onto his mother’s back and falls into step with her. One look behind Isra and it is clear that she is to continue to follow them along this journey. The mother leopard and her cub take Isra to the second of three fallen food storage rooms. Once again, the small cub travels into the debris and ash, this time returning with what seems like an ordinary piece of cloth. It is weaved and neutral in color, appearing most like burlap. The cloth is folded and placed below the gem. And once again, the pair begin to walk further away from the city towards the final burnt down storage.
 
When the pair arrive at the final storage room, the cub once again weaves through the fallen beams and burnt stone, this time pulling out a roll of red string, thick like yard but more durable than twine. As the cub returns to his mother’s side, he keeps the roll of thick string between his teeth. The pair then lead Isra towards the mountain pass. The bond between them grows strong and if Isra has not figured it out by now, there is no denying that the mother and son pair wait her to follow them.
 
They lead her to a small alter at the base of the mountain. It is approximately 5 ft high and 5 ft wide. The center is a basin filled with the tears of the gods. The leopards place the objects on the ground as the mother turns to Isra. Their eyes meet and she makes a request. “Your bow, Isra…” It is a command, but a gentle one. The leopards know of the lunar bow, the bow forged out of Isra’s own magic. The cub steps forward, intent on taking hold of the weapon and bringing it back to his mother. 
 
Only when the bow has been given to him does he return. The mother offers Isra a nod, a silent thanks as she sets to work at wrapping the bow in the seemingly ordinary burlap, tying the cloth closed with the thick twine. When the bow and its arrows have been wrapped tightly, it is placed in the basin of tears. “Pray.” Her command is soft, her intention clear. Isra is to pray over her weapon, asking the gods to bless this weapon and make its victories abundant. 
 
When Isra has begun her prayer, the gem seems to raise from the ground on its own accord. It levitates upward and towards the basin, hovering over it but never touching the tears. And when Isra’s prayer has finished, the gem falls into the basin. The basin is filled with lunar fire, bright blue and heatless reaching over 3 ft tall. It is so bright that if looked at directly, the light will burn the retinas of the onlooker. The fires last but a few short minutes and when they finally are put out, leopard turns back to Isra. “Gather your bow and use it for greatness.” And when Isra steps towards the alter, she will find that the burlap and twine that once hid her bow from view has been burned away. The gem is gone, and there is nothing in the basin but the bow and its arrows. No burlap, no twine, no gem, and no tears of the gods. And if Isra looks back to the mother and her cub, she will find that she is alone.

@isra, if she chooses to follow and wait for the leopard and her cub, will be lead by them to the base of the Arma Mountains, where it seems a basin waits for her alone. She will be prompted to give up her bow, to wash it in the tears of gods - and then to pray.

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This quest was written by the lovely @Zombie.

Enjoy!