"I... I have no words in defense, Mothers. " answered Miranda.
She bowed her head and avoided eye contact.
One of the Grans reached out and touched her underneath her chin, before lifting her head up so that she could look them in her eyes.
"We warned you child, that any attempt to expel the poachers would have ended in failure. "
"You could have been taken from us!"
"Or you could have caused the very disaster you wished to avoid by going against fate's decree!"
"I... I couldn't just sit idly by and wait for a savior that might never have come!" Said Miranda.
The Grans shook their heads in disappointment.
"So little faith in fate's judgment. "
"The omens never lie, child."
"Fate always chooses the best path for us all and to go against her designs risks her wrath."
"Please rise child!"
Miranda did as instructed and the Grans embraced her.
After a moment locked in embrace, the Grans released her and stepped past her to stand in front of Storm.
"The people of this area owes you a debt they can never hope to repay, Dragon. "
"The magic that affected the hunters? That was your doing, wasn't it?" Asked Storm.
The Grans nodded their heads.
"Then I didn't do much! It was your magic that stopped the hunters."
"There's no need to be so humble, dearie. "
"It was your actions that enabled us to act. We couldn't use that magic until you led them out of the Haven"
"Then I accept your thanks." Replied Storm.
"We also owe you a personal debt for returning our beloved daughter to us."
"One that we intend to repay!"
"We shall aid you in your task!!"
"What do you intend to do with the hunters?"
"They shall be returned to their people."
"In the condition they are now!"
"Let their fate be a warning to the humans of what happens when they trespass on our lands!!"
"What did you do to them anyway?" Asked Storm.
"Wasn't the words of our curse clear enough?"
"We made them enter a waking dream from which there is no escape. "
"That makes them experience the dread of being hunted."
"What if a mage breaks your curse?" Asked Storm.
The Grans just laughed.
"You need not worry about that, Dragon!"
"Our magic is not so easily dispelled!" They replied simultaneously.
Storm decided not to press the topic further.
"There's... something that confuses me." Storm said.
"Ohh?! Then ask."
"And we shall try to dispel your confusion. "
"When we first met? You did not seem surprised by my arrival?" Storm asked.
"We weren't. "
"As we said before. "
"Your coming was foretold. "
"How is this even possible?" Asked Storm.
The Grans were silent as they considered how to respond.
"When the poachers first arrived. "
"We scried for a way to dislodge them."
"We beheld a vision, the Haven overtaken by weeds."
"All attempts to remove them only made it stronger. "
"Until a great storm came and washed away the rot."
"We did not know you were the prophesied one, until you named yourself, however. "
"Are you telling me you can see the future?!"
The Grans burst out laughing.
"Nothing quite as fancy."
"We can read the omens and signs. "
"And from them we can catch 'glimpses ', or 'hints'."
"Our sight is different to yours. When we look.at someone, we can see bits of the path fate has placed this person upon."
Storm was silent for a moment as he processed the information.
"When you look at me? What do you see?" Asked Storm.
The Grans were silent for a moment.
"Normally, we would not reveal it. But we owe you a debt of gratitude. "
"If you truly wish to know, then we shall reveal it!"
"But you should first ask yourself if you truly wish to know!"
"Knowledge of the future is a heavy burden to bear!
"People have been driven mad by knowing their fate!"
"Ignorance truly is bliss! So we ask again. "
"Do you wish to take up this burden?!" They asked at the same time.
Storm was silent as he thought about it.
Is this truly what he wanted?
Would he be able to carry this weight?
He thought of Aurora and all the others who now depended on him.
"Would my ignorance cause them harm?" Thought Storm.
To him the choice was clear.
"On behalf of the people who now depends upon me to make the correct decisions!
I freely take up this burden!" Storm said.
The Grans were silent as they studied him.
"It seems that your names are well chosen, Dragon!"
"For you are indeed like a storm!"
"An agent of chaos, of upheaval!"
"But not one with malicious intent!"
"You bring destruction, but also renewal!"
"You destroy not out of malice, but out of a desire to create something better from the ruins!"
The Grans were silent as they considered the next piece of information.
"It seems that you are both blessed and cursed, Dragon. "
"For we see that you have more freedom than most."
"You have many paths ahead, and fate has given you the right to choose your own path."
"However many are dark!"
"I would not wish such an ending upon my worse enemy!"
"Only one path we see leads to true happiness and it is this path that fate has set you upon."
"Follow this path, do not stray or doubt.
For this path will lead you to happiness!"
The Grans seemed to hesitate before revealing the next bit.
"There is something else."
"Death is stalking you, Dragon!"
"It is following your trail!"
"But we do not see an death full of regret."
"When the time comes, you will see it, you will accept it and you will walk towards it of your own free will!"
"Before this happens, you will have a happy life, you will be content."
"We... see no more!!" Finished the Grans.
They seem physically exhausted, causing Miranda to step closer in case she needed to assist them.
Storm was silent.
"If... I have so many different paths!
How will I know I'm on the right one!" He Exclaimed.
"We shall warn you! If you ever stray from it, Dragon!"
"We are tired now, Dragon!"
"We shall join you in time, but for now we must rest!"
Miranda stepped forward and began guiding the Grans back inside the cottage.
Leaving Storm alone with his thoughts.