After the first hour of just laying there with Ahnah, Goldenscale passed out without even realizing it.  Her body was still unused to the cold weather and her body felt the strong pull to hibernate and she remembered that Midnight felt the same pull and coldness.  When the horn sounded, she started, jerking her eyes open andifting her head.  She then mentally groaned, angry at herself for falling asleep though she had no control over what had already happened.  She gave a small shiver, shaking what ice and frost she could from her body.  As she did so, some of the snow swirled aeound her nose and caused her to give a quiet sneeze.  She then looked up and bowed her head in respect as the casket was carried to the fire.  She then looked at Deniigi as he walked over, silently listening to what he said.  Midnight, you should go inside and warm yourself up.  You've been out here far too long.  I'll go inside later once Ahnah's ready. she said to Midnight using her telelathy.  It was weak because of how little energy she could spare on it, needing every bit of it for warmth.

Seeing Midnight start to stand, Deniigi nodded for one of the residents to help her get inside. Turning to Goldenscale, he smiled before stepping back. "As for you Goldenscale, you have fulfill a promised made to a clan leader. As such, your are granted one favor in return from the one who imposed the promise on you," he said, looking to Alignak, "While I suggest waiting a few days to allow this the settle down, you have rite to ask one favor of Aignak. So long as it does not break the laws here, you are allowed to ask whatever you wish from him."

Goldenscale gave a smile in return and nodded in response to Deniigi's statement.  "I have no favor that needs to be grnated as of this moment.  I only need to console Ahnah for her loss right now." she stated simply.  "I will keep that in mind though."  She then placed her head back next to Ahnah's.

"I just thought I'd let you know. Since I have some matters than need my attention, I'll have a resident set up and tend a fire here so that neither of you freeze. I'll be back once I've taken care of everything that needs my attention," Deniigi said, giving a nod, "I'd hate to see you two freeze to death after all that's happened."  Nodding to one of the residents tht had helped him carry the coffin, he instructed them on what to do before heading off to the main building.

Setting up a fire a few steps away from Goldenscale and Ahnah, the resident set to maintaining the fire.

"You two are closer than I thought. Tell me, what connection do you two share," Alignak asked as he removed the collar that once represented his status, "Tomorrow, I will have to find a new place to call home. I want to at least know the company my oldest daughter is with."

Goldenscale gave Deniigi a smile and chuckled.  "Well, thanks, Deniigi.  And I don't think we would come this far just to freeze.  We might get sick, or I may get sick seeing as Ahnah is better equipped for this environment, but we won't die." she said encouragingly.  She was feeling a little sick though, just the beginning of a fever though, so she didn't mention it.  She woild wait it out like before.  She was more worried about Midnight getting sick than her though.  She then looked at Alignak as he spoke, then smiled wider.  "I trust that you are able to figure that out.  Aipaloovik and Deniigi already figured it out.  It isn't hard." she said.  She wasn't trying to be rude, she just wanted him to think of it himself so he is more likely to believe it.

"Then my assumptions were right. She's the same person she was back then, just with more life experience. Even the ravages of the world have failed to change her. All I can do now is keep the promise I made Aga" Alignak said, taking out the crystal he was given and looking down as he held it to his chest, "If the world is willing to accept her for who she is, then I have no choice but to accept her as well. I just wish there was more I could do to make amends."

Goldenscale smiled and reached up a wing to gently touch his shoulder.  She had listened and it sounded as though he was finally changing.  "You have already begun making amends because you are finally accepting her.  You just had too much pride to see it before, but power does that.  The only thing you can do is to be kind to her as much as you can before you leave and if you meet her in the future.  There is no telling if she will forgive you, but that is all you can do." she answered him.  

"After everything I put her through, I doubt she'll ever forgive me. The forced training and the general way I treated her, I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted me dead," Alignak said, brushing a claw over Ahnah's cheek," She obviously remembers everything that happened. I can sense the rib that was removed as part of her training, and it contains every memory she has up till the present which it is recording."

Having fallen asleep , Ahnah's crying had come to a stop. Tucking her head under a paw, she curled up as tight as her body would allow.

Goldenscale frowned and turned to look at Ahnah.  "She has told me everything you have done, and to tell you the truth, made me hate you too for doing such terrible things to her.  And then when I finally met you, you were so full of pride and arrogance that it made me dislike you even more.  You let your power go to your head, and it turned you into a terrible being.  No child should ever have to endure that.  You should have treated her better as a child.  There are some of us born into a world without the aid of larents or anyone resembling a guardian." she said, her voice soft, but also full of meaning and a hidden emotion.  She tightened her wing a little more and nuzzled her.  "She deserved better.  She is so full of potential and kindness and is such a wonderful being to be around." 

"She deserved way better than what I gave her. Looking back, she's lucky Aga and Deniigi were there for her through everything. It makes me cringe at myself knowing that her sister wasn't so lucky as to escape. She's still alive, but she lacks emotion," Alignak said, backing off a few steps to give Goldenscale and Ahnah room, "Looking back, I see so many things that horrify me. At the time, they seemed like what needed to be done to raise the perfect shaman, but now, all of it seem like pure torture. While it terrifies me, I know that whatever punishment comes my way from the spirits will be deserved without exception."

Goldenscale gave a nod and locked back up at Alignak.  "At least now you know your mistakes so you won't make them as often in the future.  That in itself is an accomplishment.  There are people in the workd that believe that arrogance is bliss and they choose not to see at all.  But you realized what went wrong the moment you lost your power.  Maybe the spirits of this world will be kinder to you now that you are tortured by your own mistakes." she said.

"Loosing one's power is a sure way to make them reevaluate their life, especially when they go from running an entire clan to having absolutely nothing," Alignak said, "I look back on myself now as a normal person where I once viewed things as a leader. What made sense then, only causes regret now. All I can hope for is for another chance, be it with Ahnah or a new child."

Goldenscale let out a sigh, but it was out if understanding than out of annoyance.  "That is what happens.  Our judgements change, and with them our views on the past.  At leastnow someone else if in power who understands what doesn't need to be done.  We can only hope that Deniigi won't fall to that same fate as you had, though I have faith he will not.  Now as for Ahnah giving you a second chance, I'm not so sure she would.  You might be better off just learning to be kind to your community first before trying again with her." she said.  Well, Alignak surely had changed in the few hours they had been back, but there is no telling if he will remain that way.  Only time will tell.

"I have faith that Deniigi will remain true to himself. Unlike me, he wasn't born into it, and doesn't have a preconcieved idea of what things should end up as. Rather, he knows how things should be from the shaman's point of view which is as close to the general public as you can get without it being so," Alignak said, pickin up Ahnah's crystal and working its chain around her neck to fasten it, "I was too entwined with what tradition dictated. He has no such binds. There will be changes here that will change how the people live, and it will be for the best."

Goldenscale smiled.  "It is best that Deniigi is now Leader.  He will do everything he thinks is right, and I know it is true.  Hopefully one day Ahnah and I will return here to see how it had progressed.  It will not be the first time a society had changed while I was there.  It's a wo derek thing to see." she said.  "I wish you luck wherever you go in the future, Alignak.  You'll need it." she said with a nod.