They did not return us to the cage of our people. Such was our transgression that we could no longer be returned to them. For we had sinned. For we had wrought the wrath of the gods upon them and deserved the punishment we were to receive.

They loosed us into a labyrinth of stone and mirrors. Far distanced was the sun's warmth and the whisper of the wind. Here there was only the cold echoing of the god's fury. I was left to wander.

For what felt an eternity I stumbled amongst the stones, aimless and weary. My mind fell into a haze as hunger set in. I wanted to give in, But I could hear her. Far in the distance, echoing like the cry of a falcon in flight, I could hear Jaud-ry searching for me. She cried my name, worry rife within her voice. Even as strength evaded me I cried in return for her. But my voice could not reach her. Her voice grew distant and my heart was rent asunder.

But I would not lose her. I rose and carried myself after her voice. Feet flying as fast as they could be driven, heart thundering a storm in my chest. I ran for ages. Down twisting, narrow halls of stone and across endless chasms of crystalline glass. I moved with purpose. If we were to suffer this punishment by the gods then so be it. But neither of us would face it alone. I would not let her face it alone.

I found her at last, my limbs numb and my body all but spent, amidst a field of crystal spires. She'd spent all of her time searching for me as well, unable to find a way to free us from this labyrinth of cold stone. She begged me for forgiveness. For she truly believed that she alone was the cause for our people's suffering. I gave her no satisfaction. How could I forgive what I had been party to?

We collapsed into each other and wept for hours. We wept for our people, our families, and for our own ignorance. For truly, this all of our own cause. Our fates had been sealed the moment we had dared to view the gods.

We embraced and laid among the spires. Together in the dark we were left to face eternity together. We had made our peace with our actions. We could only pray that our people would no longer suffer for our crimes. Despite all, I felt content in knowing that neither of us would face lay ahead alone. I felt content to remain with Jaud-ry, as we journeyed to the unknown. I felt content, knowing I had lived knowing her. I was content.

The Gods would not have it.

Around us they descended like wolves, the soldiers of the gods. They desired to separate us once more. I was no match for them. Their strength dwarfed me and Jaud-ry. They snatched her away like fruit from a tree and fled with her. They aimed to do the same to me, to scatter us back throughout the labyrinth until we finally could bear it no longer. But I was the child of a fool. And I would not have it.

I wrestled free of their grasp and soared after Jaud-ry. I cared not how spent my body was, how taxed my legs were, how devoid of energy my being had become. I ran as fast as my feet would go and strode to go beyond. The soldiers of the gods nipped my heels at every turn. Gaining on me every chance they could. Jaud-ry remained ahead of me, clutched in the mighty hands of the orchid soldiers. Even as they fled the labyrinth, daring to seal me in, I snaked through and continued even as the numbers at my back grew.

Until at last they went where I could not follow.

They boarded their chariots and took to the wind. And with them, Jaud-ry. Their chariot bent and contorted like water before disappearing into the sky. Only I was left to watch. Until I collapsed once more to my knees, sobbing to any god that would hear me to return her. To return my Jaud-ry.

They refused my words.

The soldiers approached me with caution. My flight had left them wary of my determination. They feared that I would take flight once more if they drew too close. They feared wrong.

I took of the ground around me, the largest stone I could see. With fury I lunged at the nearest of the guards. I swung the stone with abandon, bouncing fruitless against the soldier, eliciting naught but laughter. Until I struck their symbol of divinity, cracking it clear through. The soldier could only look in horror before fading away. I the child of a fool, had slain a god.

And they were to punish me for that as well.

Without hesitation, the compliment of gods grabbed me, bending and breaking everything they could so that I may no longer fight again. They took me away from their city, dragging me through the dirt to another land. A land of death. The birthing grounds of the gods.

They threw me into a cavern, surrounded by others of my tribe. They sealed us in with stone and left us to die. I could hear the tribesmen, clawing and pushing at the stone to move it. To free themselves from what came next.

A sound I'd never heard before filled the air and the stone roof of the cavern began to glow. Their fear grew to panic as they tried to free themselves. But I laid there. Weeping and in pain, knowing that I would never be with Jaud-ry again. We'd never lay under the full moon. We'd never reap or sow another harvest. We'd never see what our children would grow to accomplish.

I wept bitterly. Cursing the gods for their vengeance, praying that the wrath that they'd lain upon my people would one day be meted out in return to them. That they'd see what they cherished taken from them. That they'd know love, only for it to be ripped from them for the smallest of slights.

As the light engulfed me, I lost my anger. I only wished to be with Jaud-ry.