[h1][color=royalblue][center][img]http://t02.deviantart.net/22Rgt0gblSi_IukwT9Ahe-p82zg=/fit-in/700x350/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre15/600e/th/pre/i/2014/201/a/2/giacomo_crescentii_by_kazuyalord-d7rhlf9.jpg[/img]
Elias[/center][/color][/h1][hr]
The damp morning air deafened the poorly lit path. Every movement in the early morning light was lackadaisical and dreary, further tarnishing any hope of a happy mood for the Grimm.

His hunched form was pressed low against the back of his steed, seeming to disappear into the depths of the horse. Elias' breaths were slow and drawn out, accentuating the depressing mood of the morning.

He had been on the road for almost four hours now, despite the sun only just rising. Restless nights and moving shadows had spurred the man to continue his journey despite his lack of sleep.

The horse beneath him was clearly exhausted, however he still pushed it forward, unwilling to stop for even a moment.

The words of his father still rang in his ears, making his stomach churn and his heart sink into his chest. [i][color=darkorange]"Go to the east. Find your cousin. Help her. Become a Grimm once more."[/color][/i]

Elias closed his eyes and pulled his hood up over his head, attempting to drown out any sense of reality. It had been almost four months since Taric's death. Despite his best efforts, there was nothing Elias could have done to save him. Except perhaps be more cautious.

The empty feeling in his chest only increased as the thoughts of his fallen partner began to take over his mind, forcing every single ounce of happiness from him.

Grieving wasn't something Grimm's did. They were stronger than that. But here Elias was, over three months later, still weak and dishevled.

Hundar, Elias' horse, stumbled beneath him, forcing the man to tighten his grip on the reins and pull himself into a sitting position to stay on his steed. As he sat up, he noticed that the trees around him were beginning to thin, indicating open plains ahead.

Hundar whinnied softly and trotted along the path, forcing both him and his rider into a higher state of conciousness. Elias gently patted the side of Hundar's neck, whispering quietly in his ear about rest that was soon to come.

Over the course of the next hour, the trees gave way to lush plains of tall, wavy grass, still damp in the waxing sun. The clouds above broke way to illuminate the area, however it was muted and dull, eliciting nothing more than disinterest and disdain from Elias.

Did his father really think he could just easily replace Taric by sending him to some godforsaken estate across the land to work with some half-competent woman that he had met twice in his entire life? For such an intelligent man, Elias' father showed little to no tact in this situation.

While he wasn't eager to continue his approach to the estate where his cousin supposedly awaited him, his desire for security and rest were more powerful than his distaste. Hundar's exhausted legs soon brought the hooded rider to a lavish estate with towering fences and well structured walls. The architecture and layout of the estate were more likely rather impressive, however they passed by unnoticed as Elias guided Hundar along the path towards the heart of the matter.

The sudden, faint thud of an arrow striking wood perked Elias' attention, causing his guard to raise as he slowed Hundar's speed to a slow trot.

Before he could unsheath a dagger he kept within Hundar's saddle, he caught sight of a woman weilding a bow, pulling an arrow from the center of a target.