The Saoi Eunlaith stood on the cliff overlooking the expanse of valleys below. An eagle soared high above before circling down to the river to catch a salmon spotted. Sun was setting streaking deeper gold and orange along the horizon. Rays of sun outlining the few clouds above giving them deeper shadows of purple-gray beneath. The sounds of the forest behind him comforted as wings lifted, expanding a good fifteen feet across. Sunlight played over the shine of black, deep blue and white patches to gleam. Closing his eyes he focused in to that ancient bond calling to the one. Gabriel had always been stubborn and now through the centuries of rebirth it was proving to be even more true. He would need to proceed cautiously, spoon feeding him images that were shared by them both long ago. In a bird's eye, third-eye, view he could see him prone on the beach by the lake. The breeze that circled him moved off in Gabriel's direction carrying more mental images. Enforcing others. A voice on the wind in an ancient brogue to be heard in his mind again.

Remember, Bràthairel.

Gabriel had a long full day and as evening approached he headed down to the lake. Sleep had been evading him and he wondered if he was now afflicted like Cole had been. He'd been managing to keep his own on the king's field but it was becoming harder at times to focus. When he slept deep, images would plague him in a way he'd struggle awake or come up from that depth in a jolt, disoriented. The scenes so alien to everything he knew to be, had him feeling sick for hours afterwards. It was getting to a point he was becoming concern and thought about approaching one of the Druids he was told about. The lake offered him the promise of peace as he sat watching out over the scene nature so graced upon this earth. The sun lowering  in the sky still gave off its warmth, coaxing him down and eventually into slumber. He was vaguely aware of the warm breeze that circled like some warm funnel luring him down within. At first he wasn't sure where he was but images partially seen before were being seen more clearly as well that calling to remember something. A word presently not known even if sounding familiar.

The first scene would be of him watching a lone figure perched high on a cliff that overlooked a tremendous distance of a valley below. It was a man with wings folded behind his back, a quiver of arrows strapped there as well a bow over his shoulder. It seemed he watched, waiting for something. Waterfalls fell from great distances down to feed the ribbon of river below that snaked through this area of land. Vegetation was not like the present day; growing far taller up to ten times normal. There were strange sounds as a few long necked, heavy torso and legged beasts came to the water's edge before immersing themselves partially into the waters. Strange birds flew and one seemingly to spring up from nowhere headed for the man. The man was up and in flight in that instant as he took an arrow to aim, taking down the beast that tried to attack. The large leathery body fell that great distance to crash through enormously tall trees and disappear from sight. The sounds of other land bound beasts foretold the carcass was being consumed.

Next the scene would be deep in the forest. Trees so tall one couldn't see their tops without bending backwards near in half. There were all kinds of sounds in a forest much alive with living creatures and those of human form milling about a network of large redwoods. Homes had been made inside as well over the branches with bridges linking between, at least a hundred in this village of tree dwellers. Few were down below on the ground upon trodden earth of forest bed for the lack of sun to filter that far. Though it was warm, they wore clothing to cover their bodies near complete. These men were armed. A group of four were talking, words in the ancient tongue as hands moved in indication of a direction to be taken. They moved off as the scene for Gabriel would be from above through branches between obscuring the view at times even in this mental flight before coming to an open field. Grass grew tall as the four were suddenly surrounded by large fur covered men and strange beasts looking like giant wolves with no fur. They went on the attack, one of the four cast out shadows that turned into beasts with fiery eyes meeting the wolves in battle while two winged males of the four lifted into the air with accurate shooting of arrows. The fourth sent shock waves that stunned for the moment, giving the other three that moment to take them down easier. At one point he grabbed one that descended on him, making the foe's body jerk until death was completed with the accurate hit of another arrow from above. Next Gabriel would find the view firsthand from one of the men in flight using bow and arrow in use then his sword as he swooped down in hand to hand battle as even more emerged. The words repeated in his mind.

Remember, Bràthairel

If anyone was around they would see Gabriel fast asleep but not of the normal kind. The movement of his eyes beneath closed lids and head at times from side to side as if watching something there on the dream plane. It was more than a dream plane as eventually he would realize. Images he had gotten a glimpse of before in flashes were now more defined. The winged men much like he was this day to the strange leathery flying beasts he realized were foe. Predatory. The tree dwellings that were safer than living on the ground hit a chord of familiar and a longing that had been long forgotten. The feel of home, of family and friends and something more when he watched the four. The feeling too they were only part of a whole. A small regiment going out to hunt for food and prepared to fight. That fight came of a darker breed horde that wished to destroy all others. The fight first seen as an observer before it turned into firsthand battle. At this point his body jerked at times, arms and hands moving as if fighting something unseen. Still the images held instead of him waking, the determination to conquer, to squelch these enemies once and for all held him fast. Words coming to mind in hearing but not exactly remembering their meaning. The Saoi-dhean were an important league of men.

Just as they were getting the advantage over their foe, more of them came, the numbers mounting as well some riding what looked like hairless bears. The battle intensified as the four still held their own against the multitude who were determined set on these particular men. Still it was the numbers not in their favor as Gabriel would realize this was not the norm but as if designed to go after them in particular bringing in a huge army. It made a statement as to what they were in protecting Nuadh Talamh. The Saoi Eunlaith, Saio Sqàithan and Saoi Lasraichean making up the Saoi-dhean. Words being pressed for Gabriel to remember at least in sounding familiar. Just when he might think it was not going to turn out very well for them, an army of Elves, sprites and other Fae came in behind the Dubh Daoine. Sworn enemies of both races as the fight had the other retreating back into the thickness of forest. The two races greeted each other once the battle was won. Knowing looks, words spoken in Elven as well Gael before they were on their way and the four continued onward to the River Valley. The bigger impression was that these races and theirs existed together on a continual bases. Side by side. Familiar to each other. Friends.

The scene changed from there to a time of many years later, hundreds in human count, when many volcanoes erupted that were laying waste to the lands below known as home. Many would die, and many would survive to continue on as the Earth itself changed over time. New races born, some from the old mixed in and the way of life to change with it. The terrain of huge trees, fauna would also change drastically to a smaller scale. Many of the strange beasts seen would perish forever while some would evolve into smaller versions, few into larger that were very small to start. These would be swiftly changing impressions as Gabriel would find himself facing another so like himself. One close in heart, Bràthairel. It would be in the lock of eyes, the grasp of right hands, bend of fingers like a coupling to latch together, thumbs crossed over the other and the left hand of each to cross in holding the other's forearm. The final words left for him to recall, the bond and the pact made in their final hour. A ceangal aig bràthairel nior saor air son bàs àite ré. Sinn àill tachair-ath.

Gabriel digested it all right down to the last words he felt in his heart even without knowing them in this present life. It made him hurt inside feeling a great loss he'd forgotten, whether on purpose or not he didn't know. It was a lot as he finally woke only to turn to his side sick of stomach. It couldn't be helped but more like a purging too as those veils came with it that had kept his mind blocked. A longing recalled of ones once knew, of a time before that he would have to come to grips with and incorporate into the present or go insane. He didn't consider the last an option for his pledge to others, his word his honor. It had been too for a very long time he realized. Looking and feeling very groggy he managed up from the prone position and down to the lake's edge to splash cold water over his face, arms and chest. He didn't feel he was presently strong enough to attempt swimming or he would. The water helped tremendously, as well enough moments to pass giving him the stability of balance before heading up to the Thistle. He was ravenous.

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