Vin and his comrades are still reeling from the carnage that was a result of the battle between them and the brotherhood, a battle that ultimately and very tragically ended in the heroic death of their beloved friend Cathlean. Mere minutes after setting Cathlean's funeral pyre, a hawk soars through the smoke, urging them to follow it into the west where the goddess has just arisen. With only the hawk to guide them across the wild lands of the west they make the journey to greet the goddess