one by one

[Paragon]

37th of Frost, 120 Steel

The streets of Kalzasi stood mostly empty as the people of the city and its territories took shelter from the cold. Snow fell from the skies and winds licked at the banners that hung from the grey halls of Mistreach Keep. He stood, with arms resting lightly behind his back, flanked by the highest officers of the Sky Guard but few others. Soldiers walked the walls of the keep, ever watchful against the creatures that forever sought to crawl their way up from the depths. The roads into the Yawning Chasm were lined with lanterns, the only guide to the path winding down into the deep reaches of the cursed earth. There were no crowds gathered in celebration. There were no false platitudes to be offered. This was not a joyous occasion and it was never treated as such.

The Warren March.

It was questioned why such a practice was needed. He had heard it brought up more times than he could count. Mothers would plead with the Council to abolish the practice. Fathers would hold on to their Avialae sons but to be recognized as a man, as an adult with full rights and privileges in Kalzasi, it was a trial that every Avialae had to face. It was the promise that the Synnekar made to the people who lived in their city. The Warrens were both a blessing and a curse, one that had to be watched, guarded and tested with every generation, for with every generation it seemed a new threat spawned from its depths to challenge them. The Warren March would exist for as long as the Synnekar Avialae called Kalzasi their home, for there were none who would weep harder than the families who lost everything because they were lax in their diligence.

“My King,” He glanced over to a broad shouldered older Avialae with the wings of an osprey. “It is time.”

Savien Novalys, thirteenth Shokaze of Kalzasi, turned to face the line of Synnekar young men who would make their way into the depths of the Warrens to prove themselves ready to defend their people. His dark grey eyes scanned them all. There had to be at least a hundred young men before him and while that made his heart swell with pride, it also filled him with a great sadness. The sight of so many Avialae meant that their people were prospering but he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that there would be a number of them that never returned. He remembered well the days when he had to send his sons to face their own Warren March. It had filled his heart with dread. He had clutched each one of them to him, begging the gods that would listen, that they be returned to him safely. Thus far, it had been a prayer they had kindly answered.

“You stand before the Yawning Chasm.” Savien’s voice carried over the gathered crowd of young warriors. The winds seemed to calm, as the First Wind of the Synnekar Avialae spoke. “Let none of you be fooled into thinking you facing anything but a fight for your life. Before you rests the symbol of our people’s strength and the foundation of the promise we made in building our city.”

Savien gestured to the walls of Mistreach Keep around him.

“Before us, this region was awash with monsters. Before us, these lands were blighted and soaked with the blood of innocents. Before us, these lands were a graveyard where others sent their unwanted to die.” Savien dropped his hands and let his eyes roam over the gathered. “I will tell you a truth; nothing has changed.”

He let that statement sink in for a moment. He could see the questions in their eyes. The confusion. The uneasiness.

“When we built this city, we made a promise. We cast down the monsters that surged across these lands knowing that they would return. They always return. Every day, our warriors, our people are reminded that the terrors of the Warrens are only a stone’s throw away from being unleashed. Kalzasi represents a bastion of light in a dark land. It is the first and last line of defense between them…” He gestured back to the city of Kalzasi. Many windows were alight with candlelight. The snow that fell almost seemed to glow with the reflection of hearthfires and lanterns over the cityscape. “...and this.”

He motioned to the Yawning Chasm behind him.

“But…” He eyed the warriors before him. “Our homeland is only made possible because of the riches also taken from its depths. A price we pay for prosperity. It is our duty, it is our honor, it is our privilege to safeguard against the terrors of this blessing and this curse. This is why we must all stand ready. This is why we must all embark upon this journey.”

Savien stepped forward and spread his arms wide.

“Stand proud and no matter what never, never give up. Not on yourselves and not on each other.” With that, Savien motioned for the line of young men to begin their descent. He stood at the beginning of the path, flanked by the officers of the Sky Guard. As the first set of Avialae stepped forward, Savien met them.

“Tariq. House Hiraoka.” He was a tall Synnekar with the wings of a sparrow. Savien stepped forward, framed the young man’s face with both of his hands and rest their brows together. After a moment, Savien stepped back and was handed a torch which he then gave to Tariq.

“Walk with the Lady, Tariq.” The young man bowed and began his descent. Another stepped forward.

“Nichiren. House Tahara.” Again, Savien stepped forward, framed the young man’s face with both of his hands and touched brows with him. He could feel the nervousness in this young man’s form. With all that he was, Savien willed courage into this young man’s heart. After a moment of quiet breathing, he felt some of the tension fall away. Savien stepped back and was given another torch. He handed it to Nichiren.

“Walk with the Lady, Nichiren.”

It was the same for each who stepped up to him. Savien embraced them, giving them all he could in a last moment of safety, of brotherhood, willing them to remain steadfast. Some he shared words with. Some he took full into his arms. But each of them, he spoke their name and he gave them the last light they would take with them into the deep reaches below. Until finally he was faced with something that gave him pause. A young woman and a young man who he could only assume was her brother. The two shared features that were decidedly similar, so similar in fact that he could only guess them to be twins. Pale but proud. Quiet...but resolved. One of the Sky Guard officers stepped from the line and moved to intervene, to gently but firmly guide the young woman away from the side of who was obviously her brother but Savien held up a hand. He allowed both of them to approach and when they did, he leveled the young woman with a sad stare.

“Have you come to see your brother off, young lady?”

[Kala Leukos]

The scene was similar to how Achilios had described his own Warren March years previous, the twins avid listeners after the fear of losing him as they had lost their father had subsided with his return from the capital. If their faces now were grim, it was because they well remembered their elder brother's account of how many had gone down into the depths and how many had struggled their way to the light again. And though they had quit Starfall for Kalzasi months ago, Kala well remembered the strange look in her mother's eyes, the unaccustomed fierceness with which she had embraced one and then the other before bidding them make the most of their time among the Great Houses and the diversity of their population.

Though House Leukos kept largely to itself, tending to its people and its secrets, they acknowledged the sovereignty of Great House Briathos and, above them, the Shokaze of Kalzasi. One never knew when strength in numbers and allies would be necessary.

There were so many young men here and Kala, barely an adult herself, could see how young they all looked, even those whose statures and physiques made most humans pale in comparison. Perhaps she ought to have been worried for herself, but this had always been in her future. She had known she would need a Warren March to prove herself to herself, and so here she was, armed but hardly armored. If it came to a fight, she had to dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee, her daggers at her hips. With her hair bound back and her face painted for battle, she wondered when the Shokaze spoke to her whether he was having a laugh at her expense.

Surely not. She had met his son, not him, but from all she had heard, he didn't seem the type to mock a young woman. Kala had come prepared, her pack full of medical supplies, some even from Iselya's necromantic stash. Some would fall today, but it would not be Kaus and it would not be her. If she was near enough to help, it would not be any other boy seeking to prove his manhood.

"No, your Majesty," she replied, quietly but firmly, bowing respectfully. "I am Avialae, whether I have wings or no. I have come to march."

As she was the adult of the pair, though she was only minutes older than him, Kaus waited.

"Kala. House Leukos."

"Kaus," he chimed in when his elder twin, his core bonded, had said her piece. "House Leukos."

The matter of fact way in which he followed his sister's lead might give others pause before they questioned his sister's words and actions. But he had known her since before he knew anything, and he would trust her with his life before any of these bigger, stronger men with wings. He stood as straight as he could, his posture sometimes too correct, knowing he was small for his kind, though tall enough for a human. Slender, too, for his kind, he was becoming used to being underestimated, but with his rounded wings and their experiments in the field, he was becoming nearly as agile a flier as a sparrowhawk. He knew that both of them would surprise people who underestimated them.

Of course, he hoped the Shokaze didn't try to stop her. She would fight for her rights, and that would be energy should would spend before the real trials began.

[Paragon]

Savien beheld the two as they introduced themselves. He regarded the young woman silently for a moment before nodding. The brown feathered eagle wings at his back drew closer as he contemplated on what was before him. He had a choice to make. He could see the fierce determination in the set of Kala’s shoulders and the intensity in her eyes. The officers beside him remained silent, none would gainsay him for it was he who would decide whether to allow her to descend into the depths with her brother or not.

“Soraken Ilyara.” A woman stepped forward, her posture that of a proud warrior and a woman of authority. She had dark black hair and brown skin with brown eyes that held in them the fire of a great spirit.

“Shokaze.” She rendered a salute as Savien continued to observe the son and daughter of House Leukos.

“Is there any law in our lands that prevents a woman from participating in the Warren March?” The response was immediate and without hesitation.

“No, my Sovereign. Merely, little precedent.” The woman turned her eyes to Kala and there was something akin to understanding in her gaze. She said nothing more as those gathered awaited Savien’s judgment.

“Kala of House Leukos.” Savien gathered his thoughts. “I remember your elder brother. Aquilios, yes? He was brave. If memory serves, he returned from the Warrens carrying one man and urging another forward. He faced his challenge with honor, like his father before him.”

The Shokaze of Kalzasi stepped forward and brought himself to a knee. Savien was a broad and tall man, even in stature with his son. He reached forward and brought his hands up to cup the young woman’s face as he had all of the young Avialae sons before her. Resting his forehead against hers he rendered upon her his blessing.

“Fight with honor. Lead with compassion. Live for your people, Daughter of the Synnekar.” Savien released Kala gently and then turned to Kaus. Reaching forward he brought the young warrior into the same embrace that he had given to Kala.

“Fly swift. Fly true. Come back to us.” Savien released Kaus and rose to his feet. He held out a hand and just as with the others, a torch was given to him. He lit it before extending one to Kala and then another to Kaus.

“The road ahead of you will be perilous. Trust that you have the strength to overcome what is waiting for you.” With that, Savien stepped aside, ushering the twins toward the road down into the Warrens.

[Kala Leukos]

Kaus watched with some trepidation, though he kept it schooled as best he could so as not to cause any cracks in his sister's armor. If she wasn't to come with him, he would have to work twice as hard, feeling like he had one arm bound behind his back. Perhaps their bond could be seen as a weakness, but he chose to cherish the strength they had together. Gods grant they died within a breath of each other; he knew they could survive alone, but neither of them wanted to. And if anyone called him weaker for following his sister, he would try not to punch them in the face. She would, invariably, come up with a more just act of retribution.

He saw Soraken Ilyara step forward almost as with two sets of eyes. There was his impression, and there was Kala's impression—recognition, respect. It gladdened him to see women without wings treated with equality and respect. He wanted that for his sister. She was as valuable as any winged warrior, though her diminutive stature made her seem to be of less substance.

But the Shokaze proved just and wise and Kaus was smiling when he received his blessing. Kala was dignified. They were both glad to hear their elder brother had left a good impression on their sovereign. They both wanted to do the same, though none of them wanted to draw undue interest upon their remote home.

They were blessed. They were handed torches. They bowed as one, their voices not wavering as they made their respectful obeisances. Then, they turned to follow those who had preceded them, and he schooled his sunny disposition into something more appropriate for the gravity of their task. He felt his sister's relief resonating with his own. Their sovereign, at least, was not to be an obstacle. Now there were only the dangers of the Warrens and the possible prejudices of the other boys. If any of them had sense, though, they should see the benefit of having her along. If they didn't know how well she could wield those daggers, they would thank her for any first aid she could render were they injured, or they might pause to consider that she might bring other skills to the table that might help them be one of the survivors of this harrowing.

When they were far enough down the road that their sovereign's eyes would not be upon them, he gave her a surreptitious elbow to her shoulder, nearly knocking her off stride. She turned to look and two pairs of blue eyes mirrored each other. He flashed a grin, content and joyful. She could not help but respond in kind. The Gods had seen fit to make them a matched pair. It was only right that the one should go whither the other did, from wherever souls came from to the womb to the world.

I will never leave you
I will never go away
We were meant to share each moment
Beside you is where I will stay
Evermore and always
We'll be one though we're two
For I will never leave you

[Paragon]

They made their way down into the depths of the Warrens. The stone steps leading into the Yawning Chasm were weathered with age. Many generations of Avialae and miners, explorers and soldiers had walked up and down the very steps that were beneath Kala and Kaus’ feet. Like the gaping maw of some petrified creature, the chasm spiraled down into the bowels of the earth. Already there were some of the other young Avialae warriors gathering in a line as some seemed skittish to delve into the deep reaches of the earth knowing that they may not return. By the way each of the young men were grouping together, it was clear that there was some manner of strategy in play. A tall, broad shouldered youth, with the emerald green skin of the Orkhan, and features that looked to be a mix of human and the Orks, stood at the forefront of the group. From his back sprouted two large brown and white speckled wings. He wore the heavy armor one might expect of a young man of his stature. His hair was short and strapped to one arm was a large shield of fine make. At his hip was a sword that was no doubt of equal caliber.

“The task is clear!” His voice rang out over the gathered. “Find a dragonshard. Let it be that which is honored by your patron House! Travel together. This journey is not one you need not face on your own. Kalzasi needs us just as much as we need to prove ourselves. One life lost is one less warrior to defend our people.”

There were many nods of agreement and murmurings of assent.

“Only the weak need assistance!” Another voice carried out over the crowd and through a parting of young men and wings, there walked another young warrior. He was not quite as tall as the half-Orkhan but he was stocky in build. He bore grey wings with stripes along the feathers resembling that of a grey owl. He carried an axe and a shield, wearing a short torso length cloak that bore the crest of a closed fist superimposed upon a burning fire. Beside him walked two more Avialae.

“Only strong Avialae deserve to stand after the Warren March. That is its purpose. To cull the weak and to leave only those worthy left. You would weaken us by allowing the unprepared to be carried through this. That only proves they were unfit for the task in the first place.” The axe wielding youth squared off in front of the half-Orkhan who stood nearly two heads taller than him. The two glared at each other before the half-Orkhan growled out.

“The Warren March is meant to teach us the dangers of the Warrens. To show us why we both need it and why we must guard against it.” The axe wielding young warrior barked a laugh.

“Let me guess, your family serves House Novalys?” The half-Orkhan narrowed his eyes but did not otherwise answer. “Let’s be clear about this, only the strong will survive this trial. Only the strong are meant to. For too long we have allowed the unworthy to hobble their way through this journey, dishonoring its purpose. Which is to rid us of those that serve no purpose in keeping our lands guarded against foreigners.”

The axe wielding youth suddenly pointed toward Kala.
“Even now, the unworthy stand among us, disgracing this trial with their mere presence.” He glared at her and then eyed her brother. “Pathetic.This is a place for true warriors. Our place.”

The half-Orkhan stood in front of him, getting into his personal space.

“Our place, brother, is to guard our people or has the disgraced House Jiren not remember the price of treachery?” The axe-wielding youth stiffened before going a bit red in the face. He glared at the half-Orkhan before squaring off with him.

“House Jiren has always followed strength. Soon enough, you will see what that means.” The axe-wielding warrior glanced around. “You all will.”

He then shoved the half-Orkhan to move him aside. The young giant, did not budge and merely glared at him as he folded his arms over his chest. The other young warrior grit his jaw before jerking his head toward the Warrens as he looked at his companions. The half-Orkhan watched them go and appeared saddened as others seemed to follow suit. After a moment of tense silence as those who chose to go their own way separated from those willing to work together divided, the young man shook his head and returned to giving direction.

“Gather up by order of your patron Houses. Together, we can make sure we all get back in one piece.”

[Kala Leukos]

Kala felt her veins buzzing as if bees or lightning were running through them. This was finally happening; this, which they had both been training for since they could remember. And the Shokaze himself had blessed her descent alongside the boys. She wasn't a tall woman, but she was walking tall—at least for her. Kaus too had no trouble taking up space just then, though he was small by Avialae standards. If he was proud on her behalf or if they were so tightly bound together that her pride was his pride, it was a secret between them, or one they hadn't thought to articulate.

Even before they came upon the rest of the lads, she was opening her senses to the world around her through her runic key. And while Kaus had been initiated into a more violent discipline, he got a sense of what she sensed as well, just as she would likely benefit from his reaving when the need arose. She could almost see the ebb and flow of power playing between the players of the scene they came upon. The green-skinned lad spoke sense. It was known that marchers would peel off once they attained a dragonshard to prove themselves, but the twins saw no reason not to cooperate in the meantime. Of course, they were used to cooperation in all things.

But then an argument began before anyone had made any real progress. Another lad taunted the first, backed up by a pair of youths. The twins looked on thoughtfully, wondering why the Warren March had become a pissing contest. Aquilios hadn't mentioned this. Perhaps he had left it out, or perhaps it was just their luck. Neither pair of sky-blue eyes blinked when fingers and aspersions were cast in their direction. No adult had barred their passage down, but this child sought to. Well, they didn't dignify him with a response. As her adulthood was not in question, Kala could have remonstrated him publicly, but she was here as much to prove herself as to support her brother and it would be far too easy to take that lad's anger and turn it into hate. That wouldn't serve anyone except enemies of the state.

As he shoved and glowered and made his way down deeper into the Warrens, the twins glanced at each other, thinking: Politics. It wasn't, to Kala's knowledge, treason to criticize the ruling house of Kalzasi, but infighting wasn't going to help anyone survive this trial. They made their way to the green lad. Kala nodded to him.

"I'm Kala Leukos," she said. Her brother chimed in with, "Kaus." After a pause, "Our house is sworn to Briathos. We are both capable with magic and blades. I've got medical supplies in my pack, as well. I'm no healer, but I might be able to keep someone alive long enough to get their dragonshard home if things go south. Briathos and Novalys are married. We might as well work together, hey?" She offered a tight smile. "You're a leader. It's not your fault some of them followed him."

[Paragon]

The Orkhan born youth stared after those who followed the fiery one who had confronted him. He stared for a few moments before sighing and shaking his head. He turned his attention to Kala and Kaus as they stepped forward and introduced themselves. The young man offered them both a smile.

“Caden of House Mar. My family has stood in support of the honorable and just leaders of House Novalys since Kalzasi’s founding.” He gave the twins a nod of his head. The mention of the unions between House Briathos and House Novalys received a grunt of affirmation. He looked out over those who had gathered. There was no lack of emotion in the faces of those gathered and the young men were of all sorts of origins. There were human born Avialae, Hytori born, Dratori born, what looked to even be the son of a half-giant who hefted a mighty greataxe over one shoulder. Some looked grim. Others looked determined and others still were openly nervous.

Caden gave a few clear directions, encouraging those with closely aligned families or allied patrons to travel together. Most groups ended up being a collection of three to four that filed their way down into the Warrens, matching up as best they could to compliment each others skills. Caden turned to Kaus and Kala.

“I will travel with you.” He stepped up beside the two of them, walking in the direction of the entrance to the First Deep of the Warrens while keeping in step with the twins. “I am told that House Briathos favors stormgems. But then again, I also hear that they favor dreamstone. Do you know which one you will be searching for?”

Stormgems, the lightning dragonshards, were not uncommon but they were known to grow only in parts of the Second Deep when it came to searching the Warrens. As for dreamstone, the delicate crystal of dreamers was notoriously difficult to find and even more difficult to harvest. It was known to grow in bodies of water. Either way, the strongest likelihood of finding either crystal would be to explore the elemental regions of the Otherwilds, the Second Deep of the Warrens.

“House Novalys typically favors dawnstone for those who march under their banner. But there is another gem that they favor, one that only members of the family usually pursue.” Caden looked thoughtful. He scanned the sprawling cavern that had begun to extend over them, like the mouth of a hungry beast ready to devour any and all who entered its maw. There were still dozens of young men descending down into the Deeps of the Warrens as they made their way through the upper most reaches. These places were still busy with those miners, Sky Guard and even Legionnaire’s that patrolled the area or worked the mineral veins to be found there. The trials of the Warren March did not truly begin until those embarking upon it made it past the heavily patrolled areas.

As they walked, the marchers received nods, salutes and acknowledgement. Kala received several stares but given her place alongside her brother and the presence of the Orkhan born Avialae beside her, none barred her passage.

“It’s called Starstone. Rare and...well...said to only grow in the darkest places of the Warrens, where a light is needed most.” Caden gave the twins a sardonic smile. “You probably think me foolish or arrogant.”

[Kala Leukos]

"Well met, Caden," she said. Kaus, "An honor."

The twins fell into step with their new comrade-in-arms. Well, Kaus had to quicken his pace and Kala might have seemed comical at it, short as she was, except she was used to keeping up with Kaus and their taller, elder brother as well. Kaus kept his sister between him and Caden; she didn't seem to mind as he was made of more durable stuff than her, and was better equipped to shield her long enough that she could be effective if it came to a skirmish. Both their sets of blue eyes went roaming. This wasn't the most perilous spot, but neither had been down in the Warrens before, only hearing stories from their brother, their dear, departed father, and anyone else who had told them a tale of adventure.

Kala's did come back to their companion from time to time, though, as she was the one most engaged in conversation.

"Our brother brought back a stormgem," she admitted. "A dreamstone would be ideal, though. Or anything rare. The Briathos do love their rare magics." She smiled. There was nothing malicious in the way she spoke of their liege lords, though she hardly sounded unctuous either. They didn't let the stares bother them. They had been anomalous since birth.

"Not arrogant, no," Kaus said with an encouraging smile. "Ambitious."

"I think it is a good thing to aim high," Kala added. "You might not come home with starstone, but 'tis more likely you will if you aim for it. We are used to aiming too high. And I obviously have something to prove... being here. And, of course, Kaus feels the need to impress seeing as he's so short."

Kaus snorted, but didn't clap back. He might be unimpressive by Avialae standards, but his sister was small by even human standards. Well, he didn't clap back about relative size...

"If we find an extra starstone," he suggested, his face too open to be truly sly, "perhaps you can gift it to the Shinsei."

"Or you could," she replied immediately, quick on the uptake, but not malicious either. "He might prefer you to me."

It was a testament to their good impression of Caden that they spoke so openly. There tended to be a near constant stream of communication between the two of them. It wasn't all in words. Sometimes feelings, impressions, concepts, or just nudges, but they did tease each other rather constantly.

"Anyway," she added, "he probably ought to wed a foreign princess, lest Kalzasi be too isolated from its neighbors and invite... trouble."

[Paragon]

“I do not know much about House Briathos. Though, I believe that is by design.” He chuckled. They walked in companionable silence. The Orkhan did not seem to mind the quiet. There certainly was enough noise in the background to fill the space. Between the clinking of miners at work, the shout of foremen and the general chatter of people going about life in an ordinary fashion in an otherwise extraordinary place.

“My father said that I was too ambitious. That I am going to get myself killed.” There was a tightening around his jaw and a narrowing of his eyes. Caden sighed. “I want to prove that I am capable of being something more. We have not had a bad life but it feels...unfulfilled.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. As if noticing that his pace was causing a bit of a rush with the other two, he slowed his steps so that both Kala and Kaus could keep up more comfortably. At the mention of Kala’s goals, Caden could only nod. Blinking at the small joke, the Orkhan simply chuckled.

“The Shinsei? I have not had the privilege of meeting him though he has visited my family a few times to check on the vassals of his House. Do you...fancy him?” It was an honest question tinged only with the mildest of curiosity. Caden blinked at the jest between Kala and Kaus, seemingly having lost the implication of the Shinsei’s preferences. The Orkhan just shook his head with a light smile.

“I sometimes think that myself. Our homeland is strong but sometimes it feels like we try to isolate ourselves too much for fear of being more influential. I suppose it is a natural response given what happened not that long ago.” The Orkhan’s implication was clear. He was referring to the attempted coup d'etat performed by the reigning Shokaze’s uncle, his attempted assassination of the Marshal of Zaichaer and the years of turmoil and unrest that followed in the aftermath. The general consensus among the population as well as the nobles was to lay low and not risk inciting even further discord among the city-states.

As they came upon the descension into the lower parts of the Warrens, the parts where only the Dead Legion and other hunting parties ventured into, Caden took a deep breath. He hesitated for only the briefest of moments before looking at Kaus and Kala with a smile.

“Ready?”

Already there were the sounds of clashing swords, grunts of exertion and calls to arms deeper within the pathways. Stealth in these parts of the Warrens was mostly pointless given that the creatures were drawn to the sounds of civilization not far behind them.

[Kala Leukos]

"Oh, I don't know him well enough to fancy him," she said. "We met him briefly at a party not long after we arrived. Someone must have pulled some strings to secure our invitation, or someone was kind enough to notice we had peeked out of our obscurity to come to Kalzasi. He is handsome, and he seems to be much as he appears, which is rare for a person of his stature. Or he might just wear a social mask with more skill than I can see. We are young. We might not see everything, or understand what we do see." She looked thoughtful for a moment. The idea of being courted by a prince was romantic, of course. "It seems to me more likely he will marry a Senue to make peace among the Great Houses."

Or a princess to make peace among their neighbors as she had already said. Anyway, there were countless reasons why it might be poor luck if he did take a shine to her: too much attention on the Mountain; possible friction with House Briathos; her tendency toward the unorthodox, such as being right here right now demanding to be treated no differently for her lack of wings.

At Caden's question, she adjusted the straps of her pack, all the medical supplies carefully packed so no glass bottles would make any sort of noise. She didn't want them giving away her position, nor breaking and making both a mess and waste of resources. She pulled her curved daggers from their sheaths at her waist, checking their edges in the light as if she hadn't honed them razor-sharp the day before. Kaus, too, resettled his scabbard. More than anything, they were mentally preparing for the task at hand. Talking to Caden was nice in that they would perhaps have a new friend after all was said and done, but it was also a way to keep nerves at bay.

One could prepare for this, but there was always the element of the unknown.

Kaus nodded. She nodded.

"We're ready."

"So weird they make us go underground when our wings are part of what makes us great," Kaus said, somewhat to himself as he looked around.

"Face your fears, I suppose," she said.

"I'm not afraid," he protested, neither indignant nor whining, just earnest. She smiled at him, then turned her smile on their companion. Rational fear was all right; it kept one on one's toes. Irrational fear, though, wouldn't help with anything. Thankfully, they were usually able to keep each other on an even keel.

"So, Caden," she continued as they followed him into the descension, her question amusing given the new underscoring by blades and shouts, "has your eye settled on anyone yet?"