Chapter Text
sourceless::
i trudge along the muddy banks of the river, my companions close behind me
the mud clings to my feet like the grip of an akozak, but i pay it no heed
my quick and nimble footsteps outmach the mud's grasp
as my companions stumble and curse behind me, i slow down my pace
yan::
AøI+ÈHA!
sourceless::
yan tumbles into the mud, scattering their satchel of cysts
i giggle a little
it is always a delight to see others get twisted in the river's banks
kaz::
never been on the surface before, cavern-crawler?
sourceless::
they sigh at my comment, saying nothing
they continue to clean and return the cysts to their proper place
vak::
come on, we should not keep stopping like this while it is still clear-sky
the eye still blinks
sourceless::
we travel along the yuzku river
i have known this river all my life
i have hunted, travelled, and lived alongside it
i know its secrets - and it knows mine
vak::
ready, yan?
yan::
yes, let us keep going
how long until we reach the spire, kaz?
kaz::
judging by the distance - a few more gazes
sourceless::
across the horizon - the spire lies upon the alkali mountains
it drapes the skies around it in its black tempest, obscuring velzie's gaze
cloaking the entirety of the mountain range on this side of the river
even here, we can see the cracks of lightning within its storm
but beyond it - our destination awaits
yan::
then that should put us a couple gazes to kozali - right, vak?
vak::
seems like it to me
sourceless::
it is still a few winks before brume-sky falls
so, we set off once again along the river's banks...
time whittles away as we travel under velzie's gaze
as the blinks pass - i hear my companions bicker behind me as they follow
yan::
uuugh my back hurts already
vak::
lighten up, i have been carrying everything else since we left azozali
besides, i am the one with the zzepel - i decide when we will rest
sourceless::
a pause
i can only assume vak glares at yan
vak::
before you ask, now is not that time
sourceless::
yan groans
yan::
not even for a blink?
vak::
no
the faster we arrive, the faster we get back home
sourceless::
and with that, we continue in silence