One large, deep moment of silence fell over the group. The only sounds around them were the cackling flames, beastly screeches, and sounds of distant wildlife running by.
A frigid evening, one designed for a more serious meeting. One that set the stage for what they were preparing to discuss.
"Do you remember the Book of Will?" Valentine placed his mask beside his legs. "More specifically, page 19?"
Oria cocked her head back, allowing the encased Ether to completely fix his gaze on his former Sherpa. He carefully studied his memories, hoping some recollection of that book came back to him.
Valentine massaged his sharp cheeks with two fingers. "Don't you remember? 'Those who lost shall find strength in where they've lost. Those who move onward only find regret.'"
Jakery hugged himself, staring at his older sibling in hopes of conveying his unspoken words. Without any use of his voice, he silently begged Ether to wrap him in his arms.
"Well," Ether placed one hand on Oria's forearm. "Looks like you're implying we should go back and get revenge? Considering what they did to Demon... I want to go back."
Bright flames ignited Valentine's joyed facial expression. "Good, good. But this is more than just senseless war fighting. I have prepared you and your siblings well. That's what other Sherpas fail to teach their students."
Oria hugged tighter. "This little one understands that concept pretty well. But try to go easy, you and your little brother are all that I have to practice my parenting skills on."
Embarrassment washed down Ether's back. "Yeah, yeah. We just met you, don't you think you should be... you know, normal?"
"Oh, my sweet little one!" Oria gently laughed. "Are you unaware of what Ferals do to your kind out in the wild when there's no food around?"
"Swallow my metal and your teeth. What happens out there has no relation on how you act here!" Ether snapped back.
Valentine hushed them both down. "If you're considering fighting back, starting a Legion is what you need to fix your gaze on. Solice was ambitious, being his son, are you like him?"
Unsure of what to respond with, Ether caved in. "Where do I start?"
-Three weeks later-
Oria chirped, she yawned and stretched as she checked on the still asleep Jakery beside her. She smiled upon seeing him hugged tight against her tan body.
In the vast darkness of the room, she overheard part of a conversation.
"... He said. Since it was true, I feel the courage of going through. Do you think you'll recover sometime soon?" Ether asked his brother.
Using her nocturnal senses, Oria was able to make out Demon's face. Black veins stretched up to his neck, while pale skin contrasted Ether's tan skin. They looked different.
Almost alien to one another. But still held onto their memories together. A bond not even paranormal forces were capable of breaking.
"Tavious. He said he was going to help me learn how to walk again. I cant make many promises of stepping out into the real world with you and young Jakery until this gets sorted out," Demon replied.
Hearing the odd voice unnerved Oria. She flinched after hearing his distorted voice. It sounded cracked and was deeper than she expected. Often switching pitches without any warnings.
It almost sounded like he wasn't alone inside his body. As if there was a different entity in there that also wanted to talk, but couldn't.
Understanding it was the break of dawn, Oria tried to get her mind off it by licking Jakery's forehead. Her tongue ran over it repeatedly until he began coming through.
"Tervon, vissonok yatiney stinno tarkano (Morning, big skies and bigger beasts call for us to feast)!" Oria whispered into his delicate ear.
During the time the trio has spent together, Valentine noticed how odd the relationship between the two siblings and Oria was. While Jakery became something like her adopted cub, Ether became like a father figure in her eyes.
Not towards her, but towards Jakery. And Oria respected it enough to know her role to play in a family that was purely driven by not passionate love for each other, but by survival instincts.
"Look at that. Cracks of sunlight. Demon, my good brother, please do not be afraid to talk to us. Your voice is understandable and I'd much rather listen to you than read your writings," Ether urged.
With that, he swiftly got out of bed. He stretched as his bare feet slid across the floor. Oria could hear the amplified sounds from the far corner of the room she was in.
"Er-teri. Varamok yaratakro vin misha (Uh, hmm. Up right now for a warm bath)?" Oria pressed again.
This time, Jakery replied. "Ehboo (Shut)! Nayi na (Not now)."
Unsure of what he said, Oria bit his hair before lifting him off the bed. Her hook-like teeth made it easy for her to hold his hair in her mouth. Just like a Feral cub.
Up on the roof, Oria found Valentine and Ether talking. In his hands, Ether held a silver sword. The illegal weapon he smuggled out of the Light Legion.
She used her hands to wrap Jakery in a warm hug, letting go of his hair. As her nocturnal senses died down, she watched the two Variants having a silent conversation.
"It's real simple. Whichever way you lean, she'll obey. Don't worry about rough rides either, big girl Gloria offers rides gentle enough to fall asleep on," Valentine added.
Ether had his eyes fixed on the lightning blue eyes of the beast. "Are you seriously telling me a beast that is known for its speed will give me an easy time for my first flight?"
Valentine placed one hand on her forehead. "Don't you remember one key thing about Sky Beasts in general? They are smart - very, very smart. She knows you're afraid. Just ask her to bow her head."
He nervously stepped back, giving Gloria enough space for her giant beastly head. "Can you... bow, please?"
On command, Gloria lowered her head. Both eyes closed, the gentle screeches lingered in her body as her new master watched with awe.
Oria plopped Jakery down beside some rails. "You know. If you were a real Feral cub, you would have been pushed around fairly easily."
Not wanting to interact with anyone, Jakery yawned. He balled up and hoped she would let him be. But Oria refused to. In this moment, away from her pack, she felt like she had a new purpose.
The purpose of a caretaker.
"How old did you say you were? Sixty-three? When I was that young, my Neddy was teaching me all about how to go for killing blows. While my Neddy taught me how to properly skin meals," Oria continued.
Jakery sighed, finally caving into her conversation. "What about your other parent?"
Oria blankly stared at him. "He taught me how to go for killing blows. I told you that."
"Huh??" Jakery got up to look at her. "So both of your parents share the same name? 'Neddy?'"
While the two were talking, Ether mounted Gloria. She lowered herself, opening all four wings as she descended.
"Remember," Valentine shouted. "Keep going where the wind leads, there's a city that does not have a governing Legion. Good luck."
Oria and Jakery were caught off guard by the giant gust of wind from the beast's wings. They instantly felt a deafening howl and a sudden cold as the beast ascended into the skies.