The great march branched towards Encur territory, bridging across a small section belonging to Light before arriving at Ophus' lands. From there, the mystic mountain was in view.
Courage pulsed through their bodies. Powering every single warrior and beast alike. Up there was where weapon met shield, and Light crumbles to shadow.
On the second day, they were there. At the foot of the mountain. Tired yet war-ready, each warrior wanted to ascend and conquer the Legion that belonged to them.
But no one could. Despite their ambitious plan being ready, they themselves were not. Fighting a battle under a drowsy trance wasn't wise.
So the march broke apart. Ukaley led Ophus around the side of Digon to reach her former home. The one she lived in prior to the Light Legion's arrival.
Encur retreated to a nearby Ophus outpost. Tucked away beneath parted earth, this outpost was hidden from Imbushko. Boulders covered the top from any unwanted visitors.
While Infinus pulled back towards Green Jaw. Their footsteps repeated infinitely inside their frostbitten minds. Elites looked over their shoulders to acknowledge their warriors.
Making sure they weren't missing or injured. Risk was different. His cape danced over his front and back as he tried to make conversation with different warriors regarding their experience.
No one seemed to mind the Feral. In fact, some replied. Had a good talk with an otherwise busy and crazy alpha.
Something Ether caught several glimpses of. He smiled behind his helmet, happy to see where his people stand. Proud of his accomplishments up to that point. And the triumph they were going to endure.
"We will rest here. It's a little uncomfortable compared to what the other's got. But it gives us cover from them," Ether ordered.
Groups formed of warriors huddling together. They found a tree they were comfortable with and laid down, resting before their assault that very night.
Among the groups of settling warriors stood Pearl. She watched them get together and drift to sleep.
Off in the background, Valentine told beast masters where to put their beasts down. Cemtrin struggled to keep the forest intact, while Sky Beasts effortlessly blended in just by closing their eyes.
"This is it. I can tell this is the last siege before Digon is ours," Pearl made her way closer to her mate. "Look at how well the people are treating each other. So soothing."
Ether placed his forehead on Pearl's chest. "It bothers me we're in armor. Was hoping to feel your loving cold after this march."
"We don't have to be in armor. Let's find ourselves a private spot, yeah?"
Pearl took the lead. Snow sunk beneath her boots as she quickly made her way through Green Jaw. Ether followed her, but struggled to keep up with her pace.
Both lovers quickly found themselves away from the group. Nothing but trees everywhere they looked, not a single hint of life around them. Their chance to feel the other's passion.
Looking up, Ether got a sense of how thick the leaves were. Almost no sunlight pierced the canopy above. Casting a permanent shadow on the snow below.
Feeling comfortable then, he picked the foot of a tree. Looking down at it, studying how soft or hard the snow was. After a few seconds, Ether got closer. Then he dropped right next to it.
However, instead of landing on the snow. He landed on top of something's head. Pearl turned to see her partner crashing through a small opening on the ground.
Followed by faint crying. But those cries sounded too shy and gentle to belong to Ether. She carefully made her way closer to the edge of the hole before peaking down.
Right below here was her mate on top of a Yonie. Ether stumbled off the little one, trying his best to avoid hurting it even more.
But it was already too late. Several Yomies instantly knew something was wrong. They flooded the chasms and eventually stumbled into the same tunnel as their Yonie.
Pearl watched, intrigued by what was happening. Although her mate was down there with foreign faces, she was sure they wouldn't hurt him.
A Yomie crawled towards them. Her back was an arch as she made her way towards the unexpected visitor. When she was right on Ether, she stopped.
Her eyes examined him, and his examined her. Neither knew what was happening, so they spoke up.
"An... armored Yomie?" Her voice commented.
Ether reached up for his helmet, it came off with a single click and twist. Exposing his big green eyes, long hair, and innocent face. Startling the Yomie.
"No, not a Yomie?!? A Yonie, then. But why are you an armored Yonie?" She pushed again.
Instead of responding with his words. He shook his head. Hair flowed like air as he moved around. Making it clear he didn't want to be seen as a Yonie.
From the opposite end of the tunnel, a single small Yonie walked closer to the visitor. When he was right next to him, he grabbed the back of Ether's head and bent it backwards.
Forcing both of their eyes to meet. Crystal green locked with icy blue. A half Yonie locking eyes with a full Yonie. Seeing this was a Yomie, the little one hugged Ether.
"H - hey, hey. Tight squeeze for such small figure," he complained.
Upon hearing his voice, the family tilted their heads. A Thresher who looks like a Yonie but Yonies read as a Yomie that sounds like a Zegus.
That same Yomie placed her hands on Ether's cheeks. "What are you?"
"I'm a Zesher. That means Zegus and Thresher. Also, is this what a family's home looks like?" He tried to change the topic.
But the Yomie brushed off the question. "But... what's between your legs? You're confusing and we want to know your role."
Hearing that question caused Pearl to have the overprotective urges consume her mind once again. "Well, if you really want to know. He unsurprisingly has a dick, one that should only be in me."
Ether looked up to see Pearl crouching over the hole. "Your tongue has gotten a bit spicy. Don't worry, I'm all yours."
The Yonie poked his head from out of the hole. "Wrong! Nooooo. I can tell. That's a Yomie - Yomie!! A Yomie for a Yonie. Cuuuuuute coooouple!"
It felt like a verbal punch to her. Pearl adored Ether, not wanting to leave his side for any reason. Hearing an innocent Yonie spit a lethal type of venom concerned her.
"Catch that little mouth of yours before I get down there and rip it off," Pearl snarled.
The Yomie heard the threat. She crawled through the hole, pulling herself outside to confront the aggressive Thawed.
"Who are you talking to?" Her voice replied in an equally harsh manner.
"Hey! Don't fight. Sorry about that," Ether turned to face the Yomie. "She is just very protective. It's her nature, really. I can tell she thought you were trying to pull me aside and spend the night with you."
In response, the Yomie looked down with a shocked facial expression. Her pale hair covered half of her face as she blankly stared at him.
"What? No, no, no," she turned her attention to Pearl. "I have a Yonie. Sleeping with your Yonie would kill my little one. They aren't capable of withstanding so much heartbreak."
Pearl sighed, allowing her stress to come out of her body. "I'm sorry. It's that he means a lot to me. Losing him to another Variant would destroy me."
While intently listening to their conversation, Ether felt two more Yonies coming over and hugging him. They each made sure to make the visitor feel welcomed. Regardless of which family they came from.
"Stevi Yonie! Bahvo, bahvo. Nishta, sharatu! (Big beautiful boy! Welcome, welcome. We accept you!)" One said.
His soft voice played like a lullaby inside Ether's ears. Their welcoming voice felt like they were truly accepting him into their family.
Pearl looked down to see the Yonies comforting her mate. Jealousy struck her nerves, she felt like her mate was at risk despite the Yonies being forever loyal to their Yomies.
Ether noticed this. "Shudo nomkai, sez. Iroh 'Yomie' shaw. Nodo shashili vas. (Get off me, please. That's my 'girl' up there. I can tell she is nervous.)"
On command, the Yonies backed off. Before they retreated into their chambers, they inspected the Yonie Ether landed on for any injuries.
All he needed was some time with his Yomie before feeling comfortable enough to resume his position as a guard. Knowing it was only a matter of time before the next frost-wave.
The Threshers began making strives to prepare for it. Yomies crawled back down the tunnels, into spacious chambers that broke apart into smaller tunnels. Going deeper into the family's home.
"Wait, before you guys go," Ether waved his hands around. "Can me and my mate rest inside here for a while? It feels very warm inside and would want to sleep inside her grasp until tonight."
Hearing the simple request, a Yonie nodded. He pointed down to where he was heading with one hand, and gestured to follow with his other hand.
"Pearl, let's go. We can sleep here," Ether notified her.
The Yomie stepped aside, not arguing against the family's kindness. Allowing Pearl to struggle through the tight squeeze before landing in a surprisingly wide tunnel system.
"Let's go."