-Four days after First Frost-
Snow crunched beneath the feet of marching warriors who decorated Krugi's outskirts. Rows upon rows of battlers keen on a successful evasion stood shoulder to shoulder.
Uncertainty was a common theme among their minds, Yarno was vastly different than Imbusko. The fighting spirit of a foreign Variant was unpredictable, yet they kept their heads down.
Rays of a golden sun thawed out the region from its frigid tomb, slowly restoring the restless life on the surface.
Many of the young Variants arrived to bring comfort to the uneasy warriors at the command of the elites. They were just as unsure as them, but this step forward had to happen.
Leaders checked over their groups for any last-minute preparations. Among these leaders were Kellenas, Ether, Enoptes, and Valentine. Each one had their role to play during the invasion.
Thousands of Variants kneeled in front of fires, sending their sincerest honors to the ones risking it all. Even those that could lose a family or friend.
Sky Beast screeched as their pure white feathers reflected the winter beauty of the world around them, making them seem like part of the environment. However, other beasts weren't like that.
During their time breeding the Sky Beasts, mutations appeared in the offspring. Such as different colored beaks or feathers, longer wings or sharper talons. Even a dull beak.
Ferals patted the beasts, ensuring they were feeling good enough to launch the attack. They all were, which contrasted how the Variants felt.
Even though the younger city Variants came by to offer comfort, everyone saw this as more of a last goodbye. The young ones even knew it, whoever they were interacting with could never come back.
Valentine unmasked himself, latching the piece of armor on his left shoulder. He forced himself to bleed, then used the blood to form a fancy glass cup with what appeared to be blood-wine in it.
Once it was complete, he drank deeply from it. Forgetting all the tension in the air during the brief period of time he spent drinking. Everything felt dull after he drew his last sip, like the reality came back to crush him.
Gentle steps followed behind the group of leaders who sat in silence, as if the steps belonged to someone smaller than them. Pearl turned to see who it was causing her to lock eyes with Ether.
They smiled at each other, even prompting the tiny Zesher to plant his forehead on her stomach to show his love for her. Pearl hugged him as a response, then she whispered into his ear.
"It's only an invasion. I will be back someday."
A pure Yonie tear formed in the back of his eyes, he nodded. Trying to play it off as another conflict with a neighboring Legion, not region.
Enoptes watched them from afar, keeping his head slightly tilted down. He watched their warm interactions encourage the other. But those interactions could only do so much.
During that final stretch of courage, unrelenting nature, and instincts, he had to stand. Letting the wind kick up around him as the banners that danced all around his frame shine its might upon the field.
Throughout the years, he began to decorate the banners more. Adding features to them as a display of symbolism. Such as a purple tear drop in the very center of the Infinus logo and a shattered shield.
Stories of Ophus' past told in simple drawings across his armor and banners - stories that Kellenas tried to understand while he looked over his ally's shoulder.
Both Variants turned their focus on the metal bar Enoptes had on his leg, he cleaned it with a small towel he carried around for polishing pieces of his set. To ensure they looked the best they could.
Kellenas - through the clouds he formed with every exhale - observed his ally. Taking in every detail in the armor set he wore, making the alpha wonder:
If two enemy Legions clashed in the past, Encur and Ophus, then united under a common banner. Could Imbushko do the same to Yarno? Despite that tiny thought, he knew it would not work.
Especially for him, after losing a group his Ferals and hearing about the conflict inside the region itself. He did not want to ally with the current order, but when a new one got built...
He held off on it, trying to think on the present instead of the future. The rumbling in his throat snapped him out of his trance, he realized something was happening.
On Pearl's command, the warriors mounted Sky Beasts. Like metal figurines sitting on top of beaked snow, the groups looked just as threatening.
Blacks and blues stood with pride over the newly polished armor sets of Infinus battlers. Turning the whole area into the type of pattern one might see on a rug.
Leaders stood with their arms crossed, watching their men scale the heavenly white wings of the beasts. It seemed like a novelty to them yet it was just a resurfaced memory.
All the way back to the Light-Infinus war, when they mounted beasts by the dozens to bring fury upon a Legion that has been wronged. Even some of the fabled elites understood that.
Ether hugged Pearl one last time, whispering something barely audible into her ear. When he was ready, he stepped away from her. Leaving Pearl staring off as her partner dragged his feet across the snow.
It felt like a thorn in her heart, she did not want to leave him behind. But she understood he had to, their offspring needed him back home.
Bravery filled her bruised heart, causing Pearl to lift her helmet over her head. "We will survive this invasion."
Valentine nodded then smirked while putting on his mask, he had his trust placed on her. So did Kellenas, he growled as he went off to find his six Scaler buddies.
However, Enoptes simply nodded once then slowly and carefully slid the bar back into its place, along his back. Every action he did was with utmost care, as if it was his own offspring he was taking care of.
"We will survive this invasion," Enoptes echoed.