It was the second night in their trip to Full-Forward. Hylo sat awake in her father's grasp, sitting beside her sleeping sister as she dreamed of an empty void in her mind.
While the frigid winds pressed against their faces, Hylo embraced what was to come. She wanted things, but didn't know how to get them.
Desires and goals she wants to someday obtain, each of which lost to her inability to act. Instead of crying about it, she numbed her body. Muffling out her father's warmth.
Her vision turned into a shade of blue, making it even more difficult to look at the cities and towns as they dashed through the night. Absolute zero crept into her bones, freezing her.
The urge to numb out her loneliness continued to escalate, until she became completely frozen over. Leaving Hylo like a completely lifeless body, stuck in time.
But she was very much alive. She continued to listen to the gentle rumbling of the beast's stomach and the four wings flapping about.
Arctic blue fields passed beneath them, letting her acknowledge just how empty and cold the world can be. Yet with the few sparks of light, she connected it to the little moments some uncover.
During those moments, friendships and bonds are made. Before going into abrupt darkness, going for an unknown amount of time until another spark burned bright.
Moonlight caught her attention. She felt the uncertain feeling of being watched by something. Yet she was not threatened, because she knew the moons were the watchers.
Each one, related to the other, stood like sentinels ready to lash out against any incoming threat. So those living in Koroth could survive.
Then she lingered on that word, survival. Hylo thought about it, she toyed with the idea. Of one day, she would obtain peace with several regions and succeed where Niro once did.
Hylo then thought about the struggles to get there. Variants are all very difficult to tame, especially with others that have turned against each other to fight.
So she made up her mind. Hylo would stop being a child, she would become a young Thawed. She would begin to call Ether and Pearl their real names instead of 'Neddy.'
And when she fully matures, she will look at her sister and brothers. Then cock her head back and leave them with bitter tastes in their mouths. Because she was their only protection, the only one of the siblings to learn from their father.
She was so invested in this idea, that Hylo completely ignored Ether rested his cheek over her head. He rubbed a fiery red finger on her shoulder and smiled tenderly. Trying to unfreeze her.
"My little Hylo," he whispered into her ear. "Don't stay awake, go to sleep like little Etherna. When you wake up, Full-Forward will be right beneath us. And you will see Neva again."
Upon hearing the mention of Neva's name, Hylo unfroze herself enough to let her shake her head. She disagreed with visiting her, let alone her Yonie.
Instead of freezing herself right away, Hylo glared at her sister. "I want to go back to the pens and help you kill and skin an Eteni."
Hearing her response shook him, but in a good way. Ether was hoping for a proper descendant to receive Tellendor and its gifts, and Hylo would be this descendant.
She alone would carry the Coros legacy forward someday, giving it to her offspring when she gets some. And meeting whatever challenges the Nine put before her with the same Coros pride as her father.
"Are you saying that just to say it?" Ether pressed harder.
"I'll skin one when we get to Full-Forward!" Hylo snapped back.
That answer made Ether smile. He nodded, approving her decision to embrace her Zegus heritage and develop into the warrior breed she was supposed to be.
Yet that breed would prove to become a challenge. Because Hylo was way too keen on becoming that warrior to realize she would have to reproduce and give her last name to the next generation.
Ether gave her a gentle kiss. "Then I suppose you'll stop calling me Neddy? And being my sweet bundle of icy love? And my precious little companion?"
Hylo remained silent, she knew this was Ether's attempt at bringing her to a level head. So she stood her ground and allowed him to continue.
"Can my warrior please rest?" Ether continued.
"Grr... I'll rest when I am strong!" Hylo raised her little voice.
"But you'll need rest to become strong," Ether smiled at her. "I'll let you use Tellendor for a bit when we land. Then we can see where you stand. But for now, get some rest."
"Fine," Hylo caved in. "But do you promise to give me Tellendor to play with?"
Ether nodded, keeping his cheek on her crown. Ensuring Hylo understood he was not joking when he said it. This was her goal, to one day use Tellendor as her own.
So she closed her eyes, feeling the wind flow over her body. And eventually send her to sleep to a lullaby of pure wind.
A lullaby Ether would listen to repeatedly as he scanned the other beasts. He counted them all, then counted the Variants on them. Making sure they had the same number as when they departed.
When his eyes landed on Pearl and her beast, he suddenly felt a sense of shame go down his throat. He wanted to side with her in this conflict.
To fight by her side in a battle just like when they first fell for each other. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, not when they wanted to stay home and embrace their peaceful nature.
Cold became freezing as he continued to stare at Pearl. Her motionless body rocked with the wind, making Ether feel a little bit at ease.
Because someday, he and Pearl would return to their former glory together. The days of when they tried to produce a child.