this new air feels hard to breathe, is this how it's supposed to be? if sweet dreams are made of these then why can't I be sure?
Otem felt her entire world begin to swim as Kiada mentioned the four little words that unmistakably meant her mother. The Mountain that Knows. "Yes," Otem breathed, as if not daring to say more for fear of dislodging whatever memory Kiada was experiencing. In that moment the sap and soil coloured mare simply wanted to lay down and rest her head on the memory of her mother. She would let the amulet do all the talking if only it would promise to answer only in Isopia's voice. But instead of crumpling to her knees as she longed to do, Otem made herself stand a touch straighter, nodding as Kiada offered to gather materials and store them in Halyven.
"That will be really helpful. " Otem agreed, letting whatever feelings of misgiving she had felt against Kiada earlier waft away from her. Other than Isopia's voice, Kiada was the only thing here that was from home, and Otem wouldn't let her youthful and easily-bruised feelings get in the way of that.
Glancing toward Waker, unsure of what it was his first comment was meant to refer to (mountains being hard to carry? Or... the breadcrumbs? Or something else entirely?), she nodded with relief as he too pledged himself to the cause. However it was Rixen's offer of fealty that really seemed to solidify that they were doing something. That they were something.
And that made Otem feel good.
The giant Roscorro, still without voice, nodded his head and Otem could only assume that meant he was in as well. Pride and the naive enthuisiasm and optimism of youth bubbles brightly in Otem's chest, rising up through her throat and exploding as a wide smile across her lips. "Okay then!" She began, her voice shaky with the joy and excitement she was trying to hold back.
"Next half moon we meet in Halyven. Until then, look out for one another...and if you find anything useful, bring it back to Halyven as Kiada suggested. "
The Pinnacle
