YUVEN

The rise of dawn, the fall of dusk. In repetitive, constant agony.

Rise of dawn. Fall of dusk. Rise of dawn. Fall of dusk.

Minutes, bells into his elongated life. Apprehension slammed across his chest as he made his way out of Maria's room for the last remnants of her voice — to the Annex, where Neven wrote down documents for his accursed faith; with Fenrer as an influence for its mendacious strength. Underneath the scattered sunlight over the peaks of the caldera, he entered the western wing of the citadel, where the Aurus made their home away from the swallowing auras of their senses. Fenrer's nothing if not predictable. He checked his moonwatch to confirm Fenrer's stringent prayer schedule instead of battling his relentless insomnia. Chimes clinked through the outside courtyard, underneath the tree of bleeding, pink heart leaves. Words to beings who don't exist won't bring them back. Action will, but Fenrer is so content to sit on his ass and do nothing while who knows what is happening over in that damned kingdom!

On the righteous side of his own certainty, he pushed himself through the flow and carried himself on its wings to step through the hallowed doorway and into Fenrer's presence. He knelt in the center of the small aqueducts built between the shrines and prayer rooms, crisscrossing the essence throughout the entire section to represent the flow of the world. Smoke twisted into his nostrils and he held back the urge to sneeze as he inched closer to Fenrer's back, who kept his hands over his eyes in unneeded reference to the four Ancients; each with their own ideals. From the might of the dawn to the call of evenfall. It was where Fenrer wasted his time.

"What is it, Yuven?" Violet flames sparked off the silver incense holder when Fenrer squeezed the aspen tip and let it go. On his knees, he slid it into the slot and returned his eyes to his hands, to shield himself from the truth of the world to hide in falsehoods.

"Here I thought the reason you couldn't schedule your sleeping times is because you struggle to keep yourself organized." Yuven drove his heel out of the spatial reality and into Fenrer's, who refused to look upon him, the real thing, opting to stare up at the avatar of Evyriaz, a wyvern with white-feathered wings. Its tips stretched higher into the candlelight, sending snow flecked shadows over Fenrer's face. "As it turns out, you can do things timely, but not for important things such as your own health." He whisked some smoke out of his way, and Fenrer tilted his head around at the chime of wind fluttering over the arched ceiling of the prayer circle. "So, this is how you choose to spend your precious time, then? While Neven and Maria are stuck over in Naveera, you're beseeching statues?"

Fenrer's lips parted with the slightest huff of frustration, and he returned his brow into his hands of willful ignorance.

"You could at least muster concern."

Smoke filled the galactic jades when they opened into the silver mirage. "What do you want me to do, Yuven?" One more prostrated bow under the wings of Evyriaz, the wyvern who failed to save himself. "Neven said he'd come back, and I have faith in him."

"Don't start with faith." On the fires of rage, he slammed himself forward, causing Fenrer to twist on his knees and draw himself up. "Faith does not equate to reality, Fenrer. We have had this discussion time and time again. It is you who refuses to see it for what it is!" Yuven swiped the air around them. "We both know that Naveera would sooner murder Storm Wardens than accept help! What do I want you to do?" He got into Fenrer's space, whose brow scrunched in readiness. "Several things, one, stop wasting time here and start taking action. Two, at least act concerned for the man who took you in and raised you when you lost everything instead of being distracted with Adara!"

Fenrer raised his hand to his forearm and pushed him out of the room with ease. "Yuven, I am worried, but there is nothing I can do," he insisted with one final shove. Glyphs wrapped around the door to shut it tight behind him. "If you're so certain that something happened over there, why waste time biting my head off when you could bring up your concerns to the Warden-Commander and the Warden Echelon? I am one, Warden, not even a Captain as you are." His fingers loosened from his fists, but Yuven kept his raised high for the fight of his life. "Would that not be a better use of your time, Yuv? You need to watch your stress levels for your flashes."

"If only someone who could watch my stress levels would get his thick skull out of smoke clouds!" Yuven snapped and shoved his shoulder, and Fenrer rolled his neck and ceased blinking. "You think the echelon will listen to me the way they listened to Neven. It has been made abundantly clear that I have no seniority when it comes down to it."

"Your opinion still matters." Fenrer went to walk away, but Yuven grabbed onto his shoulders with both hands for the last semblance of stability with Neven and Maria long gone. His fingers drifted out of the outreach of help, swallowed by ocean mist. He stood in front of him again with a soft sigh. "You're forgetting that Warden-Commander Faehariel once trusted you with leading the King's Summit in her place — I don't think that's the mark of dismissing your word." He wrapped his hand around his forearm, which shook in his childish torment.

"Look at how the Summit turned out, Molvisaliz," Yuven hissed, letting him go instead of choking his collar. "How many died under my watch? How many Wardens? Or people brave enough to stand with us — or stupid, depending on who you ask." He brushed off the front of his shirt. "You're content to pray to beings that won't ever answer you when I'm right here, and you could share your concerns too but choose not to."

In the split light of the window between them, Yuven waited for Fenrer's reply, but he breathed out a deep sigh and shook his head. Back to him, he jolted when Fenrer walked down the corridor and disappeared around the corner with nothing but his own shadow for company. Citadel bells rang out through the mountain to echo with the song from the harbor. Left alone with his own sharp words, he huffed and went outside instead.

Training fields remained abandoned of any fresh blood for the Order, and their numbers dwindled Turn by Turn. Derelicts hunted and supped upon the world, the only world they had. Against the carved rock of the caldera, the stables sat. Hippogryphs cooed within, and he used his shoulder to swing open the large wood doors. The tangy scent of meat swept into his nostrils as he went to the back to rifle through the runecoolers. Food in hand, he went to Tix'snuv's preferred stable. It slid open with a wave of his hand, and he came to a stop at the snow-white hippogryph currently chewing on last meal's bones, using his sharp beak to tear through the marrow. He let out an irate squawk when Yuven inched closer.

"That makes two of us, Tix." Yuven dumped his lunch at his claws, grabbing a broom to sweep out the stable as Tix'snuv crawled forward to snap at the meat. He opened up the lever to the water purifiers, washing out the tray before filling it with fresh water. It was a predictable series of chores. He swept the floors, gathering the pile into a compost bag before putting it outside and got to work on replacing the matting, with Tix'snuv adjusting himself when needed. Over to the brush and saddle rack, he took a thicker one before heading back inside. "You know what it's time for."

Another squawk was his response when he came closer.

"Don't give me attitude, I've had enough of it today already," Yuven bit back and got to work on his coat, being careful with the flight feathers of his wings. His fingers ran through the silken white feathers, smoothing out any mats or debris to leave Tix'snuv's coat with a beautiful, healthy shine straight down to his claws and hooves. The meal disappeared in a snapping instant, and he pulled himself back when Tix'snuv bumped his massive haunch into his chest. "No, that's all you're getting until later." He grunted when his string tail whisked forward and smacked him in the shoulder. "No."

Squawks of defiance rang out in his ears as Tix'snuv flapped his wings and cuffed him over the head. Yuven dove out of his way when he lifted himself to his feet with a stomp of his hooves and his claws digging into the stone past the comfortable matting. He shook out his long neck, and Yuven waved his hand in front of his nose at the molted feathers flying through the air from his careful brushing. In the beady yellow eyes, he saw his own frustration, his own helplessness. "Fenrer can do what he wants," he mumbled and grabbed the saddle. Hoisted and strapped to Tix'snuv, he patted his beak. "Let's go."

Hoofbeats sounded behind him as he led the way out of the table, and Tix'snuv pushed himself past. Into the saddle, he hooked himself in and adjusted the reins in his hands. Through the tall, arched windows, he spotted Adara walking past with a half-hearted magelight in her hands. Between his legs, Tix'snuv shifted in agitation and matched impatience when he bit down on his tongue and resisted the urge to throw himself through the flow to slam her back into reality. Forget it, if they want to waste time, don't waste mine. He clucked his tongue and spun himself around to face the open field to give himself space to fly free. From Naveera. From Fenrer's reluctance to see the truth. From Adara's resistance against her power. Powerless, he held on as Tix'snuv took a running start to fly into the sky.

Perception is power.

Kings thought it came from coin, blood, and armies. It all led to the same universal reality. Perception. Around the towers of the citadel, he found himself drawn closer to the upper echelon where the older Wardens met and discussed the largest plans to hand down the line of their structure. Knowing our luck, the Elder Conclave might send something while Neven and Maria are missing. Yuven rolled the reins across his knuckles as his reflection flitted past the stout windows he flew past. Thin air expanded his lungs deeper when Tix'snuv banked and swung himself through the ramparts.

Smoke curled on jade rivers.

Arrows of war whizzed through his mind and struck a grove bathed in the sun, dripping blood.

He grunted when Tix'snuv came to a sudden stop with angled wings. Without true control over the intelligence of a hippogryph, he held on tight and followed Tix'snuv's random whim. "Where are you going?" he asked, though knew it was a waste to question. He let the reins fall loose in his fingers. Magick coursed through the saddle as Tix'snuv dived through the mist, and hovered to a stop above a cave opening. Beautiful cascades filled a tiny pond, sprinkled with stars. "Really?" He sighed when Tix'snuv landed and dug his claws into the dirt and grass hidden within. Tix'snuv shook, and Yuven took that as cue to slide off the saddle. "Why did you bring me here?"

In response, Tix'snuv showed him his hindquarters.

"Good to know you're going to act mature about this." Yuven slumped beside the pond. Magick rippled through his skin and drained out his limbs. Ink worms danced in the corners, and he flailed for support as he found a boney beak catching his elbows in slow motion. Names called out through the crunching snow, and he awoke to someone's hand brushing his shoulder. Metal glinted against the sun as their voice came out a slew of bubbles.

"Yuven."

Darkness swilled in his mouth without the taste of blood. Thick tar drained out in a small, burning ember as the watery cascade overflowed the noise. Golden light echoed through the shadows, and he mumbled, "Maria?" He grabbed onto the shape's shoulders, born of the crimson light. "When did you come back?"

"I'm not Maria. Do you know who you are?"

Yuven processed the influx of the ocean waves and blinked through the flash's haze. "Yuven Traye... but..." Confusion wriggled when he grappled onto the figure for her comfort. "Gods, my head's killing me." He tried to peer through the shifting colours until it fell into wasted clarity of a wolven pin.

Fenrer Pyren.

He sat with one knee on the ground and an arm slouched over it. "You with me?"

Yuven realised he was choking Fenrer's neck, and he released him, only to bump straight into Tix'snuv's stretched out forelimb. "Fenrer?" he bit and tried to scramble out of his reach. "How'd you find me?"

"Better question is how you found this place, but I guess that can wait." Fenrer sighed in relief before holding out a waterskin. "Here." Back on his knees, Yuven drained the waterskin and waited for the slew of prayer, though Fenrer said nothing.

"Well?" Yuven coughed out an ancient glob, but nothing came up to dig behind his teeth. "It is not my fault Tix'snuv took me here, wherever 'here' is." He looked around the lichen covered cave. "What are you doing here, Fenrer? You had made it quite clear previously that you wanted to be alone."

Fenrer's brow creased. "I did."

"Then why are you here?" Frustration egged him on, but Fenrer's next words stopped him short.

"Because I thought I was one of two people who knew of this place." Fenrer straightened himself out and folded his arms. "I come here sometimes when I need to think, but I found you here instead."

"Are you going to say it was the Ancient's design... or however you want to describe a coincidence?" Yuven rolled his wrist in the air, then tilted his neck back to examine Tix'snuv, who rested his head on his other limb. "Afraid to tell you it is not the case, Fenrer. Tix'snuv here just has a mind of his own." He brushed his feathers, then sat up. "Apologies for intruding on your private spot, Molvei'saliz," he hissed out Neven's nickname for Fenrer, the first word Fenrer butchered in their language. "It is not like I can choose where to have a flash."

"Yuven—" Fenrer opened his mouth, but Yuven hauled himself up, clicking his tongue at Tix'snuv, who released an indignant chirp when he stood up. "You are not flying until I know you're—"

"You aren't Neven, Fenrer. Stop acting like you are. He isn't here. You were so willing to let him leave without argument, and it falls to me to make sure Naveera doesn't take anything from me again." Yuven hauled himself in the saddle. "Let's go, Tix'snuv. We have actual work to do."

Another click, and Tix'snuv let out a burst of magick power through his wings to leave the cave, and Fenrer Pyren, behind in the mist.