TSB - To the surface

Varai pensively glanced behind them again. They had been spending their time helping free the Matriarch deep in her chamber yet now that the pickaxe rested beside them, exhaustion washing over them and the sheer herculean task that was unearthing the matriarchs form set in.

Their gaze wandered to Nikita, a traveler from the surface who had made their way through the below earning the trust of each of the clans down here, same for their Companion Tarok who to Varais understanding travelled from far away to help out. Their presence warmed Varais heart, one thing did not go unnoticed by them however sadly. Freeing the Matriarch wasnt going quickly enough. At the rate they were going theyd be happy if theyd be done in a year and that was with asking the Matriarch to aid them by moving her tired body.

"We need more-" the thought that left Varais mouth was half finished but it caught Nikitas and Taroks attention.

They sat there quietly as there was no need for the Haedian to finish the sentence for the Vayrons to know what Varai was referencing. 

"We could..." started Tarok, falling quiet again as he intently studied the Haedians face, pausing momentarily to glance back at the Matriarch.

"If you'd be willing we could take you to the surface." Said Tarok.

Nikita hastily added " Doing so would mean that we could pass through every clan to ask for help! We could redirect Haedians who want to help here."

Varai glanced to the Matriarch, sadness gripping their features. They wanted to be here, present to help. But even they knew what the outsiders suggested was... what was required. Still it didnt mean that Realisation hurt any less. With a heavy heart and a nod Varai agreed to what the two vayrons thought of and got ready to leave, putting the tools back where they belonged for now so that if someone else wanted to help unearth the Matriarch that they had the necessary items for said task. They didnt need the pickaxes anymore, not on the task they were starting to undertake.

"The surface huh?" contempt was not part of Varais statement, yet wariness could clearly be felt. It came as no surprise that the Haedian wasnt thrilled to leave the Below not when their people had known these caves to be their home for generations.

"Its not a scary place I can assure you." spoke Tarok offering Varai a gentle smile. The purple coated Haedian nodded as they followed the two companions which had started to lead the Haedian out of the cavern system.

"What do you hope to find on the surface?" the question came as a surprise as whilst the trio hadnt talked about it before Tarok and Nikita felt like it was obvious that they wanted to get more helping paws on board.

"We are from the surface- Im sure we can get more help from above, especially if you are there to rally Reoseans to the cause." said Nikita, eyes focused on the path ahead, taking great care to not accidentally step on any of the crystals that were growing out from between the rocky ground.

"Im not a good talker." they chuckled, imagining how their rally for help would already go, but this also put their mind at ease. If only they could get more individuals to help them- more people like Nikita and Tarok who helped without hesitation and had no ulterior motives. As the trio continued to walk, stopping every once in a while to rest, eat and sleep they made good progress through the below and out of it toward the surface. Varai would use any chance she got to talk with the different clans to ask for help, describing the way to the matriarch and whom to talk to within the caregiver clan to be allowed to see the Matriarch. Some clans were fully supportive of freeing the Matriarch, whilst others response to the threes plea for aid was much colder and reserved opting to simply allow them passage through their territory. Such responses saddened Varai but they knew that there were things they had no influence over, they tried to talk them into helping but in the end they couldnt force them to do anything.

As the surface drew closer and closer excitement was starting to overtake the Haedian, having the two Vayrons notice the shift in behavior Tarok came up next to Varai and pat them on the shoulder.

"It'll be fine I promise. The outside isnt scary." Varai nodded. They knew this too, but they couldnt help but feel nervous. The surface was new to them and with it the fear of uncertainty gripped them tightly. As the first sunrays touched the Haedians body they knew only one thing- they needed to be successful in their mission. And with the help of Tarok and Nikita they just knew they would be.