[WATCHERS] PROMPT 1

“This is ridiculous…” Garmr growled. 

Herja looked at her partner and rolled her eyes, “Get on.”

Alowyn was settled on the ground waiting for the fiery vayron to jump on her back. For this next clan, they would need to cooperate a little more closely than Garmr wanted and he was making his displeasure very clear. Alowyn patiently waited, humming a soft song to herself. 

“Would you be quiet!” Garmr quickly tried to reprimand the happy empyrian. 

Herja growled in retaliation, “Would you just get on her back so we can go?!”

Garmr and Herja were having a standoff like they did at every other clan, but it seemed that the tension between the group only increased with each new clan. Garmr and Herja were frustrated at the peaceful ways of the last two clans and were itching to cause trouble. Thankfully, they seemed to take it out mostly on each other rather than directing it at Alowyn, for the most part. 

Alowyn interrupted the standoff by asking Herja, “Could you just knock him out and levitate him like you did on our way to the Forgotten clan?”

Their guide, who had silently observed, piped up, “That wouldn’t work. We all need to impress the Watchers to learn more about them.”

Alowyn sighed and continued to wait for Garmr to get on. After a few moments of silence, Garmr released a series of unintelligible noises before crawling onto Alowyn’s back. With his frustration at an all-time high, he wasn’t gentle about the way he clawed up her side. Alowyn knew he intended to be cruel, but she didn’t feel a thing, her thick fur protecting her from his attempts. 

“Let’s go,” Garmr said through clenched teeth. 

Herja nodded and kicked on her magic. Fire bursted to life at her feet and she was able to leap into the air without coming back to the ground. She floated in the tight tunnel and waited for Alowyn to fly. If Herja was honest with herself, she was uncertain about this arrangement. Alowyn would need to trust Garmr, and if there was anything Herja was sure of, Garmr had made it very clear he wasn’t trustworthy when it came to the gentle Empyrian. 

“Remember we have to impress them,” Herja warned her partner. 

Garmr glared at Herja but didn’t reply. Alowyn shifted her weight and walked to the edge before jumping into the air. It didn’t take long for Alowyn to feel how cramped the tunnels were truly. She spread her wings as far as they would stretch and flapped them with short bursts keeping them in the air. Herja’s magic gave Alowyn a little help seeing where she was going, but she still waited for Garmr’s help. 

“Uh, Garmr,” Alowyn started, “Which way?”

Herja heard the tyrian trying to coax Garmr to help her, but all he would reply with was the odd grunt or growl. What surprised Herja was that Alowyn somehow deciphered the noises as commands. Herja bobbed and weaved through the sharp spiked rocks that came from the ceiling as she watched Alowyn do the same. 

Garmr would growl, and Alowyn would shift to the right; he would grunt and she shifted to the left. Through his frustration, it was all he was willing to give because he knew if Alowyn fell, he would fall too. 

The group carried on this way for quite some time gaining speed. Herja had the freedom to do tricks as it looked like she was skating on fire through the air. She would roll and leap around physical obstacles and things she made up in her mind to make the flight more entertaining. Through it all she was acutely aware of the eyes that followed her; watching her. 

Alowyn had to listen closely to any noise Garmr would make as they started to move faster, the rushing air would take his direction in the opposite direction of her ears. To add to her anxiety, Herja was in her own world racing ahead taking what little light Alowyn had with her. 

“Garmr,” Alowyn called, “If we’re going to keep up with Herja I need you to be louder.”

Garmr growled but gave no words. Instead, he tried something new. He shifted his weight on Alowyn’s back forcing her to adjust to change. Alowyn quickly caught on and found this method to be much easier to follow than the noises. Garmr’s dark vision gave him the advantage to see where they were going and with Herja’s light gone, it was easier for him to see. 

After a few moments, Alowyn felt a tap on her back that she took to mean go faster. So she did, and within a breath, they had caught up to Herja, who was goofing around in the air, and shortly after they passed her. Garmr felt a little of his frustration wane as he felt they would win this race. 

Herja watched the pair pass her and wouldn’t have bothered to test them, but when she caught Garmr’s smirk, she knew she had to beat them. As if ignited by her competitive spirit, the fire on her feet grew and she darted after them. She continued with her tricks and at a higher speed, the acrobatics seemed all that more impressive. 

Finally, Alowyn and Garmr settled in a large space and not a second later Herja landed abruptly next to them. 

“Not quite fast enough, Herja,” Garmr mocked. 

Herja rolled her eyes and waited for what to do next. A couple of Haedians landed near them and congratulated them on their impressive flying and coordination. 

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