[KEEPERS] Prompt 1

After the race, despite the results, Garmr and Herja seemed to have calmed down. They walked with an easy step like the tension of the journey so far had been released with the competitive race. Garmr wouldn’t admit the effect the race had on him, but for once he didn’t find the bubbly empyrian annoying. Alowyn walked behind the pair quietly, not sure what to make of the attitude shift. Unfortunately, the silence continued as the group wandered deeper into the winding tunnels. 

When Alowyn couldn’t handle the silence anymore she asked, “How do we know we are going in the right direction?” 

“Cailu is ahead of us,” Herja reminded her.

“Sure, but I haven’t seen him in a while,” Alowyn mentioned. 

“Trust Herja,” Garmr added and then the group continued to walk in silence. 

The quiet walk continued for what felt like ages, however before Alowyn built enough courage to speak again, they came across a new tunnel covered in crystals. The three reoseans perked up at the sight of something confirming they were going in the right direction. They walked a little deeper into the tunnel when they came across Cailu. 

“There you are!” Cailu exclaimed, “I lost you after that race.”

“I’m glad we managed to run into you again,” Alowyn exhaled, “We could use the help finding the next clan.”

“I told you to trust Herja’s sense of direction,” Garmr growled, feeling his animosity towards the empyrian rising again. 

Herja just rolled her eyes, not bothering to speak, she enjoyed the peace and quiet while it lasted. Cailu looked between the group but didn’t say anything as he gestured for them to follow him. They were going in the right direction, the further they walked the more crystals took over the surfaces around them. The four reoseans continued in a new more agitated silence. Garmr’s mood was seeping into the air around them, putting everyone on edge. The calm the race gave him was quickly fading. Herja watched her partner spiral and hoped this adventure was over soon. 

“Here we are.” Cailu’s voice cut through the air. 

Herja and Garmr looked around at the massive shelves carved into the spiraling stone and crystals. Alowyn wanted to immediately fly high to see what was up on the highest shelves, but she remained in place as Cailu introduced them to another Haedian approaching them. 

“This is Khaldor,” Cailu introduced the large green Haedian. The Haedian nodded his head as hello while Cailu introduced the two vayrons and empyrian. 

“Welcome, we’d appreciate any information from the surface to add to our collective knowledge,” Khaldor greeted them. 

“So you can attack us,” Garmr quickly assumed with a snarl. 

Khaldor didn’t flinch, he kept his even stare on the agitated vayron, “No. Purely for an educational purpose. Some of our information might be biased…”

Herja observed the leader, but all she could find was his honesty and intelligence. She indicated to Garmr to calm down, but he growled at her and then at the leader again. 

“Although, maybe the information wasn’t entirely biased,” Khaldor added calmly while he watched Garmr spit fire. 

“No, we aren’t all like that,” Alowyn spoke up, “I can teach you about some of our music.”

The introduction to learning something new pulled Khaldor’s attention away from Garmr. His eyes lit up with curiosity. Alowyn smiled, happy to share one of her favourite things. She waited while more Haedians gathered around her. Garmr and Herja sat around the edge to join the audience. When everyone was settled she began. 

Alowyn stood tall and explained the uses music had to her. She did her best to describe different instruments and their different parts. Alowyn’s explanation of music was limited to what she enjoyed. Violins, violas,  flutes, harps, pianos, anything with a higher range. Her explanations focused on a classic level with a little focus on symphonies and orchestras. Alowyn told them about how different regions had their own music and it was usually closely tied to the regional culture. 

Garmr and Herja listened to Alowyn talk at length about music. Her view of music was very different from Garmr and Herja’s and they made that clear when there was a pause in Alowyn’s talk. Garmr forced his way forward to share his experience with music. He made it clear that it wasn’t all sunshine and happiness, music could express anger and was used on the battlefields at times. Garmr’s knowledge of music surprised Alowyn, but she stepped aside and let him speak. Herja smiled as Garmr told stories of when music struck fear into people rather than joy. He expressed that music was used to communicate in some areas, like secret codes that only those privy to them would know. 

Herja whistled a few notes that would sound random to anyone but Garmr. Garmr smiled and whistled his own response. 

“What did you say?” One of the Haedians asked, eager to learn. 

“I can’t tell you,” Herja grinned, “That would defeat the purpose of that signal.”

Herja added her own knowledge of musical instruments that covered the brass sections. Alowyn was again surprised that her companions were so knowledgeable in something she loved so much. She was eager to talk to them about it once this adventure was over. Herja covered the same topics as Alowyn, but this time from the point of view of bass and deeper instruments. Through their collective knowledge, the Keepers learned more about music from the topside. 

[914]