46 — skies, for Eve and maybe also both of her sisters
Eve takes a deep breath and lets it out in a happy sigh; the air always smelt different on the Steppe. None of the smells of industry or stationary civilizations and it always stirred something inside of her. This is where her parents were from, and somehow that bond was enough to tie a piece of her soul here, too, no matter how complicated her feelings were.
"Wooooooow," Aki gasps, in awe. It was their first trip as a full family, Aki's first trip ever, and, unlike Eve and Cynthia's, this one wasn't under threat of impending invasion. Thus, as she admires the view, they all slow their stride, giving her ample time to take it in.
Eve watches her sister and her Echo flashes the colors of wonder and awe and pleasure across the sight. She had waited years for this moment, and she wanted to relish it.
"We'll go set up in Reunion," their father says softly, not interrupting the moment, even as he draws the attention of his three daughters. "You girls take your time." They all three nod and their parents pull forward on their mounts with their wagon of goods to sell. Eve had offered to pay the whole passage for all of them, of course, but her parents were proud. they wanted to cover as much of the costs as they could, and who was she to deny them? This was part of a life they would of had if they'd not left, they deserved to live it if they wanted.
Eve's attention turns back to her sisters, Aki's pure delight making the other two smile softly. "What now?" Eve asks. There was little specific she wanted to do, other than introduce Aki to some old familiar faces, but that could be worked in as it was easiest, no reason to drag her across the whole Steppe for it now.
"I don't know," Aki answers still looking around. "The horizon seems to go on forever; I could get lost in it."
"You want to fly?" Cynthia signs grinning before pulling out her yol whistle.
"Can we?" Aki asks, half a delighted gasp. "I don't have a yol of my own-"
"If mine can hold me, Cyn's can hold the two of you," Eve interrupts gently and with humor, fishing out her own whistle. Two shrill whistles sound in the air and moments later two birds descend beside each of their caretakers.
Cyn climbs on her bird and reaches a hand down to Aki to help her up, unsure how to mount on her own. Eve watches as she wraps her arms securely around Cynthia's waist, careful not to sit on her tail, before she mounts her own bird. She can hear Aki laughing in delight as they take off, flying low, looking for heat currents. they find one and Aki screams happily as suddenly they're rising easily, flying in circles to get altitude until even the Dawn Throne is tiny below them.
Eve lets the twins lead the way, following their flight path and watching them, listening to Aki's delighted sounds that the wind manages to sweep back to her ears. She had dreamed of this day, back when she first flew these skies. Now that it was here, there felt a weight off her shoulders. This was freedom- true freedom. Sure she hadn't been trapped like Aki, forced to do the bidding of others for her own survival, but she had been trapped by her mission. Nothing had mattered as much as finding Aki did. And without those shackles, she felt lighter than air.
She looks out at the endless horizon and takes another deep breath, saying a silent prayer of thanks to Nhaama and Azim, and allows herself a smile.
