The Sky Above

They’d passed through Snowbound with nary a fuss – bar a single night spent waiting for the next convoy, in as much a trio of light carriers counted as one, they were in and out. So it was that they soon found themselves flying high over the Myr river, westbound to Wanderbelle.

“I still say this is nice,” Rainbow said from where they were lounging on the aft deck. “Not having to work the whole dang flight.” She still wasn’t as free to fly around as she’d hoped – there were way too many ropes and wires on the two-masted ship – but the crew were pretty chill; add to that that the other passengers were fun to talk to, and that there were plenty of card- and boardgames tucked around the galley, she was finding the trip easy enough to survive.

“Mmhmm,” Twilight agreed. “You know, I didn’t disagree with you the last two times you said it, either.”

Squirrel, meanwhile, was busy staring off the side, a wide grin on her face. Every so often she’d wave to get their attention before pointing out some mine or cabin or some such and tell them about what it’s for, or go off on some short story about her own travels about the area. It was clear she was looking forward to coming home more than they’d thought.

Rainbow shrugged. “Still feel like sayin’ it. But, umm, on that note, what’re we doing next, anyways? ‘Cause if the keening puppy next to us is right, she’ll be sleeping in her own, dusty bed by nightfall.” They’d been putting off this discussion for too long, by Rainbow’s tastes.

“Well it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Squirrel said, half swiveling around to face them. “You two need to wrap things up in ‘Canum before you head back west, so it’s back to ‘Canum you need to go.”

“I was hoping to check out Calendar first,” Twilight said uncertainly. “But I suppose that’s further to the west, isn’t it.”

Squirrel nodded. “Would add at least another day to your trip; could just wait and check it out on your way home? Rainbow here said you didn’t want to take the route over Chestnut again.”

“I’d hoped to see more of the continent,” Twilight agreed. “Dash?”

“Hmm?” Rainbow shrugged. “I don’t mind either way; does make sense to just do it on the way back, though – would seem kinda dumb to check out the city, go back to ‘Canum, then fly back over the city again a few days later.” Not least of which because Twilight would probably want to check it out a second time, too.

“It’s probably best to just go straight back to Hurricanum, then,” Twilight said. “We can wrap up our affairs there for a day or two, then head back home.”

“And you two’ll be fine on the convoys by yourselves?” Squirrel asked, clearly trying to keep the doubt out of her voice as she did.

“Easy peasy,” Rainbow said, waving off her concerns. “We’ve done it enough times by now, haven’t we? Besides, once we hit the coast it’s less ‘trade convoys’ and more ‘countless ships going everywhere all the time,’ isn’t it?”

“Dash is right – we’ll be okay, Squirrel.”

“I suppose...”

Little more was said as they all turned to quietly watch the scenery go by. The canyon walls that straddled most of the Myr had become increasingly high throughout the morning – by Rainbow’s estimate they were cruising well over a hundred metres up, having risen to keep above the canyon where the winds were more favourable.

The cliffs passing steadily below were becoming dotted ever more frequently with terraced mining centres and adits, while little fishing communities ran freely along the narrow, rocky riverside below; Rainbow couldn’t deny the prettiness of it all, despite how horribly cramped it looked.

The next couple of hours passed quickly as a palpable sense of anticipation fell over the group. Twilight felt the eagerness herself – this whole mess was almost over! -- but couldn’t help but feel bittersweet about the whole thing: after all they’d gone through since meeting Squirrel, she was going to miss her, not least because they wouldn’t even be able to keep in touch afterwards.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything to be done about that.

“Hey!” Squirrel shouted excitedly. “There it is!”

Twilight leaned as far over the side as she was comfortable. “I don’t see anything.” Everything still looked the same as it had for hours now.

“There’s some more buildings there I think?” Rainbow added. “Maybe?”

Squirrel clucked her tongue. “Well, fine – you’ll see in a moment.”

It took a little while yet before Twilight could make out a change, as more and more buildings started to appear, both wide, tall things that couldn’t have been more than a few metres deep, and low, sprawling ones that surely must’ve been built into hidden undercuts. Rails, as often built up on piles as cleared rock, ran on every level, with even a few running over bridges left and right. The air looked dusty, and even from up here Twilight could make out a metallic tang to it.

“Well,” Twilight eventually managed to say. “It certainly looks... busy.”

“Nice,” Rainbow chuffed. “’Busy.’”

“It does!” The town proper was starting to come into view, built into a wider, semi-circular area where the Myr branched in twain, with one stream continuing west, while the other cut loosely south. Like everywhere else it was built up in tiers, but here the lowest few spread out on multi-storied scaffolds out and over the river to be met by landings on the far sides. Twilight could just make out barges on the southern path. “It must see quite a bit of trade.”

“Yep!” Squirrel turned to grin at them before spinning back to revel in the view. “Always new people flowing in and out! There aren’t many of us that live here full-time, especially now that a lot of the mining has run out or moved to easier veins.”

“Happy to be home, then?” Twilight added tentatively.

Squirrel was silent for a moment, her tail flicking contemplatively. “Yes. I am. I’m not really all the far away from Snowbound; really, I should just visit the folks more often.”

They were quiet again as their ship slowed and dropped altitude, aiming for one of the airdocks built into the cliffs. “So this is it, isn’t it?”

Squirrel turned around fully to face them. “Yeah,” she said, a soft smile growing on her muzzle. “It is. It’s been a fun few weeks, hasn’t it?”

“An adventurous one, for sure.”

“Especially getting lost in that swamp,” Rainbow said with a cheshire grin. “Reeeal adventurous.”

“Oh shush,” Squirrel chuckled. “At least I didn’t charge you, in the end.”

“Which was quite generous of you, Squirrel,” Twilight added hastily, shooting Rainbow a look. “I’m sure we’re both grateful.”

Rainbow shrugged easily. “It’s been fun.”

“Yeah,” Squirrel agreed. “It has.”