Nadia followed Haq and Abana's lead as they made their way through the paths of the Canyon. Though the land was known to lack resources for surviving, there were occasional dead trees, sometimes in small clusters. Abana pointed out that they could use the smallest branches for a campfire, as that's what she'd done the last time she was striding down these wide pathways that illustrated clearly the massive size of the Canyon of Fire.
They came across several cave openings, some leading to small ponds or streams of pure and drinkable water. And, as Abana told them, Haq immediately investigating the nearest one, she sighed as he discovered the other scenario. A beast of a creature, growling a huffing as it exited the cave, howled as the light of the star touched its shaggy black fur.
The Vulupinursi. It most resembled a bear, able to climb and rise onto two feet, the paws and claws appearing much the same as a regular animal. Even the cave and hibernation seemed to come from that of a bear's habits for habitats. However, the three tails curling pleasantly behind it, resembling that of a fox, as well as the long snout, pointed ears, and face of a wolf, it was distinguishable from a normal beast. Standing at ten feet tall, it wasn't a large creature in comparison to some of the others residing in the Canyon.
As Abana was readying to fight with yet another sigh, Haq slipped into the cave and roused one of the tiny white creatures inside. When it began to cry, he bolted, slipping behind a nearby boulder as the mother raced back to her cubs.
Both of the women stared silently at Haq as he returned to the group with a grin.
"What?" He gestured to their path again. "Let's go?"
Neither one of them found the courage and curiosity enough to ask why he avoided the fight with Vulupinursi, letting it live despite the ease they'd have had in taking it down.
As they continued on, they came across an adult Serpiscertis, one that Abana grudgingly aided Haq in defeating only after hearing his complaints.
And, as the light of the star faded, the hour of night approaching, they decided to stop and rest.
Nadia looked between them, unsure on what to do. Haq and Abana, acting as though she didn't exist, were throwing words back and forth, bickering on how to set up camp as well as who would be doing the work.
Eventually, as she stood there, as if competition brought them together, a fire pit was assembled places to sit were produced, and food was found, all while there was never-ending chatter between the two of them. It was once the flames roared to life that Nadia slowly made her way over, finding a place to set herself down.
"How many monsters did you come across the first day?"
"Two."
"When did you discover your axe?"
Abana smiled and looked at her weapon that leaned against the log she sat upon.
"The second day."
Once the meal was finished, they fell into a contemplative silence, each with things on their minds, the fire a source of comfort for stray thoughts and tired eyes.
As it always was, Abana thought wearily, the farther one went along in the Canyon of Fire, the stronger the monsters that stepped in the way. Depending on the capabilities of the group, even if their entrances were separate, combined strength made itself known in the form of opponents to face. It was as if the land itself was testing them. Sentient and with a keen eye, the Canyon assessed power objectively and responded accordingly.
Abana glanced over at Haq discreetly. When she'd walked through alone all those years ago, the Serpiscertis hadn't shown up until she'd been halfway through. Was it because she was stronger now while holding a compatible weapon that aided her own abilities? Or, was it him? Perhaps it was the combination of them both, doubling that which would have been one alone?
Why would you miss on purpose?
As she watched him lay down without a care on the ground, resting his head comfortably on an arm stretched behind his head, that unanswered question commanded the attention of her mind. Her gaze returned to the fire in front of her until she picked up on movement from the direction in which they arrived in the Canyon. She stared, eyes narrowing.
"You know..." Haq began slowly, letting his words linger in the air as his next formed enough to be said with ease.
The star began to set in the sky, painting the distant clouds in brilliant shades of purple and red, two figures drew closer to them, walking with confident steps and practiced ease. Nadia's eyes widened, an uncertainty calling forth wariness. Those who could walk without a care in dangerous land were those who could face it and stand unscathed. It was hard to determine if the smile on the woman's face was that of a friend or foe. Abana, finally seeing their faces and clothing choices, stood suddenly, startling Nadia. Haq, regardless of whether he heard the arrival of newcomers or not, didn't move, his eyes remaining closed.
"I like being optimistic and all," he continued. "But we're probably going to need more help. Not just with weapons. We need more hands to help us."
The duo stopped walking just a few feet from where Haq's head rested. The woman's smile became that of a smirk, her hand lifting with habit to rest comfortably on her hip.
"Help?"
Haq's eyes opened, but he didn't rise to his feet nor lift his body in any way. In his sight, upside down, stood the two figures. They almost looked to be perfect contrasts of one another. The woman was smiling with white hair and a casual friendliness permeating the air around her while the man had a nearly permanent frown as he was shrouded in dark colors that reflected the limit to his leniency and his silence that spoke much on its own.
"Are you sure you can handle help?" the woman asked jovially.
The laugh that escaped Haq rather suddenly wasn't one of unrestrained humor. It was as if he had guessed the occurrence of an unfortunate event and was forced to witness it come true.
"Of course, it's you two," he said mostly to himself. "Why are both of you here?"
The man answered him by turning to Abana, giving her a solemn nod that she returned.
"Abana."
"I wasn't sure you'd come, Lyruk. Elavale." She inclined her head to the woman, getting a lifted thumb in reply.
Haq sat up suddenly with a frown, his head and gaze whipping to Abana as though she'd betrayed him with her silent action.
"Wait. You called them?"
"What if I did? What'll you do about it?" Abana retorted immediately, meeting his eyes with a steady gaze that held no ounce of guilt in keeping it from him.
Haq stared at her, mouth agape in obvious disbelief. Satisfied by the look on his face, Abana smirked with smug confidence, putting her hands on her hips in victory.
Ignoring their conversation, Lyruk made his way over to Nadia, extending a hand without hesitation. Four pairs of eyes settled on the motion as if stunned by the white ring he wore. In reality, Abana and Elavale were both startled to see a handshake while Haq was taken aback seeing Lyruk willingly ask to touch someone, even in such a small way. Nadia was simply surprised by the firm politeness of his gesture.
"I'm Lyruk."
"Nadia."
Lyruk paused hearing her name. Slowly, with eyes of a serious scrutiny, he searched her face. Though his expression didn't change, it was as if he confirmed something about her silently before responding.
"I know."
It was two words, loaded with meaning. Nadia instinctively frowned, slowly retrieving her hand from the greeting. Lyruk stood straight, clasping his hands behind his back, unperturbed.
"I agree the fighting must end. My father believes the same."
"Then why isn't he here?" Haq said, folding his arms and pouting visibly "Lybis, was it? Hand to the right of the God?" he added sarcastically. "What? Is he too busy or something?"
Lyruk sighed, his sight drifting down as he considered his words carefully. His father was indeed known as the right hand of the God of Death, though it only acted as a title declaring he spent more time with him than the other attendants. Body unmoved, he flicked his gaze over to Haq sternly.
"The side of the God of Death has never been the problem." Lyruk declared pointedly. "I think you can agree with that, Haqin."
Haq's face contorted the instant his name was called.
"Okay, first of all, none of that - just call me Haq," he insisted firmly with a dismissive wave of his hand. "When you say my first name it sounds like you're scolding me. Secondly–"
"Haqin."
Having just opened his mouth to continue speaking, Haq swiveled his head over to Abana in stunned silence. Her mouth twitched, containing the burst of laughter that threatened to escape her.
"No." He said eventually. Though his eyes narrowed, there was no strength behind his glare. He pointed at her weakly. "Don't."
Abana let out a burst of a laugh before waving her hand dismissively. Mischief and trouble was written all over her face.
"Go on, Haqin. What were you saying?"
Unable to muster up an identifiable expression, his face a mask lacking feeling, Haq turned back to address Lyruk's words. As their eyes met, he froze. A single brow lifted ever so slightly, asking and coming to an understanding silently. For a split second, Haq's expression slipped into a full and real frown. Before the others could take notice, he sighed dramatically and ruffled his own hair with a rogue hand. Stuck between having to secure his secret and admitting it outright, he chose to bury it, knowing that Lyruk wouldn't shamelessly blurt it out.
"Secondly, even if he's not the main problem, he's still a problem."
Lyruk shrugged ever so slightly, unaffected by Haq's antics for denial. He didn't care to intervene in the business of personal relationships. Even so, such a hidden truth, locked away for so long, made little sense to him. His hand clenched out of sight in a silent rumination of a stray thought. If he'd ever acquired such a secret himself, born of his own heart...
A deeper frown fitted his face as a strange aching agitation, one with no clear source, made itself known briefly.
"The sides of this party are heavily uneven," Haq muttered.
Elavale found a seat between Nadia and Abana and crossed one leg over the other, pushing her hands down against the log on either side of her.
"You know I toe the line, Haq," she said, no humor in her face nor voice.
Perhaps the only one there able to make such a claim, she had stakes on both sides of the Valley. With her father being an attendant to the God of Death and her mother aiding the Goddess of Life, Elavale would have spent most of her childhood bouncing back and forth between both sides or simply staying with her mother. However, the opposite was true. Noyrua, her mother, visited her as she stayed with her father, Ahsin. Even so, their home was kept farther from the Valley, as far as they thought necessary to keep her from imminent danger.
Elavale inclined her head to Nadia.
"Elavale. Nice to meet you."
"You as well."
Nadia fiddled with the gloves on her hands, tugging them on tighter despite their already perfect fit. There were five of them now, all strangers to her and none to each other. Even so, with the subtle look that passed between Lyruk and Haq, the almost wariness they all had amongst each other, there was a sudden awareness that hit her. There appeared to be many unsaid secrets between the group, hers among them.
Her palms seemed to cling to the material of the gloves, an uncomfortable sensation rising from it. She hadn't worn gloves in her small town, the residents all knowing her life and past, so this was a new experience to have fabric constantly covering her hands.
Nothing was said for a long tense minute after Elavale's words.
"Maybe," Abana said, brushing some dust off of her axe with the hem of her skirt. "Because nobody likes the Goddess, golden boy."
Haq scowled at the nickname.
"And they like the God? God of Death? Really?" he snapped sarcastically. "That's a great choice."
Expressions now mirroring each other, the unspoken but palpable threat of a fight breaking out between the two began to rise.
"I think we both know why the sides are uneven," Lyruk interrupted.
Giving up his stare-down with Abana, Haq jutted his chin out and looked away and pursed his lips, but said nothing in response.
Nadia, Elavale, and Abana looked as though they didn't understand Lyruk's words nor Haq's corresponding action at hearing it. It was something only the two of them knew, a secret that had been shared to them in warning alone, to keep them from eavesdropping and entering the Valley again.
"What does that mean?" Nadia asked bravely, the first to speak up.
Elavale shrugged with a shake of her head, looking between Lyruk and Haq with furrowed brows.
"I don't recall meeting any others aside from their main hands."
The God of Death had five attendants, while the Goddess of Life had four. It wasn't terribly uneven by any means, but the offspring tipped the scales more heavily to Death's side. Lyruk, Elavale, and Abana rounded his side to eight while Haq only added one to Life's side.
Five.
The number used to be different.
Seven.
Finally, instead of staring at the ground in silence, Haq turned to meet Lyruk's gaze. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Because they're dead."