[SE] You bring something unreplaceable to each and every day

Koa

Home.

Koa inhales the crisp Leafchange air, relishing the way the crisp, thin air rushes to his brain. It had made his head spin when he landed, his time away from home disrupting a lifetime of acclimation to breathing at elevation- but now he feels grounded, centered, his feet planted firmly where they're meant to be.

Home, here above the sea and clouds and shadowed darkness, at the top of the torn up Righteous Road.

Home, with the great gold gates yawning before him, its columns crowned by sentinel dragons carved from ancient stone.

Home, where the roots of his family dig down deep through the earth into the Grotto, wrapping like veins around the heart of the city, indelible and and impossible to remove.

Home, where his future hangs as bright as the sun emblazoned in gold and potential, a promise waiting for him to reach out and pluck it, if only he's brave enough.

Koa stares up at the city gates and inhales the thin air deeply. It doesn't hurt him, doesn't make him feel light headed, doesn't hurt to breathe. This is where the young man belongs, where his soul has always lived. It's time he stopped running toward some abstract future.

Everything he needs is right here.

the most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you, and that you're standing in the doorway

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

As the sky opens up and pulls me in
I can see, I can breathe, I can feel again

The City Gates towered above Sohalia as she stood at the top of the Righteous Climb, a spirited wind tossing her fishtail braid over her shoulder from behind. She took in the white marble and the great golden dragons, a lump in her throat, and lingered there, on the precipice of the city-region, unable to take another step forward for fear that this wasn't real.

But it was over.

The Family was gone.

She could come home.

Her future, she felt, was uncertain in so many ways, and yet the one thing that remained constant was her presence here, in Stormbreak. The Luminary took a great, shuddering breath, and the sudden sound surprised her enough that she blinked, her reverie broken. With Tarak on her shoulder, Sohalia took the first step forward - towards the City Gates, and the young man who stood beneath them.

"Hey," she said softly as she joined Koa, her gaze never breaking away from the twin dragons flanking the gates. A tentative smile played at the corners of her lips. "We're home."

And I'll wave goodbye to the ones below
As I float on by to the great unknown

Sohalia

Koa

He's aware of her as soon as she arrives, her presence carried like a sigh upon the gentle breeze. Pipsqueak trills a low greeting from her place in the sky as the pair draws near, descending down to land on Koa's shoulder with a gentle folding of wings. She'd been scouting ahead and above, and while the lashing of her tail against his back speaks of some anxiety, Koa is content to hold of on acknowledging it for now. Right now he wants to relish this moment of promise and potential, with the city gates gleaming in the rising sunlight and the breeze ruffling his hair.

And Sohalia the Luminary, Heart of Stormbreak, standing at his side.

"We're home." There's a confidence to him that's forged in fire, a certainty that will not be denied. Koa turns to Soh then, his smile fixed and radiant; the ardent gleam in his copper eyes is a covenant, an oath. "There's still work to be done, but it's nothing we can't handle." He takes a step toward her, reaching out to take her fingers and thread them in his own. "Together."

Assuming, of course, the offer still stands.

the most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you, and that you're standing in the doorway

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

As the sky opens up and pulls me in
I can see, I can breathe, I can feel again

Home. To be able to come home was something that Sohalia hadn't dared hope for, for fear that it might never come to pass. She'd almost managed to convince herself that she could be happy in Torchline - almost, but not quite. There had always been the tiny voice in the back of her mind pushing her to search for some way to get back to Stormbreak. She might have been deposed, but her heart had never really left the floating city, and deep down, she knew she'd always be searching for that feeling of belonging that came from the region.

Koa's radiant smile was answered with a beaming one in return, giddy laughter bubbling past Soh's lips as she twined her fingers with his. "Together," she agreed. And even if she didn't know exactly what that meant - together as rulers, or together as a couple, or both - she knew that they would figure it out. That no matter what, they would figure it out - always.

Soh took a step away, turning to face Koa as she walked backwards, tugging him along with her. "Come on!" she laughed. "Let's go see what we're working with."

And I'll wave goodbye to the ones below
As I float on by to the great unknown

Sohalia

Koa

It's not that Koa thought she'd pull away, but he's still relieved when she returns the squeeze, their hands slotting comfortably together as they face the future that looms ahead. Sohalia's laughter is the bubble of a mountain spring, cool and bright and filling Koa with a refreshing sense of purpose. He meets it with a warm chuckle of his own, pulling her fingers up to press against lips that have now broken fully into a grin.

And then she's walking backward, tugging him onward, and Koa laughs openly now, rolling and a little giddy as hope swells in his chest. "Careful, don't trip!" he cautions, following willingly as she leads them onward, up the final stretch of the Righteous Road and toward the waiting gates.

The gate's shadow casts over Sohalia; at the same time Pip trills a note of caution, sitting up higher on Koa's shoulder. Immediately the Dragoon snaps to attention, his eyes flickering past the Luminary and to the city beyond. "Soh, hold on." Pulling her gently back toward him, Koa takes a step past Sohalia, his eyebrows furrowed as he bites his lip. "Pip spotted some, ah, surprises Dahlia left for us. We probably shouldn't go too much further until we're ready for a fight." Despite his words, he seems more than ready to continue onward, like a dog reluctantly brought to heel while a squirrel taunts him meters ahead.

the most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you, and that you're standing in the doorway

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

As the sky opens up and pulls me in
I can see, I can breathe, I can feel again

Soh's heart was too full to skip a beat, but it still fluttered at the touch of Koa's lips upon her hand. This was more than she'd ever dreamed possible - to be facing a bright future beside the man she loved. And in this moment, it didn't seem to matter whether or not he loved her back or if he loved her enough. Their shared love for their home buoyed her mood, bubbling forth in a cascade of bright laughter as she led Koa forward.

And for a brief moment, everything was perfect.

But then Pip trilled a note of caution, and Koa tensed, tugging her gently back towards him. His warning sobered the young woman, who turned to regard the city with a small frown on her face. Suddenly, she was all business - though she didn't let go of his hand. "Right, of course." Because it obviously wouldn't be that easy. "So we'll need to put a party together to retake the city before we can do anything else. Once it's clear, we can establish a base of operations while we decide on next steps." Like whether to rebuild the Tower, where to put their permanent headquarters, who to bring in to help them... the list was neverending, but rather than bringing Soh's mood to heel, it strengthened her resolve.

Still, if they knew more about what awaited them in the city, they could better plan - and so the Luminary peered through the Gates, looking for any signs of life.

And I'll wave goodbye to the ones below
As I float on by to the great unknown

Sohalia

Koa

He nods agreement as she mentions assembling avengers a team, keen eyes still surveying the skyline. "Zavien will come. And we can ask Melita, from Torchline." He has absolute faith in both of them: the other Dragoon will do anything for Stormbreak, and the Honeybee will do the same for chaos.

Another warning call from Pipsqueak and a flurry of movement pull Koa's attention East. "Fuck," Koa hisses, dropping Soh's hands and raising his fists as a large inky figure snakes around the edge of the city gate, venom dripping from its open maw. "Shadow serpent" The monstrosity raises its head to the pair, crazed eyes gleaming eerily as it considers its attack.

Koa doesn't wait for it to decide. Taking a long stride forward, he puts himself in a ten-foot range of the creature before swiftly striking out. The projected blow connects squarely, the shadow serpent's head snapping back as gravity and electricity crunch into scaly skin. But it isn't felled yet, and with a pained roar the beast lunges forward, vicious teeth snapping furiously as it throws itself Koa's way.

---

Shadow Serpent (Uncommon): Once a Rock Slider, the Shadow Serpent now moves with an eerie grace, its scales tainted by void energy. It lurks in the shadows, ambushing prey with a venom that induces hallucinations and despair.

the most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you, and that you're standing in the doorway

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

As the sky opens up and pulls me in
I can see, I can breathe, I can feel again

There was a warning call that had Soh's head snapping around just as Koa cursed. Darkness moved by the gates, and then there was a massive snake appearing from the shadows. It paused, seemingly to consider its course of action, but Koa moved before it could decide, sending a blow towards the overlarge coils and dripping maw. It roared, then lunged - 

But Soh had already summoned some friends from nearby, falcons who made the city's higher perches their home. Two descended now towards the serpent, aiming to distract; a third lunged for the creature's eyes, talons outstretched in an effort to blind it. "We'll keep it distracted!" Soh shouted, already starting to shift. She took to the air as a snowy owl, joining her bird friends in the fray with a fierce, shrieking cry as she aimed for the serpent's tail.

And I'll wave goodbye to the ones below
As I float on by to the great unknown

Sohalia

Koa

The furious snapping of deadly teeth has Koa recoiling swiftly, eager to keep space between himself and his fanged foe. Sohalia has shifted, taking to wing; Koa nods at her plan, gearing up for another hit. The sudden onslaught of wings and talons has the wounded monster on the back foot; blinded by rage, it snaps futility at it's assailants, roaring when Soh's sharp claws find purchase in the soft spots between his scales.

Taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by this distraction, Koa again strikes out. This time he aims an upper-cut at the serpent's exposed neck, relishing the satisfying crack! when the blow connects. With a final rattling growl the shadow serpent falls, crashing down upon the ground with the solid finality of death.

Koa wipes sweat from his brow, extending his other arm for Pip (and Soh, shohld she want) to alight on.  "We should probably get out of here before something bigger shows up, " he growls, though the reluctance is clear in the set of his jaw, the way his sharp eyes linger on the gate. "Next time we're here we'll be ready. This is our home, not theirs."

the most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you, and that you're standing in the doorway

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

As the sky opens up and pulls me in
I can see, I can breathe, I can feel again

The serpent roared as Soh's sharp talons sank into its tail, but she was up and away before it could retaliate. Then Koa struck, and the Shadow Serpent fell to his precise uppercut. The Luminary circled overhead for a few moments, scanning their surroundings with keen silver eyes, before soaring back down to land upon Koa's outstretched arm. She peered at him for a moment, then clicked her beak and shifted, so that by the time he spoke, she was standing beside him, arm in arm, looking none the worse for wear.

"We'll be back soon," she agreed, her gaze roving over the streets of their city. This wasn't over - not by a long shot. They would return with reinforcements and root out the plague that had taken over Stormbreak. "Then we'll come home."

fin

And I'll wave goodbye to the ones below
As I float on by to the great unknown

Sohalia