Down and out, and out of luck, we're spinning but the needle's stuck
A transformation occurred with the Ancient female as the journey came upon its last leg. While Maea still proved an attentive and enthusiastic student of skyship sailing, some of the sunny disposition began to fade. The closer thry came to the Hollowed Grounds the quieter she became, and when the Spire began to appear like a dark pinprick on the horizon it was as if she drew in on herself.
Evidence of the flood was scarce in the northern parts of the Outer Brambles. Much of any excess water had already receded and vaporized in the crushing temperature of Longheat and was soon gone altogether. The Inner Quarter looked much as it always had; gray, dusty and emanating an air of bullheaded stubbornness, a refusal to cave to the bite of time. Here and there a black ruin poked up, evidencing the meteor debris that had followed upon the Starfall - but any catastrophy was entirely on a personal level. Hardly anything to get your tail in a twist about.
Maea could have slipped away as soon as the Peregrin docked. She was home now, back to where her journey had started, and that should be that. Instead she quietly trailed along with Tal, reluctant to part ways even now, unable to just drop the easy camaraderie they had developed over the past few days.
Watching him leave would be lonesome.
Smiling faintly at the Messenger's astonishment, there was a touch of pride in her expression as Maea looked around the Atheneum. "It's impressive, isnt it. It's my favorite place in the whole region." Strolling deeper into the building, she followed the new canals with her gaze, still not accustomed to their presence. "The offices of the caretakers is in the basement. This way." She began to lead the way; Tal would likely want to complete his delivery first and foremost.
Evidence of the flood was scarce in the northern parts of the Outer Brambles. Much of any excess water had already receded and vaporized in the crushing temperature of Longheat and was soon gone altogether. The Inner Quarter looked much as it always had; gray, dusty and emanating an air of bullheaded stubbornness, a refusal to cave to the bite of time. Here and there a black ruin poked up, evidencing the meteor debris that had followed upon the Starfall - but any catastrophy was entirely on a personal level. Hardly anything to get your tail in a twist about.
Maea could have slipped away as soon as the Peregrin docked. She was home now, back to where her journey had started, and that should be that. Instead she quietly trailed along with Tal, reluctant to part ways even now, unable to just drop the easy camaraderie they had developed over the past few days.
Watching him leave would be lonesome.
Smiling faintly at the Messenger's astonishment, there was a touch of pride in her expression as Maea looked around the Atheneum. "It's impressive, isnt it. It's my favorite place in the whole region." Strolling deeper into the building, she followed the new canals with her gaze, still not accustomed to their presence. "The offices of the caretakers is in the basement. This way." She began to lead the way; Tal would likely want to complete his delivery first and foremost.
Maea
