Noctisardor Bypass Soft blue skies, helium balloons float up, away

Wylla barely had time to settle herself in a bed of tall grass and wilting flowers before she was accosted. Well, okay, it's not like Skaigona was unwelcome, but weariness settled heavy on Wylla's brow and bunched bags beneath her eyes. The last thing she wanted was a nosy kid poking around in her business. Better than running immediately into Mahler or Sequoia, she supposed.

Hullo, Skaigona, she said, regretting the flat delivery and lack of enthusiasm. Wylla had no spoons for this, but that was not Skaigona's fault. The girl deserved a warmer reception, especially because she was supposed to be family. Wylla's quick inspection found nothing whatsoever about Skaigona that called back to Ingram, but she seemed to recall Worripa looking much more like her missing brother ...

Skaigona's announcement was met with a slow blink. Thank god Wylla never learned what those Drageda curs had called their leader. She didn't much like the way Skaigona looked at her. It reminded her of those haughty cliffside dogs. But she was past the point of leering at a child, so she remained unreadable.

Got a promotion, didja? she asked, assuming it was another one of Mahler's weird, guttural words for his ranks. She hadn't bothered to learn most of them. Congrats. What're you gonna do with it?