FIVE – Discomfort
They had travelled south for the better part of the cycle; the journey had been exhausting. Though the familiar verdant flora of the vale was still present, the terrain had evolved into a mixture of rolling hills and rocky outcroppings. The constant changes in gradient and the hard ground underfoot took its toll on their legs. Her strained calves ached incessantly, despite the intermittent use of their wraith wings to reduce their journey time. There was little exchange of dialogue between them as they travelled south; the distinct lack of conversation made the strain of their journey all the more difficult, with little to distract them from the mounting pain in their legs. On a number of occasions she tried to strike up conversation with Anika, though her dogmatic respo
