The bitter cold threatened to sap away their strength and their focus. It seemed like too short a time had passed since Warren was back crunching through the snow and he cursed that he was letting it affect him. He thought about how much worse it would be as they moved farther and farther from Dragonhead and later, Whitebrim. The skies were sunny and blue, a strange juxtaposition from the frozen snow and ice on the ground under them, but the knight knew better than to question small favors. He'd pay for them later, he knew.
There had been much deliberation about the trip between himself and Howl. They sat down and hashed things out over several bottles of strong beer, as they tended to when the serious things needed discussing. They'd touched on the nature of the Dragon, of the trip. Warren had mentioned his worries about his temper and Howl had listened, and when Howl spoke about his concerns and fears of what they would face Warren consoled him. They'd made the promise to one another to protect themselves and each other, for themselves and each other. Warren was sure they'd both considered that Ryuuga might be more of a match for them combined, but he couldn't allow that thought to bear fruit. Ryuuga had committed atrocities, and he would pay.
Haven't you, though? Are you any better?
The thought slithered into his mind, visions of strewn body parts and bloodied tools painting the back of his eyelids. They'd talked about that, too; Prauvaulient's son had been working for Ryuuga, and Howl had killed him in cold blood. The Inspector had been consorting with dragons, secreting away adventurers and picking off the lonesome and able-bodied to send fresh meat to his master. That took a lot of the strain off of Warren's mind; His act had been one of desperate necessity and despite him not knowing it, he was preying on a monster. The Inspector had forfeited his claim to humanity long before.
Still, now that the reality of their trip was upon him, Warren thought back on his days back in Thanalan. They were well-spent, days spent with the few people Warren truly got on with. Too short, as all precious moments were, and in the coming darkness of the mountains he expected to be thinking of those warm memories with increasing frequency. Their trip had called for only mandatory items to be taken with them. They were surviving in an inhospitable climate. They were hunting a creature that had been alive longer than the two of them.
He had warned him that she would be coming after them.
They only had space for the necessary items in their bags. Warren's thoughts briefly touched on the contents of his pockets and on his person. He'd need all three of them before they were through.
There had been much deliberation about the trip between himself and Howl. They sat down and hashed things out over several bottles of strong beer, as they tended to when the serious things needed discussing. They'd touched on the nature of the Dragon, of the trip. Warren had mentioned his worries about his temper and Howl had listened, and when Howl spoke about his concerns and fears of what they would face Warren consoled him. They'd made the promise to one another to protect themselves and each other, for themselves and each other. Warren was sure they'd both considered that Ryuuga might be more of a match for them combined, but he couldn't allow that thought to bear fruit. Ryuuga had committed atrocities, and he would pay.
Haven't you, though? Are you any better?
The thought slithered into his mind, visions of strewn body parts and bloodied tools painting the back of his eyelids. They'd talked about that, too; Prauvaulient's son had been working for Ryuuga, and Howl had killed him in cold blood. The Inspector had been consorting with dragons, secreting away adventurers and picking off the lonesome and able-bodied to send fresh meat to his master. That took a lot of the strain off of Warren's mind; His act had been one of desperate necessity and despite him not knowing it, he was preying on a monster. The Inspector had forfeited his claim to humanity long before.
Still, now that the reality of their trip was upon him, Warren thought back on his days back in Thanalan. They were well-spent, days spent with the few people Warren truly got on with. Too short, as all precious moments were, and in the coming darkness of the mountains he expected to be thinking of those warm memories with increasing frequency. Their trip had called for only mandatory items to be taken with them. They were surviving in an inhospitable climate. They were hunting a creature that had been alive longer than the two of them.
He had warned him that she would be coming after them.
They only had space for the necessary items in their bags. Warren's thoughts briefly touched on the contents of his pockets and on his person. He'd need all three of them before they were through.
![[Image: yEROfKO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yEROfKO.png)
