search instead for the others, the ones left over

[heorte]

WHO: ellie, ellis, vanya.
WHAT: A mystery pitch
WHEN: Wintermarch
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Will update as needed.

There are a number of stairs between the ground floor and the eyrie, so it stands to reason that some time must pass between Ellis's last words over the crystals and his appearance in the space.

And it is not even Ellis who enters first. It is Ruadh, trotting over the threshold and sniffing the air skeptically before his great square head swings around to watch as Ellis follows after. Butterball gives a welcoming crawk from on high, but doesn't yet stir to swoop down to give a greeting in person. (Perhaps he is leery of the inevitable: Ellis spurring him out of the tower to exercise.) A number of other griffins echo the sentiment, a little chorus of clicks and squawks following after as Ellis closes the door behind him.

It is an open space. Ellie and Vanya are the only ones occupying it. Ellis has little else to do but step forward towards them, crossing from the doorway with a minor nod of his head in acknowledgement. Yes, he's here.

"We can speak of it all together," heads off the inevitable question. "I would have sought you out separately if need be, so this is only fortunate to find you both here."

And if they don't intend to step together, Ruadh is not above herding them. Wysteria has given him good practice at corralling people together where there is need.

Comments

[heorte]

"It is my mission, and we go with the Commander's blessing," is rote reptition, perhaps meant to soften the progression to—

"I would have gone alone, if I thought there were no possibility I would meet trouble on the road."

Because it is, at the heart of it, Warden business. The structure of the thing now is compromise, born out of Ellis' understanding that he will travel faster on griffonback than he would in the saddle. Utilizing Riftwatch resources requires some concessions.

"I wish to know if they have gathered there," he answers Vanya. "And if they are there, what their intentions are now. I ask for discretion on their behalf. Warden business is not meant to be discussed openly."

What does Vanya Orlov know of Wardens? More, perhaps, than Ellie. She is a rifter, and she has known Ellis, has likely known Adrasteia. And Adrasteia had been unique, conducted herself differently than others might.

[notathreat]

Ellie can read between the lines of this, or at least she thinks she can. Ellis is their best bet at finding and contacting the Wardens, and Riftwatch needs them, needs their help.

But it's definitely not guaranteed, and the Wardens are vulnerable, or could be made vulnerable by their interference. It feels like there's more to it, something she's not seeing. Maybe he's worried about a specific person there. Or maybe it's something to do with what happened to Glas.

Either way, Ellie gives a soft sigh and nods.

"I trust you," she says. Not the Wardens. Him. He's earned it from her. For this, anyway. "If you're saying you need me, that's enough."

[wearyallalone]

"Have you gotten word that makes you think something's on the move?" It's not necessary, but the question of why now in particular lingers behind what's been said. Vanya hopes Ellis knows how much he can rely on Vanya's discretion, and it's very possible that he can rely on Vanya to go even without an answer. But he'd also prefer to have more information, if it's on offer.

[heorte]

With a nod to Ellie, understanding the gift of that statement and the responsibility that comes along with it

"Last winter, I had word that there have been Wardens breaking away from the force housed at Weisshaupt Fortress."

This is Warden politics. It is wholly separate from Riftwatch. Ellis is muddling his duty by traveling with a group of Riftwatch members to seek them out, but he is aware that his months-long absence had been noted when last he'd left. This is his attempt to thread the needle, offset the protection a dangerous journey into the Hunterhorns required with some tangible benefit to justify taking others along with him.

If there are Wardens alive and willing to oppose Corypheus, having contact with them can only be a benefit. Wardens will always do as they see fit, independent of what any organization asked of them, but Ellis trusts them to recognize a threat, to provide aid when needed.

"There were rumors they had an encampment in the Hunterhorns. I want to know if those rumors are true."

And to know what their plans are, as much as they might tell Ellis, who has demonstrated such muddle loyalties.

[notathreat]

Ellie's expression sobers, and she nods.

"Yeah. Artie and I are cool with that." It would only make sense to look for them from above, and she and Vanya can scout easily, cover vast areas.

"When do we leave?"

[wearyallalone]

Vanya nod as well. "As you've already spoken to the Commander, I don't have any personal business that would delay leaving whenever you're ready."

The completely unnecessary nature of clarifying that Vanya isn't busy outside of work could almost make it a joke, in other circumstances.

[heorte]

"I've a few others to speak to," he explains. "But once I have their decisions, and we are as sure as we can be that we'll not be needed, we'll set out."

Somewhere above them, Butterball is happily crunching on flesh-stripped bone, unaware that in his future lies a long journey with few opportunities for luxuriating in the sun or snacking when he pleases.

"Thank you," comes after a moment, looking between them.

[notathreat]

"Yeah."

The tone of Ellie's voice says that it wasn't a question, and not something she expects to be thanked for. They've done things like this too many times for her to see it as something egregious.

She reaches out, lightly punches him in the upper arm.

"Just call us whenever."

[wearyallalone]

The corner of his mouth twitches up, not enough to be called a smile, but approaching it. "We will be ready when you are."