Once he was confident that he could no longer see the beast nor the incredibly dangerous Tunneler, Garin proceeded to slow down and drop his friends in the soft sand that seemed to cover the ground. With so much focus on running, Garin started to realize that the environment was turning sandier as opposed to craggy and the river also began to widen and deepen. Feeling the turmoil of his recent actions, Garin decided to rest himself as well, falling face first into the sand. It turned out the sand was only an inch deep so what followed was incredible pain upon his nose. Melchior unfortunately noticed.
“Garin are you quite all right?”
“Oh I’m fine, probably broke my nose, but I’m fine.”
Priscilla chuckled slightly as she began washing her feet at the river’s edge.
“It is normally best to make sure that the ground is loose before letting your full weight sink in.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Garin said sarcastically as he pushed himself over with his tendrils. He felt the pain almost subside and begin to drift as he stared at the sky the low light of the sun seemed to only be touching the highest points of the wall, which made Garin think that it was getting close to sundown. In his vision, at the lower right-hand corner, he saw what looked to be a small clock. Only noticing it now, he realized Tehran must have put it there just as he was thinking of the time.
He could overhear Melchior as he stared up at the sky, “I can say safely as we are far enough away from that wretched Joungir to be safe for now. The only other problem is that you, Garin, actually went the opposite direction of where we needed to go. The river on the side actually goes towards the southern mesas.”
“So you mean that I’m… we’re farther away than we need to be?”
“Yes I am afraid so, but there is some good news. This river actually makes his way straight into the Citadel. It will just take a little longer to reach the main gate seeing as we are going by river. And among other things…”
Priscilla chimed in, “what do you mean by that?”
Melchior put his feathered hand upon his head, and began to scratch nervously, “Well this River actually goes very close to another habitat I was hoping to avoid. Of course you know of the Harpies Naomi, correct?”
“I know very little.”
“Well let’s just say that you won’t want these birds clawing into you especially the purple ones. The only good news besides this shortcut is that we can make it to the Citadel before morning if we leave now.”
“We do not leave until Garin is ready,” Priscilla said as she moved into Garin’s sight.
Garin looked over at her and then back at the sky as she looked over his wounds.
“It’s all right Priscilla, nothing too damaged. In fact, I am feeling a lot better now.”
He noticed a smile on her face, which shifted quickly to a stern look, once she noticed that he was looking at her.
“Good, then we should get going.”
Garin pushed himself up as the rest of the group began making their way into the shallow water. As he felt his legs sink into the water, Garin felt a familiar memory course through his head. It was a small child, playing with a little girl in a pond. They were laughing and giggling, splashing each other with water while the sky moved slowly overhead. The memory was just vague enough for him to make out the little girl’s face.
Sara
As the name touched his lips, Garin felt like a chain had just unclench from his mind. She was a friend, but besides that, he could not put her anywhere else in his memory. Though, as he focused on that part of his memory, he caught a glimpse of something else. Her face, but older with long, red hair, slight freckles, and soft blue eyes. He could see her waving to him as he was put in the metal tube. Those caring eyes, became sad and then the cold came.
Garin clenched his head, the pain of the memory throbbing as he slowly waddled through the shallow river. As the pain began to subside, he noticed that he could still remember her face. Sara, for some strange reason, he knew that if he could find her that his memory would come back. She must have known him before all this craziness happened. So as he waddled through the water Garin held a sliver of hope that there was someone out there like him instead of the unfamiliar world that he woke up to.
…
Ella peered down at the strange creatures that went through the Red River. Her eyes adjusted, taking in the light that shone down there to make out three of them. She knew her sisters would find them soon, and when they did… Well she never liked to think about that.
It was all she could do not to run down there and warn them that they were walking right into a trap. Why did her mother have to be gone? She knew her mother would not keep the tribe so close to danger. If her clan hunted anymore of these creatures, she knew they would come for them, and then no one would be safe.
Her stomach hurt she was so afraid, but deep down she knew that she needed to do this. So holding her stomach and stretching her wings, she glided down the canyon wall towards the strange creatures hoping against hope that they did not shoot her before she could warn them.
…
The thought of Sara on Garin’s mind was broken as he noticed a shadow moved across the water. If he wasn’t looking directly down at the water he would have missed it, but sure enough the shadow moved again.
“Melchior, I think one of those things you mentioned is following us.”
Melchior visibly jumped, making a slight gurgle noise as he turned to look at Garin.
“Don’t be ridiculous, this is nowhere near their habitat. Besides, there are more things that fly out here than anything else. What makes you think it was a harpy?”
Garin looked down at the reflection in the pool water and saw the shadow moved again. Looking straight up he pointed his tendrils at the ceiling walls.
“Tehran, are you there?”
“Yes, yes I am. Is there something you noticed?”
“Yeah pretty sure we are being followed, can you scan the walls like you did before?”
“Why, of course! Finally something to test these out on.”
Garin noticed the green lights and red lights that stretched across his tendrils began to hum with energy, as a pulse of light shot up into the sky. The light ball exploded but caused no visible damage. Garin however noticed the results quickly as new information began to appear in his vision. It was as if somebody drew the wall and made grids out of it, showing every detail and every fixture. He saw one of the boxes in his grid appear out of place, quickly focusing his vision on it. He could make out wings, and a face staring down at him.
“We better get ready Tehran.”
“Right.”
“We got company guys, I can see one of them up on the wall.”
Priscilla moved closer to Garin as she followed his vision.
“It is definitely one of them, much too big to be any sort of bird.”
Melchior began to fumble for his rifle, “Oh dear, I had hoped not to run into any of them, but I suppose now’s as good time as any.”
Just as Garin looked back at Melchior, he heard something move. It was the harpy, but she wasn’t trying to dodge or move from an attack. She just slowly glided down to them, letting her claws sink into the water. Garin was so taken aback by that he didn’t realize Melchior trained his rifle on the beast.
“Melchior, don’t shoot her just yet.”
“It has been my experience Garin that if you let one of these things gets close, you’re likely to become their next meal.”
“Then let me go to her first, she won’t be able to sink her claws into my metal skin anyway. Besides it doesn’t look like she’s looking for food.”
Priscilla only nodded as she put a hand on Melchior’s rifle pulling the barrel down.
“Then go to her Garin, but be careful.”
Garin turned towards the harpy moving slowly as to not cause any sudden reactions. Becoming slightly nervous, he put out his hand in a greeting gesture.
“Hey Tehran, those claws of hers can’t sink into our skin can they?”
“But Garin, you sounded so sure before,” Tehran said laughing in his head.
Garin gulped audibly as he thrust his hand open to the harpy.
The harpy as he thought did nothing but gawk at his hand with her large purple eyes. What she did do, was jump at him and proceeded to try to speak to him.
“Awekd Seigm tolkiea Moak! Moak!”
It was all Garin could do not to try to shove her into the wall in stark fear. Her speech gradually started to make sense though, in a strange way. In the back of his mind, he could hear Tehran start to process her speech like some kind of cipher.
“Shiny man, your friends in danger. Help them!”
“What danger? Who are you?”
That’s what his speech sounded like to Garin, but when it came out of his voice, he sounded like he was squawking at her. To the desired effect, she seemed to understand it.
“Oh good, you know Screchspek. Your friends and you are walking into trap by my sister. She knows you’re coming.”
“You’re sister?”
As Garin stared at her dumbfounded, Tehran seem to grasp the situation and immediately took over. Speaking through Garin’s mouth he said, “Your sister, is she a harpy like yourself and if so why is she setting a trap for us?”
The harpy seem to notice the change in pitch with the voice, but continued anyway despite the fact that Tehran was now in control.
“Yes she is like me, but something has happened to her and now she sends raids at creatures even when we are not hungry. She has become something not harpy, but none dare challenge her for she is the strongest of us. I’ve tried to find others to fight her, but there are no others left that can challenge her.”
Tehran seemed a puzzle with the new information, but with clarity responded effectively. Garin only knew how much that scared him.
“It would seem that your sister poses a threat to us, but we really have no choice. We must ford this River lest we run out of time before the real threat approaches. Could you direct us past your sister’s trap?”
The harpy tilted her head sideways looking at Tehran with an even more puzzled look.
“You want me to direct you? I am not sure, my sister is very clever, she may see this coming. The only safe route would be out of the canyon away from the other harpies. But to get that route would need someone who can climb over the jags.” The harpy shivered visibly as she ended on that thought. Tehran forced her further.
“We need your help, that is why you came to us is it not? If you truly wish to help us, then you must help us cross these jags that you speak of.”
The harpy seem to notice the command in his voice, Tehran’s own steadfast will carrying through. It seemed to inspire the harpy and with a determined face she motioned closer to Tehran and Garin, and held out her hand.
“I will help you, but only if you take me with you afterwards. I cannot help my sister from here and if she continues to do this, other harpies will suffer. Metal man, will you do this for me?”
Garin wanted to say no, but he could already hear the voice of Tehran saying yes in his head. Great somebody else to worry about on this trip surrounded by more aliens and now one of them happens to be a sister for somebody who is already trying to kill them.
His mind however conflicted with his pessimism, glad that another friend, or what perceived to be one was here. Inwardly he smiled, while outwardly he felt a stoic resolve. He took the harpies hand and shook it.
Priscilla and Melchior both seemed disturbed by the fact that a harpy was with them now, but with Tehran guiding them, they both kept their mouths shut throughout the journey. As the water began to be replaced with craggy rocks and even more stalagmites, Garin could not help but keep peeking forward at the harpy’s form.
She seemed to resemble humans almost clearly, but the differences were clear once you looked at her face. She did not have a mouth, but a beak; and her eyes were much wider than any human he would have remembered. The eerie purple glow as the dusk began to settle also confirmed her alien form which seemed to project from her like some hidden energy.
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It’s solemnly lit the way as they thrust through the stalagmites which grew to be the size of trees. Her hair or lack thereof was a mesh of feathers that seemed to point up like an arrowhead each tipped with a green and white hue along with her purple feathered base.
She seemed to notice his observation as well always staring back at him every now and then making it very clear that she was fascinated by him. It was almost as if she was staring back at him like he was staring back at her, like something that didn’t belong in their world.
It made Garin think about the others like him that could be out there, but deep down he felt like he was alone. He held onto the image of the girl Sara in his mind, making sure it was still there. She was his last connection to the hope that there might still be people out there that would know what he was and that could help him and Tehran.
“I don’t believe that I ever caught your name harpy…”
Melchior breaking the silence slowly moved up to be closer to the harpy. Noticing that the Harpy did not realize she was being addressed, Garin relayed the message to her. The harpy mostly jumped at the mention of her, which made Garin feel strangely protective.
“Ella… My name is Ella.”
Garin translated the information to Melchior, as it seemed that this was a language that even Melchior did not know. Melchior being even more inquisitive began to pry at the harpy girl Ella.
“Interesting, is it true that your mother’s are the only ones that are allowed to name the children, or is it the father that has the rights?”
“Ella does not see why this is important.” The harpy girl Ella seem to be a little annoyed at the questions.
“Just curious, it’s a habit I have especially when it’s been silent way too long. And it is a rare opportunity that I would get to meet one of your kind. All I have to know of your kind is from what we’ve observed and even more so the facts that I can even understand you with the help of my friend here.”
“You… observed me?”
“Well not you especially, but yes our kind has always wondered how the harpies maintain their hierarchy as well as some other personal quips. Would you care to tell me what average weight that you can carry into the air? Or perhaps would you know how far you can see? Such an opportunity would be wasted if we can’t explore it further.”
Garin had just about enough of Melchior until the harpy noticeably stopped as they were walking. She began to look around, staring up at the walls of the Canyon as if trying to find something that wasn’t there. Garin noticed a twinge in the back feathers of her head.
“We need to climb. Here.” She pointed to a stalagmite that seemed to arch up and bank towards the Canyon wall. Garin could tell why it would’ve been a hard climb right away. The arch that led up to the wall was smooth as smooth could be providing no actual place to grab hold onto the spike. You would need to be able to drill into the stalagmite itself in order to even get a grip. Luckily for Tehran, Garin had discovered how they both could get up there along with the rest of the group.
Using his tendril, Garin punctured the arch instead of grabbing hold, and spread his clasps through the stone. It first began to slip, but the clasps on the end of his tendrils held firm as he tested his weight and the weight of the others. Satisfied with the grip, he punctured the rock and began the climb, holding both Priscilla and Melchior in each of his arms as he did so. His back scrapped against the hard rock surface, making each move loud and rough as he pulled.
Garin looked down at the two as they climbed trying to take his mind off of the heights that they were scaling. Ella hovered with them, lighting the part of the rock wall so Tehran could see where to grasp the stalagmite. It began to become monotonous after a while, as the stabbing of the rock signified that they were still climbing. Garin felt the craggy rock become flatter, and the rock seemed to become smoother as they made their way to the cliff wall. Abruptly, Tehran had stopped his climbing, humming in Garin’s mind as he spoke.
“We are at the wall, and the surface of the highland is in view, we should be able to jump atop and free ourselves of the canyon.”
“You’re certain then?”
“I would answer that but you already know that I am right so I won’t bother.”
“Well, let’s get to it then shall we?”
“By all means.”
Tehran wrapped the tendrils around Priscilla and Melchior, and with a thrust, jumped over the canyon ten feet up onto the surface once more. The two of them, after being held so long, were not ready for the flat ground, and both of them fell to their knees as they caught themselves.
Frustrated, Priscilla slowly got to her feet and turned to face Garin. “A little warning next time would be fine Garin.”
“In this rare occurrence, I would agree.” Melchior still sitting on the ground dusting off his legs and slowly rising to his feet.
Garin shook his head sadly, “Sorry about that, I was having an internal conversation at the moment, and I will warn you next time.”
Ella descended to the ground with the rest of them as she cocked her head towards Melchior speaking in her tongue.
“How far to your nest owling?” Garin turned himself to Melchior and relayed the message.
“With this new heights advantage we should actually reach it by the end of today, provided nothing else tries to kill us. Though, I do believe that rest is in order at least for now, my legs are still stiff from climbing that wall.”
After relaying that to Ella, Garin could see that’s she wasn’t happy with that answer.
“No, no, no. If we are to beat my sister and make sure you are safe, we must leave now for she will know soon enough that we are not traveling the River any longer.”
“Well Ella, if you’re going to be carrying me then then by all means let’s leave right now.”
At first, it should have been pretty easy to spot that that’s something that shouldn’t have been relayed, but as Garin was relaying that back to Ella he was too late to stop himself from completing the sentence. For as soon as he did as if by command, Ella grasped Melchior’s shoulders with her talons, and began to try to carry him off.
Priscilla could not help herself, for as soon as he started floating away she started laughing hysterically as Melchior objected to Ella’s assistance.
“Put me down this instant! Don’t your people know anything about sarcasm?”
Garin tried his best to convey the message to Ella. But the flapping of her wings being so powerful, actually made it hard to come across as she took it that it was all right for her to carry Melchior. She smiled happily as she began to make her way towards what she thought was the direction of the city.
Not being able to get through to her through the translation, Garin decided to enforce it. He shot out his tendril at Melchior’s leg pulling both Ella and Melchior back to the ground safely. Confusion racked the harpy as she wondered what was going on.
“Ella thought she was helping, why did you stop me from carrying him as he requested?”
“Ella, he didn’t actually mean that he wanted you to carry him, he was feigning that request. Has your sister ever said something but did something else?”
Ella tilted her head to the side looking up at the sky as she thought.
“Well yes she would call that a Spruckto, a false egg. Did Melchior lay such a thing?”
Garin nodded as she grew frustrated. She immediately started to squawk at Melchior and made it seem like she was going to peck at him. Priscilla could take no more as she rolled back on the ground laughing as she held her ribs.
“No more,” she screamed as she started a giggling fit, “This is simply too much.”
Garin smirked at the two as he put his tendril between the two and spread them apart. He first started with Melchior and then moved to Ella as he tried to disarm the situation.
“Melchior, I’m going to tell her that you apologized so that we can get to moving on all right? And Ella, he is sorry and he will promise that if he needs your help that he will ask it from you next time okay? All right, now that it is all said and done Melchior if you would please point us in the right direction so that we can get home to the Citadel before nightfall, I’d rather not be out here after dark after what I’ve seen.” Melchior complied, though his faced was scrunched together as if it caused him pain to carry out the order.
The Crags that surrounded them earlier now became distant as the group made its way across the desert flatland. The night itself was approaching fast, but Melchior assured the group that they were very close. It was true, Garin could actually make out some sounds that he took for civilization. However, the closer the noise came the least flatland seemed to show, slowly being replaced with green lush vegetation. Each of the flowers and plants they met seemed to glow with life as the night came, some even giving out a blue hinge of light. Melchior could not help but elaborate.
“These flowers are known as night bloom, we usually do not touch these particular flowers but some have taken the custom of outlying their houses with the blue colored ones seeing as they make good night lights. You’ll see these more as we get to the lower tier of the Citadel, many of the poor have them. Actually…” Melchior stopped a second, looking at the sky as it turned to darkness, “Seems we are already here.” Excitement coursed through Garin as he made his way ahead of the group, Priscilla in tow behind him.
The Citadel was a true sight to behold, even with the night approaching. Garin could make out lights of every shade and color that seemed to twine with the buildings. Bursting with life they seemed to dance with the wind that surrounded the grand city. Large structures shot to the sky and the largest of them all lay at the center, bristling with white light as it came across the city. He could see the Touak, many of them walking across the city in small droves whilst others flew over the rest dressed in combat attire.
It was a sprawling metropolis, Garin could tell right away. Technology he never could fathom seemed to be built into the streets, lights upon lights that spanned outward like a pulsating vein. Even as he walked across the smooth blue road he could see the light reflect his stride, as if it was monitoring him, which it was. Tehran whizzed to life as the intrusion became apparent.
“Seems this city is spying on us,” Garin said to him.
Tehran smiled, “Well we might make a genius out of you yet, though perhaps we should start with shapes. Tell me do you know what a Circle is?” He laughed at his own joke, which Garin ignored completely.
“Can you track whoever’s spying on us?”
“Easily, it just a matter of… there.” Garin’s eyesight flashed a moment, replaced by a heads up display of his surroundings. The lights became faded, replaced with a broad singular line, a code of some language Garin did not recognize. It was easy enough to understand that wherever this code was going was where the spy was reporting from. Garin thought about telling the others, but instead he questioned Melchior about the city.
“Melchior, where exactly are we heading to?”
Melchior visibly jumped, it seemed he was focused on something else at the moment. “Oh, sorry forgot to mention that part didn’t I? Well, seeing as we have three people here who are unauthorized personnel, we need to check in first. Once that’s cleared up, it’s just a short ride to the Living Quarter. Then we rest, God knows I need it.” Melchior sighed to himself with his arms behind his back, “The thing that bothers me is the security council, once we get to the checkpoint it’s their jurisdiction.”
Garin noticed the uneasiness in Melchior’s voice, “I take it you’re not too fond of them?”
“Quite the opposite, the captain there is… overly fond of me.” Melchior said, a laugh trying to escape his closed throat, coming out as a squawk. Garin tried to think of the possibility, but nothing came to mind. Soon he started to dread what would happen. Priscilla just shook her head, “Whatever the case, we must get this over with. And Melchior?” Melchior turned to face her, “Yes?”
“If you endanger us with this nonsense, this captain will be the least of your problems.”
“Threats upon threats, do not flatter yourself Naomi, she is much more terrifying.”
Garin sighed, at least he had some idea of what the hell to expect. Still he felt a little uneasy about Priscilla. She seemed to be on edge even more so surrounded by all the Touak.
He pulled to Priscilla moving astride with her simple yet elegant style of walking. Her legs were stringed with muscles which with her fur garb and cloak made her look like a hunter amidst citizens. She was easy to spot out from the crowd as well, for most of the Touak were two feet smaller than her.
“What’s on your mind?” Garin said with a smile.
“On my mind? I do not understand.”
“What are you thinking about?”
She sighed, and smiled as well, “These people Garin, I feel eyes on me and I do not like it. They fear me as they should, yet I cannot make them go away.”
“Go away? Wait, are you afraid of them?”
She visibly shook, “No!” She stopped a moment, noticing the crowd start to stare at her outburst. She collected herself, not raising her head. “Well, even then there are many of them while I am without a Pack. I am uneasy.” She was too proud to show fear Garin figured, but still she was in an unknown place. He could relate.
“Remember, I’m here too, you’re not alone.” Garin smiled at her as she raised her head with a smile of her own. “We’ll just be our own pack.”
“I forget sometimes, with the way you speak with Melchior.”
“Melchior’s helping me figure out what I am Priscilla, you were the one who woke me up remember?” She shook her head, “I am, and yet I feel a stranger to you at times.”
“You’re not, please believe me when I say that. You saved my life when you found me there. That thing would have killed me or worse.” She became brighter with each word. And yet, her spirit seemed to show through and she hid the emotion that the words even phased her. It almost hurt Garin, but part of him knew that was just her way of handling things.
“It is good to know, thank you Garin.” She nodded her head and continued ahead of him. He shook his head as her stride seemed to speed up, matching with Melchior.
“Now why can’t they just say they are afraid?” Tehran smirked, “The organics of this age seem to be all about subterfuge, fine by me. They are just as easy to read when they have something to hide.”
“Is there a setting for you that stops you from being such an ass to people?”
“I care not for their emotions. I care about your growth and our work to find our brothers and sisters. The more we deal with their issues the further it distracts from ours.”
“They are our friends.”
“Are they?”
Garin ignored him as he caught up to Priscilla who was trying to talk to Ella.
“Ella does not understand,” right she was still unable to speak to people with her own language. Yet Priscilla continued, “What kind of hunting practices do your people use?” The poor Harpy just tilted her head and squawked in confusion.
“She wants to know how your people hunt for food.” Priscilla glanced at Garin, but shook her head at Ella as he finished the translation.
“Ella travels with sisters to hunt, always going for the brack-lok. They skitter along the sand at night, but they slow during the day. Easy foods. Sometimes we hunt Bookako too. Big worms. They cross sand like the fish, but they come up to feed at the oasis sometimes. Sister likes them most, but I like the tooky-tolka. Big pincers, but soft in the middle. Nice crunch.” She imitated a biting noise with her beak which slightly startled Priscilla until Garin told her the reason.
“Interesting, it would seem you are the apex predators of the Desert.”
“No, no. Ella is a good hunter, not that good though. That goes to the Pukateor. Small, very small. Kills with its tail, but looks very shy. Looks like this.” She made a face that reminded Garin of a squirrel. “Never ever go near their shoka plant. It’s their home as well as their water source, so they go crazy over it.
Their tail is very strong, but if you can take their Kelpies, little ones, they stop fighting you. Never give back the Kelpies if you do take them though, or they sting you more. Actually, they can raise kelpies into Mekateor, they’re loyal and strong but lose their tails.”
Ella was very excited from what Garin gathered, as she began to go further into describing her first Mekateor, who she named Loka. “She was very burly, strong as rock. Always came when we hunted, took down Bookako by herself once.”
Her tone turned sad for a moment, “Sister took her from me and let her go. Said she needed to find her roots. She didn’t want to go though, I could tell. Sister wouldn’t let her come back.” Garin told Priscilla, which seemed to strike a nerve in her. “Your sister was cruel, why separate a friend from you when it was clear she wanted to stay?” Ella shook her head, “Sister was not cruel, and Sister wanted her to have her own Kelpies. She stayed with us, no Kelpies of her own. Their shoka plant helps them have Kelpies. I was sad, but I wanted her to have Kelpies and be a mother. So I let her go too.”
Priscilla was wide eyed for a moment, and nodded in approval. “That must have been difficult.”
Ella sighed, “I still see her when I sleep, and she always slept with me and licked my face. I don’t regret it though, I saw her shoka plant and she had many kelpies.” She smiled, “She remembered me and gave me my second Mekateor.
She’s dangerous though now, for if you take a kelpie you can’t return to the shoka or the mother with be angry. I used to pass over her shoka from time to time.” Ella had tears in her eyes by that point and cried softly, “I miss my Loka!” she rushed over to hug Priscilla. Priscilla was startled at first, but slowly returned the hug, placing her head on the Harpies shoulder.
“She gave you a youngling, what happened to that one?” Ella sniffled but wiped her tears away as she answered. “She was with me when I found you three and learned of my Sister’s trap. Bekato was her name. Much like her mother, very stubborn.
Took long to make her trust me. Bekato living in her own shoka now, I could not take her with me knowing I needed to find you. Bekato would have killed you had she been there. Bigger than her mother and twice as fast. Very proud when she found her shoka.” She puffed out her chest. “Maybe I’ll show you how to train Mekateor, very loyal friends, but hard to keep.”
Priscilla laughed at that, “Then I shall wait until I can learn from a master such as yourself.”
Ella tilted her head once more, “Really, a master?” but she collected herself, “I mean, of course! I would be honored to teach.” She laughed happily, which Garin could not help but smile at. She seemed more familiar than ever, despite that she wasn’t human, or whatever the hell he became when he woke up. Forget Tehran, Garin knew they were his friends and he did not need any more proof than this.