My eyes searched out into the vast unknown that poured away from the Foothills. The hills themselves varied in height as they continued their journey on, becoming mountains in the snow capped north. Building along the arc of each hill was brutal. The thoughts of two great warriors floundering the stones for measly bricks was daunting. I wished we had more than just magic to help, machines to do the lifting and heavy labor. This magic was near enough a complication. I had ideas, minor implications that would aid the warriors if invasion ever proved true. We could dig into the ground, pull tunnels out into that vast unknown so they could emerge from the flat parts of the hills for surprise. We could launch stone balls into the sky so the Earth would rain down onto the enemy forces. Thinking was easy. Imagining was facile. But I knew that doing, well they could forget the add-ons.

      She, a colorful tangent of overwhelming optimism appeared, feathers singing in the wind as she clicked her golden hooves to the rock. Irrydae was a beautiful specimen, elaborately decorated as a symbol of the cool night. I couldn't help my staring eyes traveling along the strange curve of her feathers, finding the purple underside odd in the daylight. I wish it was night. TallSun was proving true to its peak, and I was already sweating, having not even concentrated on this newly gifted ability.

      Donovan emerged the grassy mirage, walking with such eloquence. He was, upon my first judgement, a noble creature, gifted with an artistic curve of red tribal lines across his strong shoulder to prove his strength and heritage. My eyes were instantly drawn to his horn, wondering what a stab of that thorny thing would feel like. Raimo, also observing, shuddered on my back. To my surprise, he genuinely dipped his head, and broken from my daze I returned his gesture, the wild blue also tipping his crowned horns.

      Irrydae, practically skipping over to us, let a line of legends explode from her mouth. My eyes still roamed her starry spots, finding they held to charm to me like Aërwen's. Her voice floated into the absent breeze, barely reaching my tired ears. I shrugged to her thoughts, wondering still about the heaving load of lost pessimism. Raimo however, nudged me with a claw and proceeded to chirp to the girl's willingness.

      'You need to move on..'

      'I know.'

      His words never really got to me.

      "How do you suppose we start this wall, son?"

      I glanced at the great stallion, who seemed less pressured by the daunting mileage to come, but still overwhelmed at least to some minimal thought. I honestly had no idea. I guessed that stones would be needed, and we could cut them out of the surrounding rock with our powers. I'm not quite sure what Raimo could do here, blasting fire would only heat it. It was a guess of how much easier cutting and forming would be. "I'm assuming we start by cutting stone bricks from the surrounding rocks, and placing them together with some sort of strong adhesive. We could pick a boulder or something to start from, and move along in a straight line until we've reached the far corner of our scent marker." It seemed logical.

      "It's an honor to meet you as well, Donovan. I'm Peixos, and my blue is Raimo." Again I dipped my head to the older soldier.

      Ophelia pushed into the group from behind, I saw the fatigue wearing into her face as cicadas buzzed obnoxiously from the grass. A chirp sounded from behind, waking Raimo from a daze of boredom. He glanced into the tree to find the noble silver and crimson royal, Tinek resting his wings in the tree. He dismissed himself from my shoulders, and flew to a neighboring branch, dipping his head to his superior, feeling more drawn to his bonded's rank than that natural among dragons. I turned my head to the Chieftess, smiling in greeting, thankful that she said something in advice to our struggles.

      The white mare basically reiterated what I'd said recently. I took that as an affirmation, and with a glance in Donovan's direction I started off to the boulder we'd use as a corner piece.