The mountain had raised her, perhaps doing a better job than her own mother. It was with great confidence that Bane moved across the rocky pathways, tracing them. She knew this place better than she knew her own mind, and there was comfort in that. As she moved behind the stranger, there was still so much she wanted to know. Fishbone. Interesting.

Her questions are enough to melt some of the ice, and Bane is grateful for that. “This is the Vulcan Peak, a sisterhood… the first herd within these Islands to be run by women.” She watches Fishbone curiously, green eyes settling carefully on her. “We choose our leadership by voting, and are led by a council of three. A head warrior, a head thinker, and a prime minister that sits at the helm between them.” Bane’s words come with a thoughtful quality, though she realizes she may fall short with her explanation. Fishbone hadn’t hesitated to ask before, and Bane figured she would ask if what she needed to know.

As the air thinned and grew cooler, Bane found herself watching the stranger’s steps, looking for any signs she might be tiring from the altitude or the long climb up. It often took some time to acclimate, and there’s a degree of concern for anyone that comes through the doors here. Anyone on this mountain was their responsibility, after all. “Are you looking for anything in particular?” This is purely her own curiosity, really. “There’s a spot at the top where we can see for ages in either direction, and on the clear days see some of the other Islands. I can show you, if you want.” While the company was a bit strange, Bane would make the best of it for now.

Anath x Thane