At the glen township of Mont-Clair, the sights, sounds and general atmosphere of working life filled the forest. Smells abounded in the scene: the peaty smoke of fires for the smith and the huntsman, the acrid funk of animal and sweat, and the sweet waftings of fresh brew, fine meat, and subtle woodland produce. A large tent, erected to the side of the main square, promised some regulation over the proceedings - Mont-Clair was one of the rural townships which often hosted an official presence from the valley cities. Regional groups regularly dispatched ambassadors to some of the more prominent mountain townships where it was deemed helpful to have an outside coordinator. These towns commanded large areas of natural resource and presided over some of the more unique landscapes known to the Imperium offices, and so oversight of their activities was required. Caretakers, as they were called, had little direct connection to the Imperium but served a key purpose as an impartial mediator for trade and governance in the remote places.
The central square of the glen lay split by the dome of a large rock. The boulder served as a landmark, carved and marked by years of village life. Overlooking the rock, the main town structure served as a modern marketplace and home for many who lived in Mont-Clair. Like Birch Glen it was practically a small city, fully enclosed by wooden walls and covered with a sturdy roof. The outer open spaces held the camps of less-than-savory merchants or those who shunned dense social populace. All was within view of the caretaker's tent though, so one could feel relatively safe walking about the town.
On the north-east side of the village, where it edged close to a small ravine, a heavy-duty hauler sat canted slightly to one side. A young man pulled himself back out from under the vehicle and stood up, wiping his hands on a rag.
“Well, I do hope that Nathan's having some luck up at the market. I don't think there's anything more I can do for that repulsar.” Jaen said, breaking the news of his efforts to Thomas. “And if it were me, I definitely wouldn't attempt crossing over the Lion with it in this condition. Those are some nasty ledges and you're going to need all the grip you can get.”
The eldest Ravael sibling frowned slightly, thinking over the situation. “Well, then I have to share your hope.” he said, looking around at the Glen. “I'm not too keen on getting stranded in this place...or tackling those ledges on foot.”
Up in the town building, the hopes of Jaen and Thom were proving true. Searching the small but crowded and bustling village, Nathan had come across a man selling what they needed. It could barely be considered a scrapyard, but one of the three old vans he had up for parts was still mostly in mint condition. Nathan happily paid for an entire repulsar unit, complete with lens and regulator, that was even a touch better than their other working ones. He set it on a borrowed cart and headed for the building's exit, looking casually for his sister as he went. Meral's presence inside the village center wasn't apparent, so he left for their camp. He knew she would turn up eventually, and it was not a moment after having that thought that he saw her outside. She sat off a little ways on a rock bench with her journal, watching the people going about the square.
From her seat, Meral could see where the southern mountain road entered the village. It came down a slope thick with bushy ferns and shaded by twisted birch trees. Most of the road carved a deep course into the mountainside, but it turned at one point allowing her to see travelers upon it as they passed a crest in the land. The little window was like a preview of who or what energy would enter the village nexus, or a brief image of one that had just left. She found the mixing of people and energies most interesting. Each center of life-activity was made up of different little energetic aspects, like pieces of food in a stew. They held their own, as independent entities, but also contributed to the emergent quality of the whole. That whole only existed through the actions of its parts in a close relation to each other and was changing all the time. It was a buzzing assemblage, the frequency created by the qualities of the energetic parts. Humans, entering a system like that carried in with them whole other systems and so had extremely complex effects of the energy of the new larger whole. The forces involved in a human settlement like this could be highly complicated, but people went about interacting with the system without much care for their responsibilities in doing so. Life was so innate as to be invisible; taken for granted.
In the little window of road before her, Meral saw two travelers. One was a wandering scholar, with sparse pack and bedroll on his back. He walked casually, but Meral knew that he was keenly aware of his surroundings. With a walking staff in hand and his blue hood drawn up he looked to her like a wizard from the ancient histories. He gave off a quiet power, but her eye was swiftly drawn to his companion. Behind him walked a young woman, clad in a belted rangers jacket open at the top to show a familiar reddish shirt. She had an air about her that astonished Meral. This woman was one she recognized, and yet did not. It was a new Ayleah that passed in front of her eyes, and the glance had been too brief to ascertain the precipitating reason. All she knew was that the traveler she had just seen carried with her a vibrancy; a bearing of empowerment that shone in a visible way.
When they arrived a few moments later, the Ravael sister made sure to direct Telon and Ayleah's steps to the siblings' campsite, and they all spent a nice evening catching up with their former traveling partners. The Ravaels were intrigued by what had happened with Angelica, and gladly welcomed the two scholars back into the fold. As they had replaced the faulty repulsar unit on the hauler, they were well-equipped for the next part of their journey, and excited to set out the next day.
Jaen however, did not join in their evening, as he had earlier left the Ravaels to their own devices. Seeing their vehicle fixed, he had set about imminently to leave and circle back around towards his duties in the south. As he departed down the forest road, he had a sense to look back at the Glen now well above his track. There was a feeling of change; of a chapter ending or beginning. He had had the same empty feeling before, but this time something reached out, through the turning of time and held on to a piece of him as he moved away. It was a warm and hopeful feeling, and Jaen smiled softly to himself.
