As the team of Skyriders started to descend, Elyna couldn’t help the small knot of fear in her chest. They fell through thick clouds and into darkness, with no sign that they were heading in the right direction. None that she knew anyway. Two of her companions had already been to the temporary base beyond the border of Mayce. The distant jagged peaks of the mountains meant something to them, or perhaps the shadows of the tall trees were familiar.

They landed in silence and were met by Ona, one of the sergeants who gestured for them to follow. Reins in hand, Elyna was glad to follow her colleagues through the trees. Snow crunched gently beneath their feet, wind whistled and tugged at her scarf. She bowed her head against the sting on her cheek, cooing softly to the Volarean who was less keen on the snow. It seemed to take an age to trek away from their landing site, through the dense forest to an outcrop in the mountains.

‘Grab the Volarean in front,’ the soft order came. She obeyed quickly, gripping the saddle of the mount in front, wary of its back legs as they descended into pitch black caves and were left blind. The system of tunnels was the only place the ‘Riders could light a fire on the mountainside. Anywhere else and they would risk detection by Endor. But without a fire, with the temperature regularly falling below freezing, none of them would last long. Even with their thick hides, the temperamental Volarean weren’t keen on the cold. Bad tempered at the best of times, no one wanted a cranky mount when their lives depended on it.

The warren of tunnels turned into a large cave system of jagged rocks. The mounts were led to area that had been roped off. Large enough for them to move and stretch their wings without danger of damaging each other, or their riders. There were already two mounts in the cave, two ‘Riders were stationed at their extended base at all times, ready to report on the activities of the nearby mine. The creatures screeched to each other, and Elyna flinched, though no one else seemed to notice. The other Skyriders weren’t worried, so she realised they must be far enough underground for the sound not to carry.

With heavy limbs, Elyna tended her mount. The tack was stripped away and stored neatly in another corner of the system. Brushed the creature down, easing the tired muscles and couldn’t help but wish there was someone to do the same for her. A smile teased her lips then, maybe come Blaze her husband would help soothe tired muscles after a long day of wrestling Volarean.