Though umbral travel usually took only a fraction of the time it'd take to travel in the Tellurian, the return trip took quite a bit of time. Mercy, with Sara leaning heavily against her shoulder, was pushing past exhaustion, but even so, she noticed the tense silence that hung between her fellow Children of Gaia - Guides the Cycle and Dreamwalker - and herself.
Rowan was leading again, happily whistling as several heads swing by hair and fur from his hands. Winds too looked smugly pleased with the kill count, occasionally checking his satchel and chuckling to himself. Mercy allowed that she'd done well, even Double-Aught would have to grant that (aside from disobeying orders - that'd be a black mark)... But she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that consumed her gut as they neared the end of the moonbridge.
"Merce?" Sara started quietly, her voice only reaching Mercy's ears barely.
"Yeah Sara?"
"What changed?" Sara asked. Mercy didn't need to ask what she meant.
"I found something I've been needing for a very long time, Sara... I found a reason to chose this life over any other." Mercy's arm tightened around Sara briefly, telling the Black Fury exactly what she'd found. Though she made no further action, Sara's cheeks were stained brightly pink, which was all the acknowledgement Mercy needed.
Upon returning to River's Might, Sara and Mercy were immediately shuffled off to Stalks the Forest's sweat lodge for ritual cleansing, while the rest were able to be cleansed more simply. After what seemed like the allotted hour for thorough cleansing, Stalks the Forest opened the door to the sauna, but did not let them out. Instead, Dreamwalker, followed by Guides the Cycle, entered.
"Hardest Lessons, we need to talk."