Jolyon aimed down his sights at the target in the distance, the guardian leaning against a railing watching carefully. The firing range was one of the few places she kept her helmet off, and her ghost gave her some privacy. It almost felt like old times.

 

“Watch that breeze coming in from the east,” He glanced in the direction she motioned to, seeing a slight movement beginning to stir the foliage. Sometimes he swore she could feel changes in the air before they even happened. He readjusted, let out his breath, and took the shot. It hit the target with a dull clang. Jolyon felt the admiration and approval of the hunter wash over him as he raised his face away from the scope. 

 

He removed the firing pin from his rifle and propped himself up to let Hawk take his place. “Alright, Slayer of Oryx, you’re up”

 

The guardian smirked and lightly tossed her sniper into her arms, taking to lie flat against the ridge. He noticed how even right beside him her form seemed to blend into her surroundings. Jolyon gave her the wind conditions under courtesy, but he knew she didn’t need the data. She took the shot with the subtlest of movements, before turning her attention to the next target. But despite her speed, Jolyon was already distracted. A glint of silver flashed around her neck, and although small, he made out the single crude metal feather upon a silver chain. Her blue eyes glanced at him when he failed to brief her on the changing wind. 

 

“Sorry, ah it’s due southeast now, about 15 kph,”

 

She frowned and returned to her scope. A flick of her finger sent the bullet into the target. She readjusted and exhaled deeply, “What’s on your mind?”

 

He shuffled uncomfortably, lowering his rangefinder, but she remained still. The shot was hers to take but she was waiting with a unique kind of patience that calmed him, sitting in the spaces between time. “What’s he like? Crow that is,”

 

She took the shot but he could tell she was only half focused. She put a hand on top of her scope and leaned to the side, looking out over the ravine. “I think you’d like him. I’d imagine he’s like Uldren if Uldren wasn’t… well…” He chuckled to himself. That would be something to see. “You should meet him, you know?”

 

“Hmph, I don’t think the queen would like that,”

 

“Screw the queen,” Jolyon raised his eyebrow and the guardian sighed, “He doesn’t want anything to do with her, or most of his past life,”

 

“Why would I be any different then?” She shrugged, but before she could reply he has a realisation, “Wait, why are you any different? Does he even know what you did?”

 

Her tone hardened, “He knows everything.”

 

“Everything?”

 

She nodded.

 

“Do you?”

 

She silently returned to her scope, but Jolyon saw her jaw clench. BANG BANG BANG. All three targets in quick succession. The air caught in his throat as he watched her exhale and sit in silence for a moment. She looked at him carefully, and deep down he realised she knew the truth in her heart. How could she not? Ever since Petra showed her the Dreaming City, there had been nothing but whispers as she roamed its halls. And Petra herself made no move to hide it.

 

He shook his head in disbelief, “What’s it like, not remembering?” He saw the Black Heart in his mind's eye and blinked it out of existence. 

 

She studied him carefully and returned to her scope. “All I know is death and war,” she paused and looked up softly, “But this… this feels like home,”