The day after their arrival at Riverbend, the sun reached its afternoon peak, casting sharp angles of light across the bustling square. Dust, stirred by boots and gusts blowing inland from the cliffs, hung in the air, thick with the scent of roasting grains, the metallic bite from the nearby smithy – CLANG... CLANG... – and damp earth drying under the warmth. Canvas awnings of patchwork stalls snapped in the breeze.


    Anna moved through the press of bodies near the square''s edge. Elbows brushed past; voices murmured trade offers. Her boots scuffed packed earth. Milo walked beside her, dark eyes tracking over stalls loaded with polished river stones, medicinal herbs, and gleaming metal tools laid out on blankets.


    Anna stopped before a stall shaded by faded blue sailcloth. The counter showed scarred wood planks over barrels, piled with gears, wire spools, cracked casings. Behind it, the trader wiped grease onto a stained leather apron. His gaze lifted as Anna halted.


    "Freedman," the trader''s voice rumbled, low. "Heard you brought the Cloudchaser in last evening. Running quiet after the overhaul, is she?"


    "She holds," Anna said. Her voice was level. Her gloved hand rested on the counter''s rough edge. Wood grain pressed faint against the leather. Her index finger lifted, pointing to a dull metal chunk among rusted bolts. A faint, shifting iridescence – green, blue – pulsed under surface grime as light hit it. "That alloy. From the Ishkar River?"


    The trader squinted. A grin spread, pulling his beard. "Aye. Pulled it from silt near the cascade. Rare." He picked it up. Rubbed grime away with a thumb. Placed it on the counter. A soft, dense thud. "High-temp shielding. If you know the work." He paused. "Price is steep."


    Anna''s gaze stayed on the alloy. Her hand moved, reached into her satchel. Pulled out a sealed data chip and a small pouch that clinked. Placed both on the wood beside the alloy. "Iris Hollow survey data. Fresh. And processed ore—high grade."


    The trader''s eyes flicked to the chip, then the pouch. He picked up the pouch, hefted it. Grunted low. Set it down. Slid the iridescent metal across the planks towards Anna. "Done," he said. "Use it right."


    Anna picked up the alloy. Cool, smooth metal, heavy. Slid it into an inner jacket pocket. A solid weight settled. She gave the trader a curt nod. Turned from the stall. Milo pulled his gaze from a gear display, blinking dust. Boots scuffed earth. He moved into step beside her. The smithy''s clang faded slightly as they walked towards the docking platform path.


    Long shadows lay across the Riverbend platform''s wooden planks. The wind sighed steady off darkening hills, pushing against Cloudchaser''s hull with a low sound that vibrated through the deck. Faint brass light spilled from the open cargo hatch, glinting off rivets, polished railing wood.


    Anna checked a strap securing sensor packages against the hold''s bulkhead. The ratchet clicked. She pulled hard. Solid. Straightened, brushing dust from her trousers. The movement pulled faint against her bandaged side. Grease stained her fingertips.


    Milo knelt nearby, rolling a tarp containing pipe fittings. He secured the roll with twine, fingers working the knot. Set the roll near the hatch opening. His gaze lingered towards the ramp, the darkening outpost beyond.


    "Last of the survey gear secure," Anna said, voice softer now against the wind''s hum. She walked to the hold center, boots scuffing planks. Stopped near Milo. Looked down at the rolled tarp. "Good work on the sensors today. Steady hands."


    He looked up. A faint curve touched his lips, vanished. "Just followed lead." Finished the knot. Gaze dropped to deck. Traced a wood scratch with his boot tip.


    Anna knelt, picked up a calibration tool, turned the cool metal. "Smooth run, this Riverbend leg," she stated. Looked at him. "Learned fast this summer. Handled storm comms. Kept eyes on gauges."


    Milo nodded, gaze still down. "It was... good," he said, word quiet. "Flying. Seeing plateau... Marneth." Head lifted. Dark eyes reflected fading light from hatch. "Learned a lot."


    Anna watched him. Set the tool down. "Yeah," she said. "You did." Pause. Wind sighed through hatch. "This trip wraps it up. For this season."


    Milo''s head dipped. Knees hugged tighter. "Figured," he murmured.


    "Cloudchaser''s heading back. Atheria tomorrow," Anna continued, voice steady, practical. "Home base." Paused. "West. Your route''s east. Back towards Iris Hollow."


    He looked up, meeting her gaze. Stillness in his eyes. "Trade ship? Joren''s mention?"


    "Leaves two days," Anna confirmed. "Best route for you. Direct." She rose, bracing a hand on a crate, the movement showing slight stiffness. "Get your gear off tonight. Settle accounts."


    Milo pushed up, dusting trousers. Walked to open hatch. Stopped at edge. Looked out. Wind ruffled dark hair. Hand gripped metal frame, knuckles white. "So... this is it?" Voice muffled, aimed outward.


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    Anna joined him. Stood a pace behind. Air cooler. Salt tang sharp. Below, outpost lanterns glowed yellow against dark wood. "For this run," she said, voice even. Gestured vaguely outwards with chin. "...Skies still out there, Milo. Adventures don''t stop."


    He turned, back against frame, facing her. Shadow hid expression. "Promise?" Word quiet, lost against wind.


    Anna met his gaze. Held it. Gave a small, firm nod. "Promise."


    Yellow light from lanterns pooled on the Riverbend platform planks. The wind blew steady, cold, carrying the sharp scent of woodsmoke. Metal fittings on Cloudchaser''s hull glinted dull in the lantern glow. Anna secured a buckle on a provisions crate near the airship''s main hatch. The click sounded sharp.


    Milo stood beside a canvas duffel bag near the ramp''s base. His fingers pulled the drawstring tight. He picked up the tattered book from the bag''s top, paused, then slid it into a side pocket of his jacket.


    Anna walked over, stopping beside the duffel. Boots made soft sounds on the wood. She pulled a small pouch from her belt – a faint metallic clink sounded – held it out towards Milo. "Share. Survey contract," she stated. "Summer''s work."


    Milo looked at the pouch, then up at Anna''s face, shadowed in the lantern light. He reached out, took the pouch. Its weight registered in his palm. "Thanks, Anna." Voice low. He tucked the pouch into another jacket pocket.


    "Trade ship leaves platform Gamma," Anna said, gesturing vaguely towards the outpost structure. "Day after tomorrow. Dawn. Passage confirmed?"


    He nodded. "Earlier. Outpost master''s post. Paid partial." His gaze moved past Anna, towards Cloudchaser''s dark shape. "Two-day flight to Iris junction, then switch... home..." The words trailed off.


    Anna followed his gaze. Cloudchaser''s frame stood solid. A mooring line creaked in the wind. "Engine check sequences," she said, turning back to him. "Remember them. Valves, pressure, flow."


    "Remember," Milo replied. Shifted weight. Boots scraped wood. Pulled the pencil from behind his ear, looked at its tip, tucked it back into his jacket. "Practice sketches, too. Rotors... couplings..."


    "Good," Anna said. Crossed arms. Pulled jacket tighter. Wind pushed cold against her. Silence stretched. Wind sighed. Distant waves crashed. "Got everything?"


    Milo patted the duffel bag with his foot. "Think so. Clothes... tools... data slate fragments." Looked up at her. "You?"


    Anna touched the inner jacket pocket. The alloy''s shape pressed solid against her ribs. "Got what I came for." Gaze moved across the platform, back to him. "Alright. Rest. Early start for you."


    He nodded. Lifted the duffel strap, slung the bag over his shoulder. Canvas settled heavy against his back. Stood before her, shifted weight.


    Light bled from the western sky. Dim glow from outpost lanterns lit the platform. High above, the supernova haze shimmered faint. Cold wind pushed across the planks. Cloudchaser stood dark. Mooring lines groaned against gusts.


    Anna stood near the ramp. Milo faced her, duffel bag on shoulder. The polished gear pinned near his collar gleamed dull.


    "Thanks, Anna," Milo said. Voice quiet against the wind. "For... flights. Teaching..." Hand gestured vaguely towards the airship, dropped.


    Anna watched him. Uncrossed arms. Hand rested on the ramp''s cold metal railing. "Earned keep, Milo," she replied, voice even. "Pulled weight. Kept head."


    He shuffled feet. Looked down at planks, met her gaze. "Send word? Atheria? Know you''re okay?"


    "Will do," Anna said. Pause. "You too. When home."


    He nodded fast. "Yeah. Will." Another silence. Shifted duffel strap. "Guess... head to common house. Find bunk."


    Anna nodded once. Stepped forward from the ramp. Stood before him. Held out her hand – uninjured one, scraped fingers steady.


    Milo looked at her hand. Shifted duffel. Freed his right hand. Took hers. Her grip felt firm, calloused skin rough against his. His hand cooler, smaller within hers. Shook once. Solid. Brief.


    "Keep looking, kid," Anna said, withdrawing her hand. Her lips curved slightly. "Find that map someday."


    A curve touched his lips briefly. "Maybe." Head ducked. Turned. Walked away across the platform. Towards flickering outpost lights. Boots crunched on wood, sound receding. Didn''t look back.


    Anna watched his silhouette merge with shadows between buildings. Stood alone. Wind whipped hair strands across face, cold. Pulled jacket collar higher. Gaze lifted past Cloudchaser''s hull, towards the sky. Haze pulsed high. Drew breath. Cold air, sharp. Turned. Climbed the ramp. Boots on grooved metal. Into Cloudchaser''s dark hold. Ramp groaned behind her. Hatch hissed, secured partially from inside. A sliver of night showed.


    Faint grey light touched the cockpit viewport. Outside, the Riverbend platform planks showed dark, damp. Wind sighed low around Cloudchaser''s hull. Cold air filled the cockpit; the scent of oil hung still.


    Anna sat in the pilot''s seat. She shifted. Worn leather creaked. Her fingers moved across the console panel. Switches clicked. Amber indicator lights came on, casting a glow on her face. Gauge needles swept, settled. Her movements were precise. A stiffness showed in her shoulder; her breath hitched faint when she reached. The co-pilot seat beside her stood empty, harness straps loose.


    Her hand paused above the main turbine ignition switch. Her gaze tracked towards the empty seat, then out the viewport to the path leading into the dark outpost. The path was empty. Her hand lowered. Fingers flipped the switch.


    A low whine started within the airship frame. Built to a resonant hum. Deck plates vibrated beneath her boots. Cloudchaser shifted. Pressure gauges moved. Engine temperature readouts climbed into green arcs.


    She tapped the external release button for mooring lines. Muffled clunks sounded from outside. Heavy magnetic clamps retracted. The airship moved slight on its landing gear.


    Her hand moved to the throttle lever. Fingers closed around the worn grip. She eased the lever forward. The engine sound deepened, became a roar. Cloudchaser shuddered. Lifted from the platform planks.


    Below, Riverbend showed dark shapes. A single lantern glowed near a distant doorway. The platform shrank. Anna banked the ship west, towards her home. The airship moved, responding to the yoke''s pressure.


    The hull climbed through low clouds. Gray mist swirled past the viewport, then parted. Above, the sky opened—bruised purple near the horizon, fading upward. First pale streaks of pink, orange showed far east. The supernova haze shimmered high, faint copper lines against the dark.


    Altitude held steady. The engines settled into a constant hum. The empty seat beside her filled her peripheral vision. Her gaze stayed forward, on the open sky, the dim line of the horizon. The wooden bird''s shape pressed faint against her bandaged side, felt through the jacket pocket. Riverbend fell away behind.