𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐱. 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 — yours, sunshine

━━━━━━━

 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐖 colder when Aleksa and Alina had found their way back to the group; the sun was higher in the sky, rays of blinding light bouncing from each frost-coated blade of grass that crunched beneath their shoes.

 It would be a two-day walk to Os Kervo where the unlikely group of allies would find the first boat to Ketterdam. Alina and Mal would have to find sanctuary, a place in which they could rest, recover and decide how they'd continue on.

 The Sun Summoner wouldn't back down, her plans to destroy the Fold were still fresh in her mind; she wouldn't give up and the conversation she'd had with Aleksa only ignited her passion more. Alina knew somehow that she could trust the young Shadow Summoner; she could see the conviction within her wonderful eyes; her own desire to break the wall of shadows that her own blood had conjured.

 Aleksa had easily fallen back into step with her crows as the long walk began; Mal and Alina were up front talking quietly amongst themselves, heads turning every now and then to respond to either Jesper or Inej.

 Speaking of the Sharpshooter and Wraith; the duo walked side by side, though Inej did have to hurry her legs as a restless Jesper hopped along the ground. His hands wove through the air as he spoke animatedly. He had laughed loudly at something Mal had said, and both Inej and Alina had bumped their elbows into the boy's sides.

 Aleksa smiled at the sight, and by her side, Kaz Brekker couldn't tear his eyes away from that delightful upturn of her lips; it had been a rare sight for the past few days. He hated that he'd missed it.

 He wanted to follow in Inej's footsteps, even Alina's or perhaps even try Zoya's route of witty comments until Aleksa finally broke.

 "Go ahead," Aleksa murmured, her voice flowing through the bitter air as a puff of stark and cloudy white. It twirled above her, drifting closer to the sun as she cocked her head, her eyes meeting his. She had felt his stare, his desire to fill the silence between them, "There's something on your mind."

 He should have asked her if she was alright, even if it was a stupid question he already knew the answer to; because that's what people did, wasn't it? But Kaz could never quite tear his walls down enough, he didn't want to seem as though he cared, because then he'd have to admit that he did... to himself, no less.

 "Did you consider it?" He said instead, his voice sounding like stone scraping against stone; gravel beneath a boot.

 It was harsh and cold, yet his eyes somehow deceived his tone. He wasn't asking to mock her, nor to berate her. He wanted to know if she'd ever really considered following in the Black Heretic's footsteps; if she'd truly considered leaving them... Him.