"Caitra?"

A quiet voice seemed to ring out in the Draketooth archives. The simultaneous tap on Caitra Sayl's shoulder startled her more than the use of her name. She jumped in her seat and looked up to find one of the elder archivists standing at her desk. She hurriedly got to her feet and sketched a quick bow in his direction.

"Archivist Ohmali. I'm sorry, you startled me. What can I do for you?"

"I think it is more what I can do for you, young one. You've been searching the archives for information on the drought for so long now. I happened to overhear a little something you may be interested in."

"I would be happy to learn of anything you may have found." Perhaps the archivists had turned something up in their own records, or a detail Caitra had missed.

"Anara Keltor is assembling a team to travel outside of Caerel." Caitra raised her eyebrows at this. "I know, it's an unusual approach. Dragonriders haven't left Caerel in a very long time. But perhaps unusual is what we need right now."

Caitra cut to the chase. "Where is she now, sir? I would request that I join her."

The archivist just smiled. "I thought you might. I only heard part of the conversation as I passed by, but there was a mention of 'the northernmost tip of Ambrell Ridge.' If you wish to meet Anara, you had best start there."

"Thank you, sir. Neva and I will go as soon as I am ready and able."

[hr]
Ambrell Ridge... there was a region Caitra and Neva had only visited once in their three years of travel. Thankfully, the latter had gone hunting not an hour earlier, so she was content to fly. Caitra had packed only a couple of bags: one on her back for personal items, and two attached to Neva's harness, devoted primarily to water and non-perishable food.

Taking her staff in both hands, Caitra vaulted up to stand on Neva's back with practiced ease. And no sooner had she found her footing than Neva took off, flying northeast to the location Archivist Ohmali had described. Caitra hadn't found Sergeant Keltor in the short time she had given herself to prepare, so she was already planning out what she would say as her request to join the team she had put together.

"Travelling outside of Caerel... and with a purpose. That's what we needed. A goal to work towards." The commentary was aimed less at Neva and more at herself. The archives hadn't turned anything up, but Ohmali's suggestion may have given Caitra the starting point she needed. So she leaned forward in her pose a little, staff tucked behind the small of her back, and lightly prodded Neva to pick up the pace. The frostbite sped forward in the sky, carrying them both into the unknown.