[center][h2]Plains of Ire[/h2]
[sub]Around the Z-ATV[/sub][/center]

Jäger descended the ladder. His armored greaves hung carelessly, having difficulty grasping the rungs. The lightning mage skipped two, three at a time half for speed and half by accident. It was difficult to focus when his armor hit the sand. Jäger took to sprinting in images of black on the desert. He saw bright stars float by in his visions, but he kept running. Finally, he was able to catch up to Zay but not without immediate incident. The quicksilver mage grasped an arm just as he had caught up to him. The action was so swift, Jäger had no time to react as he was dragged away from his path and into a shield of liquid steel. Jäger took this opportunity to collapse into the dune on bended knee. He punched the sand lightly, armored plate heaving with his expanding lungs. It rained below him, droplets escaping bangs of hair. All was dark in the throes of metal and flesh.

The shield lifted to reveal little. The ATV was gone, not crushed. It appeared Haley was the only immediate survival. Jäger's sunken eyes froze, pale sand, pale iris, pale skin. His shaking hand dragged across his breastplate, starting at the base of the neck. It travelled to his shoulder, then to the hip, to the other side, the other shoulder now, and back to the neck. Finally, the skidding finger made its way to the center of his being before muttering something low.

[color=6ecff6]"I am made humble before the will of Kho. My strength is preserved by grace. Thus, my journey continues."[/color]

His neck swiveled. Jäger's face was caked in sand, made adhesive by the gratuitous sweat that covered it. The lightning mage's heart finally began to slow down. He wiped away the grains with his free hand, gauntlet swiping the dirt from his face. Blinking, his pale, blue eyes met Zay's.

[color=6ecff6]"I owe you my life, or your own to defend."[/color]

His gauntlet pushed against wet sand. The momentary rest had given him strength to stand and pose with firm posture. His eyes now transfixed upon Haley as he walked, leaving Zay to his own words. He strode to Haley's position and brought a closed fist against his armored chest. His fingers shook, but his salute remained steady.

[color=6ecff6]"What are your orders?"[/color]