[center][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Icmastic/MK6TEqW_zps6kzzuhhv.jpg[/IMG][/center][center][sup][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsEE4LS7btQ]|  The First Steps, Faltered  |[/url][/sup][/center]
[sub][color=steelblue]I S L E   O F   I V A L I C E[/color] / / [color=steelblue]M A N Y   Y E A R S   P R I O R[/color][/sub][hr][color=darkgray]As he peered into the collage of aqua and ebony hues littered with endless sparkles, Corbyn fixated on the brightest of all the lights. The beginning of the month had always been his favorite for this reason and though it seemed simple or even insignificant to others, there was a certain allure radiated from the full, new moon that nothing else seemed to match. Streaks of lunar light cut through the canopy bed of treetops and created a soft glow that illuminated just enough of the surrounding nature to dissuade the young soldier's usual paranoia and relax his erratic thoughts. Umber oculi steadily moved from the picturesque scene of the moon in the night sky to the figure standing before them, a small distance away. As relaxing as the ritual was, this particular night held a special reason for the boy to resist tension and find calm. He chuckled as recently loosened digits brushed across a thin carpet of freshly cut hair. "I don't know what the hell you're trying to prove... But, as I told you, I won't be holding back," Corbyn said, an elevated voice carrying his words across the solemn night to the smiling visage of his associate. 

"And, as I told you," a feminine voice cooed back, "There's something I need to be certain of. Isn't this what men like you live for?" 

Corbyn chuckled again, this time purposely increasing volume. "Men like me?" 

The female shifted in place, seemingly adjusting her loose clothing; gray sweatpants and a bright, sleeveless undershirt were needlessly swiped and pawed at as the woman sucked her teeth. "You obviously joined the Order under some kind of false pretense. I bet you thought it would be an easy way to make a name for yourself by fighting and killing [i]the enenmy[/i]. You've been shaking and borderline silent all day... Ever since you found out that it would be the previous military we'd be fighting against. That it'd be [i]our people[/i] we'd be slaughtering." 

Corbyn turned briefly and spit into the grass, pocketing his hands for the moment. He had also come in loose clothing though the pockets still seemed just a bit too tight. "No offense... But you don't know shit about me. If this is some lame attempt to provoke anger before we begin, you're failing pretty hard." 

"Am I?" 

"Obviously." 

"That's funny, because I didn't hear a denial."

"You some kind of sadist?" 

"What kind of random question is that?" 

"It's a valid question considering you're taking the potential slaughter of our people as some kind of joke. Or even worse, some kind of arrogant high-ground." 

"Now we're getting somewhere. This is why I need to be certain." 

"Certain of what, exatly?" 

"Just... Something. How about this? If you beat me, I'll tell you what it is." 

"This is ridiculous, but whatever. I only agreed to this because you've been bugging me about sparring for weeks now. You do realize, I don't even know your name yet, right?" 

"It's Varrina. My name is Varrina."

"That's not a local name, but I'm not gonna remember it anyway. You always wear that same damn ponytail so it's easy to pick you out from the rest." 

Varrina's smile grew, her blue eyes shimmering under a thin ray of moonlight. Removing hands from pockets, Corbyn slowly turned to the side. There was no way he could know that everything would trace back to this exact moment - the moment his life truly began.[/color]

[sub][color=steelblue]S O L D I E R   E N C A M P M E N T[/color] / / [color=steelblue]Z A L E R A    T U N D R A[/color][/sub][hr][color=darkgray]Though he had been the first to impart formal introductions to the group, Corbyn had become lost in the dance the steam from his coffee mug performed as it ascended towards the heavens - in this case, the olive covering of the tent. James, now forever branded as the SOLDIER who literally vomits sunshine and rainbows, was the first voice to drag the commander back to the present reality. He identified himself as Third Class which immediately got an eyebrow raise. Corbyn had known the team would be somewhat diverse in rank and ability, but he never thought top brass would go this far. His mind questioned their motives as the boy grew quieter and quieter until he seemingly trailed off.[/color]

[color=slategray]"I feel the same way,"[/color] [color=darkgray]Asteria suddenly echoed within her mental confines.[/color]

[color=darkgray]"The same way? What are you saying?[/color]

[color=slategray]" [i]'What kind of joke is this?!'[/i] is what you just pretty loudly thought, correct?"[/color] 

[color=darkgray]Corbyn was silent.[/color]

[color=slategray]"I was simply agreeing with you. And I can see the conclusions you're beginning to draw. How important is this mission, indeed."[/color] 

[color=darkgray]The commander ever so slightly shook his head just as James decided to become weird once more. The display he conjured received no visible reaction from Corbyn. At this point, it was common knowledge that if you were chosen for this particular unit, there was a good chance you were bonded to one of the mysterious Aeons. Seeing one manifest was admittedly a little rare, but not completely unexpected. The unexpected would rear its evasive little head as the next voice claimed attention. 

Auset came across as strange to just about anyone and everyone. Even amongst the commanders, most kept their distance whether they knew of her or not. Her idiosyncrasies usually proved too numerous and too peculiar for most to even want to begin some form of association. Corbyn's relationship with the younger woman was just a tiny bit complicated. He could not claim to really know her--just who the hell really could--but he been brave enough to associate with her a sparse few times. In those moments, the feelings traded between the two seemed to contradict. While she was mostly an enigma who seemed to behave in strange ways for the simple fuck of it all, there also seemed to be something [i]more[/i] to her as well. It was impossible to place a finger on it, but even Asteria had gained strange feelings the few times proximity grew closer. At this particular moment however, Auset brought up a good point. 

"It's a foregone conclusion something is being hidden. My question is why the hell would you hide it in a place like that?" Corbyn said, a rhetorical tone lacing his words. Before he could consider the subject more, more voices broke his concentration. 

While London did not offer much in the way of an introduction, the way she sharpened and pointed her words struck a chord with Corbyn. Before the commander could attempt to respond though, his eyes grew wide with fear as the man calling himself Nic stood and did the unthinkable - an outstretched hand slowly sauntered its way towards Auset. Just what the hell was this guy thinking? As much as he wanted to save his new team member, it was also true that this kind of thing happened to Auset so rarely that it would almost be a travesty to miss her reaction. Instead, Corbyn found his own body reacting on muscle memory, standing and meeting Sammel's hand in the middle of the table for a firm shake. Involuntary emotion pulled the corner of Corbyn's lip up in small grin as he faced the coffee handler. 

"I don't think I said it before, but I'm another one of the commanders assigned to this squad," Corbyn reclaimed his seat as he continued to speak, "Can't really say what I specialize in, as embarrassing as that sounds. My abilities allow me to be pretty... Versatile, let's say. Glad to have you on board though. Seriously, good coffee like this is hard to come by even back at the Fort." 

Even as Corbyn spoke, half of his attention awaited the outcome of Nic's risky offer of greeting formality.[/color]