Kaelen looks up. “She’s scared. Not mean.”
Kaelen arrives at the Insex compound with nothing but a worn jacket and a datapad showing his sister’s face. He’s assigned a strider—a scarred, grey-blue creature named Vespa —who has thrown every rider for two seasons. Soran is tasked with “breaking” Kaelen’s spirit to save him the trouble. Insex - Remastered - Cowgirl - Marathon 1- 4
One evening, Soran watches Kaelen braid sage into Vespa’s mane. He walks up and wraps his arms around Kaelen from behind. Kaelen looks up
That’s the first time Soran laughs in a year. It’s ugly, rusty—but real. He walks up and wraps his arms around Kaelen from behind
Soran turns his head. Their noses touch. “I did win.”
Instead, Soran lifts Kaelen onto Vespa’s saddle, ties Kaelen’s hands to the reins, and runs beside them, guiding Vespa by voice alone. For twelve miles, he matches the strider’s pace, bleeding from cracked lips, whispering, “Easy girl… easy, my heart… we’re almost home.”