Goodbye Grimnest

I’d never left Grimnest before. Not truly.
 
The closest I’d been to leaving was my time at the Druse Academy. That didn’t really count, not when it was just going from A to B. It only counted if you go from A to Z and all the letters in between. Now? Now I’m going to see all those Letters. Heck! I’m going to go beyond the letters and see all the numbers and symbols the world can offer.
 
My family was worried. It was obvious in my mother’s sad smiles and father’s ample advice. Yet they also didn’t doing anything to stop me. Instead they set us up with as much possible, everything that could help increase our chances in the unforgiving Cascade. I was loaned my brother’s hover bike to get us there and set off once I’d given my final respects at my relatives’ graves.
 
I got to drive, which means we were making fantastic time. Emphasis on were.
 
We stopped for a break only a short distance to Uncle’s. I wanted to keep going since it was so close, but Zareen demanded a chance to be on solid ground. Don’t know why anyone would want that when they could be feeling the wind through their hair. Especially when not driving gives you ample opportunity to embarrass yourself.
 
While examining my goggles for dirt, my fingers slipped on the slick frames. They slipped and smacked me in the face with the force of a raksha punch… well, sorta. It hurt is the point.
 
My pride was hurt next when Zareen started to laugh. I’m going to have to floor it to get my revenge.