“It smells like...” Ingrid stops and breathes in the misty air, closes her eyes, and takes in all that mingles with it: the sound of the river below, the leaves chattering in the trees, the vocalists amid the high-altitude flock of birds. She opens her eyes, feels the cool breeze prickling her skin, and suddenly she’s seeing it all as she had once seen it. “… Home.” She whispers.

A breeze pushes against her back, runs through her hair, and pulls her along, one step forward—a step closer to the bridge, a step back in time. But she turns back instead and calls out, “Doesn’t it smell like home, Korinna?” But her memory suddenly slaps her mid-sentence, and by the time she finishes asking the question, she’s wincing. Embarrassed.

Ingrid straightens as she faces Korinna and restates her question. This time, she's concentrating on using her hands, as she has been training to do. “Korinna, does it still smell like home?”

Korinna smiles, and looks past Ingrid. She too closes her eyes and breathes in the morning air. “It smells a bit like sweat and long days on the road. I think the wind has changed direction.” Korinna signs, smiling as she puts emphasis on the wind's direction.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ingrid signs back, turning back to face the everlasting greenery. “I'll be sure to bathe once I'm back in my old room.” The clouds shift, and suddenly there it is, in all its glory. Snug amid two steep mountainous rock formations, a stone castle, clinging like an epiphyte to the cliffside.

“The bridge really needs tending too.” Korinna moves to stand beside Ingrid. “It looks as if they haven’t touched it in years.” Korinna signs. Emphasizing caution, as she scans the area for anything out of place.

It amazes Ingrid how quickly Korinna reverts to her training and rank. As if she were once again leading a group near enemy lines. Well, imagined lines; they say peace has been a constant here in Javari for over a hundred years. Their entire military career consisted mostly of parade displays, monitoring important places, and training. Consistent and constant training. So much so, you would think Javari was on the precipice of war.

Even so, this was why she was so happy to be home. She’d put in her name and served, as everyone must. Now, finally, she was at the end of her term and could actually return home! Korinna, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about being here. Where Ingrid had done her duty for the sake of duty, Korinna embraced the lifestyle almost immediately; it was duty, but it was also something more; it was somehow part of her.

Ingrid looked over the bridge; it had not aged well, and she questioned its remaining strength. Though she could not match the concern Korinna was projecting.

“Let’s go!” Ingrid gestured and stepped onto the bridge. But a second later, Korinna caught her by the shoulder and pulled her back.

“Something isn’t right, Ingrid.” Korinna signed, signalling for her to look out past the bridge towards the tunnel that leads to a series of stairs. “Where are the guards? We should find somewhere safe to watch for a few hours. I’m having one of those feelings again." Ingrid saw that Korinna rubbed at a spot in her chest.

There haven’t been many times when her senses have been wrong. But surely, Ingrid thought, this had more to do with Korinna’s fear of facing what she left behind than anything else.

“I’m going.” Ingrid insisted. “My family is here; everything is here.” She said, smiling up at her home, missing the look that crossed Korinna's face, a look she would never see again. “Please stay here; keep an eye out if you must.” Ingrid genuinely meant it, though she knew Korinna would follow her anywhere.

A palpable myriad of emotions swirled between them, and together they crossed the threshold into what lies waiting ahead