Titan and Morgan led their own contingent of soldiers onward, heading along the route that Sol had marked for them. Morgan's loyal Paladin hurried along at their side, almost as if in supplication, even though it had been days since they had last argued; it made Morgan wonder if he had done some other ill deed she had yet to discover.
But for now, she concentrated on the road ahead. Their passage was not an easy one through the marred and scarred gorge that their journey took them through, but they were able to avoid the worst of the weather above. And while it was difficult terrain to navigate, it proved an excellent place for camp, with abundant detritus for them to burn for fires.
Titan had slowed their march a little and was not pushing his soldiers as hard as Sol had: they seemed grateful for it, and Morgan was curious why the stallion had chosen to slow their pace so greatly. And Titan replied that nature had warned him not to exhaust their soldiers: they would need their help, as the foe was waiting for them.
Titan quieted, and Morgan frowned. She didn't know how the Tyrant Wyrms could continue to predict their movements. But Titan only smiled, and answered before she could even think of how to phrase the question, that the Wyrms were so easily predicting them because their attack on Equestria was not just a destroyer's rampage. They were calling out the strong, eager to lure out what victims they could... eager to separate them, just as they had done, so they could try to ambush and destroy them. Titan had realized that as foul as these enemies were... there was something fouler still guiding them.
Morgan didn't like that thought, and the paladin, too, was made uneasy by it. Morgan was curious if Veliuona might have either inkling of the foe they faced, or something to do with the enemy... but Titan only smiled, and reassured her that no, the Goddess of Cursed Shades had no complex game against them. What her goals were in the future, he was not sure: as to whether or not they would one day be enemies, he sadly predicted that yes, they would. But until that time came, he would treat her and her brethren as he would treat any other pony. And he would never forget the good that she had done in this mission, 'lest he prejudice himself against others who had done no crime against him, but were similar in nature to the Velites.
His sister laughed at this, and pointed out that few ponies would care for the feelings of the undead. Titan, however, only smiled, and said that he was few ponies, in that case.
When the night was over, and they made ready to leave, Titan started the day as he always did: greeting mother nature and his family with love, speaking to the soldiers he was leading with affection and kindness, and then boldly striding forwards to accomplish what had to be done.
It was a new day, and Titan would see that they made the very best of it, no matter how dark the future was. Because the future was nothing but shadows and echoes, but the present was what they lived in, could touch, and owed to themselves to make the most of.
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