Welcome to the Bakery!

The prompt was “trust”.

                  Elithia’s feet dangled over the stomach-dropping chasm, drawing abstract shapes in the empty space. Neomuna was gorgeous with its neon lights and immense buildings. But it was lonely. And even though she had chosen this exile for herself, avoiding both the Tower and Spire with equal disdain, it did not keep the chilled hands of loneliness from clawing at her from time to time. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the company of other Guardians. She’d just never had it and instead of attempting to assimilate and risk rejection, she rejected them first. As the vast and empty city sprawled beneath her, she longed for a friend. Even one.

                  As if by force of will far below her was a figure dancing to and fro, engaging Shadow Legion. From this far up, Elithia couldn’t tell who it was but she could tell who it wasn’t. The one being she considered ‘friend’ was Nimbus and even from hundreds of feet up, she knew that that small form could, in no way, be the towering Cloudstrider. This meant that it had to be a Guardian.

                  She’d seen plenty on the war-torn streets of Neomuna. And as often as she’d seen them, she’d never engaged. But as she watched that small form go down and a Ghost hover over its dead owner’s body, something within her stirred. Elithia jumped into the vast space below, hurtling past windows of rooms long empty. A small voice in the back of her head asked “why care now” but the decision had been made.

                  Grappling to slow her ascent, Elithia landed a few feet behind the wall of Cabal and made eye contact with the petite Hunter. Her eyes were wild, but fierce as she fired round after round into the Cabal descending upon her. Elithia pulled her glaive off her back and satisfaction filled her as the startled yelps of her enemies echoed around her. She’d taken them by surprise as they’d been so focused on the singular Guardian in front of them and together the pair of Hunters dispatched the group quickly.

                  The other Hunter approached her, and it struck Elithia as odd that she wasn’t helmeted. Her hair was cut short and slicked back by the sweat of battle. Her awoken visage was flushed as she grinned and waved. Despite her deep desire to remain a misanthrope, Elithia couldn’t help but be charmed by this Hunter. So much so, she trusted the strange Guardian enough to remove her helmet as well.

                  “You really saved my tail just now. Wasn’t expecting that kind of welcome party. Not my favorite honestly.” She stuck her hand out for a handshake and added, “I’m Ariadne.” Elithia paused as if gearing up to speak but returned the handshake almost instantly. “It was no problem at all. And I’m Elithia.” Ariadne grinned up at Elithia, which was saying a lot as Elithia herself was short in stature. “So, did they send you on a mission here too?” Ariadne asked. Again, Elithia was unsure where this feeling of trust came from, but she responded, “Not quite. I live here.”