Cyd was the last up the cliff, having formed the bottom anchor of the rope as the tenderpaws scrambled up the ice. Of all the mice, their climb was the easiest, full of natural grace and strength. The Guards, weighed with armor and distanced from untamed youth, only served to remind them of why they had joined the Guard in the first place: they had been chosen to fulfill a duty, and their own sense of duty would drive them to overcome.<br/><br/>The view from the gorge’s edge was an unmatched vista of the rolling hills of The Territories all the way to the Darkheather beyond the scent border. The sun had dipped behind the hills, and now was but a fraction of warmth and light below and orange sky that faded into a deep blue above their heads. Indeed George’s curiosity had paid dividends, for from here the remainder of the journey would be flat, dense with landmarks, and full of places to hide. Unfortunately, the climb had lasted the balance of the day. Noreen was still thirsty, Cyd still annoyed with her; the Patrol needed to make camp for the night and rest.<br/><br/>The sharp-eyed Noreen, eager for rest from her early start, spotted a hollow in the trunk of a large tree that would suit them well. With one final climb the five mice got out of the cold wind and into the protected warm hollow. Tuckered, George tossed the mailbag over his shoulders and collapsed into it like it was a comfy seed bag. Cyd and Lucien discussed the future of the passage from Dorigift to Gilpledge, and how there was no way the climb up the ice was viable for anyone but the most determined Patrol. Skitter reacquainted himself with Lucretzia, and the ever resourceful Noreen divvied up the last of the gabcroon among them.<br/><br/>It seemed the last little bit of Gilpledge was all but trivial when the hollow’s true owner came flying in through the opening, a purple-eyed raven. It eyed the mice warily, hoping around a little, decided what to do with the invaders of its nest, when suddenly it saw the mailbag George was sitting on. With a poking beak it snatched the sack and pulled it out from George with a comical tug, sending him sprawling.<br/><br/>Cyd and Lucien wielded their weapons and closed off the escape route through the hole while everyone else was still trying to take in what was going on. The raven dropped the bag from its beak, sending the contents everywhere. “Must have mailbag!” it chirped.