North
They stopped by a dwindling stream to get their bearings. Ahead of them was the way out of the canyon. The boy waited around for his companion to lead the way. He looked back to see the opening they came out of but saw only the uniform, stalwart rock. Disturbed, he went to inspect it. It was smoothed over and bald without any evidence of a breach, let alone a home to a sentient artifact within. Cale got up and started upon the exit, not giving a glance or a word of notification. The boy ran his fingers along the grooves in the stone and said nothing as he left it inexplicable and followed Cale uphill. Rocks encumbered the harsh path they drudged. At times it inclined nearly vertically with stone shelves like discordant steps leading out from the canyon walls. Cale made the climb with grace but the boy struggled behind him. He never turned to help even as the child fell to reclaim his breath and dampen the pain in his legs, keeping on until eventually disappearing onto the ch...