A bit short, as it is a new opening from what was in the first draft.

Chapter 1

Emerald eagerly slung her foraging pack over her shoulders. It had been far too long since she’d last ventured from Windspire, and she couldn’t help but be excited to get out into the world.

She double checked her supplies. The grapple was clipped to the outside of the leather satchel, and bandages in a special pocket on the inside. Those were especially important. Without them she could be forced to leave her crystalline blood exposed for any to see. That was, if she got cut at any point.

Lastly, she grabbed her glittering pendant, and clipped it around her neck.

And a good morning to you, thief. A voice said, its source not yet visible. As Emerald neared the door, she saw Aia manifest in the form of a shimmering green parrot, resting her insubstantial talons upon Emerald’s shoulder.

“Nice to hear you’re in a good mood, Aia.” Emerald noted with a smile, earning an annoyed flare of Aia’s tail, but the spirit said nothing.

Emerald chuckled, then opened the door out onto the balcony entrance to her home. A ladder hung to help with descent, but Emerald instead focused on a crystal that hung above her doorframe.

She unclipped her grapple, then dropped from the entry platform, using the crystal as a binding point to form a weak bond and slow her fall. The tether, though invisible, pulled the grapple toward the crystal like a magnet.

Thanks to the binding, she landed softly on Windspire’s cobbled roads, then started for the edge of the island.

Because of the limited space that they had to build on the island, Windspire architects had instead chosen to build upward, creating elaborate and delicate bridges across structures and stores. From Emerald’s current height, these tall, looming buildings almost seemed threatening. As if they were trying to make Emerald feel small and meaningless.

Fortunately, she could handle it when she noticed the people who walked alongside her. They were nowhere near as tall. Though Emerald, being only 19 years old, was shorter than most of them still.

Aia fluttered along the path as Emerald approached the edge of Windspire, the bird spirit trailed a stream of deep green light, like paint upon the fabric of an unseen canvas, visible only to Emerald.

These fading trails led Emerald to the edge of Windspire, outside the city walls. She approached the edge of the island, and looked down at infinity. Or, what she could only assume was infinity, as her gaze was obstructed by the rolling clouds, always present beneath each floating island in the Shattered Skies.

Emerald stepped back, then located a somewhat distant island with a crystal spire she could grapple with.

Grinning, Emerald ran forward and jumped.

* * *

“Today?” Sky exclaimed. “The Windstorm is coming today?!”

He exchanged a nervous look with his brother. Porter shied away from his gaze, though. He’d heard of the wild storms coming unexpectedly, but only having a few hours to prepare? It was almost unheard of!

“You’re sure about this?” Sky demanded through a spike of anxiety.

The Windcaller nodded firmly, then marched away to inform others.

“Is Emerald still here?”

In the corners of his eyes, Sky noted Porter shaking his head. “I saw her leave this morning. I think she’d notice a Windstorm before it got too dangerous though.”

Sky nodded. His brother had always managed to keep a clear head. Usually his calmness would rub off on Sky for the duration of the situation. He let that start to happen now.

After all, Porter was right. Sky’s cousin was one of the most observant people he knew. She would be back home safely, no doubt.

Well, some doubt.

He sighed, stepping into the workshop that he called home, alongside Porter and Emerald. He knelt at a low desk, which was clustered with diagrams of various crystal devices.

Ven appeared into view, curiously eyeing the diagrams. Sky selected one that Porter had made of Emerald’s grapple. Sky had annotated various mechanisms that allowed the thing to function, but despite all efforts, he couldn’t find a way to improve the design yet.

His bird looked closer at the diagram. You’re still working on this? Ven asked inquisitively.

“I’m sure I can find something to help Emerald with. At the very least, I could help other foragers a bit.” He frowned, picking up a pen and scribbling a few more notes on the function of the grapple.

The grapples have worked fine for several foragers, Ven noted skeptically. Sky ignored him, focusing on the parchment. He could understand how they worked, each crystal’s role in the intricate design.

How did he stop them from wearing out?

The main danger was water, he’d decided. Water had always been known to weaken Galeshard Crystals, and it was common enough that it caused the need for several replacement and repairs of the grappling tools.

The outside, he’d noted, was covered with a thin layer of protective coating that reduced the damage, but this too would wear out, and one would have to reapply the coat often.

Unless he could find some way to make the coat apply itself? It wouldn’t be perfect, but it could help, assuming he redesigned the base grapple in addition.

The project seems overwhelmingly ambitious, Sky. Ven warned.

Sky groaned softly. “I know, but it gives me something to keep my mind on if nothing else.” He looked out the window toward the islands that slowly shifted in the wind. “I just wish Emerald would hurry home.”

Worlds below! Where was she?

Subject to revision.