Pāhonoa te oro

The sky stretches infinite around you—a dome of deepening blue shot through with ribbons of amber and rose as the sun begins its long descent toward the horizon. Below, nothing but clouds. Above, nothing but more sky. But ahead... ahead floats a mountain. Stonejaw. They named it for the shape—a m…

The sky stretches infinite around you—a dome of deepening blue shot through with ribbons of amber and rose as the sun begins its long descent toward the horizon. Below, nothing but clouds. Above, nothing but more sky. But ahead... ahead floats a mountain. Stonejaw. They named it for the shape—a massive granite plateau curved like a clenched fist, like a jaw frozen mid-bite. Buildings cluster along its ridges like barnacles on a whale's belly. Fortress walls trace its edges, ancient stone fused