The valley entrance looked exactly as ominous as Grace remembered before her excruciating training sessions. It had only been like a week but it felt like an eternity. Black rock walls rose up on both sides like the world's most depressing welcome sign. Heat waves danced off everything, making the air thick enough to chew.
[Why does every important moment in my life involve walking toward certain death?]
Grace checked her armor straps for the fifth time.
Then the sixth.
Then got started on the seventh before catching herself.
"You sure about this?" Seraph asked.
They stood at the threshold. Grace felt like she was stepping into a sauna. Seraph looked ready to charge in at the first sign of trouble. Valkyrie had her arms crossed and her usual 'everyone's an idiot' expression. Alia and Zephyr were holding hands, trying to look brave.
