The world narrows before it expands -- or so the saying goes. Taht one begins to realize how small and insular their world is before they finally reach out to the horizon to find something more.  Xochitl's time with the Landsguard was her time of Narrowing.  Her focus was on Tural, on protecting her people from domestic threats, and on safeguarding the lives of the men and women she'd been entrusted to lead. She became laser-focused on her training, gaining all the martial skill she possibly could from Sergeant Major Pāinalli. She learned what she could about field medicine and tending wounds on the battlefield from Lieutenant Nezhui. She'd striven to absorb everything their instructors had to teach them in every class they'd been required to take from history and governance to mathematics, even sociology, along with myriad other subjects the Dawnservant had deemed necessary for such servants of the public.

By the time their first year came to an end and the recruits were prepared to graduate into their proper squadrons, to become Landsguard for real and true, Xochitl was a well-honed front line fighter with a longsword and a shield.  She'd garnered the respect and allegiance of her squadmates as well as plenty of others that were in their graduating class of recruits. Staff Sergeant Tenoch had seen to it that she did get placed on the Officers' Track, so that as she gained in experience, she'd also gain in rank as well as receiving the more difficult training of those destined for leadership. 

She and her squadron stood together, resplendent in their brand-new colorful Landsguard uniforms, in the myriad ranks of cadets that stood in assembly before a raised dais. On that dais stood the Dawnservant.  The two-headed mamool ja was a large, lizard-like man that wielded two swords in the fashion of the Vipers of their homeland. It was said that the man lived for the thrill of battle and there was little in the world that could defeat him. Yet, in spite all of that, he'd won over Tural through level-headedness and leadership. He spent time traveling the provinces of Tural, learning of its people, their culture, how they were different, but also how they were the same. He taught all of them how to appreciate the differences in their cultures, as well as to find ways to bond them together through them. He ended wars, sued for peace, and eventually won over the entirety of the nation that adored him.  It had won them almost seventy years of peace thusfar, but it was a peace that was carefully safeguarded by his Landsguard.  The weight of that duty fell upon all those assembled as they looked upon the savage might of their ruler.

"Another day dawns in Tural," The Dawnservant said, lifting his two heads high. "And the sun shines upon all of you as the light of our future. I know you have trained hard for this day and that you have earned the right to be here."  He surveyed the crowd of cadets, putting his hands on his hips as he regarded them. "And yet, I will ask more of you in this moment. Soon, you will be sent out across the face of Tural to face things much larger, much stronger, much more dangerous than anything you have yet faced here.  For while Tural and Turali may be at peace, there are still those who would look to break that peace.  There are still beasts and the Tural Vidraal who would seek to harm and destroy those people and settlements within our protection. I will ask more of you, because I must. Because this peace, our way of life, is worth defending.  If you do not feel likewise, if you have any doubt in your heart that you can fulfill this duty, then any one of you may leave this assembly and return to whatever life you had before your time here.  There will be no repercussions, no punishment.  I would not have you serve if you do not fully believe in what we do here.  Do you believe, cadets?"

To a man, the assembled cadets stood to attention, slamming their fists against their armored chests in unison.  The rumble could be heard for yalms outside the assembly.  At this, the Dawnservant smiled and gave them an approving nod. "Very well then.  You have your orders by now, cadets."  He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, cadets no longer.  You are now, well and truly, my Landsguard.  Go now, be my eyes, my ears, and my strength in all the places I cannot reach. Strength of the Vidraal go with you."  With that, the great man bowed and departed from the dais -- all to the resounding cheers of the graduating Landsguard.

Xochitl and her teammates cheered right along with everyone else before Atlan threw his arm over her shoulder, his other arm draped over Pixie's, Iczo stood outside the halo rolling his eyes. "So, drinks are on Iczo, right?" The affable tonawawta said, giving his characteristic toothy grin at the lot of them. 

"Not on your life." The black-haired cat-man said, squinting his eyes at his comrade. "You drink enough to satiate half of Tuliyollal and eat enough to feed half of all Tural. I'm not footing that bill."  The four of them laughed together as Atlan feigned being absolutely crestfallen.

"Xochitl."  Staff Sergeant Tenoch weaved his way through the crowd toward them, many of the new graduates clearing out of the way in sheer respect of the man who'd had a hand in their training. "Sorry to interrupt the festivities, I know you lot are probably eager to get out and celebrate, but as your first assignments are out in Kozama'uka, I want to apprise you on the bandit situation that's been brewing out that way.  I want you in my office within the hour."

The white-furred tigress saluted her commanding officer, giving a nod. "I'll be there in short order, Staff Sergeant."  Tenoch returned the salute before turning and departing to speak to another newly-minted Landsguard.

"Aw, man...!" Atlan groaned as soon as the Staff Sergeant was well out of earshot. "We can't go carousing and celebrating without you, Xoch!" 

"I agree," said Pixie, who slowly pried Atlan's arm off her shoulder. "Celebrating without you wouldn't be right. You're the reason the lot of us stuck together."

Everyone looked at Iczo expectantly, the man's teal eyes widened at the attention. "What?  Like grousing about it is going to change anything.  Orders are orders.  That's the price of leadership, which I presume Xochitl knew when she agreed to the Officers' Track."  He gave a small shrug.  "Doesn't mean we can't celebrate with her afterward.  Or that she can't join us later.  It just depends on if you want to be mostly drunk or not by the time she gets there." He jested, quirking a small grin as his tail waved back and forth.  Of course he wanted Xochitl there, she was their leader, after all, but facts were facts.

Pixie's ears lofted as an idea came to her. "Why don't we go get cleaned up and doff our armor, then go check on all the children?"  There was no need to as 'which children', all of them knew exactly who she was talking about, Alvaro and all the orphans they'd rescued from the Baron. Atlan and Iczo both smiled and nodded. "That's a great idea!" They said, almost in unison, both of them looking at each other before laughing all the more.

Xochitl smiled at all of them, also extricating herself from beneath Atlan's heavy arm. "It's settled then. I'll go see what Tenoch has to say, then I'll meet you guys down at Aunt Tii's Tacos in our usual spot, all right?" 

With that, Xochitl turned to make her way through the crowd, pausing only once to look back at the trio of friends she'd made, now her squadron for good and for true.  She'd been entrusted with their lives. Her eyes went to the dais where the Dawnservant had departed.  The sun shines upon all of you as the light of our future.  Not just the future of Tural and its people, the future of these, her most trusted companions.  No matter what was in store for them beyond the borders of Tuliyollal, she'd protect them above all else.  As she stood there in that moment of pause, her eyes met each of theirs in turn and together they all nodded.  They believed in her and she believed in them. That would be the cornerstone of all that would come next.