As night falls each of them settle down, their wounds patched and the previous altercation all but forgotten. Eventually the only three up are Vulture and Crimson. With Mon on watch somewhere among the trees.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?” Crimson says, getting Vulture’s attention. Getting a nod from her Crimson continues. “Why do you stay in this life? I won’t ask how you got into it, but you don’t have to keep hunting monsters do you? So why are you still doing it?”

Vulture thinks for a moment until her eyes settle on Fey’s sleeping form.

“Same reason you got into this life in the first place,” Vulture says with a sigh. “Though my reason isn’t just her, honestly I just don’t know how to live without doing…this anymore.”

Crimson nods, not completely understanding but also not clueless.

“Care to tell me what happened between you two?” Crimson asks. “If the information wouldn’t end up with me dead.”

“I’m not one to go dropping secrets like that,” Vulture says as she leans on her back. “Let’s just say we used to be together.”

“Is that allowed? That seems like something that would be frowned upon.” Crimson asks.

“Few things are prohibited in Stena, but it isn’t recommended. Specifically, in teams. That can create problems that could have deadly consequences,” She informs. “We didn’t join an army, even the whole past sharing thing isn’t forbidden. It’s just ill-advised and many of the older members see it as a cardinal rule.”

“Any idea why?”

“Well, because it will get you killed. Eventually at least.” Vulture answers bluntly.

Crimson goes silent at the answer. By the time he turns back to Vulture she’s already asleep, her maroon hair covering her face from the fire in front of them. Crimson sighs and walks back to his spot, laying down and closing his eyes. Waiting for the horrors to start.

Crimson jumps from his sleep in a cold sweat, the nightmares his mind conjures continuing to ruin his needed sleep. Catching his breath as he looks around, he can see Deidra on watch. Knowing he wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep anytime soon he walks over and sits down next to her.

“Nightmares again, Ranger?” Deidra says as she glances at him.

“Please tell me you aren’t set on that name,” Crimson moans, running his hands through his hair. “I’m going to need nametags at this rate.”

“I suppose I’ll spare you the pain, but you owe me,” Deidra says with a joking smile.

“That may be the most terrifying sentence I’ve ever heard,” Crimson says, faking a horrified expression. “And that’s an achievement considering the company we keep.”

“I suppose that’s true,” She says with a knowing smile. “I never knew you found me so terrifying.”

“Well, there’s a big difference in being scared of you and knowing that pissing you off could end with me dying to some monstrosity out there,” Crimson says thoughtfully. “Best not to anger the person who’s keeping you alive.”

“Well you don’t have to worry about that, I don’t plan on leaving you behind,” Deidra says with an honest expression. “I cover you, you cover me correct?”

Crimson nods assuredly. Eventually the conversation ends as the two continue to look into the forest. Until a question comes to Crimson’s mind.

“What will you do after all this?” He asks. “I mean after all of it. The hounds of Stena deal, the monster hunting, just everything.”

“I don’t know, I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Deidra admits with a sigh. “I’ve always had a planned out path, until now that is. What about you?”

“To be honest, I’ll probably just explore. I haven’t seen much of the world but now I have the chance,” Crimson explains. “I’ll just see things, save some people on the way, and when I do finally drop dead…well I hope I just don’t have any regrets by then. Probably try to forget some things along the way as well.”

“That sounds like a true story, a roaming hero looking to help others and forget a dark past,” Deidra says with a chuckle. “At least you have some idea of what to do, I guess I’ll just figure it out.”

“Well, you could come with me,” He says with a bit of thought. “We could probably do better together. That and it would give us plenty of ways to get stronger. I doubt Mon and Echo would join us, I don’t think Echo would survive away from a forge for extended times and I bet Mon is going to stay with Fey.”

Deidra smiles wide at the suggestion, the thought of being alone again terrifying her.

“That sounds like a grand idea. I think I’ll take you up on the offer Ranger.” She says.

“And I’m already regretting my decision,” Crimson says as he slumps his head. “Maybe I should just be a bookkeeper, that seems interesting.”

“I don’t think you’d be able to stay quiet long enough,” Deidra says. “You’d run out all the customers with your talking.”

Crimson places his hand over his heart and looks at Deidra with a hurt expression.

“I’ll have you know I’m quite the delight to chat with,” He says jokingly. “That my fair lady, is an insult I won’t stand for.”

“Oh my I hadn’t thought you to be a sensitive one, I’ll try to be more delicate.” She says with a snort.

Both of them manage to stifle their laughter enough to avoid waking everyone else up. Eventually they regain their composure as their laughter ceases.

“Are you the last shift?” Crimson asks. “I’m not sure how long I slept.”

“Echo actually took over a couple minutes before we started talking,” Deidra announces. “I was about to try and sleep when you came over.”

“Oh! I’m sorry for keeping you up, I’ll get out of your-“

“Don’t, I doubt I’d have gotten to sleep anyway, I prefer the talking over nightmares,” Deidra says with a depressed look. “I guess you understand that though.”

“That I do,” he says, sharing her depressed look. “Well, I guess we better keep talking before one of us falls asleep.”

Deidra nods and continues with another conversation. Crimson enjoying the talk until the enviable draw of sleep takes him, falling asleep next to Deidra with her eventually following him. Yet the nightmares failed to come, at least not the ones in their heads.

Crimson’s eyes flutter open, the lack of terror somewhat surprising him. He goes to move his head but feels a slight weight on it, he looks left to see Deidra leaning her head on his. His eyes drift across the camp, eventually locking eyes with Fey.

She motions at her head, prompting Crimson to slip out from under Deidra. Despite the motion she remains asleep, much to Crimson’s surprise. He creeps past the rest of the team and sits next to Fey, her eyes now looking back towards the smoldering fire.

“We’ll be moving soon, shouldn’t take us more than a few hours to get back to HQ. You stick with Grunt and Vulture when we arrive, they’ll lead you to collect your portion of the reward,” She says as she stamps out the smoldering fire. “I have my own assignment to complete.”

“Are you sure you want to leave all of us together? I did threaten Grunt, and Mon tried to make good on it. I also don’t think Vulture was happy with the attempted murder,” Crimson says as he glances at the still bloody Vulture. “I’m pretty sure at least. She’s hard to get a read on, she didn’t seem angry at me.”

“She understands more than you know, honestly the only reason she didn’t try and kill Grunt herself is because she’s seen me come out of worst,” Fey says with a chuckle. “I’m sure Grunt will get over it; he’s used to reactions from non-battle hardened people. His pride is definitely bruised though; I could barely keep a straight face when Mon took him down.”

“That may have been scarier than the blood-lusted Mon, certainly scared me.” Crimson says with a shudder.

“What did?” Fey asks in confusion.

“Well…don’t take this the wrong way but whenever you smile, it usually means you’re about to kill someone, or already did.” He says with an honest expression. “Usually you just smirk or something, a genuine smile is terrifying from you.”

Fey goes to deny it but thinks back, her objection dying in her throat.

“I actually can’t deny that,” She says with a look of realization. “Never thought I was that scary at least.”

“You literally cooked someone in front of me, nearly killed me, used me as bait, and then threatened to kill me,” Crimson says as he lists out her grievances. “but at least I’m alive, so that’s a plus.”

“Fair enough,” Fey concedes. “Kitty should be back soon; after that we’ll be leaving. Get your stuff together and wake everyone else up.”

Crimson nods as he walks back to his stuff. He sits back down next to Deidra and watches as Fey trudges out into the road. A noticeably smaller shadow suddenly covers her and what looks like a miniature Kitty lands with a gust of wind, the gust waking everyone but Mon up.

Deciding to question Kitty’s new look at a later time, Crimson begins collecting his stuff as well as explaining the situation to the rest of them. Eventually he walks over to Mon intent on waking her up, but is stopped by a limping but bandaged Echo.

“I’ll wake her up, less likely to cut me than you,” Echo explains. “Plus, I need her to help me walk.”

Crimson attempts to stop Echo, remembering multiple injuries caused by someone waking Mon, but is surprised as the smith wakes her without incident.

“Somehow that’s the most dangerous thing I’ve seen all week.” Crimson mutters as he watches them head towards the road.

Crimson turns away from them as he pulls his empty quiver across his body, making a mental note to pack more arrows or retrieve them from bodies. He then remembers the majority of them are now nothing more than ash among burnt bodies, and opts for more arrows.

Checking one last time he turns towards the road and sees Deidra waiting for him. He quickly begins walking towards her, setting a pace as they follow behind Fey.

“So what’s wrong with the wydran? It was bigger wasn’t it?” Deidra asked as she inspects Kitty, who is now perched atop Fey’s shoulders.

“I honestly have no idea; I was going to ask later. I don’t know much about them anyway,” Crimson responds with similar confusion. “Maybe it shed?”

“I don’t see the advantage in shedding most of their body,” Deidra rebuttals. “That would just make them an easy mark.”

“Well, I guess I’ll ask.” Crimson says with a shrug as he jogs to catch up with Fey. Kitty’s tinier form leaning down and playfully nipping at him as he walks next to her.

“Yes?” Fey says as Crimson shows up next to her.

Instead of responding verbally, Crimson simply points as Kitty who has now jumped from Fey’s shoulders onto his. The weight causing Crimson to strain slightly to keep up with Fey’s pace.

“He does that every couple of years, their species doesn’t waste nutrients so to avoid overgrowing they do this,” Fey explains as she rubs Kitty’s head affectionately. “He becomes far denser though, I doubt your arrows could pierce his skin at this size. Certainly makes him easier to transport.”

“Says you.” Crimson spurts out as the wydran’s weight begins to take its toll.

Fey whistles and Kitty flies off of Crimson, the archer welcoming the relief.

“You may need to do weight training,” Fey says as she notices the sweat building on Crimson’s brow. “If you can’t hold him, how do you expect to hold more arrows?”

“I could carry ten times as many arrows and it wouldn’t be as heavy as that,” Crimson says with a huff. “Maybe if I carry Mon, Echo, and the arrows, maybe then it’ll be the same.”

Kitty shifts onto Fey’s shoulder farthest from Crimson, the mention of his weight insulting him. Fey pats the creatures side reassuringly as she looks back to Crimson.

“That was just rude.” She says.

Before Crimson can refute, Deidra walks up next to them. Kitty quickly jumping onto the new shoulders. Unlike Crimson, Deidra carries the weight with minimal struggle.

“Hello?” Deidra says, her confusion at the creature landing on her more than apparent. Deidra leans over to Crimson to whisper to him. “Is it going to try and eat me?”

“He won’t eat you…probably” Fey says unconvincingly, her hearing easily picking up the hushed conversation. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“So, why is he small now?” Deidra says, attempting to keep her movements to a minimum to avoid upsetting the creature. “Did it shed?”

Crimson goes to repeat Fey’s answer but gives up on the explanation altogether.

“In short, yes.” He says.

Deidra nods, her curiosity sated. Deidra then looks up at the wydran to see it looking down at her, its bird like eyes slightly jarring.

“He’s just happy you haven’t made fun of his weight,” Fey explains. “Unlike Crimson over here.”

“Well that’s just rude.” Deidra says as she looks at Crimson.

Crimson sighs in frustration at the two teaming against him. Eventually they fall into a comfortable silence, quick and unimportant conversations begin and end through the hours until they eventually spot the tall gates of Stena HQ.

“Oh thank goodness!” Echo says as they continue to walk. “I don’t think I could have lasted much longer without a forge.”

“Called it.” Crimson says just loudly enough for Fey and Deidra to hear.

“We’ve only been gone for two days,” Grunt reports. “You’re going to have to suffer a lot more if you barely made this little trip.”

“Three days and two nights if we’re being picky,” she retorts with a smug face. One that quickly falls into a frown. “But you’re not wrong…”

“Speaking of a forge,” Crimson says as he inserts himself next to Echo. “I’m out of arrows.”

Echo shakes her head, her fake disappointment overshadowed by the excited look on her face.

“I do have some new ideas for better arrows,” Echo says with a smirk. “Does lighter, sharper, and significantly better looking sound good?”

“Can I add more to that list?” Crimson asks in a slightly pleading manner.

“We can work it all out after we get our reward, I have some ideas I need to bounce off you as well,” Echo remarks as her face contorts into deep thought. “Actually…that would make it...Wait!”

Echo turns to Crimson puts the half asleep Mon in his arms. The sudden exchange in cargo surprising Crimson, the fear immediately following as he realizes the predicament he’s now in. Echo looks away from him, missing the look of fear on his face as she pulls out a piece of paper and begins scribbling a blueprint on it, now being helped by Deidra as she walks.

Crimson looks down at the sleeping Mon, the rogues peaceful face almost culling Crimson’s fear…almost. Deidra steps up next to him, her helmet now on her head and Kitty still on her shoulders, as well as supporting Mon with her arm.

“You two look great…” She says in a whisper. “Your fear mixed with her peacefulness is quite the balance.”

“Why do you only make good jokes when it’s my life on the line?” Crimson whisper yells, noticing Kitty looking down at him. “Do you want to trade? I’d rather be eaten by him than her.”

Deidra shakes her head as she walks faster, slightly dragging Echo in the process.

Crimson sighs in defeat as he continues to walk, eventually getting as comfortable as possible with Mon in his arms. That is until he begins to feel her tail wrapping around his waist, he looks down to see her beginning to snuggle into his chest. A cold sweat begins to grow as he continues to walk, knowing that one false movement would probably end up with his throat slit.

“She’s been known to scratch in her sleep.” Fey says as she appears next to Crimson, pulling off her armored gauntlet and revealing numerous scars resembling cat claws. Crimson’s face pales as he sees them, opposite of Fey’s who is now smirking at his fear. Fey walks off in a sadistic motion, Crimson’s imminent death somehow being entertaining to her.