***Tirnanog, The Old Camp***

***Astra Frost***

“Why are you hiding on the roof?”

I almost dropped Gurney’s latest report and suppressed an exclamation of shock when a voice spoke from behind me. Fumbling, I pressed the sheet of paper against my chest and turned to glare at Thalia.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I reprimanded her, trying to cover up the embarrassment of not having sensed her approach. “I could have lashed out at you!”

“If you had flared out your filaments from the beginning, I wouldn’t have been able to sneak up on you.” Thalia waved her hand dismissively. “And besides. You should recognize my voice. Why would you want to hurt your best friend?”

“Because you keep waking me up at ungodly hours,” I grumbled.

“I am doing it for your own good,” Thalia replied unapologetically. “Your parents told me to keep an eye on you so you wouldn’t laze off.”

She walked closer and leaned down to where I was sitting. “So? Why are you hiding up here? Are you watching the sweaty men down there on the training field and fantasizing about their-”

I turned and hit Thalia’s knee with my fist. It wasn’t enough to hurt her, but the impact combined with the angle caused it to buckle.

If she didn’t have wings that she could use like additional appendages, she would have likely fallen and slipped off the bunker’s dome-like roof. To my dismay, she quickly used the hard spikes at the ends of her wings to hook into the roof and create additional support. This prevented her from finding a wet end down in the pond next to the bunker.

“Moody much?” she back-pedalled from her earlier comment. “Okay, I won’t tease you anymore.”

“Very much appreciated, though I would have liked to see you slip off the roof and fall into the pond.” I smirked at the thought.

Thalia shuddered. “No, thanks. I am not the greatest of swimmers.”

She said that, but I knew her to be a very good swimmer. Underwater, she could use her bat-wings like gigantic fins to propel herself forward.

I huffed and carefully folded Gurney’s report before I hid it away beneath the filaments which were currently acting as my clothes.

“Aw, come on!” Thalia pawed at me, trying to get to the report, but I slapped her hands away.

“Tell me!”

“Stop being so childish!” I retorted and deflected her groping hands to the best of my ability.

“It’s you who is being childish for hiding the report,” Thalia shot back. “Do I really have to go and ask Gurney what he gave you? He won’t say no to me.”

I sighed and gestured down to the training field where the newcomer was having spear practice together with this Mark guy. “It’s the one who we saw running from the gutters. His skills look like they are compatible with mine. Very compatible – if he manages to improve them.”

“Well, what’s the problem then? Go and get him! I can’t wait for you to stop pining around the arena grounds like some old maiden.” Thalia asked and turned to watch the two men playing around with the freely provided training weapons.

Tulkas drew his hand back and it blurred, sending a spear into and through a training dummy as if it had been fired by one of the ballistas on the wall.

“Wow,” Thalia exclaimed. “That’s a mean throwing arm. What are his skills?”

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s the problem. His primary evolution comes from zippers.”

“Oh.” My friend clicked her tongue. “Those things are almost impossible to catch, even if they are like rats.”

She frowned. “But maybe he can do it? The problem with catching them is speed and he clearly has it in abundance.”

“Yeah…” I pursed my lips and wrung my fingers. “I guess I am also watching him because I want to find out what he is like. To make sure he isn’t some asshole like Roderick.”

Thalia coughed.

“What?” I grumbled. I knew what was coming.

She threw up her hands. “I knew that would happen! Astra, you have to come down from your perfectionist trip. You spent years coming to the arena fights so you could find someone who is compatible with your evolutions. Now he is right there and you won't take him because you are concerned about his personality?”

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked. “I can’t just walk up to him and tell him I want to… do it… because I want his evolutions.”

Thalia slowly knelt next to me. “You know, that would actually work with nine out of ten men.” Her expression turned smug. “I bet most wouldn’t even think about possible evolutions.”

“Not really,” I rebutted in disapproval. “Are you trying to say most men are stupid? I would think people can control themselves when it’s about survival.”

She considered my argument for a few moments with a contemplative expression.

“Okay, then maybe seven out of ten!” Thalia corrected her statement. “My point still stands. Your standards are just too high, woman. This male ideal of yours doesn’t exist in the real world. You want perfect compatibility and then he has to be some kind of hero or prince on top of it?”

“I never said that,” I replied and considered it. “But it would be preferable!”

“Ooh...” Thalia rolled her eyes. “You are too much!”

My eyes wandered back to the training field and I realized Tulkas and Mark were leaving.

“Quick, they are leaving!” I got up and spread my filaments to drift to the next rooftop.

Thalia’s expression turned blank as she followed me. “Hey, are you serious? You are going to follow him like some stalker? Like some yandere character?”

“I am not a stalker,” I shot back. “And what’s a yandere? Seriously, Thalia, you always come up with these strange things. Sometimes I believe studying cultural history wasn’t good for you.”

She feigned being hit in the heart. “So rude! It’s not my fault they exiled you before you managed to learn the basics of human society. Seriously, sometimes I feel like I have to deal with a female version of Mogli.”

I frowned and glared at her. “I actually know that one. And it was a low blow, even for you.”

“Sorry, but at least your parents did one thing right.” She pointed. “Look, your friend is leaving the camp. Shouldn’t you go and talk to him instead of turning this into a case study?”

I fidgeted. “I wouldn’t know how to actually introduce myself.”

“If you don’t want to ask to fuck, then how about helping him? Find something you can help out with. Either a present or some information. Most importantly, find out which position he likes,” Thalia suggested. “It should be smooth sailing from there.”

“You are such a vulgar person!” I complained and quickly hurried after the two while Thalia stayed behind.

Over the next few days, I watched from afar as Mark trained Tulkas in the various arts of survival. Mark was running him through the standard survival program for newcomers.

Which meant taking the trainee on trips around the Old Camp while the two of them stayed within running distance of the camp’s defences. While they made their trips, Tulkas was taught about the various edible plants and how they could be used as trading goods.

The tutorial involved which creatures to stay away from and which critters could be ignored or were actual valuable game for hunting.

It was the typical crash course for newcomers. The intention was for Tulkas to be able to survive on his own by the end of the week. He should be able to manage his belongings in a way that allowed him to improve on his mutations without running bankrupt.

Once the two were done for the day, Tulkas would always journey the market stalls and the three or four bars and restaurants which could be found in the Old Camp.

Judging by his demeanour, it was apparent he was searching for something while trying to gather as much information about the Old Camp’s political state as possible.

I even went so far as to pay one of the people he regularly talked to for information. It was pretty much exactly as I thought. He was asking questions about the clans and how things worked with the Old Camp and new arrivals.

Worryingly, one thing was obvious. He wasn’t some mindless drifter who only looked out for his own survival. The man had some form of agenda and I assumed it would be my way into his good graces.

Six days later, I still hadn’t managed to bring up the courage to talk to him. Well, I had the courage, but I just didn't find an opportunity without making it awkward.

I was watching Mark and Tulkas leave the camp for another hunting trip when I sensed something approaching me.

I ducked my head out of the way of the throwing dagger which buried itself inside the roof one moment later.

Then I flared out my filaments, just as the bitch landed on the roof next to me. She tried to hit me with a violet-skinned fist which was caught in my filaments. The force of the blow nonetheless forced me back and away from her.

Growling, I hooked several filaments to the edge of the roof and pulled, contracting all of my filaments at once.

Ivonne found herself being dragged forward and both of us were flung off the roof while I whipped my filaments at her. The woman’s tough skin made it impossible to make more than a few superficial cuts, so I went stabbing for the eyes and other orifices. Nose, ears, everything was fair game when someone tried to kill me.

We landed on the street, causing people to run left and right as they did their best to avoid the fight.

The bitch managed to protect her eyes simply by closing them. She also ripped two of my filaments I had tried to stick up her nose. My interference didn’t deter her from trying to get to me, not caring that her clothes were torn to tatters in the process.

Stretching out once more, I latched more filaments onto her and another roof which was positioned at the right angle. Then I contracted again. I pulled Ivonne upwards, turning myself into a slingshot with her as the projectile. For a moment, we were so close, all she would have had to do would be to reach out to get me.

There wouldn’t have been anything I could have done about it, since my main body wasn’t especially strong.

But she didn’t manage to grasp the opportunity because she still had her eyes closed.

Then she was past me and I let go of her while I still held onto the roof. Some filaments pulled me back down while the remaining ones formed a soft cushion beneath me. Thanks to them I managed to land on the roof without injury.

It took about two seconds before Ivonne dared to open her eyes and found herself sailing on a high trajectory over the Old Camp. A quite comical scream followed which quieted as she passed over the outer wall.

To say so myself, I thought it to be one of my better throws. Physically tough opponents were the rock to my scissors, but they were rarely heavy enough so that I couldn’t fling them far away to take them out of the fight.

I smirked grimly, but couldn’t really be happy about the outcome of this confrontation. Ivonne had a strength mutation and something turned her skin almost invulnerable. Which meant I couldn’t do shit to her without using unconventional methods. If she attacked me within a confined space, my chances would look grim.

Something told me this wasn’t over. It would be too much to hope for that she would break her neck upon impact.

I spread my filaments and caught an upwards air-drift. Then I looked towards the forest, but frustratingly enough, Tulkas and Mark had already disappeared.

I sighed.

Well, anyway. With this attack, there were other matters I had to take care of first.

It wasn’t unheard of for clan members to attack and kill each other outside of the arena, but it had been a long time since the Aerie and the Thich had resorted to open warfare. Ivonne attacking me on the streets like some assassin had certainly broken the unspoken accord between the clans.

I angled my filaments and flew back towards the bunker, intending to address this issue immediately. It was best to establish the narrative in my favour before Ivonne managed to crawl her way back from wherever she had landed.

The front of the bunker was clearly in an uproar, and I found Liam and four more Aerie facing off against a group of five Thich. Thalia was backing Liam up against possible violence.

Which meant my arrival came just in time to dissuade the two groups from exchanging blows because my presence restored the balance of power.

“What’s going on here?” I asked when I landed.

The leading Thich, a man with an impressive stature, looked at me with an incredulous expression. “We had an argument.” His eyes wandered towards the entrance of the bunker, from where two Hochberg clanners watched what was happening with rapt attention.

“The bastards insulted our clan!” One of our men pointed at the Thich, clearly incensed.

Liam raised his hand to stop the youngster from making more trouble. “No matter what opinion they have of us, it is no reason for violence.”

“Speaking of violence…” Thalia turned to me. “Do you know who just flew over the camp, screaming like it was her first flight?”

I pursed my lips. “That was Ivonne, and she didn’t fly. I threw her because she attacked me in an attempt to kill.”

That caused the expressions among the Thich to darken.

“Though, I don’t believe I have killed her,” I added quickly to defuse the situation. “But I would like to know what her problem is. Do we have to regard the Thich as a group of dangerous rogues?”

It was convenient that Gurney chose this exact moment to step out of the bunker. He wasn’t exactly a personage of power, but his affiliations with all the clans would have likely turned him into the impartial judge of any conflict.

The leading Thich grumbled but gestured for his goons to back off. “Ivonne’s issues are none of your concern. We will see to it that she stays out of trouble from now on.”

They left, making their way back into the bunker and past the two Hochberg and Gurney who were still eyeing what was happening with great attention.

Once they were out of sight, Thalia turned to face me. “No shit? Ivonne tried to kill you? Why?”

“I don’t know why, but I would rather like to know why another group of Thich caused trouble at the same time,” I replied. The entire situation stank to the high heavens. Like they had tried to create some distraction.

What I couldn’t understand was the why. Had Ivonne succeeded in killing me, it would have likely sparked a war between the Aerie and the Thich. There would have been no way of hiding it with her attacking me in broad daylight. It would have seriously affected the proceedings within the Old Camp. “There is nothing to gain as far as I can see.”

Liam’s expression turned concerned. “I do believe you are gravely mistaken, Astra. Did you forget the peace treaty? We aren't allowed to directly interfere with the exile's mutations and no clan is allowed to bring more than one unpaired, capable fighter to the Old Camp. Ever since you maxed out your evolutions, you have been filling that position. If they managed to kill you with a lucky shot, there would have been little we could have done about it aside from complaining. I don’t believe we have the battle powers to stand against them without you.”

“But the other clans-” I pointed out but was interrupted by Liam.

“Would have done nothing about it. Maybe they would intercede in a conflict that’s happening right in front of them, but they would have done little to nothing if presented with a corpse!” He drew in a deep breath. “We would have needed to send a message back to Aerie to get help. Your parents would have caused quite the ruckus, but even they can’t influence the seasons. It would have been impossible to go to war before the winter, and who knows how much support they can gather in the next year once the hotheads had time to cool down?”

I shut my mouth and considered the situation from Liam’s point of view. He was just a doctor, but he was one of the oldest and most experienced people I knew. And that meant something in this hellish world.

As much as I wanted to deny it, there was a slim possibility that the Thich could have killed me and succeeded without many repercussions, provided that Ivonne had gotten in a lucky shot.

“What about Ivonne?” Thalia asked. “Is she a danger to you?”

I considered the question. “Not if we fight in the open, though I admit that close quarters might be problematic. She has a mutation that makes her extremely tough, even tougher than Roderick. I couldn’t put a scratch on her until I decided to just fling her across the camp.”

My filaments were a great mutation on paper, but they had a weakness. A lot of surface area and little weight meant I could allow them to simply drift through the air. But it also meant they didn’t have a lot of mass behind them.

Whipping someone with my filaments was like using a piano wire to whip a normal human. It was likely to cause superficial injury, but the tougher opponents would likely just get mad and run me over.

Like hydraulic muscles, my filaments were great at expansion and contraction, which actually allowed me to keep up with opponents who had a strength mutation. Using my filaments to stab instead of slash brought more power to the table, given I could anchor myself somehow.

After having witnessed Ivonne’s toughness first-hand, I wasn’t exactly keen on inviting her to a wrestling match.

When the silence stretched out for longer than was comfortable, Liam cleared his throat. “Well, then we probably should avoid getting you into a confined space with that woman. I will talk to the other clan representatives and send a messenger home to forewarn them of possible conflict. There is no way we can just ignore attempted murder. We have to at least make a gesture of being mad about the attempt.”

I sighed. “I don’t need these complications right now.”

Thalia gestured for me to get going. “I know exactly what you are thinking. Go on, little stalker. I am sure we can handle things from here. It’s highly doubtful that the Thich will try something so brazen again anytime soon. Especially not after we talk to the other clans. Once that’s done, everyone will be keeping a close eye on them.”

I threw a thankful gaze at my friend and tried to ignore Liam’s interested expression. Then I departed and headed quickly in the direction I had seen Tulkas and Mark disappear in.