“Done!” Echo announces as she hands a bundle of arrows to Crimson.

Crimson carefully grabs the arrows and begins inspecting each of them carefully, the weight surprising him.

“Any reason as to why they’re so heavy? I won’t be able to carry enough of these without it slowing me down.” Crimson remarks as he inspects them.

“Those aren’t the normal ones, I have plenty of the lighter kind for you but those are special,” Echo remarks with a smug grin. “Sure they’re heavier but they’re fully made out of the metal we gathered for the tips on the other arrows, no way those things will break and it’ll punch through anything.”

“Anything?” Crimson remarks skeptically.

“Unfortunately no, but it’s still far better than the other ones,” She admits. "Make it a bit easier to hit those softs spots.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Crimson says as he twirls one in his hand. “Thanks for the upgrade, let’s hope we don’t burn all of them again.”

“You’ll be making your own if that happens again,” Echo responds with an annoyed huff. “Oh and give this to Deidra, I need to finish up.”

Crimson grabs a small but heavy blade from Echo. This sheathe following soon after. As he puts it in the sheathe he immediately notices it’s not Echo’s craftsmanship and that the blade had been broken in half due to a discolored line in the metal.

“It doesn’t look like your work,” He questions. “Where’d you get it?”

“Deidra asked me to repair it, good metal too,” She says with a glint in her eye. “I was upset she didn’t let me smelt it to make arrow heads, guess it was sentimental.”

“Any idea where it came from?” Crimson asks as he begins exiting the armory, passing by a large red headed male on his way.

“None, nothing I’ve seen before,” She admits. “What I’d do to know…”

Crimson nods and goes to leave but is stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turns to see the same man he had seen pass.

“Perhaps I could check,” He says as he drops his hand from Crimson’s shoulder. “A second opinion may shed some light.”

Crimson looks to Echo for confirmation and a nod convinces him to hand the blade to the man. The man bows slight as he unsheathes the knife and begins examining it closely. Crimson quickly takes notice of the man’s awkward appearance. Hands that look to small for his body, ears that seem to be too big for his already large head, and a bulky body that has clearly never seen combat but looks honed to perfection.

“He’s the master smith,” Echo announces, seeing Crimson’s confusion. “A bit awkward but he’s pretty…ok when you get to know him.”

“Was the hesitation necessary?” The smith asks in an annoyed tone. “And my name is Smith.”

“So, they call you master Smith…?” Crimson asks with a slight grin.

“Yes, but just Smith is fine. The difference in age doesn’t concern me.” He responds, either not noticing the joke, or not bothering to acknowledge it.

After a few moments of silence Smith sheathes the dagger and hands it back to Crimson, nodding his head as he does.

“It’s a very rare metal, toughest thing you’ll find as well as being the toughest to find,” He says. “Deidril. Honestly surprised your friend managed to get a hold of any of it, much less enough for a dagger.”

“Deidra with a dagger made of Deidril…that’s not a coincidence.” Crimson announces with a puzzled look.

“Really!” Echo gasps with a healthy amount of sarcasm.

“I liked you better when you were still insecure,” Crimson says with an eye roll. “The sarcastic dwarf bit was funny at first but now…”

“You’re stuck with me now,” She interrupts with a sly grin. “Whether you like it or not. Imagine what Mon would do if you tried to get rid of me.”

“I guess I am,” He says with a similar grin. “Thanks Echo, I’ll make sure to get this to Deidra.”

“Anytime, now leave,” She says as she shoves him towards the exit, her healed body easily shoving him. “Me and master Smith over here have work to do.”

“Just make sure to come up for dinner, we’ve only got two more days to fatten up before they throw us back out there.” Crimson requests before he exits.

Echo threw him a thumbs up as he walked out into the lobby. Looking around the bustling atmosphere, Crimson begins to walk towards his team’s room until a group of five people block his way.

“Um, can I help you?” Crimson asks in a suspicious tone.

Crimson hand shifts down near his hip, beginning to hover over Fey’s knife that he still possessed. His eyes assessed the threat as they walked closer. Four males and one female, tallest at six feet and shortest just below five feet. Each of them carrying weapons ranging from a bow to dual swords, yet none of them had taken a hostile stance.

“You’re Crimson right?” The ginger haired female, and shortest among them asked.

Crimson nods slowly, one hand readied over his blade and the other waiting to remove his glasses.

“Oh, great!” She says as she raises a hand towards him. “I’m Apate.”

Crimson moves his hand from his glasses and shakes her hand, his other hand falling to his side at her greeting.

“Nice to meet you…what exactly do you want?” Crimson asks with a healthy dose of suspicion.

“Oh! Yeah, we heard you were going on a mission soon and figured we’d introduce ourselves.” Apate explains with a nervous shuffle.

“I’d hate to break it to you but you’ve only introduced about a fifth of your…posse.” Crimson responds with a relaxed shrug.

Apate’s eyes widen at the realization. She quickly begins pointing behind her in an attempt to rapid fire names.

“Jon, John, Juan, Big.” She announces without skipping a beat.

As Crimson is about to attempt to make sense of the situation he feels a tap on his shoulder. Turning around he sees Deidra with her hair down, leaning over slightly to not tower over him.

“Oh, Deidra,” Crimson says with an honest smile. “You’ve come at the perfect time to help with…whatever she just said.”

“They aren’t aggressing you are they?” She whispers in a joking tone, yet with an underlying aggression.

“Does confusing me count as aggression?” Crimson whispers back. “Because if so we need the full team.”

Both of them begin chuckling at their shushed conversation, only containing their laughter after noticing the embarrassed look on Apate’s face.

“Sorry…Diedra, this is Apate, the three johns, and…Big.” Crimson lists as he points them out.

“Good to meet you all,” Deidra greets with a tilt of her head. “What did you need with my partner here?”

"We were simply introducing ourselves, haven’t seen anyone else attempt to,” Big says as his tanned face curves into a smile. “Figured we’d be the first to show some comradery.”

“Little late.” Crimson says curtly.

Deidra quickly nudges him with her shoulder, causing him to stumble slightly.

“W-what I mean is thank you, most everyone else in Stena keeps their distance,” Crimson explains while rubbing his shoulder. “Aside from the older members of course.”

“Well, you are intimidating,” Apate says with slight apprehension. “Most of the newer members are being trained as big groups. We’ve all had a chance to meet our fellow teams, except for yours. Not to mention that spar you had with Kiln’s team was a little intense.”

“Mystery and power breeds distrust and anger.” John says quickly.

“Or interest and envy.” Jon finishes.

“Plus, that catgirl on your team is terrifying.” Juan adds

All three of them nod simultaneously. Deidra and Crimson stare for a moment before shaking off their confusion.

“I’ve seen weirder.” Crimson mutters with shrug.

“Yeah they’re always like that, anyway it was good meeting you both but we can’t stick around,” Big says as he begins ushering his team out of the hall, his ginger hair hiding the annoyance in his eyes. “We’ve got our first job tomorrow and I’d prefer us be in top shape.”

“You’ve both been on one before right?” Apate asks as she resists Big’s pushing. “Any advice?”

“Stick together and don’t take chances.” Crimson answers almost immediately.

She nods happily and then looks towards Deidra for an answer.

“Be prepared for casualties.” The warrior answers grimly.

Before Apate can respond Big succeeds in pushing his team away and ending the conversation.

“That was a little dark,” Crimson says as he looks towards Deidra.

“Good advice isn’t always pleasant,” She says with a sigh. “At least I didn’t snip at them, what happened to optimist Crimson?”

“If I had to guess he left after the third or fourth near death experience. Or maybe it was constantly being slugged in the face by a specific someone?” He says with a shrug.

“Well, I’m sure they wouldn’t have hit you if you just dodged.” Deidra says with a small grin.

Sharing a snicker, they begin to walk towards their room, until Crimson remembers Echo’s request.

“Oh! Here, Echo said to give this to you,” He says as he hands her the blade. “What exactly is it?”

Deidra takes the knife carefully, running her hand along the repaired blade as if she was tracing a scar.

“It’s a knife,” She says while looking at Crimson jokingly. “I figured that was obvious.”

“Three months and your jokes still haven’t improved,” Crimson says with a face palm. “I meant the material, that and why you kept it. It looks pretty scuffed.”

They enter their room, Crimson immediately moving to his bunk and looking towards Deidra for an answer while she stands near her bunk.

“It was my first weapon, given to me as a youngling. As for the material I have no idea,” She says solemnly. “It was damaged on my journey to Stena.”

“Seems like your journey was pretty awful,” A suddenly appearing Mon says from her bunk. “Mine was pretty good, lots of chasing things.”

“I’m still debating whether or not you’re more human than cat.” Crimson announces lightly.

“Hello Mon,” Deidra says, no longer surprised by the girl’s sudden appearances. “No, it wasn’t all that pleasant.”

Deidra sits on her bunk and carefully places the blade underneath her pillow. Her body physically relaxing as she does it.

“I know we were told to rid ourselves of any remembrance of our past, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it,” She says as she sits on her bunk. “Even being without it for a short couple months made me feel…incomplete.”

Everyone goes quiet at her response, each knowing the feeling she has in one way or another.

“If it makes you feel any better, that whole “forget your past thing” is just a coping mechanism,” Mon says suddenly. “If you think about it, most people who do what we do don’t have anything but pain in their pasts. It’s easier to forget than not. They tell us that to help, but I guess it doesn’t always work.”

“Man, I wish Fey would have told me that before she crushed my last memory of home.” Crimson says in lament.

Mon and Deidra looks towards him in curiosity.

“What’d she crush?” Mon asks, her tail moving excitedly.

“Just an old watch,” Crimson says with a wave of his hand. “Still would have been nice to keep.”

Mon deflates at the lack of entertainment and lays her head out of her bunk.

“Do you resent her for that?” Deidra asks after a moment of silence.

Crimson thinks for a moment before shaking his head.

“No, she did me a favor,” He says confidently. “It’s as Mon said, it would have reminded me of nothing but pain.”

“Seems like you didn’t have a fun time either.” Mon says as she pulls her head back into her bunk.

“Getting here was the easy part unfortunately,” Crimson says with a grim smile. “Aside from the getting used as bait part, that was a bit scary.”

“Bait?” Deidra asks quizzically.

“Oh yeah, you haven’t heard this,” Crimson remembers. “Fey used me as bait for lunypnas’ we encountered on the way here.”

“That seems irresponsible,” Deidra remarks. “I’m assuming that’s how you received your mutation?”

Crimson nods, running his hand over his face.

“How many regals did you drink, Mon?” Crimson asks, the topic of mutations sparking the question.

Mon thinks for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders.

“I’m coming to the conclusion that it was too many,” Crimson deducing with a nod. “Seeing as your closer to a regal than a human at this point.”

Mon pouts at the accusation and looks to Deidra for back up but finds none as she nods with his assessment.

“No need to remind me of it every day.” She says with an upset face

Before Mon can put up any further defense Echo walks in, her face showing extreme annoyance. She rushes over to her bunk and face plants into it, most likely letting out a silent groan.

Her team shares a glance before Deidra slides over to Echo and taps her on the shoulder.

“Would you like to discu-“

“Smith won’t let me make Kitty armor!” Echo screams into their ears, her powers somewhat deafening everyone else.

“Here I thought it was something important,” Crimson remarks as he regains some of his hearing. “Why is that a problem? That thing’s skin is nearly impenetrable as is.”

“He was gonna look so cool in it!” Echo explains. “But then he went on and on about how it would affect his flight and combat abilities. Some things are worth sacrificing for fashion!”

“I never saw you as a fashionista,” Mon says as she leans out of her bunk. “Our weapons did look good.”

“’The only thing worse than a bad weapon is a good weapon that can’t be shone off.’” Echo recited.

“I don’t think that is directed towards living creatures.” Deidra answers honestly.

“Of course it does, that’s what I was taught. It’s like an instilled peeve,” She explains.

“If an improvement can be made then it must be made,” Echo begins.

“that is progress and progress is survival.” Mon finishes as she leans down

“You told her this before?” Crimson asks quizzically.

“She hangs out with me in the forge sometimes while you two are training.” Echo explains. “I tend to mutter it to myself, keeps me from ignoring mistakes.”

“You know you could train with us right, Mon?” Crimson says with annoyance. “Wouldn’t mind another partner to help with my blade skills.”

“As funny as it is to watch Deidra put you on your butt repeatedly, even I get bored eventually,” Mon explains. “Plus, hanging out with Echo in the forge is pretty relaxing. It’s always warm so it’s a nice nap spot, and the way she mutters is adorable. It’s like she’s in a trance or something.”

“What have I told you about saying stuff like that?” Echo blurts out.

“What stuff?” Mon says as she leans over her bunk and down to Echo. Poking Echo with her finger as she continues speaking. “The trance stuff, or the nap spot? Oh, yeah I shouldn’t have given that away. They’ll try to steal it now.”

“I believe your location is safe,” Deidra reassures with a chuckle. “Crimson and myself don’t often take naps.”

Mon nods her head happily before flopping down prone into Echo’s lap, eliciting a look of surprise and possibly a silent yelp from the girl.

“On top of the whole boredom thing I know nothing about swords,” Mon explains. “My time is used way better as nap time.”

“I’m sure you could teach Crimson something, hand to hand combat maybe?” Echo says as she leans over Mon. “Deidra and I have specific styles but Crimson is pretty flexible. Anything would help him, like literally anything.”

Mon begins to toss and turn before ending up on her back staring at the roof of Echo’s bunk.

“Fine, when we get back I’ll help Crimson. Only if you make me a nap spot near your forge!” Mon assents. “Deal?”

Echo nods at the agreement, already pulling out a piece of paper to begin sketching.

“So what’ll you be teaching me!” Crimson asks excitedly.

Instead of answering Mon shrugs and begins pointing out features to Echo, whom quietly adjusts her design to Mon’s suggestion.

“I believe that’s all you’ll get out of her tonight,” Deidra says with a slight snicker. “Naps seem to be more important than you to her.”

“Wow, you think so?” Crimson says with sarcasm as he looks down at her. “Truly, your insight is remarkable.”

“Why thank you.” She says with an exaggerated bow.

Crimson rolls his eyes at the expression before laying his head on his pillow with a tired huff, and within minutes he drifts off followed closely by his team.