About an hour later, Brant sat crosslegged in the grass, sheltered from the midday sun by the shadow of the Stingray's wing. He chomped down on a bland but nourishing sandwich with wavy green leaves of lettuce peeking out from between the slices of bread. A thick slice of Innutukian antelope meat sat in the middle, its age negating all but its heartiness. Only a single dash of mayonnaise had been added to the meat to give it any flavor, though Brant had in reality only splashed it on to combat the food's dryness somewhat. 

Brant glanced up at Hannah, who hungrily chomped down on a similar sandwich, though she had taken the extra effort to toast her bread. In addition, a red sauce dripped from under the lettuce and covered her fingers. The girl grinned at Brant upon meeting his gaze. 

He returned the smile for a second before glancing at the others sitting under the Stingray's shadow. Aaron sat a little ways away, an open box of crackers and a jar of peanut butter before him. Sila knelt beside him. 

The robot systematically grabbed two crackers from the box, scooped a perfect teaspoon of peanut butter from the jar, and created a cracker sandwich. Once finished with its creation, the robot handed it off to Keira, who laid on her back in the grass and gratefully consumed them with a casual air. Aaron did much the same for Wendy. 

Baird and Khemera reclined a little farther off, leaning against one of the Stingray's support legs. They both also ingested similar sandwiches to Brant's. Khemera's nonchalance contrasted with Baird's visible dissatisfaction. With a roll of his eyes, the swordsman crawled across the grass, moved the bread aside, and flung some peanut butter down onto the exposed meat. He took a bite and shrugged before heading back. 

Brant cast a quick glance into the distance, where Ace stood and smoked in the open plain. He had been sitting among them, but once he had lit a cigarette, Wendy had fallen into a violent coughing fit. Aaron had begged him to leave, and that he had. 

"So," Aaron spoke, shattering the silence and snatching Brant from his thoughts, "how's everyone feeling?" 

"We're all together for the first time in forever, so I ain't complainin'!" Hannah answered cheerfully. 

Aaron grinned as he stuffed another cracker in Wendy's mouth, a little before she was quite ready. "Yeah, that's awesome." 

"Feels like the calm before a storm, if you ask me." Keira remarked. She plucked a blade of grass and studied it. Then she waved Sila's offer of another bite away. 

Brant nodded. "I'm feeling that, too." 

"Well, again, if it's a calm, I ain't complainin'." Hannah said. 

Aaron nodded. Then he craned his neck to eye Baird. "Say, you wanna tag along with us? We'll definitely have room." 

Baird cast a quick glance at Khemera. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. We're just biding our time until we can get back home." 

"Oh, right." he replied, pausing for a thoughtful moment. "I hope Abby's doing well...and the baby. You know if it's gonna be a boy or girl yet?" 

Baird shook his head. "Still just a little too early. We're hoping to find out next checkup." 

"Ah, gotcha." After another long pause, he asked, "Any name ideas?" 

"Tons, actually." the swordsman replied with a chuckle. "I have a lot I like, but Abby's just a little pickier. She doesn't like the prospect of our kid sharing a name with a character she's played." 

Aaron threw his head back and chortled. "So no Danielle Von Cleiberns. Dang." 

The men shared a moment of laughter before Baird's face straightened a bit and he leaned forward to view Wendy. "We are actually considering Gwen. In honor of what you did for Abby." 

Wendy's face softened, and she placed a hand over her chest. "Aww, that's adorable, and I'm bloody chuffed!" 

Baird exchanged a smile with her before leaning back again. "On the boys' side of things, she doesn't like Aaron too much, but Aiden's a happy medium." 

Aaron flashed teeth at Baird and laughed. "That's awesome. I'm honored you think so highly of me." 

He shrugged. "It was only one of many options, so you can calm down now." 

Again, the two men shared a bout of laughter. 

Brant's attention was snatched out of the conversation he had been silently witnessing when a group of Kemarian men settled down in the grass beside him. They held paper bowls in their hands, filled with noodles swimming in a thin broth. Vegetables dotted the dish. 

He overheard the men loudly lamenting to one another about the thinness of supplies, and how they had to preserve their dwindling store of tasty commodities like vegetables and seasonings. 

"It's a shame how those barbaric Innutukian warmongers treat us." declared one of the men, meeting Brant's eyes, though his tone indicated the words weren't directed at him. "Like we're simple peasants, fighting an aimless war against an undefeatable enemy." 

"I agree!" shrieked another Kemarian around the steaming noodles draped from his mouth. "They really look down on us." 

"Exactly. So frustrating." the first man agreed. He stirred his bowl, but didn't even bother to take a bite. "I swear, they have such weird, strict customs, too! Wake up at this time, go to bed at this time, eat your meals here, and drop your waste there. Tie your shoes in 53 seconds, blink your eyes every 7, and you can only cough every 4 hours." 

The men burst into laughter. "A bit hyperbolic, I'm afraid," said a third soldier with a patchy beard and a sunburn atop his bald head, "But amusing, nonetheless." 

"I'm not sure how hyperbolic it actually is." the first soldier muttered. 

A fourth Kemarian, this one a middle-aged woman, cleared her throat. "You know, I really do think a big part of their looking down on us traces back to our lack of leadership. Ever since we lost her highness, the closest thing we've had to a leader is fear." 

"Well, fear, yes, but also that Tracken-whatever character. He seems to think just because we don't have our own leader, that we're automatically required to fall under his command." the bald soldier said. 

"If you really think about it," spoke a fifth man with a freckled face, "they kinda have a point. If we did have a leader, we wouldn't be here complaining right now, as there would be no power void for that 'Tuki general to fill." 

"Be realistic." the woman said, "Who could possibly replace her honor?" 

"Aaron?" The bald man suggested, sparking a moment of hearty chuckling. 

Brant glanced at Aaron, who obliviously whispered in his sister's ear. Thank goodness, for their sakes. 

The freckled man smirked and eyed Wendy across the way. "Or the 'Lashi lass." 

After another explosion of mirth, the first soldier to have spoken met Brant's eye again. "Being candid, though, you wouldn't be too bad." 

Brant raised an eyebrow as all the Kemarians in the huddle voiced their agreement. "Me?" 

"Yeah, you! You have leadership skills lots of people would kill for." 

Brant felt his cheeks flush and his throat tighten. "I beg to differ." 

The man smirked. "Beg all you want. I was in the division who went with you to confront those Alcontean bastards back at the Iron Skeleton. Sure, we didn't win the battle overall, but we made impressive advances, and your leadership was what held it all together." 

"Not only that," the bald-headed Kemarian chimed in, "but I've been around a while, and I've seen how you commanded the Alcontean troops before you even joined us, and you were bloomin' efficient." 

Brant shrugged. "I don't deserve to be trusted with such authority. It was my arrogance that brought the Insurgence this low, and yet you would have me to lead it now? No way." 

"Sounds like redemption to me." the Kemarian woman declared, "It sounds truly beautiful." 

"I guess I can see that." Brant said, "I just can't help but think there're better candidates." 

"Sometimes, it takes a man of failure to lead his people to what he desires most." 

Brant nodded. "Success." 

******************** 

Keira sat up in her sleeping bag with a groan and stretched her aching back. She rubbed her eyes in the darkness. Aaron's snores dominated the room, the very reason she hadn't been able to fall back asleep after a nightmare. She'd awakened him twice to get him to stop, but every time, he only took a few minutes to fall back into a noisy slumber. 

Keira sighed and squinted into the darkness. She swept her gaze over the spot where Sila sat with its metal back leaned against the wall. "What time is it?" she whispered. 

"Four o'clock, morning." the robot replied in its lowest volume setting. 

The green-eyed brunette hung her head and exhaled again. No more sleep for you, I guess. she told herself. Least you can do is get some fresh air. 

Keira snaked out of her sleeping bag and rose to her feet. She grimaced when her toes met the cold wooden floor. She recoiled her foot at first, but then realized there would be no fresh air for her if she didn't make the sacrifice. With a deep breath, she committed to stepping across the frigid surface. 

The floorboards only creaked minimally as Keira made her way across them to the exit. She twisted the knob as quietly as she could and slipped through the door. With an almost imperceptible thump, she shut it behind herself. 

The hallway beyond lacked any light. Keira groped her way down until she found a familiar coat rack where her jacket waited. She pulled it over her shoulders, slipped her arms through the sleeves, and grinned at the familiar warmth. Reaching down, she found her boots and slipped them on. 

With a little more fumbling, Keira found the balcony door. She grasped the handle, slid it aside, and widened her eyes at the sight that lay beyond. 

A brass candlestick sat atop the railing beside General Trackenkaken, who stood with his back to the door. He glanced back at the sound of Keira's footsteps, his face illuminated with the warm, flickering glow. He held a dagger in one hand and a sharpener in the other. 

The Innutukian acknowledged the brunette with a nod. "Good morning, Keira." 

Keira raised an eyebrow. "Good morning, Tracken—okay, I'm gonna have to shorten that. I'm not saying that every time. I'm calling you Track from now on." 

A hint of a smile graced the corners of his mouth. "Yes ma'am, Track it is." 

"Anyway, you're up early." Keira remarked. 

"Not really. I'm always up at this time." 

She laughed. "That doesn't make it any less crazy. Why would you even want to do that?" 

"I find it fulfilling to get about my business even before the sun does. While the world slumbers around me, I get a head start on my tasks." 

"I guess that's an interesting way to look at it. But I treasure my sleep." 

"Most people do." 

Keira took a place at the general's side and leaned against the railing. "I find it odd you didn't even bother to ask why I'm up, when I clearly don't want to be." 

He shrugged and swiped his blade over the sharpener, two movements for each side. "I see no reason to ask, since it's already your intention to tell me." 

"Well, I'm sleepless, and my brother snores. Like, a lot." 

The general ran his thumb over the blade. He tightened his lips at it before focusing his gaze on Keira again. "It seems you want me to ask you questions. I guess I'll oblige. Why're you sleepless?" 

"Nightmares." 

"Nightmares..." he echoed, "And what do you see in them?" 

Keira shuddered, both from the chilling morning air, and the memory of the nocturnal terrors. "I see...myself. Sitting in the darkness of my cell, waiting to be removed for another bout of attending to the pleasure of a laughing fiend. And then, like a pendulum, the dream shifts to a completely different scene." 

Track began another swipe of his knife, but stopped midway. He leaned forward. "What's the other scene?" 

"An old woman, sitting by herself on a park bench. A dog sitting at her feet, more interested in the people passing by than his own master. And I don't know how, but somehow I know this old lady never intended to be there alone. But her heart and body both have been passed around from man to man, and now, nobody wants her in the end. Then the pendulum swings back around, and I see the first scene again." 

Track's eyes showed concern as he stared into hers. She shuddered violently now, and seeing that, he removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Goosebumps immediately erected themselves on his exposed arms, but ignoring that, he patted the garment down over Keira. 

"That sounds...terrifying." he said, his voice sounding lost. "I'm sorry you have to endure such visions of the night." 

Keira sniffled. "Do you believe dreams have any correlation with reality?" 

Track inhaled. Then he released a long breath, sending a plume of misty vapor into the air. "I'm personally unsure. It's said among my people that dreams are the brain's way of evaluating our current state. They...often present us an abstractified image of our situation, allowing us to view it with new eyes." 

"Well, that's comforting." she muttered with a roll of her eyes. 

The two fell into silence for a few minutes. When a gust of wind blew the candle out, Track immediately unpocketed a lighter and rekindled it. 

In the warm glow of the renewed candle, Keira noticed something peculiar about his left hand. In contrast to the Innutukian's sun-kissed complexion all around, the fourth finger on his left hand bore a ring of pale skin, right above his knuckle. Curiosity rose up in her mind, and even though politeness screamed otherwise, she felt compelled to seek an answer. 

"A bit random, I know, but does a ring on that finger mean the same thing where you're from as it does here?" 

Track swallowed visibly. "It does." 

Keira pouted, and her face softened. "So you've lost someone too..." Her voice trailed off. 

"Yes." 

"Did you lose her on the battlefield?" 

The general shook his head. "Our women rarely fight, and she was no exception. She just...wasn't who I thought she was." 

Keira bit her lip. With a sigh, she placed her hand on his forearm. "I'm sorry." she said softly, "I can sympathize with that." 

"What do you mean?" Track asked, a line deepening in his brow. 

"I...lost a boyfriend myself. He abandoned me for greener pastures a while ago. So I kinda know what it's like." When a moment of silence prevailed, she added, "Again, sorry for even bringing it up." 

He shrugged. "At least it has some relevance to our previous discussion, I guess. See, I woke up many nights from dreams of her being untrue, and me discovering it. But I regarded them as only fantasies. I was a fool in love." 

Keira gave him a grim smile. "I've been there." 

Track blinked hard two times. Then he sniffled. "The heart is an odd thing. It can be burnt so badly, and yet turn around to crave love, the very same intoxicating potion that hurt it at the first." 

With a deep breath, Keira draped her arm around him. After a moment's hesitation, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I know." she said quietly, "It's odd indeed." 

The two stood and watched the sun just beginning to peek its golden head above a plateau on the horizon. They spoke no more, but remained close as dawn broke.

******************** 

A/N: Well, that was a fun one to write, for sure. Got some nice character moments in that first half, and then adding even more to Keira and Track's budding...acquaintanceship? I dunno what you personally prefer to call it, but if you want to let me know, I know you will. 😉😆 

Now, I'm aware this is Friday, and not one of my normal update days, but since my story The Unmarked Swordsman is done posting and there's a slight gap between that book and its sequel, I decided I'd fill the time this morning by posting a chapter here. And let's face it: I don't think anybody will have cause to complain. 😂 

(If you enjoyed the chapter, if you haven't already, please remember to vote and comment. Thanks!) 

So, speaking of Keira, any thoughts on her at the moment, or on that scene in general? 

And for a random question: What's something you're proud of? 

(We can all bring something to the table there, right? I guess I'm proud of my writing productivity in general, my constant churning out of new material, and more specifically, finishing my first draft of the Unmarked Swordsman sequel yesterday with a plot twist that got my heart beating as I realized the possibilities it unlocked. So yeah.) 

Have an amazing rest of your day, or if it's late enough, sleep well! I'll still be posting on Saturday and Sunday as well, so this isn't a replacement, but an augmentation. See you there, hopefully!