Sort of ran into a little writer's block, but I'm finally out of the rut.

5 felt the stitching on his patch while the others chatted. It had been a while since they used the talisman on 1 and was beginning to wonder how much longer it would take. 91 held a conversation with 9 and 7 while the twins listened attentively. 91 talked about her time out in the Emptiness and all she had seen. 5 shook off everything he had troubling him and focused on what 91 was saying "I'm telling you that the city is much bigger than what you managed to have seen in the past few days," 7 was skeptical "I haven't seen the entire city, but I doubt it could be as big as you say," 91 crossed her arms "Oh but it is. I once walked for four days without ever reaching the edge, just building after building," 5 spoke up before he could stop himself "In all that time you never saw other machines?" 91 thought for a moment "There were a few, but I managed to destroy them just a few days ago actually," 9 was both impressed and curious "How did you manage that on your own?" 91 made a comedic attempt to look smug "I'm just that good," 5 put a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing "Well anyway it's good to not have to run for my life for once," 7 silently agreed. A scratching noise from behind brought all of them to attention. The twins hid behind 7 thinking it was another threat that still remained. 5 looked carefully around when he noticed the small movement of 1's fingers. He grabbed 9 by the arm and pointed to 1 as the scratching continued. The group slowly moved toward the older stitchpunk, but stopped when they heard a groan. 5 slowly went over and knelt down next to 1. The older stitchpunk blinked a few times before he squinted to try and focus on the face staring at him. 1 saw one optic staring down at him with a brown leather patch and a smile on his face "…5?"

1 tried holding his head, but found that he could not move much of his body other than his head. The older stitchpunk sighed So this is how it feels like to be dead? 5 placed a hand on his shoulder "Take it easy 1 you're going to feel weak for a while so you need plenty of rest," 1 looked up at 5 with almost pinprick eyes "I'm not dead?" 5 smiled "Far from it," 1 tried to move again, but felt as if his body would not listen to him. 5 sat down "Didn't you hear me? You need rest we're safe now," 1 looked up at 5 and the others slowly coming from behind. 1 and 9 meet each other's glances "It's really over?" 1 said quietly. 9 smiled and nodded which 1 could only smile in return. 7 wanted to say something, but given their history together she wouldn't put it past him to begin some kind of spat with her, even in his current state. For now all she would offer him was a smile that would show her appreciation for what he did for them. 3 and 4 sat down on next to 1 opposite 5. The twins looked at 1 while the stubborn stitchpunk tried his best to avoid their gaze. 5 almost said something to 1 when he heard something he never thought 1 would ever say in the company of others "I'm sorry…" The twins smiled which was almost the opposite of 5,7 and 9's reactions leaving 91 confused as to what just those simple words meant to each of them.

The sun slowly rose over the horizon bringing in a new day and another chance to bring back one of their lost friends. 1 was sat on the corner of the bed sheet that hung all the way to the ground back in the bedroom. The First Room still had the scientist that lay dead in the middle of the floor and 1 couldn't bear to look at him any longer. As stubborn as he could be, he still tried not to move too much as 5 had said. 1 needed to rest especially since he was older than others, but it still surprised everyone that he could already sit up on his own after a nights rest. 3 and 4 popped out from under the bend and signaled to each other as they shook off some dust. 1 didn't pay much attention to them as the twins have been running around the large room for a while now and the last place they hadn't seen was under the bed. It had been quite a while since 5,7,9 and 91 all left to bring back 6 from the ravine. 1 still couldn't believe there was a chance for 6 to be recovered and the same could be said for 8. He never gave much thought whether 8 saw him as a friend or not, but he was a difficult being to figure out since it almost seemed he would have followed anyone's orders. Well friend or not, 8 was still by his side even when he wasn't the most pleasant one to be around.

5 and 7 placed the make shift rope of sheets down for a break. 9 stabbed 7's spear into the ground as 91 took one end of the makeshift rope "It was about time we switched," 5 brushed the comment off "Nonsense…I was starting to enjoy myself," 7 looked up to see how far the sun had moved "It hasn't been too long I suppose…we should get there soon," 91 placed the sheet over her shoulder "We'll know once we get there," 9 carried the sheet under his arm "Alright guys let's get 6," 7 grabbed her spear as 5 adjusted his quiver "Isn't it cumbersome to bring that along?" 7 asked 5 with a curious look. 5 almost laughed "Your one to talk… you brought your spear with you," 7 shrugged "Better safe than sorry," 5 pulled on the sash across his chest "And I won't know what we will need to recover 6," 7 smiled. 91 and 9 had already moved along knowing the other two will catch up. The repaired bridge was in sight and another step closer to 6. The rope looked big enough, but he still had the gut feeling something would go wrong. 91 tried not to bring attention to herself or be obvious about looking at her surroundings. Being alone out here for so long she had learned to trust her instincts especially when it felt like she was being watched. 5 and 7 came up behind the other two and it wasn't long before 7 felt the same eyes that were watching them.

Subject 91 still active…

Possible detection…

Awaiting orders to engage…

The group made it to the edge of the ravine as 9 scanned the cliff side for the familiar stripped artist. He finally spotted the glint from 6's key farther to his left and signaled everyone to follow him. 5 looked over the cliff and took out a couple of needles from his quiver and loaded one into his crossbow. He placed one end of the makeshift rope on the ground and aimed the crossbow to impale the needle through the sheet and into the ground. He loaded the next and did the same to secure the rope. 5 picked up the sheet and gave it a few good pulls to test how sturdy it was. When he was satisfied it would hold them up he turned to the others "Ok who wants to go get 6?" 9 immediately stepped up "I'll go," 7 stopped him "I don't think so 9, remember what happened with 1?" 9 took a moment to realize what she was saying "7 you don't have to go down there, what if something goes wrong?" 7 stabbed her spear into the ground and picked up the other end of the rope "Come on 9, 5 never builds something that can break," 5 didn't need to ask about their retrieval of 1, but he could guess something happened…something bad. 5 took off his quiver "9 is right 7, maybe it's better if I go," 7 put a hand on her hip "5 it's just going over a cliff no big deal," 9 and 5 shared a look that 91 could only guess as saying 'only her'. 5 guessed that if she could sever the head of The Beast in one swing then hanging from a cliff should be no big deal. 7 put a hand on 5's shoulder "Come on nothing bad will happen I promise," 7 began tying the bed sheet rope around her waist. Once she felt it was secure enough she looked over the edge and saw 6 right below her with his key stuck on a jagged rock. She turned around and held on to the rope "Well make sure I don't fall," and with a smile to a step back. 5 and 9 dove for the rope as 7 was in a freefall down the cliff face. The two stitchpunks held on to the bed sheet and slid nearly over the side only to be met with laughter coming from below. 5 and 9 got a good foot hold and began to slowly lower her down. 7 made it a third of the way down with that little stunt, but that still didn't stop that sour looks the other two would give her. 5 slowly slid the bed sheet from his hands "Now I know what 3 and 4 tried to tell me," 9 followed 5's rhythm "What do you mean?" 5 let out a small laugh "There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity and 7 likes to play with it," 9 was trying hard not to worry about 7 safety or about the dangerous stunt she just pulled, but 5 reacted everything exactly opposite with a smile and laugh. 9 guessed he was missing something about 7 that 5 knew.

Subject 7 retrieving Subject 6…

Orders: Capture Subjects 5,7 and 9…

Kill Subject 91…

Engage…

91 looked around once again getting the feeling of being watched. While 5 and 9 slowly lowered 7 down the cliff, 91 inspected the work on 7's spear which just seemed to be put together out of anything she had managed to find: wire, metal and if her guess is right, one of the sharp knives that were abundant in buildings called "Hospitals". 91 touched the staff and felt soft vibrations that she immediately noticed. She placed the side of her head to make sure it wasn't just her imagination. The rumbling grew faster until the ground in front of her cracked and shot a wave of dirt in her direction. 9 and 5 were startled enough to almost let 7 slip from her fingers. 91 ducked as the wave of dirt began to hit her and a long razor covered machine passed just over her head and dug itself back into the ground. 5 turned as he and 9 strained not to let go of the rope "What was that?!" 5 screamed. 91 pulled the spear from the ground and pointed the blade in front of her "No idea, but I pretty sure it doesn't want to talk," The ground began to crack to her left as the machine made its way toward her for another attack. Just as she prepared to time her attack, another snake like machine like the one before jumped from her right letting out a metal shriek as the sections of razors around its body spun in opposite directions. The lone red eye on locked onto its target as 91 attempted to dodge the machine, but in her horror realized it would reach her before she could get out of its path.