Chapter Ten: Reborn, Reforged

It was late that same night that Rend awoke to hear noise. He opened his eyes and looked around, and saw Sever, Reaver, Cutter, and Sentinel sleeping. Hunter was gone, but Rend had seen him heading back for the 'valley' after all discussion had ended. He'd been meditating a lot lately. Rend briefly mused that he must be about to discover something truly wonderful, then turned to the task at hand. With all males accounted for, that left Scout. Getting up, Rend followed the noises to a spot a few yards away where the archer Warforged had set up a practice target of sorts, namely a mound of dirt, now resembling a porcupine on high defense.

"Can't sleep?" he asked when she paused.

"No." Scout sighed, and Rend approached to put a hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" must to his alarm, she let her bow slip from her fingers to the ground and leaned against him. "Scout?" She was starting to worry him. She seemed to want to speak, but nothing came out. "Does this have to do with last night?" She paused, then nodded, and Rend looped his arm around her shoulders. "I wanted to thank you for what you said, and for knocking some sense in to me. You've got a great swat." She meekly pushed at his chest.

"That's not funny."

"Look, Scout, I'm a stubborn, single-minded lump of adamantine. I couldn't see the truth of the matter even though it was right in front of my eyes. You showed it to me, and I owe you for that." Rend turned her to face him directly. "Is that why you couldn't sleep and decided to turn that pile of dirt into a pincushion?"

"Yes." Scout couldn't quite meet his eyes.

"Well, don't let it worry you anymore, okay? If you need to hear it, I forgive you, though there's nothing to forgive. You actually did me, and a young girl and her mother, a world of good." That got a small smile.

"I guess I did need to hear it. Thanks, and I'm sorry I hurt you."

"Just a sting. I was more shocked than anything." He gave her another hug. "Why don't you go rest, and I'll take care of your porcupine over there." Scout laughed and gave him a playful bat on the arm, before heading back to the fire to lay down. Rend chuckled, picking up her quiver and bow, and beginning to fill it up. He'd just finished when he thought he heard a noise. A soft one, like a gasp, followed by several muffled thumps. Somewhat alarmed, he moved towards the noise slowly, not knowing if it was friend or foe. A soft sigh, coming from the valley, increased his concern.

"Hunter?" he called at a soft hiss' volume as he skirted the camp and approached the edge. "Hunter!"

"I'm here, Rend," Hunter replied, his voice soft and wondering from down in the dip. "And I'm glad you're here as well." Hesitantly Rend peeked over the edge, then scrambled down in alarm, eyes wide, when he saw Hunter standing there, alone, with bits of adamantine armor and Warforged components scattered around him.

"Hunter?" The silver 'Forged turned, and Rend received a shock.

All of Hunter's armor was gone! It lay scattered about, along with all his embedded components. Instead the archer looked like those who favor casting or roguedness, with no composite plating in what they called Unarmored. But as far as Rend knew, being Unarmored was chosen by the crafting artificers at creation. You couldn't simply become so.

Hunter's chuckle broke into Rend's thoughts.

"You look surprised," he said gently.

"I am. I mean – look at you!" Rend circled once. "Y – you're unarmored! But you weren't before."

"Rend, is it so odd to think that when a person's outlook, his inside being, changes, that his outside wouldn't change as well." Hunter gave a happy sigh. "Oh Rend, this is a wonderful thing. I feel, more than ever before. I'd almost even swear," he added with a chuckle, "I could nearly feel a heartbeat."

"What – happened?"

"I was meditating, when I suddenly realized something. Something so – so wondrous – about life that it stunned me, then filled me with an incredible mix of emotions. I wanted to shout and laugh and cry and scream all at the same time. Then, all of the sudden, a wave of – something, I don't really know what to call it washed over me, and my armor, well..." He looked around. "Fell off." Rend could only stare, gaping. "This transformation...It's changed me, Rend, more than just on the outside. I feel just about like when I first stepped from the creation forge in Sharn. I guess other races would say I've been reborn...no." Hunter began to pace. "No, reborn isn't the right word. Warforged aren't born, were created, forged..." He stopped pacing and grinned. "I've been... Reforged. In fact, that's what I'll call this way of being that brought me to this place. Reforged, a second creation for a Warforged who embraces his life." Rend had to laugh, happy for Hunter.

"I like it, Hunter. But what do we do about..." He nudged a bit of armor with his foot.

"I'll sell it, and use the money to buy clothing and new armor more suitable to my new life." He was so joyful that it infected Rend too.

"It must've been wonderful."

"Oh, it was. And you'll find out for yourself, Rend. Of that I have no doubt."

"Huh?"

"You're progressing so nicely, you'll Reforge yourself soon." Hunter beamed at getting to use his new word in context for the first time. "You're my best student, as it were, after all."

"I am?"

"Yes, you are. Now, if you will please help me with these armor pieces, as I've got some purchases to make and intend to be back by tomorrow - " He paused and laughed as he saw the sun starting to lighten the sky. "Make that by tonight." Rend helped him gather the pieces up, and soon was watching Hunter depart, his friend whistling a very happy tune.