Too many days. Too many white slopes.

"Yo, dude, I said papers." Prodded a guard.

"Oh yeah." Dove patted himself down. "Ah-"

"Don't have them?" The guard sounded unimpressed. "You can't enter the settlement if you don't have papers."

"I know, I just. I came from the Wall." Dove glanced at the silent droid. Thank golly he and her talked about how to keep their cover in the harbor town. No need to have them both scrapped if they accidentally found out about her.

"How many days ago were you at the wall?"

"Three days ago."

"Dude. The wall is like only a day away if you walk the entire way. What took you so long?"

"Poor health."

The guard prodded his armor with his rifle. "You ever think about ditching this…"

"Armor."

"Armor, yes." The guard prodded it again. "Well, sorry man, I can't let you into the settlement without the proper papers."

The sentry post door creaked open, and a visor-covered face leaned out of it. "What's the hold up, rookie?"

"Ma'am, this man doesn't have the proper identification."

She sighed. "I'll take care of it. Follow me."

Dove plodded in the snow after her, a good hundred feet away from the other guard. "Sorry about this ma'am."

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I don't care. Supposedly, the brass wants us to kill those who haven't sworn into a settlement or into service, but I get the feeling that you're not going to use all of that." She pointed at the grimm mask Penny was dragging around. The massive bone mask.

"No, I'm not. I just want to make a new mask for myself, and was planning on giving the rest to the smith in return for his labor."

"Right, right. He won't be able to use it all, trust me." She nudged him. "So, what happened to the old mask?"

"Gave it to someone who needed it more than I did."

"Ooo, aren't you a softie~"

Dove grumbled. "Yeah sure. We have an agreement, or not?"

"Sure we do, sugar. I'm 435." She stuck out her hand.

Dove grabbed her hand and shook it. "Bird."

"No you ain't." She snickered. "What's your real name?"

Dove felt his hand slowly being crushed. "Dove."

"See, being honest wasn't that hard." She released his hand. "Well, a deal's a deal. Make sure to ask for me once you're in the town."

"Anything else? Not going to ask why I'm here?"

Her laugh chimed like a bell. "Sure. Why are you here?"

"I came here to work for one F. Monger."

She burst out laughing uncontrollably. "That's the moniker he came up for himself? Pfft, jeez." She wiped a tear away from under her visor. "Crikey. You crazy kids. Really? That's what he chose?"

Dove sighed. "Yep."

"Alright. Get going then." She smacked his backside. "Alright, rookie, he got cleared!"

"Really?"

"Yep! Let him on through!"

The rookie raised the arm blocking the entry. "Enjoy your time in the Sock settlement."

"Sock?" Asked Dove with a confused expression.

"South Dock. Shortened to Sock."

"Fair enough. Have a good day."

"We cleared the guards?" Asked the droid, quietly.

"For now. But not for long. Got to keep a low profile if we want to make it to Vale."