For the first time in years, she didn't dream of running. Instead, Frea sat at the edge of an unending forest looking over an ocean. The chirping of birds felt so real to her. The calmness of the moment satisfying. She felt a presence next to her and tilted her head slightly to meet the gaze of another Hunter, wearing the same cape as she did and causally twirling a pistol in her hand. The woman smiled kindly and nodded. Frea didn't need words to know the huntress approved of her. The dream shifted then, and everything was engulfed in white light.

Her eyes snapped open. It took a moment for Frea to realize she was still on her jumphip, tucked away in her warm bed. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she rolled over and buried her head deeper into her pillow. But even then, she couldn't fall back asleep. The strange dream seemed to be burned into her mind.

"Guardian." Her Ghost appeared before her.

"Five more minutes," she groaned.

"You have patrols this afternoon, you'll be late." It blinked. "Are you alright?"

Frea rose up from her sheets, she shivered when her bare feet touched the metal floor. "Yeah, it's just the weird dreams again."

"About running?" It asked.

"No...it was something else." She shook her head and got up to stretch. "But anyway, what's going on today?"

"You need to visit Cayde-6 for assigned patrols."

The huntress chuckled and started to gather her armor off the floor. "If he's even around this early yet, he probably got wasted at the party as usual."

"You also have a total of 43 messages from Psyho, all of them involving the line 'you go, girl.' And one from Dex, he went ahead and gave the mission report to the Vanguard. He says to take it easy today," the Ghost added.

Frea let out a long sigh as she started to get dressed. No doubt the entire clan probably knows something is up between her and Shaxx now, especially after she didn't return last night. They do love their gossip.

Clipping the last bit of armor on, she bent down and picked up her cape. She went to swing it around her head like normally, but found herself hesitating when she gripped the white fabric. That dream felt too real. The Hunter that wore the same cape, could it have been...

"It needs some repairs," her Ghost said over her shoulder, catching her attention. "I still remember the day you received that cape."

"Yeah, me too," she said as she draped the fabric over her bed. "Do you know the legend of Ana Bray, Ghost?"

"Only what the Speaker and Lord Shaxx have told us."

"Hm..." Frea took out her sharpest knife and grabbed a needle from her work table. "She was a Gunslinger."

"Yes, a powerful one too." The Ghost landed on the pillow, staring with wonder.

The huntress took a seat on the mattress and started to carefully sew together the holes in the cape. This wasn't the first time she's had to fix bullet holes and tears in it, the material was covered with an array of patches, the stitching on the oldest ones rough and uneven. She wasn't very good at the skill in the beginning.

"Seems like almost all the famous Hunters are," she mumbled, almost laughing at herself. "I'm not a very good Gunslinger."

"No, you're better as a Bladedancer. Most would argue you are one of the strongest in recent history."

"Maybe." Frea tied off a loose thread. "But we barely ever hear about the Bladedancers, they were just as reclusive as the Nightstalkers before they died off."

Her Ghost was quiet for a moment. "Do you wish you were a Gunslinger like Ana Bray?" It hesitantly asked.

She looked up from her work in surprise. "No! I'm quite happy being what I am. I wouldn't change that for the world. Besides, planting an electric knife into an enemy's face is much more enjoyable than shooting them."

"I see." The Ghost sighed in relief.

Frea finished the last patch and lightly ran her fingers over the neat stitches, inspecting her delicate work. "I kept this cape for so long because I wanted to be strong, like Ana, to help fulfill my vow. But now...I feel like I'm living under another's shadow."

Ghost blinked and drifted over to land on her knee. "Frea, this design may have belonged to another Hunter at one point but you've made it your own. You've made it mean more than just a symbol of Twilight Gap. It is the colors of the Guardian who has beaten the champions of the Hive, the Young Wolf who fought back the Fallen Splicers from the City, and the one who shut down the Black Garden single-handedly. You may not have heard of any powerful Bladedancers, but others have heard of you."

"Nicely said." A deep voice echoed from the front of the ship. Frea's gaze moved to the door to see Shaxx stepping into the room from the cockpit, already fully dressed in his armor. "Sorry, was finishing work up front and overheard," he commented.

Frea blushed, she didn't realize he was still here. "N-no, it's fine. You just overheard my greatest worry...which is only mildly embarrassing."

Shaxx walked away from the doorway, his weight on the bed bounced the small huntress as he took a seat next to her. "I didn't tell you about Ana last night to compare you to her," he said.

"I know, its just..." She gazed up at the Titan. "Is it egotistical of me to want to be remembered when I'm gone?"

"This world we live in is a hard one." A sad smile crossed his lips. "Sometimes the only thing that keeps us going are our stories and legends. They inspired you, did they not? Where would we be without the Guardians that carved their names into history?" He took her hands into his and squeezed. "Your Ghost is right, Twilight Gap was a very long time ago. We haven't forgotten it and those who died to protect the City. But that emblem on your cape no longer represents the Hunter that once donned it. I think Ana Bray would have been rather happy that it continues to live on in new light."

"You also have your clan," her Ghost added. "They will never forget you."

Frea smiled. "That's true."

Shaxx stood up and took her arm, pulling her with him. He swung the cape over her head and anchored it to her armor. Once finished, his hands slipped to her waist and he bent down to seal her lips with a long kiss. "And I won't forget you either," he whispered when they parted.

She gripped his forearm tightly. "Promise?"

Instead of replying her kissed her again, this one more passionate than the last. He sighed when they finally separated. "As much as I'd love to stay for the rest of the morning, I have to give Zavala a debrief on the mission yesterday."

"Yeah, and I have to go talk to Cayde for patrols." She pouted.

He planted a few kisses into her hair. "See you at the Vanguard office later then?"

"I'll be there."

Frea found Cayde-6 alone in his usual spot at the top of the Tower, hovering over his map but looking like he was day-dreaming more than studying it.

"Cayde," she called on her approach, directing his attention away.

"Frea!" The Exo straightened with his arms spread wide. "That party your clan threw last night was the best one yet. Though, you should really talk to Sain about getting rid of that Poker ban."

Frea lightly laughed. "I'll see what I can do. How was the mission report this morning?"

"Exciting as usual," Cayde said, his tone noticeably dropping into sarcasm. "I imagine the Hive nest was fun but your clanmate, Dex, made it sound like the most boring thing in the world."

"To be fair, it did nearly kill us."

He dismissively waved his hand, grinning. "Ah, small details. Besides you're here now, are you not?"

"Alright, Cayde." The huntress sighed, furrowing her brow. "Got my patrols for me?"

"Yeah, yeah." He picked up a tablet from the table and held it out for her. She grasped it but he didn't let go, instead, he yanked her closer to him. "So, I couldn't help but notice you run after Shaxx and not return to the party last night," he whispered.

Frea felt her chest clench up, she hoped it didn't show on her face. "I-I just wanted to thank Lord Shaxx, and then retired early for the night."

"Really..." Cayde's grin widened. "Because those bags under your eyes say otherwise."

"I do hope you don't tease all your Hunters like this, Cayde." A voice sounded above Frea's head.

The Exo glanced up and immediately let go of the tablet, making Frea step backward and bump into the large figure directly behind her. "Just having a bit of fun, Shaxx. No need to get your horns in a twist." Cayde's gaze moved back to the flustered huntress. "I gave you the easy patrols today as a little thanks from the Vanguard."

"Indeed." Commander Zavala entered the room next with Ikora following behind him. "We just finished reviewing the last details about your mission with Shaxx. You did good, Frea."

"Uh...thank you, sir." Frea stepped away to give the Titans some space. "But the credit should go to my clan, they did most of the work after all. I was just the one who needed rescuing."

Zavala exchanged a glance with Shaxx before turning his attention back to her. "Perhaps. But from what I've heard you were the one who risked their life to save a comrade, and even go so far as to send your Ghost away to map out the nest for your team. That..." He placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Is worthy of praise. Will a few boxes from the Vanguard armory for you and your clan suffice?"

"Loot." Cayde winked at her. "Loot is good."

"They would greatly appreciate that, I'm sure," the huntress said.

"Excellent, we'll leave you to go prep for you patrols then. The crates will be sent to your clan by the end of the day," the Commander replied.

"Thank you again, sir." After a quick bow, Frea headed toward the exit. She felt a pair of eyes burning into her back and stopped just in the doorway to catch Shaxx watching her. He gave her a subtle nod of his head when their gazes met and then turned back to the table. A warm feeling spread through her chest as she smiled and left for the hanger.

"Anyone care to toast?" Sain lifted his glass.

The Tower was quiet that breezy night. After her patrols, Frea ran into her fireteam from the Hive nest. They decided to hold a small drinking party for just the six of them on the plaza stairs overlooking the Traveler.

"To what exactly?" Dex asked.

"I prefer these sort of gatherings over the parties everyone insists on having. I can actually hear myself think," Kannon commented.

"Yeah." Frea agreed. "Me too."

"Speaking of the party." Timus locked eyes with the huntress. "Where'd you run off to, Frea?"

"Nowhere in particular, right?" Psyho bumped her elbow into Frea's side with a laugh.

"How long are you guys going to tease her about this?" Dex cut in, leaning against the railing.

"Oh come on, Dex." Timus patted the Warlock's shoulder. "All's fair in love and war."

Dex sighed in annoyance. "I wasn't saying that out of jealousy."

"Well, I'm jealous," Psyho said loudly and nearly knocked Frea over as the titaness clung to her. "Lord Shaxx is one hell of a catch."

Frea nervously laughed. "Psyho, what about Kannon?"

"Oh, I quite agree." Kannon giggled. "I could stare at that man for days."

Laugher spread across the group, the sound danced on the wind into the City below.

"Never change, you guys," Sain said.

"Here's a toast." Dex raised his glass. "To always having each others' backs no matter the odds. To comrades, clanmates, and most of all..." He locked eyes with Frea. "To friends."

"Cheers!" They all spoke in unison and clicked their glasses together.

Frea smiled wide. Moments like this made her happy to be alive, to be given this second chance at a new life. She looked out over the Last City and to the Traveler shining like a beacon in the sky. Her legend was far from over.

To be continued in Part II: The Red War...