Somewhere in the distance a knocking sound brought Wren out of sleep and dreams of things that faded too quickly for her to hold onto. Sunlight filtered through the curtains of her little room, the flash of Kiran zooming by in the direction of the door. He peered through the peep hole and Wren waited for him to announce who it was, which would determine if it was worth getting up or if she should tell him to be quiet and pretend they weren't home.
"Sisre," he said quietly.
Wren groaned and rolled out of bed, pulling her blanket tight around her shoulders. She cracked the door, stifling a yawn. "Morning."
"You were still asleep?"
"Rough night."
"Well, get dressed. Cayde sent me after you. I'll wait out here. You hurry up," she said, leaning against the wall on the other side of the hall.
Wren abandoned the warmth of her blanket, dawning her armor and new holster. The Better Devils that belonged in it was in the Vault and although she couldn't wait to get her hands on it, sleep seemed preferable.
"What do you think he wants?" Wren asked, securing her cloak and attempting to smooth down her unruly, wavy hair. She really needed a brush.
"I can't say for sure, but he might be assigning you to a fireteam."
"Already?"
"It is pretty soon, but don't worry about it too much. You'll still be working alone a good bit of the time. Having a fireteam is necessary sometimes. You'll get used to them. Learn to work with them. It'll be fine."
"Will they be Hunters too?"
"Not necessarily. Zavala tries not to put together fireteams made of one class. Diversity is key. Everyone has something to bring to the table. Could be any mix of Titans, Hunters, or Warlocks."
Wren wasn't sure if she liked that. Hunters would understand the need to be alone. Or at least respect it. Getting close to a team sounded like what she wanted to avoid; friendship. Loss. Pain. What would she do if she got close to one of them and they were killed in action? There was no way of knowing how she'd react. How it would feel. Imagining it was far different than feeling it.
"Finally!" Sisre said when Wren joined her in the hall. "You Hunters sure like to take your sweet time, eh? At least you're not fussy about your hair."
Sisre playfully ruffled Wren's hair, to which the Hunter laughed and batted her hand away. Building repertoire; step one to developing friendship. Wren's smile faded. "So… Cayde?"
"Seems he has you in mind for a fireteam," Sisre replied, confirming what Kiran said. "I'm surprised he's putting you up for a team so soon, but who knows? Maybe you'll end up being his favorite."
Wren rolled her eyes as the Titaness chuckled. "And maybe the Traveler will fall from the sky and wipe out the City."
"Possible."
"Wait, what?"
"Nothing lasts forever. I think most of us have given that possibility a thought, but it's safer under the Traveler than it is beyond the wall."
"Well, that didn't go the direction I thought it would," Wren said dryly.
"Nah, I got what you meant. I was just messing with you."
"Anyway, how's Rorick?"
"He's fine," Sisre said, "for now, anyway. His Ghost, Brix, is still missing. Rorick insist he can feel Brix out there somewhere. That he's still alive. I'm not convinced but I don't want to give up either. I requested permission to return to the moon to search for Brix but Zavala's been busy and hasn't answered me yet. I'm hoping he gives me his answer when we get to the command center."
"What if you can't find Brix?"
"Then Rorick won't be a Guardian anymore. He'll be a civilian and he'll have to move within the walls and make his own way down there in the City. I don't think he'd do well as a civie."
"If you're given permission, I'd like to go with you."
"I'm going whether Zavala approves or not but sure, you can come with me if you want."
Wren and Sisre descended into the command center where a group of Guardians had already gathered with their respective Vanguard.
Beorn and Franzrick stood by Ikora, telling her something that by the look on her face, she doubted very much. Wren didn't know the Warlocks well, but from what she remembered about them from dinner at the spicy ramen shop, they were expressive. Their stories might have been grounded in truth, but they were also highly exaggerated. Still, Ikora's brow quirked, her lips curving into a knowing smile. She was amused by them.
A Hunter Wren didn't know stood beside Cayde, arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't as tall as Cayde, being a few inches shorter than the Vanguard. His face was thin and sharp with flawlessly smooth skin, drawn lips, and deep circles accentuating the paleness of his grey eyes. Short, messy black hair framed his face and overall his appearance gave her chills.
Wren took a place opposite the male Hunter, somehow feeling a little more at ease with Cayde between them. Sisre joined Zavala and a Titan Wren had to assume was Rorick since she'd not seen him without his helmet on. He was a little taller than Zavala, similar in build with an oval face, strong jaw, and ruddy skin. His hair was brown, close shaved, and his honey brown eyes were alert, observant.
"Now that everyone's here," Zavala began, quieting the others in the room, "it's come to my attention that we have an excess of Guardians without fireteams. We can't afford to have so many unassigned to a group. Due to recent events Sisre and Rorick are without a fireteam. They're who I am contributing to this team."
"Beorn and Franzrick have been without a fireteam for a few months. I was unable to find one that suited them, but I believe it's time for them to spread their wings. Yes, I think they'll fit in nicely," Ikora said, nodding.
"I've got uh, Flak and Finch," Cayde said, clapping a hand on Wren's shoulder.
"Wren," she sighed.
"Yeah, that. Anyway, she's new but she already knows your Titans. Fits. Flak here," Cayde said, his voice faltering when he looked at Flak, who returned the look with a blank expression. "Well he's a Hunter. Qualified."
Zavala's eyes narrowed. "Very well. Starting today, the six of you are now fireteam Cerulean. Rorick will be your fireteam leader, but it's possible that it's temporary. Your first mission is to search for his Ghost on the moon. More than that; you'll need to gather intelligence on the Hive. We need to know the extent of their expansion and what they're motives are. Provisions have been prepared and await you in the hanger. I expect you to leave immediately. Any questions? No? Good. Dismissed."
Wren watched the others drop from their ships and sling their packs over their shoulders. Teamwork was something that would come with time, as Kiran had so adamantly insisted on their way to the moon. He insisted that they had a good foundation because Beorn and Franz, as well as Sisre and Rorick, had been part of fireteams before. They'd fought together, ate together, grown together. If the four of them could get along, find a way to mesh, their team stood a chance to bond.
If only Wren could put aside the fear to get too close to them. Kiran wouldn't come right out and say so, but he suggested that if she didn't bond with them, she could be the weak link in their armor. It felt too forced and yet… she liked them. Forced or no, she felt it was bound to happen, even if she wasn't ready to fold to it yet. It was Flak she wasn't sure of.
He'd kept to himself while they'd worked to load up their supplies, refusing to interact with them. Franzrick had already been muttering things under his breath and although Wren couldn't hear what he was saying, the way he darted his eyes at Flak she had to assume it was about the Hunter.
"Listen up," Rorick said. "Night and day aren't easily distinguishable here so be sure to keep up with the time. We might be here for a while, but it's important to keep a schedule. Zavala is expecting a report in three hours. That gives us time to get to the base and set up camp. We might have to clear out some Fallen but that shouldn't be a problem."
Wren noticed Flak's eyes narrow at Rorick, his thin jaw clenched, but he said nothing. He didn't wait on Rorick either. His Ghost flashed in his palm, summoning his sparrow. Before the others had a chance to do the same, Flak was headed up the hill.
"What a prick," Sisre grumbled.
"Weak link," Kiran whispered for only Wren to hear.
"Don't concern yourself with him," Rorick said, his sparrow materializing before him.
The team mounted their sparrows; intricate, well maintained machines while her own was an eyesore. It seemed every time she looked at it, more of the green paint was flecked off.
"Hey, I remember that sparrow," Beorn chuckled.
"Me too," said Franz. "Had some good times on that thing."
"What?" Wren asked, feeling the paint chip under her, catching on her armor.
"We had that starter sparrow too," Beorn explained. "I had it first and Franzrick painted it green when he had it but he didn't use the right kind of paint. That's why it looks like that. Brings back memories."
"Alright, grandpa, time to hop off memory lane," Franz said. "They're already way ahead of us."
With that, Franzrick sped off, blue flames spouting from the back of his sparrow. Beorn followed, leaving Wren alone with Kiran.
"You should get going too," he said, disappearing from over her shoulder.
Wren glanced over her shoulder to the Earth one last time before racing to catch up to the others. It was a far different feeling riding in a group. She caught up with Beorn and Franzrick, falling in behind them. There seemed to be a wild pulsing energy around them; as if riding so closely with them, anticipating their dodging movements over rocks and craters was second nature. It was as if she could feel them, their energies. Was it the Light or was it her own emotions bubbling to the surface, making her feel connected to the moment?
The base grew every larger as they closed the distance, Rorick, Sisre, and Flak already toting their supplies up the ramp. Fallen could be seen farther away, at another building away from the main tower. The sparrows of the other teammates were gone by the time Wren, Beorn, and Franz arrived, their own sparrows shimmering away before they reached the top of the ramp.
Sisre set up her sniper rifle in the far opening, calibrating to take out the Fallen, no doubt. Rorick organized the supplies as Beorn and Franzrick handed them over, placing bed rolls, food rations, and jugs of water in neat piles out of the way. Flak stood in another window, facing the direction they had just come from.
"Wren," Rorick said, taking her bag, "you and Flak should go to the building to the south and check it out. Clear it if anything's in there. I don't want Hive or Fallen setting up camp that close to us. Bring back any supplies you find."
"Sure," Wren nodded after a moment's hesitation. He was her fireteam leader. How much choice did she have?
Flak said nothing. He strode past her, descending the ramp without waiting. Franz nudged Wren's elbow with his own, his odd colored eyes locking with hers. If she needed him, all she'd have to do was call. Somehow, she just knew it, but she also knew she wouldn't. She was the smallest. The newest. She still had a lot to prove.
The building they were tasked to search was close enough they could walk to it. She caught sight of Flak's cloak as he turned behind a boulder. She kept wide of it, paranoid that he would jump out at her. But he didn't. He was already inside, the faint glow of his Ghost illuminating the interior of the building.
Inside was barred, devoid of life. Broken control panels lay open, wires sticking out like colorful worms. Kiran lit up close to her right cheek, his light falling on the first set of panels while Flak moved on to the next room.
"Looks like the Fallen have already taken everything useful," Kiran grumbled, scanning the destroyed machines. "But I don't think anyone's here. Move on."
Wren passed through the doorway into a second area. Flak had found a tattered map, his Ghost speaking quietly, his light shining through the thin paper. Flak glared at Wren, his Ghost barely peeking around his Guardian's head.
"What do you make of this?" Flak asked. His voice was flat, monotone almost.
Wren approached him and keeping her distance, she leaned in to get a better look. The terrain seemed to lay out the base and surrounding areas but there were strange symbols and scrawling, illegible handwritten notes. An ace of spades was stamped in the corner. "Not sure exactly but I think it's Cayde's."
"I can see that," Flak said. "A fool could have deduced that. What else?"
Her face burned red. "I… I don't know."
Flak folded the map and stuck it in his pocket. "I think you know, you just won't tell me. This is a map of one of his stashes isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Why would I know that?"
"You're really clueless, aren't you?" he asked, tilting his head. "I thought you'd know more, seeing you're close enough for him to have given you that."
Flak glanced down to the Better Devils on her hip and her fingers grazed it instinctively. "Well, you've got it all wrong. I hardly know Cayde. The gun was an apology."
He scoffed. "Sure it was."
"Ignore him," Kiran said quietly. "Let's get back. Nothing's here."
"I don't know where you're getting the idea that somethings' going on between Cayde and me, but you're wrong," Wren shot back.
"The idea? Well, let's see…" Flak said, backing her into the console. "Besides the gun, why'd he pick you for this team? You're a tiny little runt. What good could you do for us?"
"Flak, maybe we should go." Flak's Ghost said, peering around his Guardian's head. The Hunter's eyes narrowed, Wren's jaw clenched.
After a moment locked in a stare with Flak, he turned and left, his Ghost hanging back a moment before disappearing as well. Wren exhaled, her fists unclenching. What the hell was that about?
"You should tell Rorick what happened. Flak was completely out of line," Kiran buzzed.
"No. He's just being a jerk. Trying to rile me up. Just ignore him and he'll give up."
"But Wren…"
"No, Kiran. I'm serious. Leave it alone."
Wren stormed out of the building, Kiran sinking a little before following her. Instead of going back to the base, where she could see Flak climbing the ramp, Wren went around the back of the building to double check the outlying areas. A transmitter was stuck in the ground behind the building, a red light flashing on top. It definitely wasn't one from the Tower. She yanked it out of the ground before making her way back to Rorick and the others.
"No, nothing," she could hear Flak say as she ascended the ramp. "The Fallen took everything of use but they're long gone. No sign of hive activity either."
"Except this," Wren said, holding out the flashing red transmitter. "It was behind the building, wedged off in a corner."
"Good find," Rorick said, pulling a chip out of the transmitter and stuffing it in a pouch on his utility belt. "When we get back I'll hand it over to Zavala. Maybe they can find something of use on it. Something wrong, Flak?"
Wren glanced at the Hunter, his gaunt face screwed into a sneer, dark eyes cast down at her. "What are you playing at, runt? That beacon wasn't there before."
"Stand down, Flak. If you don't, I'll report you to Commander Zavala and have you removed from this mission."
Sisre came to stand beside Wren, crossing her arms over her chest. Beorn and Franz backed them up and Flak shut his mouth, only daring to glare down at Wren but deep down she burned. Her throat tightened, fists shook. She didn't need them to protect her. She didn't need them.
"Why don't you tell them about the map, Flak?" Wren said, spitting his name out like something foul.
"What map?" Rorick asked.
Flak's teeth ground so hard Wren could hear them popping and without breaking eye contact with her, he pulled Cayde's map from a pouch and slapped it into Rorick's hand. It felt like tattling, but Wren was beyond that. She already had enough to prove without fighting tooth and nail with Flak and the others standing behind her the way they did made her feel like some weak thing that needed protecting. She wasn't going to be that person. If it was the last thing she did, she would rise above their expectations of her.
"Anything interesting?" Beorn asked.
"It's Cayde's, that's for sure. I see a marking here that I recognize. Seems he took note of a cave or tunnel that might be a sort of back route to the Hive base. We'll check it out tomorrow. For now, finish setting up camp," Rorick said, folding the map and securing it on his person. "I'm the fireteam leader, Flak. Remember that, and we'll all get along great."
"Yessir," Flak said through his teeth before storming out of the tower and down the ramp, disappearing into the building he'd previously searched with Wren.
"Wren. That goes for you too," Rorick said, kinder this time. "Flak hasn't worked out with other teams before and he might not work out with us either, but we're not here to judge him on his past. We're here to give him a fair shake. Now, can you let this incident go and work toward building team Cerulean?"
Kiran nudged her shoulder and she knew he wanted her to tell Rorick about what had happened in the outpost building, but she ignored him.
"Of course," she replied. Kiran sighed and sank a little. She would push forward, no matter the obstacle.