My apologies for how long this took. I wanted to complete the CCC event on NA and things got a tad out of hand. Took a little longer than I had originally planned because I wanted to do a challenge...CCC run with nothing but KotR/Camelot Servants. Needless to say, the CQs were interesting. Anyways, here is the intermission between Orleans and Septem...I will begin working on Septem soon I promise.

Intermission: Into the Woods

"Where could she be?" Mash thought as she walked through the halls of Chaldea, "I've literally been everywhere...she's not in her room, not in the infirmary or cafeteria…"

"Fou!"

Mash startled, looking down at Fou, who had darted up to her and leaped upwards. She wrapped her hands around his midsection, stopping his leap mere inches from her nose. Her gold and violet eyes lit up behind her glasses as a grin bloomed across her face.

"Aha! Got you this time!" she smiled, sitting Fou on her shoulder as he chirped and rubbed against her cheek, "I haven't seen you in a while, Fou...wonder where you've been hiding?"

"Fo-kyu?" Fou chirruped as he leaped off Mash's shoulder, bounding down the hall a little ways before turning to face her, his tail flicked, "Fou! Fo fouuuuuu!"

"You want me to follow you?" Mash asked.

"Fou!" and he darted forwards.

Mash shrugged and jogged after him, turning around the corner into the storage room...where she saw a flash of blonde hair behind a box. She frowned as Fou yipped, rushing forwards and leaping over the boxes. A light scream shot through the air as Cira fell to the floor from behind the boxes, laying on the ground with a hand to her heart while Fou licked her cheek.

"There you are!" Mash started, coming forward and standing over her friend.

Cira looked up at her and gave a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank God it's you," she breathed, "I thought Fou had brought Kiyohime."

Mash frowned.

"You're...hiding from Kiyohime?" she asked, "Why? She's not that bad…"

Cira looked at her incredulously, still on the floor.

"Mash," she stated, "I found her under my bed last night. I'm surprised you didn't hear my scream."

Mash winced. So that was what the jolt of panic that came through her bond with Cira was. Cira sighed and sat up, rubbing her head as she took Mash's hand.

"I honestly thought Artoria was going to murder a dragon," Cira admitted.

"She is rather protective of you," Mash pointed out, "Moreso than any of the other Servants I noticed."

"Save you," Cira countered, "I've seen you get worse than Artoria when it comes to my safety,"

"That was…one time…" Mash admitted, rubbing the back of her neck, "And I apologized for putting Doctor Roman nearly through a wall for that prank he pulled…"

"Anyways, what's going on?" Cira asked, "You said you were looking for me…"

"Oh!" Mash gasped, "Right! Doctor Roman told me to find you, he said there was something he wanted to try with Rayshifting...something about supplies?"

"Right, right…" Cira nodded, "We were wanting to see if we could get supplies from Rayshifting...so that we aren't stuck here all the time with dwindling supplies,"

She brushed herself off and picked Fou off the floor, letting him settle down on her shoulder as she gently stroked his cheek with a finger.

"Well...let's get going then,"

"Oh now you decide to show up," Romani teased as the two girls came into the command center, "We've been looking for you all morning,"

"Good, that means it worked," Cira grinned.

"She's been hiding from Kiyohime all morning," Mash explained.

"Look, Heracles keeps to himself in the simulator," Cira countered, "And Vlad mostly stays in the Library and is actually a really good conversationalist when it comes to novels...I don't have problems with Berserkers. But that one?"

She gave a heavy shudder.

"That one terrifies me."

"You faced down a dragon, nearly died multiple times in France and that is what scares you?" Romani scoffed, "Just don't lie to her and you'll be fine. And you've got two other dragons in your contract, they should help…"

"Artoria nearly took Kiyohime's head off last night when she found the latter under my bed!" Cira hissed, "Believe the threat was 'If you ever do this again and I know about it…'"

"Then I do not care how useful to Master you are, I will not hesitate to remind you why I am a dragonslayer as well," came Artoria's voice as the King strode into the Command Room with Lily and Cu Chulainn in tow, "Good morning, Master. I trust that the...eastern dragon did not trouble you anymore last night?"

"No but that doesn't stop the fact that I hid the second I got up this morning," Cira admitted, "I...need to think of a way to get her to stop coming into my room at night...or find some heavy duty locks,"

"Master, with a lady as crazy as that one? I doubt there's locks strong enough to keep her out," Cu Chulainn warned.

"Speaking from experience?" Cira asked.

"Unfortunately."

"You could use a Command Spell," Romani said, his eyes flicking towards Cira's right hand.

Cira looked at the crimson marks that shone on her hand the moment she brought it closer to her chest. She frowned before sighing.

"I really want to avoid that if I can," Cira admitted, "I don't think it's fair. Plus I'd like to save those for an emergency...I know it's unlikely something bad's going to happen while I'm here in Chaldea, but...you never know. Besides…"

She smiled at the Servants that came into the room.

"I'd like for them to trust me enough to do things I ask rather than to be forced to do it,"

"That's not a problem from us," Lily smiled, "We'd follow you to the end of the world and back,"

Artoria and Cu Chulainn both nodded in agreement.

"Awwww, so sweet!" came a female voice, which made Artoria slightly bristle...only to get chastised by Lily.

"Morning, DaVinci," Cira called, grinning as she faced the brunette beauty as she glided into the room, "So...we all set?"

"Oh, so you know what you're doing, don't you?" DaVinci smiled, "I bet Romani didn't tell you where you're going, did he?"

"Never got the chance, Leonardo," Romani rolled his eyes, "Annnnnyways, we thought we'd start with sending you someplace familiar. So the plan is to send you to France. I'm not quite sure about you guys getting like fruits and vegetables quite yet since we don't have the currency. But you might be able to hunt or whatever. If you guys bring back some of the currency, we can replicate it and send you all back out to get the greens. Sound good?"

"So...you're sending two people who have no idea how to hunt on a hunting trip." Cira deadpanned, "Romani, you might want to rethink that."

"Don't worry, you'll come to right next to a leyline. So you'll be able to call a few Servants to you. Though since you're not in a singularity...I'd suggest keeping it to about 4 servants max. Mash is included in that."

"Of the ones in Chaldea right now...Cu and Artoria are probably the best hunters," Cira reasoned, looking at the two expectantly, "Can I count on you two to help me out?"

"Not a problem," Cu Chulainn grinned.

"Of course," Artoria nodded.

"I'll stay here," Lily replied, "Caliburn's almost finished repairing itself...but I'd rather not risk it again right now,"

"Well, with that...time to get ready," Romani grinned, "Don't worry, Cira...this time I'm ready. Go get dressed,"

Cira gave a nod, turning to Mash, "Guess that's our cue."

Cira opened her eyes to the chirping of birds on an early morning in the French woods. She didn't remember much about the Rayshift, not even getting put in the Coffin.

"Oh thank goodness you're alright," Mash's voice called from the other side of the clearing, "The coordinates were a little off in placing us together...but you weren't panicking this time at least,"

"Yeah I...don't remember exactly what happened," Cira admitted, rubbing the back of her neck, "Last thing I remember was coming back into the command room,"

"Romani ended up doing a stealth maneuver and stuck you in the neck with a needle full of anesthetic," Mash said, "You kicked him in the shin and called him some names that got Artoria to yell at you but then collapsed in a dead faint a few moments after,"

"No wonder my head feels like I got smacked with a sledgehammer," Cira grumbled, "Anyways...you know where the Leyline is? So that we can get Artoria and Cu here?"

"Just on the other side of the clearing, near where I materialized in," Mash nodded, "Follow me!"

Within a few minutes, Cira and Mash had the summoning circle set up and Artoria and Cu Chulainn materialized before Cira not long after that. The Saber and Lancer Servants both immediately started scouting their surroundings with practiced eyes.

"It seems like these are good hunting grounds," Artoria stated, walking up to the creek and kneeling down to examine the bank, "I can see deer tracks for sure, so we will be able to bring some of that...hm, interesting,"

"What?" Cira asked as Cu Chulainn joined Artoria, leaning casually on his spear as he looked at the tracks too.

"Boar," he said, putting a few fingers in the impression, "Big one it looks like. Didn't pass too long ago from this spot judging by the tracks either,"

"What do you say, Lancer?" Artoria started, "Shall we hunt a boar today?"

"I ain't Diarmuid Ua Duibhne," Cu Chulainn snorted, "Boars don't scare me. You?"

Artoria gave a scoffing sound as she straightened.

"I slew Twrch Trwyth and my own hound and I hunted Ysgithrwyn," she grinned, "Boars do not frighten me,"

"...You two are talking like we might be in trouble if we run into those," Cira warned, "I'm not a hunter but...how big do those things get?"

"Master, let's just say that if we bag this thing? Chaldea's going to have enough bacon to last it a month," Cu Chulainn stated, nearly bouncing up and down in excitement.

"Ah, unfortunate for me...I am not armed with Rhongomyniad," Artoria sighed, "Nor armed with my bow,"

"Shame," Cu Chulainn patted her shoulder, "Because then you actually would have given me a challenge,"

"Oh?" Artoria started, "Are you challenging me?"

"...Oh that's not good," Mash whispered.

"Huh?" Cira asked.

"She...is very competitive," Mash said slowly, "Well, I know at least Lily is. No one's been able to beat her in chess as far as I know. She and Artoria have been going at their competition since the day Lily arrived."

"I may not have my spear, but do not underestimate me, Cu Chulainn," Artoria warned, "Because I am only armed with my blade, the hunt becomes even more embarrassing to you should I complete it first!"

"Since she has her sword, she has to get in close…" Mash explained, "And boars...are very, very aggressive if they're angered,"

"Please, please, please do not get yourselves hurt," Cira sighed, "I don't want to explain things to Roman and DaVinci if we have to cut this short,"

"No super speed, no super strength and no noble phantasms," Cu Chulainn said, extending his hand to Artoria.

"May the best hunter win," she beamed, taking it as the two shook.

"...Oh my God they're not listening. Artoria! Cu! Come on!" Cira started, chasing after the two Heroic Spirits as they went further into the woods.

"This is my life now," Cira groaned, flopping onto the hilltop, her arm across her eyes, "I have climbed this hill and now I will die on it."

"Master," Artoria scolded gently, "We have only been hiking for twenty minutes. You will be fine,"

"It's been twenty minutes?" Cira demanded, "You sure it wasn't hours?!"

"Ah c'mon, Master, you'll be fine," Cu Chulainn grinned, "We're getting closer to the boar anyways. Should be done in less than an hour,"

Mash offered her hand to Cira, who groaned, but took it.

"Gee, it must be nice to not really need to sleep or worry about stamina," she huffed as Mash hauled her to her feet, "I've been camping and stuff with my family when I was a kid but this? This is ridicul-"

A scream cut through the air, causing the quartet to freeze. Cu Chulainn gestured with his spear towards the woods.

"That sounded human...came from that way," he said, "Master?"

"Let's...take a closer look," Cira said, slowly, "But let's be careful, ok?"

The four of them quickly and quietly made their way down the hill and towards the treeline. As they entered, they quickly realized that there was a road not too far away. The voices got louder, revealing a man and a woman near a cart surrounded by bandits.

"Please, this is all we have!" the man pleaded, "All we have in money we gave to you!"

"Thank you, Roman for making sure the translator was up and working," Cira thought mentally.

"And I'm telling you, that's not enough," the presumed bandit Leader sneered, "Guess we're going to have to just take the goods...maybe even have the lady do some entertainment…"

The woman gasped, grabbing onto her husband's arm and hiding behind him as the man put himself between her and the bandits.

"Please, if you let us go I can return with more gold," he said.

"And have you just bolt off and come back with the army? I don't think so,"

"We have to do something," Cira hissed, "We can't let this just happen."

"What you thinkin', Master?" Cu Chulainn asked.

"...Imma go down and distract them. Then you guys come in once I've got that down and take them out. Don't kill them...but make them run," Cira said, starting to get up only for Mash to grab her arm.

"I don't think this is a good idea," she shook her head, "I should go with you…"

"They'll get spooked if you do," Cira told her, "Your armor might spook them. It has to be me."

Not giving any other chance to argue, Cira quietly snuck down and away from her Servants and towards the road. She took a steadying breath as she walked out of the brush and onto the road. Now all she had to do was appear lost...shouldn't be that hard.

"Oh thank God!" she announced, waving at the people, "Finally! Another human being! I've been lost for hours, separated from my group...you all wouldn't happen to know the way out of here would you?"

The bandits froze, turning to face the Chaldean Master, who gave a winning smile and waved lightly again.

"You...are not from around here, are you?" the leader started slowly.

"Nope. Just traveling through on my way to Orleans. My friends and I were traveling there to trade...but I got separated from them when we had a...boar...attack the party. So…" Cira's eyes flicked towards the situation, "Oh...I might have stumbled in on something I shouldn't have. Whoopsies?"

"You talk too much," the bandit leader growled, coming up and grabbing Cira by the collar.

A flash of rage shot through the bond between Cira and her Servants and Cira quickly held her hands up.

"Hey! Hey, easy now!" she tried, "I'm just lost and I talk a lot when I'm nervous. We can have a civil conversation, yeah?"

"You said you were trading, yes? So...where's the gold?"

"Not on me, it was with our caravan," Cira said, her voice pitching upwards as the man brought out a knife and set it's point under her throat, "BUT! I can get it for you quite easily? No need to be violent I-"

"You talk too much. Again," the bandit leader snarled, shaking her.

"Master, I am coming in."

Cira gave a slight wince. Artoria's voice was iron hard and not compromising.

"I really wouldn't do that if I were you…" Cira warned.

"You have no gold, you're annoying, and we have no use for you. You're not even worth making a plaything out of," the bandit leader scoffed, "So you're nothing more than a dead woman walking."

"I warned you," Cira sighed before smiling, "Oh, hi Saber,"

The bandit leader froze as he felt a cold, sharp, unseen thing graze his throat.

"I would advise," came Artoria's frigid growl, "that you unhand my Master and lower your blade."

Cira's grin widened as Mash and Cu Chulainn as well charged from the undergrowth and attacked the bandits. They were gentle...for Servant standards anyways, either knocking the bandits out or sending them running towards the undergrowth. The bandit leader let go of Cira's collar and bolted as soon as Artoria lowered Excalibur from his throat.

"Are you ok!?" Mash demanded, rushing towards Cira and looking over the young Master as said girl rubbed her throat.

"Yeah...I'm fine,"

"Master, that was foolhardy," Artoria chastised, "Of all the things you could have possibly devised...that was the most dangerous."

"Hey they ran!" Cira protested as she made her way towards the couple, who were still frozen, "You two ok? Sorry if we spooked you,"

"You saved us...and our livelihood," the man breathed, "Thank you…"

"Was the least we could do," Cira smiled, "We couldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt."

"Please…" the woman started, "It is not much, we were also on our way to trade at the next town...but take these,"

She pulled out a small bag and gave Cira a couple coins.

"For saving us," she continued before turning towards her husband, "We should go,"

"We should. Thank you, once again," the man nodded.

"Our pleasure," Cira waved as the two took their cart and made their way down the road, "So...now what?"

"Now, we continue our hunt," Cu Chulainn grinned, "Since you got some of the currency, Chaldea will be able to replicate it...but we came here for some meat."

"Onward to the hunt," Artoria chuckled.

A few hours later, Cira and her group had returned to Chaldea. Breathless, tired, and (in one case) extremely happy.

"It doesn't count, Artoria," Cu Chulainn huffed, "I still win because I killed the boar."

"Perhaps, but I believe a bear is more impressive, Cu Chulainn," the King preened.

Cira shook her head as she watched the two bickering and boasting. They had managed to track down the boar and Artoria and Cu Chulainn both valiantly fought...until Cira had backed up into something large and soft.

"I had no idea that there were bears in France." Cira groused, gratefully taking the bottle of water Mash offered her, "And I had no idea they were that big!"

"There are no bears where you are from?" Mash asked.

"Not in my area, no. To the northwest end of the country? Yeah...maybe some to the eastern end...but I'm in the middle and there are no bears except in a zoo."

"A zoo?" Mash hummed, "That sounds interesting to go to, I've heard about some of the larger ones, but have never gone to one."

"You said you've been here how long?"

"My entire life,"

"...Ok when we get Humanity restored I'm taking you to a zoo," Cira promised, "You'd probably like some of the animals there."

"I'd really love that!" Mash beamed, "I hope that comes soon enough...hopefully we find the location of the next Singularity soon."

"Same," Cira nodded, continuing to watch the Saber and Lancer bickering, "I-"

"Maaaaaaster!" a familiar voice called as the doors to the cafeteria opened.

Cira's face went white and she immediately jumped out of her chair.

"OH COME ON, KIYOHIME, I JUST GOT BACK!" Cira yelled.

Master: Cira Albion

Servants Mentioned:

Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight

Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon

Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn

Servant: Saber- Saber Lily

Servant: Berserker-Kiyohime

Servant: Berserker- Heracles

Servant: Berserker-Vlad III