Kaedro struggled to regulate his breathing as he moved deeper into the structure. Lights flickered above him as he scanned the hallway, making sure nothing was about to jump out at him. His boot landed in the water and he flinched at the loud splash, bracing himself for the onslaught of Hive. When nothing happened, he sighed and continued forward. He couldn't remember ever having experienced fear quite like this. Possibly when he was revived and had to fight Fallen for the first time. Or on his first field mission. But everything became routine after doing it for as long as he had. That was probably what made his fear now all the more biting. It was there, lurking behind everything from his unsteady feet to his hands clenching around his auto rifle.
It had never been a problem before. Before, he would have run ahead without a thought. Before, he met death again and again without apprehension. Because before, it hadn't mattered. But all that had changed. Now he was careful. Now he took precautions, checked every corner. Now, he stayed near shelter. Because now it did matter. Now if he died, there was no coming back. There was no Light, no immortality. Just his gun and the Hive and the waterlogged corridors of Siren's Watch. Before, he had the Traveler with him, the Void at his back. Now, caution was the only thing that kept him alive. Caution and bullets.