Andromeda pulled the strap of the small basket off of her shoulder as she walked under one of the covered pavilions of the Saxham Outpost. A tall and young Glaive, Luca, followed behind her.

Glaives had followed Andromeda for a little less than three months. It had actually been pleasant at times: she made the job rather easy for them, and the ones that had been assigned to her had all been friendly. They were younger, and less experienced. Andromeda's escorts usually got roped into whatever she was involved in. Most recently, that had included planting fields and reestablishing an outpost.

Fencing and lights had been scrounged up from around Cleigne and Duscae to surround the farmland. With so much of Lucis overcrowded with people from other lands, food would soon become a problem. The farm was just one solution.

Sentinels were stationed around the fence. Some stood in rickety watchtowers as they surveyed the surrounding area. They were a mix of Morrigals and hunters.

The former hadn't lasted long in the Imperial base, housed alongside southern Tenebraens and Imperials. No one appreciated being surrounded by concrete walls. The Morrigals had treated the other two people as suspected enemies, and likewise, the Tenebraens and Imperials did not trust the barbarous people.

Tensions had brewed; Andromeda had suggested moving the Morrigals to Saxham Outpost, as people were needed to work in the fields. Surprisingly, she had been taken seriously and it had gone over well with everyone. The idea was more feasible than shipping them back to Tenebrae.

The elderly and the children had to remain at Aracheole Stronghold, along with anyone who hadn't wanted to come. Most able-bodied adults had come, regardless of who they had left behind.

Several people worked at tables under the pavilions, sorting through supplies or looking over papers. It was thanks to the warm climate of Cleigne that they could plant winter crops.

Andromeda placed her small basket on one of the tables. A large, hairy man looked up at her from some papers.

"Good evening," Gobaed smiled. "It's not quite home, but we'll make it home soon enough."

Northern Tenebrae had many more trees, and different plants. From what Andromeda remembered and had seen, it had never had much for cultivation. Yet from what she saw now, the people were adapting easily enough. Most Morrigals in their middle ages and younger could read the common language.

"I don't know when you can go home," Andromeda responded.

"The people are home," Gobaed said. His eyes seemed to twinkle; they did that occasionally, and it unsettled her. It was something that belonged in children's storybooks.

There was the crunch of something heavy rolling across dirt, coming closer to the pavilions. All three looked to the dirt road. Two armored vehicles were entering the outpost.

"Who's showing up this close to dusk?" Luca asked, frowning.

All work came to a halt as everyone watched to see who it was. Even for Glaives, it was getting late for anyone to be driving.

After the vehicles were parked for a moment, a Glaive did emerge from the back of the first one. They lent a hand, and Luna stepped out onto the ground.

The Morrigals gathered under the pavilions glanced excitedly at one another. It was the first time she had come to the Outpost. A few hunters came out of the vehicles as well, but only two Glaives accompanied Luna as she came underneath the pavilion and began greeting people.

It was only a moment before she spotted Andromeda among them. After a few more greetings and well wishes, Luna approached her.

"My Lady," Gobaed greeted her pleasantly. Luca simply bowed to Luna once she was close enough.

"Hello," Luna smiled. "The outpost is impressive. How have you all been faring?"

"This is much better for us," He quickly assured. "We're happier to contribute this way. The daemons won't be much of a problem for us, my Lady."

"Why are you traveling so late?" Andromeda asked seriously, unaffected by the excitement everyone else felt. It was too late to keep traveling; Luna would be stuck at this outpost for the night.

The Oracle's smile faltered as she turned to the other woman. "We were delayed in leaving the stronghold. I asked Ravus to let me come. I wanted to see you, and the new outpost you have been working so hard on."

Andromeda looked back at the two vehicles to see that the elder Nox Fleuret had indeed come. He was speaking with a couple of hunters. He did have a bad habit of not announcing when he would be visiting.

Gobaed stiffened and sneered slightly at the sight of their new king. Three months had not made him like Ravus any more. Although admittedly, he hadn't done anything damning so far. It was surprising to everyone that he had agreed to the reestablishment of this outpost—albeit it was to avoid potential dissension.

Andromeda had also disappointed Gobaed several times by avoiding any conversation of dissension, taking the role of a peacemaker instead. Just as there had been times where the Morrigals had high hopes for her, there were times they were disappointed, too. Ravus needed her to placate them, but she had doubts that he would intervene for her if they became violent.

"Pardon me, my Lady," Gobaed spoke quietly. He gave a slight bow to her and stepped away from the three women. He resumed looking over his papers on the table.

"We just saw each other," Andromeda pointed out dully, turning back to Luna.

Luna probably had been the one that saw her the most out of their little group in the past three months. Granted, it had been largely in passing. Colder weather in crammed towns and outposts had caused a massive wave of sickness. Andromeda and Luna both had been put to work for much of two months tending to the sick, often in Lestallum.

It had only been in the past month that Andromeda had been able to help more with the Morrigals, and get them their own outpost away from others. Even she thought it was a bit unfair.

Luna remained undeterred. "King Noctis and I plan to summon Shiva soon. We've decided to do it at Ghorovas Rift in Niflheim. Her body still rests there, and the environment fits. I wanted to tell you myself. You said we would all be there."

"That's far away," Andromeda noted.

The blond nodded. "It is, but it's also remote. It's far from any outposts. It has been Shiva's domain for a long time. We will stop in Tenebrae to visit the refugees there as well."

"When are we leaving?"

"We plan to be off in a week. We need to report to Fort Vaullerey two days before then," Luna answered. Her eyes glinted with mischief. "But before then, there's a challenge we have to settle with Noctis and his friends. The hunters and the Kingsglaive have been informed of two large beasts menacing the Ravatoghan Trail. Cor believes it is safe enough for us to settle the matter."

Andromeda frowned. "That was just—we were just goofing off after fighting all of those daemons. It wasn't that serious."

"They are very interested in seeing it through."

"Now is not the time for games," She countered with a hint of impatience. "There's too much work to do."

Luna's smile fell at last. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then Luca bowed again as Ravus approached them at last.

Andromeda saw a use for him immediately. "Are you aware that Luna plans to go off monster hunting?"

His expression became more dour as he looked at his sister. "I was not."

Luna shot her a look of disbelief before turning back to Ravus. She considered her words. "I was going to tell you at a better moment. Andromeda, Crowe, Aulea, and I all agreed to a competition with Noctis and his friends to see which group could complete a hunt faster. I gave my word. If I don't compete, my word would be broken."

"I will take your place," Ravus concluded.

"I can handle it," Luna insisted. "Haven't I already proven myself capable? I can fight, and I will."

Andromeda had to agree: that didn't work for her, either. In lieu of Luna, she would still have to join the competition. While it had been a fun idea before the summit, now she dreaded it. She already knew which group would win. The four women hadn't been together—really together—since before they had split up to retrieve more refugees. Andromeda couldn't see their reunion being joyous; at the summit and afterwards, it had seemed she could only upset them. The summer was long over.

"Go in my place," She said to Ravus. "Luna is capable against daemons, but you could be right there and cover her. We're leaving for Ghorovas Rift in a week. That isn't a lot of time. Could I have a couple days of leave to Lestallum before we have to be at Vaullerey?"

In the past three months, Andromeda and Ravus had learned that they could maintain their truce by saying as few words as possible to each other. Despite that, he had shown a surprising amount of trust in her. She had done as she had promised.

"Fine," Ravus agreed, impatient to have the situation resolved.

Luna continued to frown as she glanced at the other woman. "You had given your word as well."

"It's going to be a long trip," Andromeda returned. "I want some time with my family before we go."

She had had some time with them, but not a lot. Not nearly enough for her. When there hadn't been work to do, there had been the wave of illness, and then the reestablishment of the outpost. All summer, she had been kept away from her family while trying to save Noctis and Luna. Several times, it had felt Andromeda was being kept away from her family, constantly needed by the Lucians, or now the Tenebraens. Meanwhile, Luna and Aulea spent much time with their own families.

Luna lowered her gaze, crestfallen. She hadn't gotten her way this time, and could not argue against Andromeda's wishes.

"What do you have to report?" Ravus asked, resuming business.

Andromeda didn't care for his tone, but she obliged. She ignored Luna's thoughtful eyes all the while.

Once the sun rose the following morning, Andromeda rode in one of the trucks to Lestallum, while the Nox Fleurets took the other one back south. Once Luca was relieved from her duty and Jenica took over, Andromeda spent the next three days with her family, and Sheila.

She hadn't gotten to spend as much time with them as she had hoped over the holidays. There had been too much sickness, and she had spent some time with Kimya, learning some of her potions and runes. Andromeda made up for lost time now. Linda had appreciated the extra babysitter. The regular Glaive escorts had also became acquainted with the family.

Three days was a short amount of time. They were gone before Andromeda was ready.

"Do you know when you'll be back in Lucis this time?" Linda asked her as she folded clothes on the bed.

"No." Andromeda sat at the small dining table in front of the kitchenette. Kai sat next to her as they both drew on spare paper with crayons. She sketched the various plants she knew in the little time that remained before she had to leave. He drew stick figures and clouds rather well for a three-year-old.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Linda asked.

"No one can be talked out of it. And I did promise," Andromeda replied, regretting it. "Besides, the Empire doesn't exist anymore."

Yet there was no way of knowing where Ardyn was.

"Yeah. Instead there's just endless hordes of daemons and robots," Her aunt muttered.

"There will be Glaives with us. I think a big group is going," Andromeda actually didn't know, but it didn't seem anyone went anywhere without at least one Glaive with them.

"I know. I should be happy you're helping save the world," Linda teased. "Especially with what a terror you were as a teenager. Just like your mother."

Andromeda let it go. "I'm not really saving the world. I'm just going because they want me to."

"Sure."

She also ignored that dubious reply as a sudden thought came to her mind that she failed to address for the past three months. "Why did you never tell me about my dad, or how you got the money to bring us to Lucis?"

Linda frowned as she continued to fold clothes and sort them into piles. Her tone became somber. "Gobaed told you all about it. I never wanted you to feel that we owed them—because we don't. Your parents gave their lives for the cause. That should have been enough. And you looked up to them. I didn't want to take that away from you, so that's why we never really talked about them. Niflheim would have taken us if we had stayed. You deserved a better life. Not that I did much better than you parents did."

Andromeda narrowed her eyes at her last words. "They did the best they could. They fought for a better future."

"They fought a losing war," Linda corrected, throwing a disappointed look at her. "They couldn't even call it a war. They missed so much time with you for nothing. I get that you worshiped them, but what sort of mother leaves her child?"

"One who believes there's a chance," She countered. "It was worth taking."

Her aunt shook her head. "The truth is, whether you like it or not, your mother didn't raise you. Her own mother did, and then I did, for a little bit. And whatever they had going on in the forest, they were wrapping you up in that too. Your life was never going to be normal, all because of them."

Andromeda bristled. "Maybe my mom wasn't around much, but at least she stood for something instead of running away. You only ever looked down on the Morrigals. You're a full-blood. The invasion was a convenient way for you to come up with a reason to get out of there."

"I did what was best for us. We wouldn't have survived if we had stayed," Linda pointed out. "Of course, the Morrigal way of life is to die tragically young. Throw their lives away and leave behind parents and children who will just go on to do it all over again."

Andromeda shook her head. Before she could speak, her phone started to chime. It was time to report to the command center. The convoy for Fort Vaullerey would leave soon, and she was to be a part of it.

"Time to go," She announced sullenly. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too," Linda said, her tone still simmering. It wasn't worth it to fight these days.

Andromeda stood from the table and crossed the room. They hugged each other tightly for a moment. Then she went back to the table and tousled Kai's thick curly hair. He looked up at her, then pushed his piece of paper to her.

"It's for you!" He beamed, oblivious to the fight that had just happened.

She took the paper and grinned. "Wow. Who are these supposed to be?"

Kai pointed to each of the four stick figures. "That's Mommy and Daddy and you and me!"

He at least drew himself shorter than everyone else, and gave Linda and Andromeda lines for long hair. She held it close to her chest.

"Thank you. I'll keep it close," Andromeda promised. She picked up her own paper from the table and placed it before him. "You can have mine."

Kai took the paper in his hands. The plants didn't mean anything to him, but she didn't need it. After a second, his smile fell and he looked back up at her. "You're leaving?"

"Just for a little while, then I'll be back again," She assured. It was never just a little while. She kissed the top of his head, but it did nothing to assuage him.

"No," Kai whimpered, face red and wet already.

Andromeda gave him a tight hug as he sobbed. She wished she didn't have to leave either, and truly did think it would be better if she stayed behind. No one would believe that, though.

She kissed him on the head again. "I'll bring back something for you."

"Here," Linda slipped in between them, taking Kai in her arms while Andromeda pulled away from him. He bawled into his mother's shoulder. "Be safe."

"You, too," Andromeda told her. As Linda tried to comfort the tyke, she and Jenica left.

"Poor little guy," The Glaive sighed as they walked down the street.

"Yeah," Andromeda was glad she didn't bring up the more awkward fight. She tucked Kai's drawing into her bag. "I would stay if I could."

She had saved the hardest goodbye for last; Kai had been getting more upset when she left. It was great that he loved her so much, but it wasn't easy for her to part from him with the tears. She hated to make him cry like that.

Kai hadn't really understood why Andromeda didn't spend the night with him and his parents anymore. There wasn't a lot of room in Linda's studio apartment, so Andromeda stayed in Sheila's room a couple of blocks away whenever she was in Lestallum. With Trevor gone, Sheila almost had to give up the room. It was because Andromeda sometimes stayed with her that she was allowed to keep it just for herself. She was the envy of her neighbors.

It never took long to walk to the command center in the middle of Lestallum. Andromeda and Jenica were soon reporting in to Monica. She had been given official charge over the Crownsguard and Kingsglaive stationed in the town.

Monica wasn't alone. Lib leaned against a barrel behind the table, arms crossed.

"Thank you, Jenica. You're dismissed," She told the younger woman, then turned to the other one. "Libertus will accompany you to Fort Vaullerey."

Andromeda was slightly surprised to see him—she hadn't seen him much for a long time. Though she had been content with that: she had only said she didn't want Crowe to escort her anymore, but hadn't said anything about her friends. Andromeda hadn't seen Crowe much since her final apology, either. Lib had no doubt heard all about it. She kept herself from cringing at the awkwardness. She only nodded in reply.

"Well, let's get moving then." Lib stood straight. "The sooner, the better."

He led Andromeda from the command center, going down a side street that led to the gate. They didn't speak that whole time, which was both a relief and concerning.

The convoy consisted of three vehicles. Several Glaives were loading them with supply boxes. They did not acknowledged the two approach.

"Are you coming along to Niflheim?" Andromeda finally asked. She had no idea who all was going to Shiva's Summoning. She assumed at least Noctis and his friends would accompany all four women with Etro's Blessing. And there would be some Glaives.

"Nope, I'm just getting transferred over to Vaullerey. And someone was needed to escort you along the way. From what I've heard, you've made yourself scarce all winter long," Lib explained pointedly.

There had been several meetings with leaders and certain invited individuals; Luna had invited Andromeda to the first few ones, but she had always claimed to be busy. It was true: she had focused on working with the Tenebraen refugees, and then settling up a separate place for the Morrigals. Then there had been all of the illness plaguing the outposts. Andromeda had also spent some time with Kimya, although she felt as though she hadn't learned much. Along with time with her family, she hadn't had much free time.

After a few rejections, Luna had stopped mentioning the meetings to Andromeda. To be fair, Andromeda would have offered very little, and gotten nothing out of those meetings. She was grateful Ravus hadn't forced her to attend. He had had no use for her there.

"I got caught up in work," She reasoned. She hadn't been avoiding them—at least not intentionally.

Lib gestured for her to climb into the back of one vehicle. He climbed in after her. There was another awkward moment as they settled into seats. The door was shut, then the vehicles were started. After a few more slamming of doors, they all started to crawl out of Lestallum.

"I'm sorry," Andromeda apologized.

She didn't know what else to say. If she didn't say anything, it was going to be a very long, awkward ride to Vaullerey. Lib's arms were crossed again. She hadn't apologized to him yet.

"I'm sorry for not telling you anything in Galahd, and sabotaging your mission by going behind your backs," She explained. Though she did recall that Lib had told her to keep up whatever she had been doing.

He sighed. "It all worked out for the most part. It's better than what the king promised us when we all enlisted. Not that anything's going to change until we get more daylight."

"It must complicate things for the Glaive."

"Not really. His Majesty and the Elders will work something out." Lib sat up a little straighter in his seat. His voice was distant—it wasn't as friendly as he once had been with her. "I don't fault you much for how that ended. I didn't stop you. I heard you got your freedom for your part."

Andromeda frowned and looked at her knees. "Yeah."

"You wouldn't have liked it if you had remained bound," He chided.

"It wasn't so bad. They gave me food and a place to stay," She said ruefully.

They had also given her something to do with her life. It had all been very different with Sonam. If he had been still alive, she would not have been let go, and she would have preferred that. Andromeda had been hoping for his protection.

Sunam had made sure to get rid of her as soon as he could. He and Bulan usually didn't let her speak to the kids now. Even she had been reluctant to talk the couple of times Andromeda had called or tried to visit them at their assigned base. Narayan and Malai were always enthusiastic to hear from her, but their elders usually didn't allow it.

"I know it was very offensive on my part," Andromeda admitted.

"I didn't like how they treated you," Lib said.

"It was fine," She dismissed defensively. It was what she had deserved, and she would never try to avoid it from them, no matter what.

"And I don't like that other girl you hang out with," He added.

She thought for a moment of who he could be talking about. "Hira?"

The other woman often didn't make a good first impression. Since settling into the base, she had joined the hunters. Really, many Galahdians had, just as they had also joined the Glaive. Hira did keep in touch with Andromeda. She had even met her family once—only once, as Hira's family was dead and it still remained an awkward subject between them. Andromeda hadn't tried to save them.

"We've been best friends since we were kids," Andromeda went on. "We were both immigrants in Insomnia."

"Friends punch each other when they see each other after a long time?" Lib asked, giving her a skeptical look.

She had disappeared on Hira so suddenly, and had taken so long to get back. Twice. And each time, Andromeda had done something to wrong her.

"It was only one punch," She replied. "Besides, Crowe did the same to you once Cor let you go."

"That was different," Lib pointed out. "She had every reason to be mad at me. She didn't hit me in the face."

"Hira was just drunk that time."

He rolled his eyes and looked through the small window into the cab. "Crowe never tried to hit you. She never would."

Andromeda didn't like the offhand comment, but it was a change of subject. She had been afraid of this coming up, but she had had some practice with these conversations.

"I'm sorry," She repeated. She didn't think she could have done any better with Crowe—there was no fixing what she had done, and she had found herself trusting Crowe less and less. Even when they had tried making peace, Andromeda hadn't trusted her.

"She would have listened if you had just talked to her," Lib scolded.

He had once approved of her; he didn't now. Andromeda knew that if she kept apologizing, it only angered others more. So she said nothing. She didn't want him to go on.

He shook his head and looked down at his boots in frustration. "You're both idiots."

They didn't speak much for the rest of the long ride, which seemed much longer than it really was. She had only made the awkwardness worse.