Author's Notes: Sorry about the delay but it took an eternity to think of how continue this story. I somehow get the feeling I will have the same problem after this chapter. Oh, and school is obviously a factor too. Anyway, this will be less about Shinon and more about the rest of the team. Oh yeah, and sorry Dan Abnett, but I couldn't resist the temptation. Enjoy.

Gatrie's Notes: Tee hee hee! I'll be sharing the spotlight today!

Disclaimer: I don't own copyright to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance or any of its characters. This story is purely fan made and not associated with the actual game itself.

So, I'm stuck once again with the fool in blue armour and I'm still looking for a girl whose mother couldn't be bothered to tell us how she looked like, Shinon fumed. And the only convoys that have passed through here are merchants after merchants and "Hi, I would like to die, can you help me?"

- 'Shinon. Get it together, pal.' Gatrie nudged him in the kidneys with his elbow (armoured of course) which sent a big jolt of pain through Shinon's stomach. Shinon winced and clutched his gut while glaring at Gatrie through eyes of rage.

- 'What was that necessary for?!' He spat through gritted teeth.

- 'Well, you looked like you were going to hurl…' Gatrie began apologetically.

- 'I am going to. At you.' Shinon snapped. Gatrie's mouth sprang shut like a steel trap. Shinon returned to watch the road. He had found Gatrie entangled and stuck in the bushes when he returned. He had then proceeded to laugh at him for the next five minutes before helping him out so they could go on with their job. Shinon were watching as another convoy went by when he decided he'd had enough. He leapt out of cover after they had passed.

- 'Shinon, where are you going?' Gatrie asked surprised.

- 'I'm going back to the base.' Shinon replied in a tone that brook no disagreement.

- 'But the boss will go nuts!' Gatrie shot back.

- 'I can handle the boss. However, I can't handle being stuck in the woods with only you for company.' Shinon sneered.

- 'So you're going to leave me here alone?' Gatrie asked angrily.

- 'Yeah, that's the plan.' Shinon replied. 'And before I forget…' He gave Gatrie a hard right jab in the face which caused the blond man to nearly lose his balance and crash into a tree.

- 'That's for elbowing me in the stomach.'

Shinon remained outraged for pretty much the rest of the day. By the time he got back it was late afternoon. Greil and Titania had sweeped the areas around their headquaters except Shinon and Gatrie's. They found the girl fainted after lunchtime in another forest. Appearently the bandits had run into a bear who attacked them in berserk rage and sent them reeling. The girl escaped them and had ran for hours before realizing she had got lost. She had then wandered about until she fainted.

After hearing about this when returned Shinon exploded and shut himself in his room, tripping over Mist on the way which made her the target of his swearing and cursing. Titania was then sent out to find Gatrie before dusk fell. She caught him hitting on a young woman who was blushing heavily from his compliments about her, whom Titania apologized to on Gatrie's behalf. The day continued without any more jobs coming in. One accident ocurred though. When Titania and Ike were out hunting Titania injured her hand and wrist on a charging elk's horns. She wouldn't be doing any fighting for a week or so.

Next morning in the training room.

- '...and that's how our economy is doing for now. Unless we get at least three more big jobs today then, well--' Titania went on while Greil was busy training Ike.

- '--I suppose we'll have to chew on our nails if we don't want to starve, don't we?' Gatrie cut in with his usual smile when he entered the room. All the eyes in the room turned on him with amused expressions. Gatrie's face quickly turn into a shade of red.

- 'Hey, I'm getting embarassed by that, y'know!' He blurted out quickly. 'I'm sorry' he went when everyone remained silent . The others then started laughing, which made Gatrie, if possible, even more embarassed.

- 'It is rather absurd to make a joke by cutting another person off, then not expecting anyone to look at you, Gatrie.' Titania replied and slapped his shoulder guard with her good hand.

- 'OK, I'll be better prepared next time.' Gatrie exclaimed relived, his face quickly returning to its normal pallor.

- 'What if pigs could fly?' Greil asked nastily.

- 'You're taking after Shinon, dad...' Ike began worriedly.

- 'No way in hell I am, son. And by the way, don't be such a worrywart. You'll be more likely to panic that way.' Greil replied with a reassuring pat on his son's head.

- 'Not that he will need to bother with that, Commander! He's too little to beat a big bad bandit anyway.' Gatrie giggled impishly while striding towards the two. Ike´s face turned irritated almost immedately.

- 'Where's Shinon?' Titania cut in before Ike could make his reply. Gatrie stopped in his tracks from the thought.

- 'In the dining room I think, but I'm unsure...' He answered after a moment. 'By the way, Captain, how's the hand?'

- 'Itching but mending, thanks for asking.'

- 'Good. Wipe your arse with the other one a while, all right?' Ike forgot his earlier irritation and burst into laughter. So did Greil. Titania chuckled before leaving the sparring room, while Gatrie continued to walk towards the two remaining persons in the room.

- 'You certainly have the temper of an axeman, Ike. Why don't you start using one like your old man?' The blond man asked happily. Greil threw him a dark look.

- 'Because he doesn't have the best build for it. Is that clear enough, Gatrie?' Greil replied. Gatrie´s face didn't turn red this time, but his smile faltered. Greil seemed to realize what he just had said too.

- 'Ike, see that armoured man there? He's a really bad bandit and he's gonna rob Mist if you don't stop him!'

- 'What?! Hey, Commander--waah!' Gatrie exclaimed before being attacked by Ike. He made some struggle before he caught on to Greil´s scheme. 'Help! Get this little law-lover away from me!' He then screamed in an overly dramatic tone of voice.

- '--I didn't say that, you--' Shinon furiously began.

- 'Don't give me that one! You called a small girl a "stupid whore" and a "cross-eyed cunt"! You weren't even drunk at the time!' Titania roared. 'You're good at shooting a bow, but your manners are the among worst I've ever encountered!

- 'Hmpf! What else is new?' Shinon snorted arrogantly.

- 'Dammit, Shinon! This can't go on if you're going to stay in the group! As of now, the kids are barring the doors to keep you out of their happy times!'

- 'Pah. More like jerking off together.' Shinon spat. Titania´s eyes narrowed and her jaw was clenching.

- 'Get out.' She hissed.

- 'Make me.'

- 'GET OUT! NOW!' Titania roared and grabbed Shinon, then slamming him against the wall beside the door. 'And believe me, you won't be having anything to eat for the day!' Shinon gave her one more venomous, hateful glance before leaving the dining room and slamming the door behind him. Titania remained glaring at door for a while before unclenching her fists and letting her shoulders slump. Right then then she became aware of the pain in her injured hand which made her cringe.

Dear me, we are dysfunctional lot, aren't we, she thought to herself while heading for the kitchen to make breakfast.

Author's notes: Okay, that's that. My hunch was right: I have no idea how to continue from now on. But, I suppose I'll think of something. You can always give me a couple of suggestions in a review or an email, though.

Gatrie's notes: What?! But a story is supposed to end happily! You have to continue with it!