Meanwhile, on the balcony of their two‑storey part‑wood part‑stone house built into the base of a cliff in Rage Ravine, Hanna and Rob lay together on the bare decking in each other's arms.
"We never did get the chance to revisit the first time we found this place," Hanna realises, breaking what had been a full hour's contented silence.
"I was wondering when you were going to bring that up," Rob smirks.
"We have the opportunity right now."
"Don't let me stop you."
"Like you get a choice," Hanna teases, rolling on top of her husband.
Just as their lips touch, the phone rings.
"Ignore it," Rob insists. "They'll hang up soon enough."
"I intend to," Hanna agrees before kissing her husband passionately.
But the phone doesn't stop ringing. Hanna does her best to ignore it, but after just thirty seconds, she's had enough. Uttering a short string of violent expletives, she leaves Rob on the decking, then storms into the house, heads straight downstairs to the den, and snatches the phone off its hook.
"You'd better have a‑ Oh, it's‑ Woah, woah, calm down! I can't‑ Maria, it's OK, just tell me what happened… She what‽ How could she‽… Where are you now?… OK, stay there, I'll come to you. What's the name of the hotel?… And the room number?… I'll be as quick as I can… Yes, I'll let everyone else know too… OK, I'll be there as soon as possible."
Hanna hangs up the phone, snatches up her ATV keys, and heads straight outside. "Rob, I'm sorry, but I have to go," she calls up to the balcony.
Rob appears over the balcony rail. "What? Why?" he asks, confused.
"Tai walked out on Maria," Hanna explains briefly.
Rob stifles a curse. "Then stop wasting time and go: I'll contact Danny and Sally."
"Thanks." Hanna sprints to the garage, and seconds later, speeds away on her ATV, heading to Shang Mu by the quickest route she knows.
A few minutes later in Jade Creek, Danny and Sally are woken suddenly by the phone ringing. Surprised and startled, Sally rolls off Danny and the sofa, and lands hard on her tail.
"You OK?" Danny asks.
"Yeah," Sally assures, rubbing her sore tail as she picks herself up. "Who could it be?"
"Whoever it is, I hope they have a good reason." Danny gets up and answers the phone. "Hello?… Hey Rob… Ah… I see… I did warn her… I know. Thanks for informing us. Now go after Hanna, make sure she doesn't do anything stupid… My point stands… We'll head to yours in the morning then. See you tomorrow."
"What happened?" Sally asks as Danny hangs up, the badger's worried expression unsettling her.
"Tai walked out on Maria," Danny explains.
"Shit," Sally sighs. "It was going so well between them too…"
"I did caution her against going too fast," Danny sighs.
"You did," Sally agrees. "However, if you remind her of that tomorrow, I can't guarantee I'll be able to stop her hurting you."
"I won't say a word," Danny promises.
Hanna does indeed get to Shang Mu quickly: if she had timed it, it would be a new personal best. But such trivial concerns are currently beneath her. The vixen wastes no time at all weaving through the moderately light late evening traffic, and soon finds herself outside the hotel. Abandoning her ATV near the entrance, she stalks up the stairs.
"Excuse me ma'am, but you can't‑" the doorman begins.
"Get out of my way or I'll break every bone in your body," Hanna growls, baring her teeth and flashing her claws.
"I‑I'll m‑make sure n‑no‑one s‑steals it, m‑ma'am," the doorman replies.
"Good. Now move."
The doorman steps to one side to allow Hanna entry. The vixen ignores the receptionist trying to attract her attention, sprints up the stairs two floors, then dashes down the corridor to Maria's room.
"Maria?" she calls. "Are you in there?"
A moment later, the door opens. An instant later, an olive furball slams into Hanna and hugs her tightly.
"It's all gone wrong!" Maria wails.
"Don't worry, I'm here for you," Hanna comforts, holding Maria close and stroking her hair. "Shall we go in and talk about it?"
"Please don't let go," Maria replies.
"I won't," Hanna assures. "It's just… Wouldn't you prefer a bit of privacy?"
"Yeah, I guess," Maria sniffs.
Together, Hanna and Maria enter the room, close the door behind them, then perch on the end of the bed.
"Tell me what happened," Hanna requests, wrapping her tail around her best friend.
"…and then… then I told her to get out of my sight, which I… I shouldn't have, but I was… I was so angry, and… and… when I went out… out there, she… she wasn't… she wasn't…" Maria tails off, unable to finish.
"I… I don't know what to say other than I'm so, so sorry," Hanna comforts. "I mean, everything was going so well, and then…"
"What do I do?" Maria asks, wiping her eyes dry.
"Honestly? I don't know," Hanna replies. "I've never been through a break‑up before."
Maria tries to respond, but she can't prevent herself from bursting into tears again.
"I know it hurts now," Hanna soothes, stroking Maria's hair again. "But you'll learn to live with it, and you'll find the strength to move on."
"But what if I don't wanna move on?" Maria sobs.
"You might not have a choice," Hanna answers.
"It hurts so much."
"I know." For a few moments, Hanna holds Maria, continuing her comforting stroking. "If you want, maybe I can have a talk with Tai?"
Despite her mournful mood, Maria can't help but emit a small sound of amusement. "Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather you didn't," she decides.
"Fair: I'm not known for my diplomacy," Hanna accepts. "Look, you shouldn't be alone tonight. How about you come back to Rage Ravine with us and spend the night? I promise, things will look better tomorrow."
"OK," Maria agrees. "Carry me?"
Hanna makes to refuse, then changes her mind. "Of course," she agrees.
Five minutes later, Hanna carries Maria out of the hotel to find Rob waiting with both ATVs and Maria's trike. "Thanks for coming."
"Friend in need," Rob explains.
Hanna hands Rob the key to Maria's room. "Can you get Maria's stuff?"
"Sure," Rob agrees.
As Rob enters the hotel, Hanna turns to Maria. "I'm afraid I have to put you down now."
"Is my trike here?" Maria asks.
"Right next to us," Hanna answers. "Are you OK to ride?"
"Yeah," Maria assures.
At home the next morning, Hanna and Rob are up just in time for Danny and Sally to arrive.
"How is she?" Danny asks as Rob welcomes them in.
"I've never seen her so upset," Hanna answers, her voice tinged with sadness and pity. "Last night really hit her hard."
"Want me to talk to her?" Sally offers. "Unless I'm mistaken, I'm the only one here who's been through a break‑up."
"There's no need," Maria answers as she enters the den. "The fact that you're all here makes me happy. Relatively speaking."
"Sorry to hear it's over," Sally apologises softly. "If you want to talk to someone who's been through similar, don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't," Maria acknowledges. "Hesitate, I mean."
"My offer to talk to Tai is also still on the table," Hanna reminds.
Everyone looks at Hanna with dissuading expressions.
"OK, OK, it's off the table," Hanna sighs.
"I know you mean well, but it'll only make things worse," Maria explains.
"Alright, no need to rub it in," Hanna grumbles.
"Time to change the subject," Rob decides. "And I vote we all go for a late breakfast in Shang Mu. Who's up for that?"
"That's what me and Tai were going to do this morning," Maria murmurs, her eyes watering.
"Rob, you idiot," Hanna scolds.
"My apologies, Maria," Rob offers.
Danny and Sally exchange whispers for a few moments. "We think it's best Maria returns home with us," Sally suggests. "In fact, she could help us with our salvage operations."
"You're still finding stuff in the wreckage of Thermal Base?" Rob asks.
"The Shang Tu team did a pretty poor job," Danny explains. "They missed loads of stuff, and we're finding it instead. Unfortunately, a lot of it's garbage."
"Surely there's something interesting?" Hanna asks.
"Like security footage of the lavatorial facilities?" Sally suggests.
"I stand corrected," Hanna remarks. "Wait… Did you actually watch through it all?"
"We skimmed through it, yes," Danny admits quietly.
"Don't go any further," Hanna instructs. "I don't want you describing Brevon having a shit. That is not an image I want in my head."
Hanna's last comment earns a stifled giggle from Maria.
"So, want to help us?" Sally asks Maria.
"Sure, why not," Maria decides. "It'll keep me busy at least. And I do love to swim."