Two weeks after his arrival in Ravenguard from his battle in the village, Tatsuma made up in his mind that he will raise the infant. Even though he was completely inexperienced, he knew there was a first time for everything. The people of Ravenguard were somber due to the amount of people that have returned. Many that have died were young men who volunteered to join, and their families began to question Tatsuma's ability to lead the Crimsons. However, it was his first battle. And to top it off, he had no experience leading a faction before. Some gave him some slack, the others grew more skeptical. Perhaps this "neo Rebellion" wasn't such a great idea after all, considering the enemy has more skilled warriors, and advanced technology.

Tatsuma carried the infant, but he thought that naming it Tatsuma was going to be confusing, so he named the infant Tachi. Tachi was crying loudly while Tatsuma was carrying him along the streets of Ravenguard. Tatsuma tried shushing the infant, but it just cried louder. Tatsuma sighed, then went to the hotel and tried feeding it something from the hotel's menu. However, the infant just wouldn't eat anything, and Tatsuma was starting to get frustrated.

"Come on... Eat something, will ya? I can't have you crying all night..." Tatsuma said.

A young lady saw Tatsuma struggling with Tachi, and she kept an eye on the two. Tatsuma sighed. Right when he gave up, the lady walked over to Tatsuma and lay a hand on his shoulder. Tatsuma looked up and saw that she had long black hair and green eyes. Tatsuma wondered what she was doing, but the girl spoke up before he could.

"You're Tatsuma, leader of the Crimsons, am I right?" the lady asked.

"Yes... Who are you?" Tatsuma responded.

"I am Namika, a bow hunter. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Please, just Tatsuma."

"Alright then, Tatsuma. I see you're having problems with your... child?"

"I guess... Yeah, this is my child."

"Would you like some help?"

"Oh, that would be much appreciated, thanks."

Namika took out a bottle topped with a nipple and some milk, then smiled slightly at Tatsuma as she held out her arms in a silent gesture to hand over Tachi. Tatsuma gingerly handed Tachi over to Namika, and she proceeded to feed Tachi with the milk bottle. She swayed slowly as well, her hair tailing her motions. Tatsuma was charmed by her motherly nature, and then decided to ask Namika some tips on how to raise a child.

"I honestly don't know," Namika said, "I haven't had a child before, but I always wanted one or two."

"Well, what do you think the child didn't like about me?" Tatsuma asked.

"Would you like to be held by a man covered in blood? Also, do you think your armor is comfortable to lean on?" Namika questioned.

Tatsuma looked at himself, and saw that his armor was covered in blood. Tatsuma scratched the back of his head, then looked at Namika.

"Would you mind staying with him for a bit while I go change?"

"Oh, take your time. I'm not going anywhere," Namika said as she smiled at Tatsuma.

Tatsuma excused himself soon after, then went up to his room and took off his armor. His clothes underneath the armor was drenched in his enemies' blood, and he stripped free of his clothing and took a bath. He sat in the tub and relaxed his body. Tatsuma was surprised he suffered no flesh wound from the battle that leveled an entire village. Perhaps it was just luck? Tatsuma couldn't stop thinking about the battle, and how his forces were decimated even though they won ultimately. His first battle, and he's lost a lot of men. The responsibility of having their deaths on his shoulder shook Tatsuma a bit. He began doubting his ability to lead, judging on his first encounter. Tatsuma sighed and thought of Azen. How did he do it? How did he lead a rebellion against all of the Royal Army's forces? Tatsuma washed his face and got out of the tub, then started drying himself off with a towel. He saw the pristine image of his body in the mirror, and he wondered how long he would be able to keep it like that, with the battles that are about to ensue and all.

As he finished dressing up into his casual clothes, Tatsuma dried his hair and went back downstairs to Namika and Tachi. He saw that Namika was done feeding Tachi, and that she was standing up, swaying side to side and he could hear her as she hummed. Tatsuma felt happy for the first time after his entire village was killed. But come to think of it, why did he care so much for this child? He just found him and his mother hiding in a hut in a battlefield. Perhaps it was because Tatsuma had always wanted a family, but he could never create one himself for he devotes his time to hunting. It's not unheard of for Tatsuma to take on three contracts at a time, and he wouldn't return until all three were finished. Tatsuma quietly made his way over to Namika. Namika smiles slightly and hands the sleeping Tachi to Tatsuma. Right when Tatsuma touched Tachi, the infant grabbed hold of Namika's shirt and refused to let go.

"Looks like he likes you," Tatsuma commented.

"Indeed, but you're his father. He has to return to you sooner or later," Namika replied.

"C'mon Tachi... let go of her shirt..." Tatsuma said as he pried the infant's fingers off of Namika's shirt.

"Ahh, so that's his name. Did you come up with it?"

"I did, yes."

"Well, it's a beautiful name. Very fitting for a boy."

"Thank you."

A Crimson walks into the hotel and stops a few feet by Tatsuma, "Sir, we require your presence in the meeting."

"I'll be there presently," Tatsuma responded, and the Crimson walks away. Tatsuma turns to Namika and sighed. He knew he needed to lead the men over taking care of the child if he wanted his Crimsons to be victorious. Some of his supporters have begun doubting his ability to lead, and he didn't want to give them more ammunition to fire at him when something went wrong. Tatsuma bowed his head and kissed Tachi's forehead.

"Sir?" Namika asked, wondering what was wrong.

"Take care of him in my stead, Namika," Tatsuma requested.

"But he's-"

"I'm counting on you," Tatsuma said before he departed the hotel, headed towards a the meeting tent adjacent to the forging district. The forges were still going even though it was late night. Their need of good weapons and armor were high, and the never ending stream of fresh recruits seemed to compliment the blacksmiths' efforts.

Tatsuma arrived at the tent and was surprised to see someone with highly decorated, unfamiliar uniform. He furrowed his eyebrows then looked to his men, and he could see that they were as confused and surprised as he was. Tatsuma asked where they were from, and found out they were representatives of the Royal Army. They have come to acknowledge the Crimsons as a belligerent faction, and have come with a warning.

"We cannot have you fighting the Azures. Your battle in the Eastern reaches of the Kingdom have leveled an entire village. If you keep this up, you just may end up destroying most of the Kingdom!" The representative said.

"How come you are warning us, when the Azures are the bigger threat with their hybrid soldiers and constant raids on your villages?" Tatsuma asked.

"The Royal Army had dispatched a messenger to the Azures with the same warning, sir. I assure you, you are not being ganged upon."

"And what was the response of the Azures?"

"They refused to dissolve their forces."

"And what is your response to that?"

"None. The Royal Army cannot mobilize without discussing the matters with the leader of the Crimsons."

"Well, you're talking to him."

"Then you must know, that the battles between the Crimsons and the Azures will attract more and more people from the Kingdom, and you will be risking a civil war."

"The people have decided to join our cause because they are not afraid to do what is right."

"What is right?! You're willing to instigate a civil war for your own vendetta?" the representative yelled.

"If the Azures will not disband, neither will the Crimsons. As for you, representative, I have a question for you," Tatsuma said, then placed his hands on the table between them.

"What is it?"

"Where do your loyalties lie? With the Crimsons who want humans and monsters to live separately but in peace, or the Azures, who want hybrids to rule with an iron fist?"

"My loyalties lie with the throne," The representative answered.

"Then do not get in our way," Tatsuma said.

The men were surprised by the words that Tatsuma have said. He took a bold move against the Royal Army. It was as if he challenged the Royal Army to intervene, as if he knew they could do anything considering the fighters in the battle was of their own race. The people have regained their trust in Tatsuma as they saw he was not willing to back down just because the Royal Army said so. The people in the tent believed he had as much bark as he had bite, and because of that, they respected him more. The Crimsons within the tent began to look empowered, as they stared down the representative to let him know they agree with their leader.

"If that is your decision, then the Royal Army will have no choice but to intervene,"

"Then know that you will suffer great losses."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning."

"Then this conversation is over," The representative said, as he left the tent and mounted his steed.

"Tell your king this: If he can turn a blind eye on the actions of the Azures, he can surely turn a blind eye to the justice that the Crimsons are performing," Tatsuma called out.

The representative rode off, and Tatsuma sighed. He began to think about what he just got himself into. His comrades gave him a pat on the shoulder and told him he wasn't half-bad, then all left to their houses, and Tatsuma went back to the hotel. When he arrived, Namika was still there, sitting on a chair with Tachi in her arms. Tatsuma smiled and walked towards the two, when suddenly a Crimson burst into the hotel.

"Sir! A regiment of the Royal Army had been waiting in the forest and are now approaching us fully armed!" The Crimson bursted out.

"Are you sure they are not staying the night here?"

"Sir, I'm afraid they're-" the Crimson was cut off when suddenly explosions were heard outside.

"Warn the rest," Tatsuma ordered, and the Crimson ran out of the hotel.

Tatsuma swiftly walked to Namika and Tachi then guided them out. Tatsuma led them through back alleys and hidden pathways until they reached the back end of Ravenguard. It was obvious that this was the universal escape route of the Crimsons should Ravenguard be sieged considering there were packmules and whole bags of supplies ready at the exit. Tatsuma helped Namika pack as much as he could into two bags and hooked them onto a mule, then double checked everything.

"Wouldn't you flee with us, Tatsuma?" Namika questioned.

"I have to lead my men," Tatsuma answered.

"Where shall I go?"

"Anywhere, as long as it's away from the Capital, here, or New Starfall."

"Very well... Anything the child should remember you by?" Namika requested.

Tatsuma took a while to answer, but he took his necklace with a Tigrex tooth on it and gave it to Namika, "This necklace was worn by my mother as a protection charm. You'll need it more than I do," Tatsuma said, then heard the whistling of a cannonball. He turned to see it was headed towards them, and Tatsuma shielded Namika with his body, and debris and dirt came flying towards Tatsuma's back.

"Tatsuma..."

"There's no time. Go."

"But what if you emerge victorious?"

"I don't want this child to grow up in a city geared for war. There's no room for an infant to grow in a war-torn area."

"...Very well," Namika said then bowed her head.

"Now, go. I'll send couriers and write to you and Tachi periodically if we ever survive here," Tatsuma reassured, then saw Namika and Tachi off as they started travelling into the forest.

With a deep sigh, Tatsuma turned his back and returned to the hotel. There, he quickly dressed himself in his armor and took his Bone Katana, and made his way to the gates, where he was to lead the men. Tatsuma figured fighting within the fortress would yield damage to it, Tatsuma decided to sally his forces out. However, if they were attacked when they are not fully out of the gates, it would just be suicide. As he considered the need for speed, Tatsuma ordered his men to mount velocipreys, as he mounted a velocidrome to distinguish himself from the rest of the Crimsons. The Royal Army was advancing into their little moat. However, before Tatsuma ordered his men out, Sarah came and tried to persuade Tatsuma.

"Tatsuma!" Sarah exclaimed, "There's a large group of wyverns headed our way! You cannot sally out, we need every man in defense!"

"There are plenty of men to defend here!" Tatsuma yelled, then rode out.

Tatsuma led 120 men riding velocipreys into the ranks of the Royal Army. The Royal army was caught by surprise, and the first seven ranks were penetrated and scattered by the monster charge. The riders and their mounts attacked each man on the ground, and the Royal Army proved to be nothing. The regiment appeared to be full of fresh recruits, but they were great in number. With the slash of a sword or the thrust of a lance, the Crimson riders fought their way into the center of the Royal regiment. Their mounts did their part too as they bit and clawed soldiers. The sight of their comrades as they were killed caused the regiment to tremble with fear, however they started fighting back. They brought out their spears and started fighting the mounted men. Tatsuma himself was knocked out of his mount when a spear was thrown at his shoulder. With a deft slash, Tatsuma drove back those who thought they could push their luck and finish off the leader of the Crimsons.

The battle ensued for several minutes until the first roars of the forecasted group of wyverns came. There were two khezus and a rathalos accompanied by two rathians. It seemed like the dragon-like wyverns were fighting the khezu pair in an exchange of lightning and fire, and the group found that the open ground where Tatsuma and his riders were fighting was a good place to land. The wyverns crash landed into the ground and caused the Royal Army to back away from the wyverns. The ground shook from the landing, and Tatsuma turned his mount around to initiate a fight with the wyverns. He could see that there were specks in the sky, and soon afterward, he found that the specks were actually arrows from the archers garrisoned at the walls of Ravenguard.

Many of the Crimson riders joined Tatsuma in his fight with the wyverns, and some of the riders chased down the Royal regiment's remnants. It didn't take long for the battle between wyverns to be settled, and the routed Royal regiment to be disposed of. This victory showed the Royal Army that they cannot take the Crimsons lightly. What were they thinking, sending fresh recruits to deal with a fighting group? It's true that the training done to all Crimson recruits is not the best training to prepare them for war, but it's led them to be able to defend themselves in a battle. Their training heavily relied on the Crimson's stalwart determination. Because they are given an easy training course and do well in spars and field exercises against their comrades, their morale could be high. However, losing plenty of men in just one battle with their rival, the Azures, made their morale crash. It's their guts and unwillingness to be defeated even if all odds are against them are what made them into a formidable adversary against most of the Royal Army. Their hunter population, which made up a third of their entire army population, was their strongest assest against the Azures.

The Crimsons cheered at their second victory, as if it were their first, and Tatsuma was breathing heavily from the fight. His riders were happy and they all went back, but something was not right for Tatsuma. He looked up at the moon and stared at it for a while. He was thinking about Tachi and Namika. Did they manage to slip away? What if there were monsters along their path? Tatsuma was stuck into his thoughts that it took a tap on the shoulder for him to snap back to reality.

"You did well, leader," a Crimson said.

"..." Tatsuma was speechless.

His people cheered and gave him a round of applause for the bravery he showed by leading a handful of men against an entire regiment AND five wyverns. That was material for merit, and surely, their enemies would think twice before attacking home ground again. Tatsuma looked around him. Not a single dead Crimson. This was a decisive victory, and that he needed to be extremely happy not just for himself, but also for his people. The archers along the walls chanted Tatsuma's name, and soon, all of Ravenguard chanted his name. Tatsuma looked confused at first, but he soon realized what a great moment this was. Tatsuma raised his sword and the Crimsons roared in response.

"What are your next orders, sir?" the Crimson beside Tatsuma asked.

"Well, we've got wyverns we hunted... We can use them for special weapons for the fighters..." Tatsuma spoke.

"I think you're the one that needs new weapons and armor, sir."

Tatsuma looked at himself. His Ioprey armor was hanging by a simple thread on his body, and his Bone Katana's blade was chipped at so many different points that the blade was impossible to fix. They'd have to craft the blade into something else if he wanted to keep the weapon. Tatsuma looked to his sides. Many of the Crimsons were headed out to collect materials from the fallen Royal regiment as well as carve materials out of the wyverns. Tatsuma looked at his blade once more, and saw Tachi and Namika's faces in his mind. For him to be able to protect them, he would need better gear. As they say, it all started with the head, so Tatsuma focused on getting geared first.

"Tell one of the blacksmith that I need a Rathalos set, and leave out the helmet. Also, I'll need a Wyvern Blade from the Rathalos materials. Tell the blacksmith to forge it into the original length of the longswords. I want to be able to have decent reach," Tatsuma ordered.

"At once."

"Tatsuma!" Sarah called out as she came running to him.

"What is it?" Tatsuma inquired.

"The Azures and the Royal Navy have begun engaging each other for supply and trade lines. What should we do?"

"We're building ships."