Running Water_and_Physics . exe

November 10, 13,012 - Sunset

God help him.

Or better, God help Hand.

The sun was setting on the horizon. Blinding. Brilliant. But nothing could outshine Krista's glaring lack of musical talent. Or perhaps she was singing off-key with the intent to annoy the creature in his palm?

He couldn't be sure. Not when she seemed to clear her throat and belt out lyrics to a children's song in a pitch too high to be plausible. Her grin stretched wide as her voice cracked and turned into a breathy rasp.

Too bad. She might sound decent if she sang something more suited to her.

Then again, could anything really improve the song 'Knick-Knack' when you're on the one-hundred and fifty-ninth verse and you have no choice but to make up words?

Doubtful.

"D, please! I can't take it anymore! Cut me off and bury me in dirty underwear for all I care! But end my misery! There's not enough liquor in this country to numb me to this!"

She sang louder.

"She sounds like a dying cat!"

It became worse. The words warped by her purposeful yowling as she strained to sound just like a famished feline.

The Hunter's left arm jerked upward before coming to rest at his side. If she had to guess, Hand wanted to hit her. And D, like the sweetheart he was, was keeping him at bay.

How sweet!

The song was (thankfully) interrupted by a sudden burst of laughter as the thought struck her. She wasn't sure exactly why it struck her as so amusing. Perhaps just the idea of the Hunter ever being called a sweetheart? Probably by a woman, blind in her old age, serving sweet tea on a hot afternoon. Thinking that he is perhaps her great-grandson come to visit.

She was hunched over, wheezing pathetically as her mind ran away with the imagined scene until the imagined D was dressed as one of the boys at her school. Unwilling to correct the elderly woman. Desperate to act the part of a loving teen.

"Noooooo…" she groaned at length. "Oh, no! I need it to happen!"

"Need what to happen?"

Divert!

With a quick snap of her arm, she held the still-bandaged hand before his gaze. "I need you to check my hand, muscle man!"

The horse plodded to a halt, and while she wouldn't admit it, the stare she was receiving was making her skin crawl. She waggled her fingers, as well as she could, while waiting.

Nothing.

"I'm not gonna apologize for calling you 'muscle man' when you are very… beefy?"

Was that a defeated sigh her ears detected?

Or was Hand holding back a snort of amusement?

"Please check my hand? I don't wanna see it if it's still black and… yucky."

This time, it was definitely the Hunter. But without complaint, he pulled her hand close and unraveled the bandages. Slender fingers poking and prodding at the tender flesh.

Very tender. But she was comforted by the fact that she didn't hear any… squishing. "Is it safe to look?"

"Define safe."

She cringed. "Doesn't look like my skin is about to fall off?"

"Then it is safe."

"Ew! Barely!" she exclaimed, stretching the skin and balking when it appeared liable to split open. "Please tell me this isn't permanent."

There was silence as he nudged the horse onward. The hand had not healed as fast as he first thought it might. But perhaps it was just a superficial thing. Healing from the inside out.

The first check had resulted in some startled screeching from the girl. Granted, it had looked rather grisly. Worse than it had when he'd first wrapped it with black skin weeping equally black blood. But if he had to guess, it was just her body's way of purging the irritant and would soon be right as rain.

"D, how do you just pop up like daisies from everything?"

His train of thought ground to a halt at her question. Dark eyes watching as she twisted about in the saddle until she was facing him with her legs thrown over his thighs. And closer, still, she came.

"You took a sword to the heart with some kind of… poison on it. That, alone, made my arms numb! Then those dogs? Wolves? Things!" She was becoming excited, pitch rising as she squeezed his upper arm and came ever closer. Invading his space. "Those creatures chewed on your shoulder like it was a bloody roast! And it's like it never happened! You didn't seem fazed by the pain!"

Suddenly, Krista took a breath and rocked back onto her rear. Hand not blackened pressed to her face as she sighed. "Sorry. I guess what I'm gettin' at is… did you work up to it? Or have you always been tough as nails? Unkillable. Quick to heal."

She didn't need to vocalize her other question for him to hear it. 'Why am I the way I am?'

The horse continued on as he answered, "A bit of both, I suppose."

"So, you've always had muscles in your shit?"

He glanced down at her just as she clapped her hands over her mouth. Cheeks flushed. "I suppose that's one way to put it."

And just as quickly, her embarrassment fled. Emotions flitting between disbelief and amusement before she outright belly laughed. "Oh, well then I guess I'm out of luck!"

"Not entirely. You've got time," Hand assured

The statement seemed to strike something within her, as all chortling stopped and she straightened up. "Can you teach me to fight?"

Yes. That was a surprisingly good idea.

He tugged on the reins and slid off the rear of the beast, gesturing for Krista to dismount as she said, "Wait, now? Really?!" Really, what better time? They were still quite some distance from the nearest town. He needed to know where she stood in combat prowess. She was willing and already stripping off her dress and cloak.

"So, what are we gonna do?"

"Spar," he answered simply. "What are you capable of?"

"I'm um… I…" The girl trailed off uncertainly, fingering the baton at her side. "If I tell you that most of what I pull off is only because of dumb luck, will that answer your question?"

"We have our work cut out for us, you mean?" Hand supplied.

Her shoulders and hands rose as she nodded in a 'yeah, pretty much' way.

"So, you knocking D off the horse?"

"I was scared."

"Gutting the Noble in Puregon? And breaking his leg?"

For a moment, she seemed unsure of what he meant. But realization quickly settled across her countenance as she flinched and grimaced. Fingers digging into the flesh of her upper arm. "Angry. Same with the fake you. I was mainly angry any time I accomplished something that night."

"We really do have our work cut out for us, D."

That would be determined in depth after their little… match.

He stretched his arm back and unsheathed his sword, ordering Krista to do the same. "Show me what you can do."

There was a moment of silence before she shrugged and gradually extended one blade. "Stab?" A bob and jab. "Bam, fool!" But at D's steely stare, she drew in on herself. "Not what you meant?"

He advanced.

"Wow. You still look pretty intimidating. Almost as scary as when I first met you."

Dark eyes gleamed in the night and she retreated.

"You aren't playing around with this, are you?"

In answer, the Hunter leapt, sword clashing against her raised blades with a shrill clang. He struck, again, and her body lurched under the onslaught. Already struggling to keep up with the pace he'd set. Faster than that fake twat, but slower than she knew he could go. Slower than he moved with her attached to him.

It wasn't a comforting thought.

'He could half-ass an assault and we'd die.'

Krista agreed, but she couldn't falter now. Not when he was advancing faster. Throwing more force behind each attack.

Or perhaps she really was that weak?

But perhaps if she used his strength against him?

With a flick of her wrist, she twisted one blade about with the intent to deflect his next attack. And she might have, too. If only he hadn't anticipated it and parried her parry with a parrying dagger and knocked her on her rear. But she didn't have time to lament the lost opportunity. Rolling to one side before blade could meet flesh.

"You should come at me with the intent to kill."

"Well, this is a little more intense than what I had in mind for sparring!" she cried as she scrambled to her feet. And looking over her shoulder, she could see nothing. Only…

Darkness.

Too thick to see through.

Choking.

Unnatural.

Hairs rose on the back of her neck as she strained to see. Gut clenching and quivering. Eyes jerking until she was driven to pinch them shut as her skin prickled with fear.

"Use more than your eyes to search."

She shuddered, thinking that perhaps her ears could serve her well enough.

But it was silent. No sign of life aside from her labored breathing. Not even the wind dared disturb them.

She sniffed.

Sand and baked grass.

"Damn it!"

"Focus."

Dagger outstretched, Krista whirled about and met only air. Panting as she realized that, not only had she missed, she'd never heard him approach to begin with. Had barely felt his breath warm her neck.

'You really are shitty at this.'

She knew this, but she didn't want to hear it from the voice. "Shut up…"

'I bet there are kids out there that are better at payin' attention.'

"Shut up."

'Better at fightin'. Don't have fits every time somethin' 'scary' happens.'

Fingers clawed at her scalp and ears. Drawing blood in a desperate bid to silence the voice.

'And aren't completely useless bags of flesh!'

"Just shut the fuck up!"

Her anger flared and… there! With a sudden clarity, she could see him. Eyes wide and wild as she tracked the figure drifting through the shadows. Not simply blending in with the dark due to his attire.

He shifted, and the shadows followed. Clinging to him. Distorting his figure until he was practically one with the inky blackness. He appeared aware that she'd found him, however, and began retreating. Shadows wrapping about him.

But Krista was already on the move. Charging across the ground with all the rage of a hell cat. And with a soft hum, he noted she was moving faster. Her eyes alight with bloodlust. Not the same kind that took hold as she mauled Riedikke, but a bloodlust all the same.

One that had her in his face in a matter of moments. Daggers poised to strike and deflect. Despite her increase in speed, however, she was still leagues slower than the Hunter.

And it showed when, with a mere flick of his hand, she was stumbling to one side. Doubled over with a broken wail.

"Anger is not the most reliable tool," D murmured as she shook and clutched at the gushing gash threatening to split open. And everyone there knew that if it did, she'd be scooping her entrails up. "It can land you in hot water."

"Well, it's not like I intended to get angry!" she hissed in return. "I just… can't do anything right."

"Now, that's not true," said Hand.

The look she cast them was withering, at best, as she gestured to the wound just barely starting to heal. Blood still leaking around her arm.

"You're untrained, that's all."

"Worthless. Probably untrainable."

"You need to stop that."

The girl didn't respond. Instead, she assessed the state of her wound and stood with a soft groan. Casting the Hunter a sidelong glance with eyes that shined a tad too brightly in the night. Wavering between their typical acidic green and cornflower blue.

She swung.

Shadows enveloped him as he drifted back just out of range of the blade. Something had shifted in her. That voice the cause. Truth be told, D didn't know if it was a good thing. Sure. She was stronger, perhaps. More agile on her feet.

But reckless.

Impulsive.

He didn't care for it.

He'd seen too many die for that very reason.

Suddenly, Krista was leaping. Countenance fierce as she attempted to land a single hit. Surprisingly, her blades were sheathed, back to their baton-like state. But he realized the reason as she swung like a player at the bat.

With a crack, his hand went slack and his sword dropped to the ground. It had served its purpose in the beginning. But now, he figured it was time for a hands-on approach.

'D, you're gonna have to hold back a bit less. This rage is not something to treat lightly.'

The creature was right.

She ducked out of view, but this time, he would not underestimate her. He pivoted, arm braced to weather the blow she aimed at his head.

Another crack.

His arm did not give.

Another.

The Hunter pushed her back with a sharp shove, driving the heel of his palm into her chest. Not hard enough to cause internal injuries. Just enough to wind her.

Not near enough to deter her.

She would get him. If he wanted to spar like this, she would make him bleed.

A cracked bone or two? Nah. She wanted to see red splatter on the ground!

And as these dark desires flitted through her mind, she continued the assault. Receiving and returning blows. Eyes wild. And if she didn't think it would wind her, she'd have been laughing, as well. Laughing over his corpse!

Time seemed to freeze as her leg collided with the Hunter's side. Despite the distance between them, she could hear the crack of ribs and… something being crushed or punctured. A lung? She would guess yes if the blood staining his lips on his sharp exhale was anything to go by.

But she was horrified. At herself. At her thoughts.

'How does he do that?!'

She didn't understand what the voice was referencing. Then again, she did not have much time to think on it. Not when he was driving his fist into her thigh with enough force to make the muscle cramp.

Yes. That's all it was. A really bad cramp. Like the ones you get in the morning if you stretch too hard.

She fell, but as she twisted, it looked more like a purposeful maneuver. And she braced herself before she kicked much like a donkey. Striking his knee and shin, the limb buckling beneath his weight.

But even as this happened, he was grabbing the still-extended leg and dragging her towards him. Pinning her flailing legs with his own.

This is where reckless behavior landed someone.

At the mercy of another, more skilled fighter.

She realized this (among other things) as he stretched her arm out, snapped it around with a burning twist, pinned her hand to her back, and pushed it up.

And up.

And up.

Up until she was whimpering pitifully as it popped out of place and wondering how she got to that point.

Not that she couldn't remember. But aside from the one moment where she realized her thoughts had taken a frighteningly grim turn, she felt rather… detached. Almost like she was in a dream. And eventually, much like she had standing over Riedikke.

That bloodthirst that would only be quenched by eliminating the person in her way.

… Had she truly desired for the Hunter to die?

Krista shook her head. On the verge of tears, but unwilling to shed them now. She'd made an ass of herself, she felt. And while she hadn't felt completely in control of her actions… well, she didn't have much else to blame her behavior on. The confusion wasn't helping with the haze floating about her mind, either.

"Y'know, kid…"

When had he released her? Although, she supposed it didn't matter. She didn't much feel like standing. A fitting place for trash.

Furious scrubbing at her eyes ensued as she turned her head to listen.

"You have it in you."

She scoffed.

"We're serious. But you need a hell of a lot of training to enhance what is already there."

"Multiply zero by any other number and it's still zero."

An audible huff. "It's not zero. But we need to work on bringing out what you have without you being angry."

It was now that D interjected with, "You'll die on this path. Anger may get you somewhere faster, but it should not be the sole reason you are able to accomplish things."

Dear Gods, she was openly sobbing now. "I'm sorry. I know I've had some issues since we met up, but I swear, I'm not usually like… this. I don't know what's wrong with me!"

'You're pathetic. That's what's wrong.'

"Are you just gonna insult me every chance you fuckin' get?!"

'I wouldn't if it weren't so very easy and very true.'

She felt it then. A swell of emotions not quite her own. She was amused, but angry. So very irritated. At herself? At D. It was focusing on the Hunter.

No. Now… on her? Not her. Herself, but not herself.

The fires burned brighter. Hotter.

Just so!

Her head throbbed.

"D… I'm… just gonna walk for a bit."

The Hunter watched as she took off running. In some senses, she was an open book. Her past? No. Of course not. But her emotions?

Good Lord. What he didn't show, she more than made up for. A real 'heart on your sleeve' type.

Not that she was overly emotional, but this was likely the longest he'd been stuck with one person in quite a while (aside from his ever-present hand companion), and he was becoming better at reading her. Detecting minor shifts in her disposition. But whatever was happening in her mind was still a mystery to him.

"Go after her."

He intended to.

He gathered their gear, and with a soft click of his tongue, he and the horse followed at a distance. Giving her the space she so clearly desired. And she honestly appreciated it. However, if he'd have bothered her at that moment, it wouldn't have seemed she was.

Not when her eyes were narrowed in pain and fury. Because damn it all! That wasn't a cramp. It was a cracked femur. And while running on it was doing her no favors, it was helping to clear her mind. Toss away the shroud of misplaced and unjustified anger.

Grounding her as she decided she wholly disliked the fact that this voice was manipulating her thoughts and feelings and perceptions like she was a tool.

What she wouldn't give to go back to how things were. When voices in her head were her own and she could depreciate herself without another's input.

Granted, she wasn't really one to depreciate herself very often. She was rather happy with how she looked. But her intellect and grace? There was no denying that she was painfully lacking in both. Or maybe just common sense?

'I'm not dumb. I'm just…'

'Sheltered. Childlike. Oblivious. An idiot.'

She stuttered to a halt, breaths harsh as she attempted to retort. "See… can't you just be nice? You started off okay… and ended it like a turd! A big, smelly one! Like the one that kid planted in the middle of the hallway!"

'He was a bastard.'

"He needed love! Shit, I think he was there longer than us." The voice was silent to this, but if the staticesque whine in her head was anything to go by, she assumed it was upset. "Wait. Were you around even then?"

'I told you,' it huffed. 'I've always been with you. But… tired. You couldn't hear me.'

"But you were there in the memory thingy. I could hear you then."

So, what changed?

Another whimper left her, but this one stemming entirely from frustration. She just wanted answers. And the answers seemed so close! But each moment she tried to think on it, it slipped through the cracks.

"Kid."

She jumped.

Good Gods. When was the last time someone just said her name? Not that she minded 'kid'. But… When was the last time? And how did he always manage to startle her? Making her feel as if she had something to hide.

"Like a thief!"

The Hunter and his companion stared at her for a few solid seconds before opting to ignore her outburst. And as D grabbed her still-limp arm, Hand asked the one thing on their minds.

"Kid, do you talk to yourself or someone else?"

And it had to be asked because the slight changes in her voice could be due to her emotions. Talking in her sleep. Talking to herself. All of this could be part of a typical quirk or some hallucination. Mental derangement.

Or… she could truly be talking to another person.

"Myself? I think. It hasn't given me a name. And it's so mean and cynical and almost my exact opposite so what else would it be if not just some form of me?!"

'I'm not an it and I am not you, you tard!'

"Don't call me a tard! That's mean!"

'I wouldn't call ya one if ya weren't one!'

Her jaw jutted before she snapped, "Don't you have an off switch?!"

The Hunter was about to cut in and interrupt the very obvious bickering match taking place, but he was stopped short when the girl clucked her tongue. Turning her decidedly not-green eyes upon him.

"I don't know about an off switch, but I've certainly got an on switch," she said, lips curling in a decidedly not-Krista fashion.

If D didn't know any better, he might believe that was an odd way to say she had no chill. However, that look told a different story. It was an innuendo. No doubt about it. But he took the smallest breath and…

Yes. Definitely a sexual innuendo. With the barest hint of arousal curling through the air, there was no denying it. It was sweet and musky with just a hint of something earthy. Certainly pleasing to smell, but…

Not natural coming from Krista.

In one sharp movement, D pulled her arm out and slipped it back into place with a loud pop. She yowled, the electric blue fading from her eyes. The soft scent of arousal dissipating as she bounced away with a stomp of her small feet.

"Why so rough?!"

He did not answer. Twisting her about until she faced the horse with a squeak and some indignant squawking. Something he greatly preferred. And with her flung across the horse like a sack of potatoes, they were off. Pointed southwest, but not so west they would end up at the sea. But… Perhaps traveling by sea would be faster.

No. It would be better to travel by land. Chances are they would come across useful information staying on their current path. Rumors. Leads. Anything suspicious that would point to the pound of flesh to be paid, and any clues that would lead to the main base of operations on the Southern Continent.

And most importantly, it would give them time.

God knew this girl draped across his knees needed time.

"Hey, D?" He hummed, and she took that as her cue to continue. "Do you have any ideas as to what is going on with me? Since you know so much, I figure you must have some theories."

Oh, what a question. He had a few theories, yes. And he said as much, but he did not elaborate. There were too many variables. Too many 'what ifs'. There was no way for him to provide a concrete answer at that moment.

Mutant.

Shifter.

Dhampir.

An entire spread of creatures.

But none of them explained the delay. Not one of them gave reason to the sudden onset of abilities plaguing and changing her. And so, he would not get into it. He would wait, as Hunters are sometimes best to do, and tackle the problem once he had more to draw from.

"At least your heart sounds nice. Slow. Really slow."

The Hunter glanced down at his charge as she drawled the statement. Grinning a dopey, sleepy smile as she swayed in time with the horse.

"Is it okay for it to be so slow? And quiet? You must have really weird blood pressure. Or does you being a Dhampir negate that? But how? Slow heart, normal pressure? Or slow heart, low pressure but no effect on you?"

She seemed more alert with each word, but it was almost strange to witness her thinking so hard about this one thing.

"Is that why those not-dead dead guys were so cold? But if that's the case, do they have a heartbeat at all? How do they get oxygen to their brain? And do they have a blood pressure? Is it low? Is it normal? If they have none, but their blood still squirts out… it's a paradox."

A loud moan filled the night air, and if anyone else had the misfortune of hearing it, they might think there was a stranded/dying animal around. Or an obnoxious ghoul.

"Kid, you might be better off not thinking about the logics of Nobles and their workings," said Hand, stiffly patting Krista's back in a 'there, there' motion. "It's like asking why some can't stand running water."

All was quiet.

"Like… rivers and rain?" At Hand's affirmative, she twisted around to stare expectantly at the Hunter and his hand. "Do any of them ever shower? Can they even bathe?"

No answer. But then, D wasn't typical. Running water. Large bodies of water. Stealing his left sock. Submerging him in milk. These were not things that could affect the stoic Hunter. People were lucky if even a stake to the heart did more than inconvenience the man.

"I bet a person who runs everywhere is a Noble's worst nightmare, huh?"

There was a long stretch of silence before the countenanced carbuncle dryly muttered, "Running water. Ha ha."

The sun crested the eastern horizon as the travelers drew upon another walled town. This would likely be the last they'd see for quite a while. So close to greener pastures, but still in danger of errant storms. And even from their current distance, the Hunter could see the shimmer and crackle of a barrier erected around it. They would need to hail the guardsmen for entrance if it did not fall before they arrived.

In the meantime, however, D had more pressing matters.

Keeping Krista upright.

The girl had eventually opted to sit correctly in the saddle after worming back into her disgusting dress and cloak. Listening attentively as D and Hand turned her pun into a small lesson. Until she wasn't. Slumped back into the Hunter. Snoring louder than should be feasible.

While he wasn't normally concerned with such a thing like sleep, it did pique his interest with her. Such strange sleeping habits. But, if he had to guess, he supposed it was just her body's way of recharging after heavy bodily damage.

Not the most productive method. But at the very least, she didn't pass out immediately after or in the midst of trouble.

Conversations were free game, apparently. However, it still wasn't terribly convenient. He'd tried rousing her a few times since the town came into view with varying degrees of success. Currently, she was muttering about exploding pickles being a good game.

Perhaps it was only because she trusted him?

"But there was that time she did this when we first got her. And she punched you."

True, but the Hunter had already written that instance off. She'd been on the edge of death and… He wasn't entirely sure that it had been Krista to swing.

"Those pretty blues didn't shine, but it still could have been it manifesting."

It was decided. They would be treating this as more than a bout of psychosis until proven otherwise.

"Oh? Am I an 'it' now?"

D opted not to entertain it. Keeping a decidedly more-than-firm grasp on her shoulder. However, the voice didn't seem to mind, never shifting Krista's body. Never doing more than a one-armed shrug, still slumped over in the seat. And just as quickly, it was gone.

"Hey, D? You're kinda hurtin' m'arm."

He released her like she was a hot coal, and she went down just as fast. Flopping into the ground with a muffled thud. But she was too tired to care that she was getting reacquainted with the sand, and she said as much.

"Think you'd care if it involved new clothes?" asked Hand.

The next sound to rise from the girl was some unholy mix of defeated and mild intrigue, rising in pitch until it was an tiny squeak and she was wriggling excitedly on the ground. "Sign me up!"

Another pause.

"Why do I keep waking up to pain and the ground? Does this have to be a thing?"

"This time was unintentional," said D. And Krista barked out a sharp laugh as she struggled to her feet. "But this is a larger town. The tailor might be better equipped to clothe someone of your… stature."

And more laughing. "Aw. That's just a nice way to say I'm a short shit."

That wasn't untrue.

But he could practically feel his constant companion itching to say she looked like an underdeveloped teen. He didn't. He wanted to. A sense of self preservation won out, however, when Hand realized it was likely a very good way to end up detached and shoved into a too-cramped saddlebag.

"That's not exactly what we meant, kid, but okay."

That was a safe path to tread, and Krista commented no more on it. Charging ahead with a vigor she did not previously possess. "Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's! Get! Those! Clothes!"

The gate.

They were waiting on the gate.

Once the girl realized this, standing too close for comfort to the barrier, she shuffled over and slumped against the Hunter's knee. The hour-long trot had not drained her of energy, but she didn't particularly like the idea of having to wait. Normally, waiting didn't bother her.

But…

"Clooooooooooothes!"

"They aren't going anywhere," said Hand.

She scoffed in reply. "Is there a way to get their attention without looking like turds?"

"They spotted us half an hour ago."

"Then why haven't they opened?"

Should they tell her it was likely the guardsmen didn't want to?

But before either of the two could say anything, there was a shout from the top of the wall. A few F-Bombs dropped. A rushed exclamation for the travelers to back up as the barrier started falling. Had Krista still been in range of the dispersion, she might have received a nasty shock.

The 'door' folded into itself with an obscenely great clang, shaking the very walls and earth as it tucked into an opening above their heads. It wasn't the most comforting sound. Not when it resembled the noise a manual can opener makes as it cuts through metal. Or the sound of someone cutting tin? Amplified to levels that made Krista's ears twitch and ache.

"Sounds like it needs servicing," said Hand, earning a small hum from D.

She was glad she wasn't the only one to think so. Especially as they passed beneath it and it lurched down a good foot. "Someone is gonna get smooshed someday. And it's gonna get messy! No guts, no glory!"

She froze. Eyes wide as she saw something he couldn't. But he could guess it was a flashback of some sort.

"Let the first to experience it be someone who desperately deserves it!"

The gate lurched down another foot.

"Maybe we stop talking about the gate," said Hand.

Another groaning jerk.

The travelers did not hesitate to hurry further into town. Away from the literal death trap. Away from the too-harsh glares from the top of the wall.

"Why are they staring like we just demanded their first born?" asked Krista once they were around another corner. "Didn't anyone tell them that it's rude to stare?!"

"Best not think about it now, kid," answered the creature. "They let us in. Odds are, they're just paranoid. I don't think they will be bothering us."

"Hmm. If you say so."

D tipped his head in agreement. He highly doubted anyone would attempt to chase them out or attack them. Not when he could already hear whispers of his name on the breeze. Because people were stupid, but they weren't that stupid.

"So!" Krista chirped hopefully. "Clothes?"

"Clothes."

"Where clothes?"

The Hunter eyed the shop behind her, pointedly, before saying, "There clothes."

"New clothes! Thanks, D!"

And she was gone. Leaving him with little more than a quick arm squeeze and a promise of not being long. She didn't have very high hopes as she entered the small building. Not because it wasn't absolutely filled to the brim with clothing. Only because she didn't want to screech over a dress, again.

So, she searched.

And searched.

And searched.

Continuing as she listened to a man younger than herself softly list out sizes before he exclaimed, "Oh! It's my lucky day! The last pair!"

Her head snapped around and she eyed the tag dangling off the breeches in his hands.

Her size.

'We could punt him outta the way and take them for ourselves.'

And thus started the obnoxious groaning as she sorted through the remaining racks, because punting a boy and stealing his clothes was not going to happen. No matter how badly she wanted that pair of breeches.

So she double checked.

Triple checked.

Shrieking in terror as D rested a hand on her shoulder to keep her from futilely attempting to squeeze into children's clothes.

"You have terrible luck with clothes."

"No kidding!"

"Another dress?"

The look her two companions received in response told them that option was off the table. A very hard no.

"Well, kid, it's not like there's much choice," said Hand.

Krista agreed. "I know! But they're horrible! And impractical! Useless! Heaps! Of fabric!"

"Maybe I can be of assistance?"

With a jerk, she snapped about at the rough voice. Flinging the shirt too tiny for even her onto the Hunter. As if she hadn't been desperate enough to try it on. There stood the owner of the business (she assumed), fixing her with a patient, knowing stare. His grey hair slicked back. Held in place by a pair of thin spectacles. And, with a sheepish smile, she murmured, "I'd appreciate it, but how so?"

"I'm a tailor, girl," he said kindly. There was a loud pop as he stretched his back, hands braced against his hips. "We'll take some measurements and have you set in a few days."

Would they even be able to stick around that long?

"You're both Hunters, yes? Places to go, people to kill?" Krista shook her head. "Even if you're not, girl, your clothes are still seeing their fair share of grief. Give me two days, three maximum, and I can have you a small set of clothes that will take a beating better than…" He turned a critical eye to her fugly dress, nose wrinkling. "Well, better than that thing. Look better, too."

She was prepared to turn him down. Resigned to her fate. But the Hunter had other plans, it seemed, as he ushered her forward and draped the toddler-sized shirt across a neighboring rack. "You need them."

"I do, but…"

Oh… that was a look that left no room for argument.

"Dang. Yes, Sir."

She'd never been so fussed over in her entire life. At least, not that she could remember. It left her flustered and embarrassed as the tailor measured and tutted at her. Muttering that he was certain his teenaged granddaughter was bigger than her.

"I'm 18!"

"And she's 14 and half a head taller than you."

"Then she's gonna be a behemoth, too!" It's what she… it? It's what the voice wanted to say.

She'd never fought so hard to keep her mouth shut. 'We can't just go around calling everyone behemoths!'

'I wouldn't if it weren't true. Besides, you're not one to talk! What's one of the first things you called him?'

Her eyes twitched to look at D. 'No comment.'

Krista was eerily still and quiet, eyes a tad vacant despite their small jerk. And while D could see she was elsewhere, the older man paid no mind to her temporary mental absence as he continued his business. Taking note. Measuring, once more. Taking note, again. Using a moment to sketch out a simple design that was promptly scratched out betwixt a slew of questions on her color preferences and armor placement.

He tapped her on the nose with the blunt end of his pencil, bringing her back to the present. "Again, what colors do you want?"

"Whatever you have is fine."

"You're going to be stuck with these clothes a while. Are you sure you don't have anything in mind?"

"I'm…" Honestly, she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. It was one thing to be picky about the type of clothing, but the color? "I've… always just grabbed what was available. Or what was handed to me. I don't know."

Those troubled, too-bright green eyes fell upon him. He could almost see her every worry. Concerns about how long anything would last. How well it would hide a stain. How little it all mattered. And he silently observed the Hunter as he stilled the hand scratching at her arm.

Such a small thing.

"Alright, girl," the tailor started. "I've got some designs I think you might like. Check back in tomorrow evening. Or the day after. Day after tomorrow is probably your best bet. I can put a few low priority orders on hold. Turn my machine up to maximum overdrive."

Krista was a little worried about the inflection put upon 'maximum overdrive', if she was honest. "Please don't strain yourself."

He barked out a laugh in response. "Strain? No. A challenge? Yes. But I'll get it done! Just you wait. Let's talk payment."

They agreed upon half down. The other half upon completion. And the red-head was infinitely grateful for her allowance. She had more than enough to pay for it outright. But the tailor insisted, because "Paying for a job not done is just bad business."

They left. Her coin purse a little lighter. A feeling of utter joy and excitement clawing its way through her body as they ambled down the street.

'Don't do it.'

She did it.

With a shudder and a squeak, she hunched over and hopped, one hand raising to flap in the air. And it was probably the second small outburst he'd been able to witness. Although, it did garner a few open stares as she carried on, prancing in place with the widest grin.

It was… endearing, in a way.

The countenanced carbuncle twisted D's palm around just enough to see, saying, "You're really excited about those clothes, huh."

"Heck yeah!"

"So, you feel up to some more 'training'?"

"Hell yeah! I gots the energy for it! Let's do it!"

Krista stared blankly at the playground before them.

Devoid of energy.

Of understanding.

What training could they possibly accomplish surrounded by frolicking children? Sure, there was plenty of equipment. No shortage on space. However, she didn't really peg D for the type to… do this.

She eyed the colorful roundabout and tiered chin-up bars. The raised platform and jungle gym. The slide and swing set. Seesaws. Rockwall.

"I don't really like where this is going," the girl finally breathed. "I feel like there's gonna be pain. Probably self-inflicted. Most likely because I can't walk without taking something out."

"We just wanna see where you stand for now."

"Oh. Good." With a pat to D's arm, she quipped, "See? Here I stand. Bye-bye now!"

A chilled hand grasped her dress before she could escape. "Now, now! You asked for this!"

"I didn't ask for this! I asked for nothing that included public humiliation!"

"Who says you'll be humiliated?"

"It's me!" she wailed. Desperately trying to escape the hold on her clothes. "I just said the 'how'! Being humiliated is just a side effect!"

"You're calling attention to yourself with all this hissing you're doing, as is."

She faltered, because he had a point. "Shit." With a suffering sigh, she said, "Okay. What do you want to test?"

"Balance," the Hunter stated.

And it was such a simple thing. Balance.

So simple!

But it filled her with more dread than the prospect of sparring did.

"Never mind. Just put me out of my misery."

A firm hand guided her to the roundabout that was sans children (why, she couldn't say, as she loved spinning on them), and D gestured for her to stand in the center. It was well-kept. Large, with corrugated metal for the base. And cool to the touch.

Perfect for a lazy day of cloud watching.

She stood in the center of the multicolored disc. "I get you can test my balance if you don't go too fast, but if you decide to put your scary musculature to the test…" A quiet moment stretched between the Hunter and the red-headed girl as she stared pointedly at him. "I can't counteract centrifugal force."

"Noted. Now, close your eyes. Find your center of balance." D observed as she did as instructed. And God help them, she was already unsteady.

This fact was not unknown to her, and she giggled. Which didn't help her concentration. "Okay, I'm good. Want me to keep my eyes closed?"

"For now."

"You got it."

A couple of minutes passed. Her mind wandered. Part of her still focused on keeping her center of balance in mind. But, it was nice to just be.

To listen to the birds singing in the trees.

To listen to the children across the park and playground squeal and frolic.

When everything was said and done, she wanted more days like these.

The roundabout suddenly jerked to one side, and she lurched into the nearest bar.

"Pay attention."

She groaned and rubbed at her side.

Maybe less days like these.

… but still with D.

"Okay. Okay. I am no longer daydreaming."

They were spinning.

A lazy pace that immediately had her wobbling about. She wanted to open her eyes, for no other reason than to see the Hunter walking the roundabout. It was such a mundane activity. If someone had told her he would be spinning her around in the middle of the day, she'd have laughed in their face.

But then… it really didn't surprise her. It was in line with 'training' and he'd even chased her through the desert after his hat. She knew he could have easily caught her. Instead, he had indulged her childish side.

Honestly, she felt a bit… flattered? Privileged?

Their spin sped up and she lurched to one side, again.

Less of that.

She would swear he was purposely doing it when he detected a lapse in attention.

Thud.

Yes. Definitely on purpose.

And now she couldn't straighten back up. Hunched over a slim bar with her hair slapping her in the face.

"D? How fast are you spinning me?!"

"Fast enough."

"That's not a good answer!"

At the same time, it was enough of an answer. She could feel the pull of gravity and, despite knowing it could only end in disaster, she shoved herself up.

Out went her feet.

"Shit!"

There was no point in keeping her eyes closed now.

Although, she might as well have. Everything flew past in a blur as she fell head over heels.

Tumbled once.

Twice.

And eventually skidded to a stop on the soft grass that didn't feel too-soft a moment prior.

"Best training ever, D," she eventually groaned, moving to stand. She could feel the grass and dirt shifting with each movement as it settled in her armor and clung to her dress.

Hand chirped, "Well, you were right. You can't counteract centrifugal force! So, whatever creature can, you aren't!"

"And y'all are turds." With an unsteady gait, she headed for some trees at the back of the park. Out of sight of little ones and their parents. Fingers pulling at the cloth as soon as she was able.

Krista wasn't upset at the Hunter or his handy companion.

Snerk.

Good Gods, she needed to not make that noise.

She wasn't upset at them. In fact, she was mildly amused over the fact that D was willing to push her that far. Maybe because she said 'can't'? She didn't want the word to mean she was issuing a personal challenge to D to see if she could.

With a mighty grunt, she began whipping the tree with her dress. Throwing the entirety of her meager weight behind each swing. Leaving D to watch as she tired herself out before diving back in. And when that trash was cleared out, she hunched over to dig at the small garden planted in her armor.

What she didn't expect while down there was for D to lay a hand upon her back. Her head snapped around, but she did little more than that. "What're you doing?"

"May I look at your back?"

Her eyes went wide, but she merely muttered a long, drawn out 'okay' as she stretched out her back and continued digging. Wholly confused, but willing to let D do as he pleased. Not that she would complain about the soft sweeping his hand was doing. Even if she wondered why he was doing it. It was nice. Comforting.

However, all good things must come to an end.

A shock ran up her spine, making her simultaneously shudder and want more, and go rigid and want to escape. And what fled her mouth was some unholy mix of moaning and squawking that devolved into nervous laughter.

The Hunter hadn't done anything other than prod at the base of her spine. And she was glad that his hand immediately retracted at her… exclamation.

"My apologies," D said as he stood back. "You have a knot at the base of your spine. I hadn't guessed it would be… sensitive."

"It's… ticklish?"

She honestly didn't know what evoked such a reaction from her. Typically, any time she'd felt of the knot, it had been exactly as she claimed. Ticklish. But under the man's probing fingers? Ticklish? Not quite. She didn't have anything else to compare the feeling to, however.

So, ticklish would be her answer. And she really didn't want to think about it too hard.

"Subject change!" the girl shouted as she snapped upright. "What training can we do that doesn't involve merry-go-rounds?"

A quick glance around the park revealed there wasn't much unoccupied by tiny tyrants. Nothing aside from the tall trees looming above them. And with a dubious look, Krista followed his gaze.

"You're not serious."

He was, it seemed. "The climb will work your muscles and test your reflexes. It's a chance to display your agility."

Despite the laugh that erupted from her, her face was twisted into a scowl. Eyes dark as she glowered at the tree. "I think I displayed enough of that when you found me in the tree."

"You were half dead," said Hand.

Her frown deepened as she eyed the trees. Tall things littered with sturdy branches and covered in a pale, rough bark. But even if she jumped, there was no way she could reach the lowest branches. She circled the base of each, looking for anything to grab.

There was a moment of silence as she hugged the tree and hopped. Booted feet wrapping as best as they could around the trunk.

Not that it seemed to help as she slid down the tree and fell loose. With no small amount of hissing and groaning.

"I don't think this is gonna work. Maybe you should show me how you do it?"

There was a crunch, and she jerked back to watch as D climbed the tree. His slender fingers sinking into the flesh of the tree with little effort despite the bark.

'Yeah… okay. Pfft.'

For once, Krista agreed with the sentiment. But she still tried.

And went nowhere.

But her efforts were rewarded with a broken nail.

D dropped down before he ran at the tree, launching himself up in two quick jumps. Once from the ground, once against the trunk. Almost appearing to float up to the branches. And it looked so bloody graceful and awe-inspiring that she was immediately excited to attempt the maneuver herself.

She was uncharacteristically confident.

"Heck yeah! I'm gonna do it!"

The Hunter watched as she stepped back. Started. Stopped. Backed up. Shook herself out. And finally, took a running start at the tree. From what he could see, Krista had good form, with her back straight and her steps purposeful.

As if she'd done this a hundred times before.

He genuinely believed she could make the jump.

The first leap came.

And everything quickly deteriorated. The foot in the split boot slipped partially out of its leathery prison, and effectively botched the next leap. Any momentum she'd built up to propel herself upwards redirected into the tumble forward.

And the point of impact?

"I've never seen a more glorious faceplant, kid."

Where else? Did any of them really expect any different?

"D, maybe you should just help me up if you expect me to do any climbing in my lifetime?"

"As soon as you quit kissing wood."

Her brain stalled, and she pulled her scratched-up face away from the bark with an expression that bordered on terrified. "Is this the textbook definition of kissing? Smashing your face into something?"

"Technically?" Hand laughed. "Grab hold. This won't be that bad once you're up here."

Somehow, she doubted that. Turning a critical eye upon the hatless Hunter as he dangled upside down, branch pressed firmly into the crook of his knees. And despite his precarious position, Krista was confident that he wouldn't slip off the branch in his attempt to haul her up.

If he did… well… That would be a thing. An amusing thing.

Arms outstretched, she jumped, and just barely managed to grab hold of his hands as Hand retreated. Her smile wide as he adjusted his grip.

But all too soon, her grin was slipping. Lips turning down as the muscles in his arms tensed, and she met his steely gaze. "D, don't you dare!"

One brow twitched up.

"Don't look at me like that! I mean it! Don't you dare!"

The look continued.

When did she get so good at reading him?

"I could die!"

"I doubt that," he softly responded.

"Look at me!" She attempted to gesture at herself, but only succeeded in rolling her shoulders and kicking her feet. Shooting him a wide-eye glare. "I'm not tough like you! If you go slinging me around, I'm gonna slap against the ground like a wet rag and die! My reflexes are poop!"

"Only one way to find out."

The ensuing scream did well to scatter the people at the park. Mothers and fathers scrambling to gather themselves and their children, despite inherently knowing there was no danger.

They still wanted no part of it.

Krista wanted no part of it.

And yet, there she was. Rocketing through the air. Proudly exclaiming her terror for the world to hear. Only quieting once her fingers found purchase on a passing branch. Pulling herself up before she dared looking down.

Oh.

'You're an idiot.'

Compared to her flight in Puregon, the Hunter had done little more than toss her into the air. Like a father entertaining his daughter. Hardly any effort going into the movement.

She was a tad jealous.

"If only I had your freakish strength!" she panted. "Then I, too, could fling you about like a small sack of taters! But…" Here, she leaned back onto the branch and eyed D. "I don't know how it works. If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, how do you not send yourself flying any time you exert yourself? How do you keep yourself from crushing everything you touch?!"

A slight shift of the shoulders.

"Did you just shrug at me?!"

The Hunter merely gazed back as she gaped at him, incredulous and not quite believing her own eyes.

"Practice and self-control," he said.

"And I get that! But all of that does not mean you should be able to break physics!"

"Well," said Hand. "We don't have much of an explanation aside from that."

"Will I be able to break physics if I get that strong?" A pause. "Stupid question. I'll never get that strong."

There was a long moment of silence. Calm. Quiet.

Why couldn't life be like this more often? Just let her stew in peace.

A pair of pale hands wrapped around the branch before her.

Ah, yes. Now she remembered why. Because life is life. And she had to stir the pot and make things difficult by trying to learn and survive. And that left her in a strange situation where she was fortunate to have been hunted by D, a man willing to listen to a turd like her. But also incredibly unfortunate in having to be hunted in the first place, with people wanting her for shit she didn't understand.

And here she was. On a trek across the Northern Continent with the Hunter. Learning more in a couple of weeks than she would have ever learned in the orphanage.

At least regarding her knowledge on creatures and beings not Human.

"Come on."

Krista looked up at the Hunter currently perched on the branch. Balanced beautifully on the thinner part of the bough as it swayed in the breeze. "That looks like it shouldn't support you."

She just knew that if they switched places, she'd already be hitting the ground. But as she was having these thoughts, he was pointing up. Jumping and floating up to the next branch in reach.

That was her cue to get a move on.

She stood. She wobbled. She leapt.

And damn near fell to her untimely demise.

She didn't want her last words to be 'aaaAAAUAaghaaaaag'.

With no small amount of panting, she clawed her way back up. "I almost died."

"You wouldn't die from here…"

"Fall just right and any fall can kill you," she grunted in turn.

"Touché. But with that logic, everything's gonna kill you."

"… Touché."

But up she climbed. At a speed that impressed the Hunter. But not for the reason most would hope for.

"Yer goin' so slow! You moved faster half dead!"

"Adrenaline!" She did find it sad, but she wouldn't let it get her down. Not that day. Not when she knew this was something that needed doing.

And so, the hours passed sluggishly as D attempted to demonstrate proper balancing and tree climbing. Not that it helped much. And in the end, she felt thoroughly judged and lacking.

Because, damn it all, she was slow.

She was clumsy.

She was a mess.

Even if the Hunter did not possess a judgmental bone in his body. It didn't change how… pathetic she felt.

"Maybe yer not tryin' hard enough."

Krista flopped over the side of a branch. Stretched out to rest in the shade. "Maybe." She sniffed, scratching at her upper arm. "Maybe it'd help if I closed my eyes."

"That's a terrible idea."

"Or it's ingenious."

There was a long pause.

"Y'know what? Knock yerself out."

"Not sure I would recommend that," Hand interjected.

Krista turned her eyes upward to eye the Hunter and his companion. And she honestly felt drained. Always looking up. Never quite reaching him. "Well this isn't working. Don't see the harm in trying an eyes-closed approach."

"You were convinced you were going to die earlier. You're not afraid of that now? When we're higher up?"

She struggled to her feet. Closing her eyes and shrugging before she could sabotage herself by looking down. "Maybe I'm being hypocritical. But I can't be afraid if I can't see it coming."

"Can't catch yourself either."

"Matters not!" And with an excited shout, she launched herself off the branch.

And if she died…

Well, you can't be anyone's toy if you aren't alive.

'But I don't particularly want to die.'

Fingers found purchase.

'And I don't know where these dark thoughts are coming from. But I have to go.'

Bark chewing up her skin as her body swung down and around.

'I have to learn.'

She curled in on herself as – despite her lack of sight – her world righted itself. Bracing her feet against the bough before she shoved herself up. Bleeding hands outstretched for another.

'I have to live.'

Her eyes opened just as they found purchase, once more.

'But how the hell am I doing this?'

And she was falling. Bouncing off the branches. Staring up in wide-eyed shock at D as she plummeted. But no, the drop couldn't be quick. It had to pass in slow motion.

'Where have I seen this before?'

Her left leg throbbed angrily as it slapped against a tree limb.

That's right. What did people say? Stupid people are doomed to repeat past mistakes?

No.

Well… technically?

It didn't matter.

Here she was.

Falling.

Again.

She blinked, and the Hunter was gone. Reappearing a short distance from her. Hand outstretched as if to catch her. And his fingers curled around her hand just as her perception of time decided enough was enough.

That it was time to speed things up.

There was a brief moment of panic. She wanted to grab D back. But her grip came too late. And while the man was strong, that didn't prevent her from slipping out of his grasp.

It was, however, just enough to spin her around in time to execute a belly flop of epic proportions.

And some part of her reckoned she deserved this. In some messed up way.

She groaned, frustrated, as D landed beside her. "Perhaps the key to success is a change in mindset."

"Perhaps," he agreed.

"Or perhaps I'm doomed!" she wailed.

"Nah," said Hand. "We just need better luck and more time."

"And if I have neither?"

"We'll make the best of what we have."

There was a long pause as Krista continued to lay there. Only shifting enough to watch the Hunter pick up his hat and beat it thrice against his thigh to rid it of trash. She wanted to ask what happens when the best you have isn't good enough, but…

She figured she needed to tone down her negativity.

And at this point, D might agree with the sentiment. Returning his hat to its proper place as he observed the playground and the very limp girl. He wasn't normally bothered by pessimistic attitudes. Wasn't normally one to spout optimistic prose.

But, again, he was concerned with the effect this voice was having on the girl's moods.

It could be a combination of things: the voice, the circumstances, the inability to keep up with him.

But the voice was the biggest problem in his opinion.

"You will never be me," the Hunter eventually murmured as he turned to face Krista more directly. "Just as I will never be you. Everything takes time and training. You will grow in your own way. We have time."

She was silent for a long moment. Eventually, she sighed and pushed herself upwards, nodding slowly. "Yeah. I guess we have all the time in the world. It's not like you're gonna die any time soon, right?"

And he watched as she swung her gaze up to his face and paled considerably. Swallowing thickly with a broken curse. He didn't have time to ask what had suddenly shaken her. Not when she was practically running away towards the previously abandoned roundabout.

"That was… odd."

D agreed. And with his question in mind, he trailed after her. Watching, brows furrowed, as Krista flopped onto the textured metal disc and slowly began to spin.

"What's on your mind, kid?"

Her mouth opened. Snapped shut. And slowly, with her eyes wide and her pale forehead beaded with sweat, she rolled her head to one side to eye him.

She looked decidedly ill. Fingers digging.

"I can't…" Krista's eyes twitched as she forced herself to meet the Hunter's gaze. If only barely. "Are you sure? That we'll have time?"

Now, her previous discomfort was turning into desperation. Panic.

Without a word, the man stepped onto the roundabout. Crouching above her head. And while he didn't touch her or whisper words of comfort, she felt just that.

Comforted. Protected, almost.

"For realsies. What if there isn't time? I mean, I want to find a family." She scrubbed at her eyes. "Start a family. Lots of children running around."

D was still silent, but attentive.

She was grateful. "I know that shit happens. People die. But…" She choked out a wet laugh. Taking a moment to breathe and leave the what-ifs unsaid. "I could adopt? It'd be nice to have one of my own."

And he watched as her face scrunched up, tears still flowing but eyes shining with curiosity.

"I don't know how. D, who has the baby? It's girls, right?" At his nod, she met his stoic gaze head on. "Can boys have babies?"

"Not typically."

"But some can?"

A nod.

"Can you?"

"Not that I am currently aware of."

"Now if I just knew how babies…" She stretched out her arms and rolled her wrists a bit, pantomiming a swollen belly with a huff. "Became babies. How do babies baby?"

There was a long beat of silence that was only broken by the squeak of the roundabout as D and the countenanced carbuncle pondered her question.

Her very… childish question.

Once again, however, they did not have time to press for clarity. Krista was sitting up. Fingers scratching at her arm as she eyed the area. "Boy, I am just one sad sack today, aren't I?"

"Yeah. Kinda," Hand chuckled. "We'll get there."

Her brows drew together, doubt coloring her features but left unsaid this time. "Can we… take a few more minutes? Let me get my head on straight?" And at D's soft nod, she stretched out. Digging her heel into the ground to slowly spin them.

'Sleep makes everything better.'

She dozed. Drifting in and out as large, fluffy clouds gathered in the sky. Thinking on her vague ponderings and forgetting them as soon as they were born. Finding solutions to problems. Coming to terms with everything bothering her.

Wondering for a moment if perhaps she was sleeping too much. But thinking that maybe it didn't bother the Hunter too much considering they were still spinning.

Once again, taking comfort in D being around.

Once again, content in simply existing as her brain sorted its shit out.

The roundabout lurched to a standstill, and her eyes snapped open. Watching the Hunter reach for his sword.

"What is it, D?"

"A Demon."

Now if she only knew what all 'Demon' entailed.

AN: Alright, if you see any mistakes, I am terribly sorry. This is the last chapter I have done, so typical updates will not be for a while. Remember, I'm on AO3 under the same story name. So, if anything happens to this one, go there.