Zavala stood in his place at the head of the Vanguard mentor table, listening to one of his Titan’s mission reports. He glanced at his ghost and it bobbed, filing away the information. He fired off a few new orders before leaning over his map and making a note. “Hunter!” Cayde-6 exclaimed from his place to Zavala’s right. “Any new stories?” Zavala shook his head at the mentor’s lack of professionalism. “Just the usual, Cayde.” Said Hunter replied. “Venus is still hot, the Vex are still nasty, and Herro is still climbing everything in sight.” Cayde-6 chuckled as Zavala glanced up, recognizing that voice. “How high did he manage to get this time?” Cayde asked. Zavala tuned out of the irrelevant conversation as he surreptitiously examined his unexpected and recently absent Hunter student. Her face was covered by a helmet that marked her a Nightstalker, the violet flames licking a blank mask. Nightstalkers were rare, and only recently had they had any presence at all in the Tower. Even as Alia spoke to Cayde, her head turned slightly towards Zavala, perhaps feeling his regard, and she gave a short nod of acknowledgement before giving the Hunter mentor her full attention. Her voice seemed tired, he thought, even as she laughed, and her cloak had acquired a few new tears that she apparently hadn’t yet had time to tend to. He realized he was examining her a little too closely and cleared his throat, turning back to his map. When he glanced up again, she had already gone. “Good kid, Alia.” Cayde-6 mused, mostly to himself, though his eyes darted, for some reason, in Zavala’s direction. “Quick learner. Good sense of humor, if a little too straight-laced for me. One of the new ones, you know. Talented.” Now he addressed Zavala directly. “Why are you telling me this?” Zavala asked. “What? You seemed interested.” Cayde protested, all innocence. “Pretty, too. If you like the blue type.” “Cayde. Really.” Ikora chimed in from her side of the table, proving she had been listening in. “This is hardly the time.” Zavala growled. “Oh, so you want to talk about it later? Have some drinks? Talk about girls? Bond?” Cayde asked. “I know this great spicy ramen shop…” Ikora snorted. “Don’t encourage him.” Zavala told her. “All right. All right.” Cayde grumbled. “But, hey, if you need any advice you know where to find me. I’ll be…” He sighed. “Right here.” “I’m certain I’ll never take you up on that.” Zavala snapped. “Sure, you say that now.” Cayde murmured, thankfully dropping the subject before any other Guardians wandered up. --- Alia lay on the wind-blasted hilltop, staring down at the amassed Cabal, her fireteam to either side of her, similarly staring. “Is it my imagination, or are there more than usual?” She whispered. Knight seemed to be taking a headcount. “They do take up more space. Could just be that.” Herro chimed in, pulling out his scout rifle and checking it before sighting down the scope. “Nope, I was wrong. Definitely more.” “I hate fighting Cabal. All brute force, no finesse.” Alia complained, rolling into a crouch. Void light shone briefly around her hand before she closed her fist hurriedly, quenching it. “You all right?” Herro asked. “Fine,” she replied. Knight looked at her, the angle of his helmet communicating doubt. “I’m fine.” She said again. “Just a little tired.” She pulled out her sniper rifle and checked it. Knight paused for a moment, somehow communicating displeasure before speaking. “Herro and I will flank. You pick off as many as you can from here then drop your tether when you get them grouped up.” He checked his own weapon. “I’ll nova and Herro will take out the stragglers with his golden gun.” “So…same plan as usual.” Herro said. “You know, it would be easier if you just said, ’hey, guys, same plan as usual.’ It’d save time.” Knight stared at him and Alia could just picture the glare hidden behind the helmet. She was thankful her own smile was well hidden. “You’re giving me the death stare, aren’t you?” Herro sighed. “Yes. Yes, I am.” Knight agreed. “You know it won’t actually kill me.” “Hope springs eternal.” “If you two are done, let’s do this before they start to spread out.” Alia interjected. [i]Guardian?[/i] “Little busy, Toby.” She replied, raising her sniper and sighting on the first head. [i]I would just like to note that your stress levels are elevated.[/i] “Kind of fighting right now, Toby.” [i]In general, that is.[/i] One soft pull of the trigger, one phalanx down. “Can we talk about this later?” She murmured. [i]Of course, Guardian. [/i] --- [i]Is now a good time?[/i] Alia sighed and rolled over, she wanted to throw her arm over her eyes but remembered at the last moment that she was still armored and that would probably hurt. Instead she stared up at the stars overhead. “Go ahead, Toby. Hit me with it.” [i]Why would I want to hit…never mind.[/i] Her ghost sounded genuinely concerned. [i]Your missions have been pretty constant recently. You’ve even been spending most of your down time in crucible. I’ve growing concerns for your mental health.[/i] “You think I’m losing it, Toby?” [i]I think you are pushing yourself too hard. The mind needs to be rested just as much as the body and lately you are getting too little for either.[/i] “So I have trouble sleeping.” She murmured. [i]Your mental state was a great deal more relaxed when you were pursuing your new hobby. During the three classes you attended you were calm and focused, with only occasional spikes to your heart rate when…[/i] “That was…” She interrupted, not wanting her ghost to continue that thought. “Uh…” No good excuse came to mind but Toby didn’t seem to notice her discomfiture. [i]I think you enjoyed it. You should not let the judgment of others keep you…[/i] “I didn’t stop because of anything anyone did.” She protested. “When we’re out here I’m sleeping, fighting or standing watch. I can’t be thinking about whether or not I made two loops when I only needed one.” A long pause. [i]The void is fighting you.[/i] Her jaw clenched, but she couldn’t deny it. [i]Promise me that next time you’re in the Tower you will spend at least some time relaxing.[/i] “Fine.” [i]Thank you, Guardian. [/i] --- Fourth Stitch: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/226252589/0/0 Master List: https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/226373948/0/0