"Yes, ma'am," the city guard replied, shaking off the shock. "This citizen..." He stopped, clearly expecting Meneurmut to introduce himself. But when Meneurmut opened his mouth to speak, no sound came out of his mouth. "... well, he found Korra Grey's Citizen Card - in the ditch over there, allegedly."

"I see," she said, taking the card from the man, her eyes sweeping over Meneurmut from head to hoof. Yet, the moment her gaze fell on the card, a faint smile crept onto her lips. "That crafty vixen. She’s got more smarts than she shows."

Despite the rough edge in her words, there wasn’t a hint of spite in Captain Rayden's tone; if anything, she seemed delighted.

"Rhys," she called out, and in a heartbeat, the Warden Master, whom Meneurmut had admired in street combat not long ago, showed up. Seeing him this close, the lieutenant looked even more massive. So big that even though Meneurmut was a Taurus, he had to tilt his head up to meet his gaze. But as soon as the Warden Master caught on, his eyes went right back down to his hooves.

"Yes, San? A problem?"

"Quite the opposite. Tell the trackers from Hunter's Mark that I have the trace they've been asking for - one that should let them break through all the scents left behind by the Shadowbreakers when they scattered into the night," said Captain Rayden, showing him the Citizen Card. "It belongs to the kidnapped woman, considering how enchantments on these work, stained with her blood."

"Ah, good. That should shut them up - and stop Deckard from killing them," Lieutenant Rhys remarked, taking the card from Captain Rayden and storming off.

'Deckard? He's here?' Meneurmut’s heart thudded hard, eyes locked on the broad-shouldered figure of the Warden Master in a chance to see the man whose tale had given him the courage to change his life. Much to his disappointment, however, Lieutenant Rhys headed right out past the Esulmor Gate, out of sight.

"What is your name? What clan are you from?" Captain Rayden's question, punctuated by her piercing gaze, pulled his attention back to her.

"M-M-Meneurmut Ironhoof, ma'am," he stammered, standing a bit taller. If he didn’t know that some of the guards might think he was mocking them, he would have thrown in a salute, too.

"Ah, the one who wants to join the Castiana City Guards."

"Y-Yes, ma'am," Meneurmut breathed out, shocked that she knew about him.

"Warrant Officer Pinescar speaks highly of you and now I see why. What you lack in confidence, you make up for in determination. I hope it lasts - after tonight."

"M-Ma'am?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why would what he saw make him back down? If anything, the display of their strength had only fueled a new fire in him.

"Being a city guard is a dangerous job, especially in Castiana. Many were wounded today, and we lost some good men and women," she said, the sorrow clear in her tone. “So, who knows? You might get your wish after all.”

'What? No! No, that was not my wish. I never wanted to replace another guardsman - certainly not at the cost of their deaths.'

A sudden warm feeling surged through his body, calming his mind. At first, it threw him off, even frightened him. He had never experienced anything like it - so calm, comfortable, relaxed - so foreign. Overwhelmed to fight it, though, he let it take over.

"I admit," Captain Rayden said, her voice gentler now, “I should have chosen my words more carefully. I did not mean for you to replace those who gave their lives today to protect Castiana. They did so with the utmost honor."

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Meneurmut followed her sad stare over to the Esulmor Gate, thinking, 'Did some city guard fall there? One of the gate guards, maybe?' He had been keeping an eye on things since the fighting wrapped up, and other than a couple of dead Shadowbreakers, he hadn’t seen anyone else being hauled away.

"What I hope is that this night will finally open Egerton's eyes," she said, anger filling her words as she uttered the City Lord's name.

"If we could hire more recruits - ones like you - and train them properly, the same goes for the maintenance of the walls,” she said, frustration edging her voice. “Tits! If only half the enchantments on the gate worked, none of this would happen."

He blinked, surprised. 'Did she just curse?'

The woman in front of him was nothing like the dignified captain he remembered from the training grounds. Strangely, he found that... refreshing. She wasn’t some unapproachable icon; she was real, flesh and blood, just a regular person. Like the best warriors of his clan, she too was struck by the loss of her men, her guard mates, her friends, and maybe more. Unlike his clan, though, she wasn't looking down on him. Not because she couldn't literally - she was tall for a human woman, yet he still towered over her - but because she judged him not for his array, but for who he was.

Taking a deep breath, Captain Rayden rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Apologies for that - I might’ve said too much." She patted his shoulder, a flicker of a smile crossing her face. "Anyway, good job. You might have saved that woman’s - and two others’ - lives. I could definitely use more people like you!"

Pride welled up in his chest, strong and unfamiliar after all these years. That was definitely a captain he wouldn't mind serving under.

"I can't promise you anything yet..." she said, taking a moment to think. "Come to the barracks in a week - or rather, two. By then, most things should be worked out."

"Y-yes, ma'am. Thank you," Meneurmut blurted, struggling to contain the thrill bubbling within him. Captain Rayden herself had actually asked him to come to the barracks.

'Is this real?'

Fearing he might be dreaming, he dared hope no further.

"No, I should thank you. Now, however, if you'll excuse me - I have a seeker demanding my attention."

'A seeker? One of the Lion's Roar?' Captain Rayden, however, didn’t head toward the seekers watching them; instead, she slipped through the gate beyond the walls. Just then, with the two moons of Eleaden peeking through the clouds, he caught sight of him. Deckard.

'Best. Night. Ever!'

─◇─◇─◇─

POV: Vara

“…man, it’s just so damn weird,” Vara grumbled, biting back a whimper with each jolt as the wagon sped along the road.

"What do you mean? Grey?" her friend asked, a blush creeping across her cheeks as she cast a glance at the young half-Terr'den, cross-legged in the corner of the cage.

"Nah, well, yes, she's a bit... off, in a good way. But it's Ward and the Shadowbreakers I don't get. Why bother with all this?"

Tears started to well up in her friend’s eyes, and that sent Vara into a panic. "What the fuck, El? Did I say… tss… something wrong?"

“No, just... I’m happy you’re feeling well enough to think about it.”

"I wouldn’t say... ugh, tits," Vara hissed as the wagon bounced again. "I'm not dying, all right? Besides, what else am I supposed to do?" Wherever they were taking them, it was nowhere near Castiana. They had plenty of time to ponder.

"Yeah." Elira let out a shaky chuckle, wiping at her tears. "I've been thinking about this since Ward showed up. Why not just get the Shadowbreakers out of Castiana first? Why start a fight in the city? And why brainwash the gate guards? He had to know that it could trigger the enchantments on them."

"Feels like he was - well, is..." Vara's sentence broke off with another bone-rattling jolt from the wagon. "... brainwashed. Tits, that hurt!"

"Right? And he doesn’t even realize..." Elira’s words trailed off as they both zeroed in on the half-Terrden, the source of all this mess. After hours of trying to shift back, a little whimper escaped her, and her beast features faded - well, at least the ones she didn’t usually have.