Sare'en was wandering toward the new pens. They were expecting the first batch of arlack soon, and she wanted to make sure everything was ready to go before they arrived. She had already checked the pens twice before but couldn't help obsessing a little. She knew that no matter what, S'haar, Jack, and the rest would be understanding and supportive, but somehow that made her even more determined to make sure that everything was perfect! Or at least as close as she could manage.

Grim was happily trotting at her side. At Jack's insistence, he was being trained to use a guiding tool called a leash. At first, he'd resisted and tried to remove his collar, but with time and a plentiful supply of meat, he grew accustomed to his new attire.

Sare'en was also working with Jack to teach Grim commands, things like sit, watch me, down, and more. Jack had emphasized that since Grim couldn't be genuinely domesticated, it was more important that he be thoroughly and properly trained.

Jack had also said another essential part of Grim's training was getting him properly socialized. To that end, Sare'en made sure to visit as many workers and guards as possible every day with Grim in tow. But, unfortunately, while most of the argu'n in the Outpost had grown accustomed to Grim, most were still a little wary of him. There were a few cheerful exceptions, though.

Sare'en was just waving to one of the guards headed out to the gate for his shift when a cheerfully booming voice from behind made her jump. "Grim, buddy! How ya doing, boy! Is it just me, or are you getting bigger?"

For his part, the wolgen whipped around and opened his mouth to let his tongue roll out as he panted in excitement. As Sare'en turned, she could see Lon'thul walking right up to him without any fear. Then the hunter kneeled to give Grim a thorough double-handed scritching. He grinned as he did so. "You know, it's hard to think of you being related to the same beast that gave my plates their first real battle marks!"

Sare'en's eyes flashed to the scored marks on the hunter's chest plate. Somehow, they made the already impressive hunter even more frightening. Of all the people in the Outpost, he was definitely the one that scared Sare'en the most. Maybe scared wasn't the word, but he was intimidating, and Sare'en had a hard time speaking in his presence, so the herder girl simply waited awkwardly for Lon'thul to stand and dismiss her and Grim.

Instead, another loud voice cut in behind her, making Sare'en jump again. "What in the god's name is that?"

Sare'en turned around again, saw B'arthon, and froze in place. She'd seen the village leader's son many times back in the village, but she'd been so far beneath his notice that he'd always passed by without a glance. But now, he was marching straight toward her, with a group of his bodyguards at his back.

Sare'en had no idea what to say or do but soon felt another presence at her back as Lon'thul stood up. The hunter addressed B'arthon in his usual jovial manner. "B'arthon! Good to see you! I'm sure you know our Sare'en here, and this little mongrel is Grim. He's the pup of the two wolgen we killed a few weeks ago, and Sare'en here is raising him to be a beneficial member of the Outpost!"

B'arthon's expression went from incredulous to horrified. "You have a wolgen pup in your outpost, and YOU'RE RAISING IT? Are you insane? What could possess you to do something so idiotic?!?"

Lon'thul shrugged nonchalantly. "Apparently, this is something Jack's people did with an animal they called wolves. Somehow they turned a feared predator species into loyal companions. Grim here is a bit of a trial run to see if it's feasible with wolgen."

The wolgen in question ducked back behind Sare'en but was now looking around her, his teeth bared as he growled a warning to the suddenly less confident B'arthon. Lon'thul knelt down and spoke to the wolgen again while scratching his shoulder. "Oh, never you mind old B'arthon there. He's not as bad as he first seems!" Then looking up to Sare'en, the hunter addressed her as well. "Now, why don't you and Grim go check out the pens? I'll stay and help B'arthon."

Sare'en nodded a little too eagerly to the hunter. "Yes...thank you!" She then turned to B'arthon before performing a very awkward and self-conscious half bow. "My Lord!" Finally, she turned and scampered away as fast as possible while trying not to break into a run.

The two men watched her retreat a moment before B'arthon shook his head. "Are you certain she's the best choice for a job like that? She was always soo...furtive back in the village."

Lon'thul walked up to the shorter man and punched him lightly in a way that was obviously a habit from times long before. When one of the bodyguards reached for a truncheon, B'arthon waved him off as the hunter responded. "Ah, she's a good kid. Great with animals! She's been working wonders with the pup. Honestly, I feared she'd be in over her head at first, but that wolgen is so attached to her that you'd swear she was his mother. She can even tell him what to do, and he'll do it! For the most part, anyway. He's still a bit timid at times."

B'arthon looked at the hunter as if he was insane before shaking his head in resignation. "A timid wolgen? What else should I have possibly expected? This place is nothing but one insanity after another."

Lon'thul slapped B'arthon on the back as they moved, only jarring the noble a little as he steadied his pace. "I know, isn't it great!"

The smaller male shook his head. His expression was noticeably more dour than his companion's. "Not quite the word I would have chosen..."

*  

Tel'ron was instructing one of the newer smiths in the new arts of steel working he was spearheading. "Most of the steel you've seen in the village before comes from what we categorize as 'bog iron.' This is an easily obtained iron, often found near the surface of bogs and swamps, hence the name. It's easy to find and easy to work but contains many impurities that keep it from being very strong. Thus, we use bronze for anything that requires consistency or durability."

The smith was nodding along. "Yeah, but you've got a new iron that's stronger than that! When do I get to start working with that stuff?"

Tel'ron smiled. It was good to see someone almost as excited as himself at unraveling the mysteries of their craft, but he held up a hand to slow his student's momentum. "Soon enough, but first, I will teach you a technique to take bog iron and turn it into steel that can rival the new stuff in strength and durability. It's an old human trick called 'folding,' wherein you take this," —Telron held up several pieces of bog iron which looked more like rock than metal— "and turn them into this!" The Outpost's master smith held out a bar for his new student to inspect.

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The newer smith inspected the bar closely. At first, it seemed nothing more than a typical steel bar, but it was like nothing he'd ever seen before on closer inspection. The steel had fine grains, almost more like wood than steel. There were no darker spots that usually indicated a weak spot to be watched out for and worked around. A bar like this was one in ten thousand and would likely be used for a noble's blade. The smith looked up. "And you can consistently create bars like this with this 'folding' method?"

Tel'ron nodded, his grin betraying his excitement. "Not just consistently, every time! It will take somewhere between eight and sixteen folds, depending on the quality of the steel and the smith's skill, but with practice, anyone can produce steel with this consistency!"

Tel'ron took a few layers of the raw bog iron he'd already prepped and had heating for the lesson. "The first three or four folds are the hardest. The iron will practically fight you as you try to consolidate several pieces into one, and if you're not careful, the bar will fall apart before you can really get going..."

Several hours later, Tel'ron was resting after his latest lesson had been completed. He enjoyed teaching almost as much as learning, but it took a lot out of him. He struggled to keep himself moving as he got his dinner and prepared to call it a night.

He sat at his own table, unaware of his solitude since he was lost in thought. Plans, ideas, and half learned lessons swirled around in his mind giving him an expression the other smiths had come to recognize meant that he wouldn't be very good company at the moment but would probably be trying something new and crazy all too soon. However, despite his thought haze, a few words from the conversations around him still somehow pierced their way into his thoughts. "They say the new goddess has a body of pure steel and can lift mountains with ease!"

The smith wasn't particularly religious and only paid passing attention to gods or goddesses, but hearing about one with a steel body definitely interested him. It almost sounded like something that might come out of Angela and Jack's world.

A different worker shook his head at the first one. "No, you idiot. It's not a goddess. It's the Dragon! She finally left her cave to help out after a landslide! I was there!"

Tel'ron dropped his spoon and got up from the table. The meal he'd so badly needed a moment ago was forgotten. Everyone fell silent as he approached the two and spoke, his voice expressing excitement and awe. "Lady Angela, the Dragon, is out of the cave? What did she do? What does she look like? Where can I find her?"

The two workers sat awkwardly as their minds caught up with the torrent of questions, but eventually, the second worker spoke up. "Uh, yeah, the Dragon came out of the cave after a landslide trapped Jan'kul under a tree. She lifted the tree off him like it was nothing and carried him to Lady S'haar's billet. That's the last I've heard of it..." he trailed off as Tel'ron turned and practically ran out of their own billet, his mind clearly already elsewhere.

*  

B'arthon and Lon'thul were approaching the storage area when Tel'ron came running past, almost running into them before course-correcting at the last moment. Lon'thul looked at him in confusion before shouting out. "Hey, blacksmith! What's got you in such a rush? Everything ok?"

Tel'ron stopped but looked for a moment like he was thinking of continuing before he instead turned. Then, finally seeing B'arthon, he hesitated another moment before answering. "Uh, yeah... Everything's fine. I was just going to check on...something..."

Lon'thul didn't look fooled, and neither did B'arthon. It was the noble who responded. "Something important enough that you couldn't stop and apologize after almost running over your better?"

Even Lon'thul raised an eyebrow and appeared ready to say something, but Tel'ron cut in. "Um, yes, sorry about that, Lord B'arthon. I was just...lost in thought and didn't see you there."

While his words were apologetic, his tone of voice clearly indicated that this was nothing but a waste of time in his mind. Though in the smith's defense, he was often even more oblivious to his tone and mannerisms than Lon'thul. When he took off all but running again, B'arthon nodded after him. "I want to go see whatever has your blacksmith in such a hurry."

Lon'thul looked conflicted, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "Yeah, I don't know about that. I could get into trouble leading you somewhere we're not welcome."

B'arthon stared the hunter down, albeit some of the intensity was lost due to his lower height. "This place still exists because of the village's goodwill and the loan of manpower. You, Tel'ron, and everyone here owe your allegiance to my father first and foremost. If something important is happening here, it is my job to see it and report on it!"

The hunter shrugged. "Fine, but you'll have to leave your men here."

B'arthon looked like he was about to argue, but Lon'thul continued anyway. "I'll be your bodyguard, and there's no one here who's willing to risk their food supplies by harming me. So you'll be even safer than if you had all your usual goons at your back!"

B'arthon seemed like he would push the issue before resigning himself with a sigh. "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, it'll be on your head! If your negligence endangers me, it won't matter who your father is!"

Lon'thul's grin was huge as he reached out and hugged B'arthon from the side. The noble looked like he barely tolerated it as the hunter replied. "Oh, relax. You don't need to threaten me! We're buds from way back. I wouldn't let anything happen to you! You're in good hands!"

The noble looked at the hunter with an expression of incredulous annoyance. "Again, not the words I would have chosen..."

As they separated from the group, Lon'thul noticed a familiar female glaring at him. It took some time and half the outpost for his mind to reconcile the scowling face with the female hunter, Chal'ac, daughter of Nala'ac. When he'd delivered the news of the old hunter's death to his family, she'd been absent, out on a hunt of her own. So what was she doing here now..?

*  

There was a knock at the door. Jack looked around, wondering if anyone from their group was missing, but everyone was accounted for. What's more, no one they might have been expecting would actually knock on the door. He started to get up when Em'brel stood instead while S'haar pulled him back into the couch they'd brought over from the ship. "Let the young and energetic get the door. No need to strain your leg any more than you have to."

Jack looked back at her with a grin. "Is it my leg you're worried about, or do you just not want to lose your mobile space heater?"

S'haar inspected her claws in an overly nonchalant way that let Jack know she'd been caught, though she didn't seem to feel overly guilty about it. "Why can't I be worried about both? After all, my space heater does have a bad leg he needs to take care of."

Angela's avatar was floating over her new body, laughing at the antics of two of her favorite people.

Jack didn't look fooled. "Uh-huh..."

Em'brel spared the two a grin before turning and opening the door. On the other side was Tel'ron, panting slightly from exertion. Jack started to stand for a second time. "Tel'ron, what's the matter? Is everything ok?"

The smith raised a hand as he finished catching his breath. "Everything is fine, but I just heard rumors of a new metal goddess, and I couldn't help but wonder..."

He trailed off as his line of sight directed toward Angela and the metal body her projection was coming out of. He stared slack-jawed before he started to mutter incoherent half sentences. "Is that... How did... Where did... How can you..."

Angela laughed and shook her head. "I guess it was just a matter of time before our resident technophile found out. Yes, this is my new body." Angela's body waved. "I made it myself from parts and supplies around the ship, then downloaded myself from the ship into here. This body consumes far less power than the ship does, removing the onus for us to rush into things we just weren't ready for. Why don't you come inside, rather than stand in the open door letting out all the warm air?"

Tel'ron nodded and stepped inside just as a voice spoke up behind him. "What in the frozen north is that thing?!?"