"Don't. Ever. Do that. Again." Becky was clutching Mason and trailing kisses down his face and neck before he got inside the chief's hall.

"Seven days," Haley explained, giving him a hug and a quick peck on the lips. "Carl sent out a team to look for you after four. We tried talking to the nymphs, but they wouldn't even let us see their damn tree."

Mason sighed and nodded. "Sorry about that. Things got…a little out of hand. But I managed. And I got this." He held up the green gem and saw Haley's eyes go far-away as she scanned.

"Can't tell you much," she said. "Rosa might know more. But it has two options. Settlement or Player. You should be able to just activate it."

Mason nodded, not entirely surprised. He had the feeling he could make some kind of servant out of the giant, or maybe the elementals it commanded. So now the question was, did he make them serve him specifically, or serve the settlement? He supposed before he used it he should talk to Rosa.

Oh shit. Rosa.

"Is Rosa still with the nymphs?"

"I am not."

Mason turned and found a very sexy, very neutral faced Rosa leaning on the door frame, her hips straining the fabric of the settlement’s white uniforms.

"I took the liberty of inviting her over the moment you arrived," Haley said, a little twinkle in her eye. Mason didn't even try to judge any subtle reactions or expressions, and just held up the gem.

"Greater Earth Elemental Essence," said the Mexican 'Herbalist', coming closer as she squinted her dark eyes. "Unfortunately I can't tell you much more than that. But the settlement option is called 'Earth Addition'."

Mason nodded, then glanced between Rosa and Haley, Becky still holding onto him rather possessively, he decided. "You got back from the tree alright? Did Calypsa bring you?"

"She did." Rosa confirmed. "And I learned a great deal. You and I have a lot to discuss. Tonight, maybe? At my place?"

Rebecca's nails dug slightly into Mason's skin. He knew he had several women to keep promises to and give some attention, but he also had absolutely no time to do it.

"I'll try," he said rather lamely. "But there's one great tree left to clear, and time is ticking. I might even head out again right away. As in instantly. Now that I know things are safe here."

Rebecca practically whined in his arms, but Rosa just nodded, if obviously a little disappointed. "I have some potions made. You should at least take a look before you go. They might be useful. They might keep you alive."

She gave him a look that blasted away a lot of his concern over drama, and reminded him this was the post-apocalyptic new world and not high school. The stakes were as high as they could get. Mason had to do what was needed, not what he or anyone else wanted.

"Thanks, Rosa. I'll be taking other players, too. So once I've figured that out, we'll all come by."

Rosa nodded again, clearly a bit uncomfortable as she looked around the home Mason shared with Haley and Becky. Then she knocked a hand on the wall and walked off.

"I'm coming," Becky said instantly. "To the tree, I mean."

Mason gave her a little squeeze. "Sounds good to me. I'm not sure who else to take. Probably with your shields we don't need Alex. Maybe Phuong or Carl. Maybe..."

"Seamus." Becky and Haley said in unison, and Mason raised a brow.

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"If he's here much longer he's going to get killed," Haley said without a trace of sarcasm. "He harasses the women constantly, doesn't matter if they've paired up."

Mason put a hand to his face and shook his head, then stopped and met Haley's eyes. "And you? Does he bother you?"

The French-Canadian rolled her eyes and came closer to give him and Becky a proper hug. "Nobody bothers me, Mason. They know I'm yours."

That calmed him down a little. But the bloody Irishman was apparently as annoying as anticipated.

"Oh and we had a few more refugees. Civilians from some settlement to the south that said they'd met Kiaan. Mateo is complaining about voting rights or some nonsense. Oh and Tommaso and Garet got in a fight over a Sanctuary girl. Carl broke it up, but he tossed Garet in a make-shift prison. Says we need a stockade. Or a drunk tank, or something."

Mason sighed, remembering he didn't just have great trees and a brutal new world to deal with. He also had people.

And people were dangerous and unpredictable. Then he felt himself tighten slightly, almost angry that he'd practically forgotten.

"Any word from Blake?"

Haley gave him a tight-lipped smile. "He dream walked to Seul-ki a few nights ago, told her he was alright. That was all."

"That'll have to do," Mason said, then took a deep breath. "I'm going to go check on things, and get people ready." He felt a hard edge rise. “And sort them out.”

"Will you really not stay? Even for a night?" Haley met his eyes and he remembered for a moment she wasn't just his post-apocalyptic assistant, but his pregnant woman. Becky tried and failed miserably to not watch him with equally expectant eyes.

But he thought of Cerebus and his contempt for softness. Of tigers and bears and a hard world that needed hard men. And finally of druid dreams and the dead rising to take everything he loved. He gave no expression as he met their eyes.

"We’ll see."

* * *

Mason decided to deal with the players, first. He met with Carl in the chief's hall and went over the events of the past week.

"Glad to see your alright, kid," the older man smiled. "I wasn't really worried. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to send out a party. Plus it gave the restless bastards something to do."

"Smart." Mason nodded. "Tell me about the fight with Garet and Tommaso."

"Oh. That." Carl shook his head. "Some sort of love triangle. Girl's as much to blame as anyone. It's this damn phase 2. I can hardly keep Silvie's hands off me. Not that I'm complaining. But between that and the pregnancy hormones, it's a lot."

He met Mason's eyes and cleared his throat.

"Anyway. They went off right in the middle of the street. Figured we couldn't have that, so Phuong and I...sorted it out. Stuck 'em both in houses and kept 'em there a few days. Seems OK for now, but it's still a powder keg."

Mason nodded. "Good work. Anything else?"

"We've been fishing and hunting with some success. Hank has figured out the river fish are nocturnal, so we just fish at night. But we've...seen things. Watching us in the dark."

"What things?"

"Not sure. Eyes. Not animal. Might be orcs. I tried to sneak up on a couple and I thought I saw green men. But the bastards are quick and clever and I think they heard me. Couldn't see me, but I guess I need to work on my stealth."

Mason took a breath, not at all sure it was orcs, and in fact worried it was goblins from the mountain. But he didn't see much point in voicing suspicions yet. And it wasn't like it made much difference.

"Just keep plenty of protection. We don't need anything so I don't want to take risks. If it feels off, get back to the walls, and don't go far. We'll deal with it but I can't yet."

Carl nodded. "You're off again?"

"I need to clear the last tree," Mason said with a sigh. "I was going to take you with but I think I need you here more. If that's alright."

Carl smiled, clearly genuinely pleased to be needed. "No problem, kid. Anyway it helps that I'm a little older around here. Gives me, uh, gravitas. With all you young pups, I'm basically an elder statesman."

The men shared a grin, and Mason felt a little of the weight easing from his shoulders. He wasn't alone, he knew that, even if it felt like it sometimes.

"Take Seamus and Phuong," Carl said more seriously. "Seamus might not survive it, but at least that problem will be sorted."

Mason sighed and shook his head. "How's the other one doing. Mcgregor."

"Oh, good. Nice fella." Carl gave a genuine smile, then winced. "Likes to drink, though. He and Alex are pretty much in Billy's pub every night. Actually, the general alcohol consumption is getting a little out of hand. I suspect it's part of the fight problem."

Mason wasn't exactly surprised. Sure, the new nature themed settlement was beautiful, but people still didn't have much to do compared to the old world. And it's not like there was a city with millions of fresh faces.

It was small-town mentality, repeated gossip and jealousy and dislike with frontier rules. Frankly they were lucky it hadn't got more out of hand yet.

"I'll sort that out," Mason said, knowing it was going to be a rough day. "Now go gather all the players up for me and bring them to the hall. We're having a meeting. I'll do the civilians next, but Haley will take care of that."

Carl nodded slowly, then stood and went to his task.