Mason woke from his post-post coital nap, Haley’s blonde hair covering his chest. She was stretched out and naked, taking two thirds of the bed, eyes closed and beautiful face slack in deep sleep. He grinned and kissed her forehead.

But he felt Becky’s absence on his other side, or else twisted and tangled up with the sheets, and with Haley. It reminded him just how high the stakes were in this new world. And in the old world, too, really, if just more hidden behind layers of civilization.

And it was time to get a few things done.

After his Dream talk with Blake (and his morning in bed with Haley…) at least his immediate priorities were sorted. He dressed and pulled up his Patron options, wondering what he should consider first.

“Mmm. I’ll cook breakfast,” Haley muttered sleepily. But he held her down and covered her with the blanket, and she was back asleep in moments.

Then he was out of the house and wandering the settlement with Wayfinder open, all the citizens lighting like Christmas lights on his map. He wasn’t trying to pry, exactly, but he wanted a snapshot of where everyone actually spent their days.

Most people were in their houses. The crafters area was busy, at least, and the always popular 'recreation hall', as well as Hank and Billy's 'restaurant'. No doubt people were sneaking more alcohol than they were now technically allowed, but Mason wouldn't be too strict. He didn't mind people pushing the speed limit as long as it didn't get out of hand.

He could see players patrolling the walls, which was the main thing he was looking for. Of course with Streak's wolves outside they had about the best warning system imaginable. Checking on them was priority number one.

Streak wasn't back from the mountain yet, but Mason decided it would be interesting to speak with the pack without him. He wandered down to the main gate, nodding at a suddenly stiff-backed patrolling Tommaso. He was about to push through when someone called at him from the street.

He looked back to see Rosa in a plain, system-generated plaid dress, one strap slipping off a shoulder as she jogged towards him. Despite being with her the night before, and spending most of his day draining his lust, the sight of Rosa's curves and natural beauty practically reset him. He smiled, and she came straight in for a hug, her scent flooding his senses.

"You smell like sex," she whispered, and he cleared his throat.

"I was about to see the wolves. Brave enough to come with?"

The Mexican beauty raised an eyebrow as she pulled away. "You think I'm that simple? Someone challenges me, I rise to it?"

"Pretty much." Mason grinned. She punched him in the arm then shook her fist as if it hurt.

"Fine. But I don't need you." She walked straight out from the gate alone, and Mason felt a moment of panic as he saw several lounging wolves leap to their feet and rush her.

But they stopped and sniffed even before Mason arrived. Some made slight whining sounds as they circled Rosa as if looking for food. She laughed and tried to touch them, though most pulled back and sniffed at her hands.

Considering they were wild animals, Mason was at something of a loss until Rosa wiggled her eyebrows at him and held out her hands.

A large plate of meat materialized, and she set it down with a shriek as the wolves lunged to be first.

More came running, and Rosa set down several more plates before sauntering back with a grin.

"Well who do you think's been feeding them?" she shrugged like it was no big deal, and also as if she'd won their little game. Mason supposed she had.

He laughed and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her in for a kiss that soon involved a lot of tongue and groping. Rosa was making little moaning sounds, her lids drooping as she sunk into Mason's arms.

"Sorry," Mason said, pulling back a little. "I actually have a lot to do. I shouldn't be starting things."

Her eyes narrowed and she punched his arm and shook her fist again.

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"We're moving in," she said suddenly, and Mason glanced back and forth. "To the chief's hall. Me and Lexi," she went on. "But we want our own room. And I'll join you when I want, and I'll leave when I want. And Haley isn't to constantly try to corrupt or pressure Lexi, OK? And neither are you. And...well, that's it basically."

"OK," Mason said, not bothering to fight the smile. "I'm glad you're coming."

"Don't look so smug." Rosa sighed, putting her arms around his neck. "I'm glad, too." She narrowed her eyes as if he were up to no good. "We should probably have a drink with Lexi. You've not even really talked to her since Sanctuary."

"I've been a little busy. But agreed. Befriend Lexi. Check."

"I should warn you, I think she'd prefer a little more than befriending," Rosa muttered, expression and tone too hard for Mason to read. He was about to just give up and ask how she felt about that when she put a finger to his lips. "She's a sweet girl. And she's my friend. My only real friend. I don't mind sharing you, but you're not to hurt her. Understood? Hurt her, even by accident, and we're done."

Mason nodded helplessly, no intention of really doing anything. Not that he was opposed, obviously. Lexi wasn't the kind of girl Mason would have ever pursued in the past, but only because in the old Earth she'd have seemed too...removed from his world. Like some kind of foreign rich girl, the sort Blake might meet at a party.

"I have enough on my plate," he said. "You just tell me what to do with Lexi and I'll do it. Or won't do it. You're in charge of that. OK?"

"OK." Rosa frowned slightly, then gave Mason another peck on the lips. "Thanks for...making it easy."

"Yeah. Post-apocalyptic raging libidos. Easy as pie," he said, then glanced back at the wolf feeding frenzy. With his Essence of the Wolf, and probably just from being a druid and ranger, he could sense the mood of the pack—boredom, confusion, restlessness. They wanted to hunt in more fertile grounds, to have their new leader back to help them decide.

Their new 'home' was also a mess, with droppings and dead carcasses half buried nearby.

"We need some kind of kennel," Mason said, still occasionally browsing his patron options. Fortunately he'd seen some kind of 'menagerie' option and suspected it was just the thing, if maybe not specifically tailored.

"I'm going to leave you to your important leader duties," Rosa said, her eyes sweeping him as she actually grabbed his ass. He gave her a look, and she grinned as she walked back towards the gate. "Tonight!" She pointed a finger at him. "Drinks with Lexi. At Billy's place, and no Haley or..." she likely realized Rebecca was still unconscious and stopped short. "Just us," she finished rather lamely instead.

“I’ll try,” Mason said, not promising because he didn't make promises lightly. Then he turned his attention to new structures.

* * *

He met with Carl and the craftsmen before he pulled the trigger. They told him about the new gear they'd been making, the big smith Peni especially making huge progress with access to all kinds of new ores.

Between the group of them, they'd produced some kind of upgraded forge that could handle far more heat, and with actual precision, able to close it off and control the air and impurities. They were making steel now, and mixing it with new elements from the mine.

"This is an 'Earth Spear'," Peni said happily, holding up the weapon. "It boosts strength and vitality just by holding it, even for us civilians." He took a length of wood and whacked it against his forearm with a wince. "OK, that hurt. But still!" The man beamed, and Mason joined him.

"Amazing work. All of you." He turned to Carl. "Get a wishlist going—every player without an innate weapon gets priority. But Jason and Garet should probably be first."

"Will do."

"Oh!" Peni gestured at the little Filipino leatherworker whose name Mason couldn't remember. "And we have your armor, too!"

"Here, sir," the older woman pursed her lips towards a leather cuirass hanging from a hook. "Haley had your measurements, but she said it should end..." she looked at the tattoos going up Mason's arms and grinned in understanding. "She said it should end just below the shoulders."

Mason smiled and took the armor. He stripped his shirt and started pulling it over his head before the leatherworker ‘tsked’ and told him he should wear a cloth layer underneath.

"Don't need that," he said, knowing his skin was probably harder than the armor anyway. It was a tight fit, but felt good once he got it on. Then he realized his strength and vitality were boosted and realized it had the same treatment as the spear.

"Earth leather," Peni confirmed. "We don't really know how to use most of the special ores and elements coming out of the mine. But the 'Elemental Earth' we've got figured."

Mason was thankful, but also felt a little bad. He expected he'd ruin the armor very quickly.

"Thank you," he said, meeting the eyes of the crafters, intending to get the leatherworker's name from Carl later and force himself to remember. "But nothing more for me. Get to work on all the other players. I'll leave Carl in charge of priority, but..." he turned to the older man, wanting always to boost him in the eyes of others, "...make yourself a suit first. You're too important to risk."

Carl smiled and nodded, and Mason couldn't help himself.

"Anyway you come apart like wet paper, I'm not sure how you've made it this far."

"With my superior cunning," Carl said without missing a beat, and the whole group laughed. Mason looked between the older man and the hard working crafters and felt that now strange, but not unpleasant feeling of not being totally alone.

"Well," he said, uncomfortable with the emotion. "Keep up the good work. I haven't forgotten about the hides," he said. "We'll start getting more. In fact the wolves probably have several rotting outside the walls." He waved a hand in dismissal, then walked off staring at the patron menu. "Things will get better!" he shouted over his shoulder, just trying to boost morale.

But as he walked away, he whispered it again, and realized: he was maybe even starting to believe it himself.