The following morning came much too soon. Sunlight flickering through the uncovered windows stabbed painful rays into my eye sockets forcing me to my feet. Daniela groaned in the bed beside me and rolled over in her sleep.

Samuel was sprawled, mouth hanging open and drool on full display, from the edge of his twin bed. I resisted the urge to snort at my friends' antics and left them to their rest. They would never believe that I'd actually woken up earlier than them anyhow.

The town of Wildwood was already stirring. A handful of smoldering campfires showed where guards and work parties had congregated the night before and a few people were mixing in the coals with sand to ward any potential fires. Off in the distance I spotted the same group of lizardfolk and merfolk carrying equipment to the lake. They waved in greeting before picking up speed.

It was during this morning assessment that I spotted something that sent a chill down my spine. That is, until I noticed what they were doing. A demon, since there was no other way of describing the horned, red-black humanoid was gathering up the rubble of the pavilions. They meticulously separated the salvageable bits from the ruined before getting right back to dismantling. On closer inspection, I noticed three others working alongside them.

One of the demons facing in my direction waved in greeting and my body responded even through the confusion. Unable to stop, I found myself among them.

"Good morning. I don't mean to be rude, but... How did you all..." I gestured vaguely at their horns and general demeanor.

"You never seen a demon before?" One of them asked before passing me a fallen log. I strained under the surprise weight but moved to place it with the salvaged materials.

"We aren't from around here," I said, returning to the group. Since they apparently wanted assistance for answers, it wouldn't hurt to cooperate.

"Curious." The man seemed to weigh what he was gonna say next. "Bah, I'll wait till the council makes an official announcement. We are the dark aligned Fallen. Nothing more to it. The fire ones look like the orcs from pre-fall times, the water ones look like fish and lizards, etc." The other people in the group nodded in turn to the man speaking.

Wanting to slap myself, I concentrated on their forms. I didn't know why I hadn't thought to do that with the other humans. It would have clarified our doubts about their origin and given us valuable information. Sure enough my Implant recognized them.

A look around told me that they were all the same Quotient which was sort of impressive. Something else to keep in mind.

I chatted idly for a while with the crew of demon workers. I'd barely considered it a possibility that I would be able to speak with new people, ever, yet there I was. They told me that the demonkin had inherent nightvision, so they mostly worked night shifts and night watch. The first man, Wesley, pointed out several other demonkin that were shuffling off to bed.

Thankfully, before we got to the awkward conversation topic of where I'd come from, Tim returned. He spotted me talking with the demons, greeted them then pulled me away. "Shall we try the whole 'meeting the council' bit again?'' he asked.

"Sounds good to me. Sam and Danny should be getting up by now. Is there any chance to get breakfast?"

The pink man winced at my words. "That would be a 'No'. We usually alternate breakfast days and don't have anything prepared."

"Is it a manpower thing or..." I left the question open. Based on what I'd already overheard and the result of their broken relationship with the Tendrils, Wildwood wasn't doing too hot in the food department. If they were purposefully rationing, then it was worse than I thought.

"Food. We just don't have the volume for the people we have. After the fields that were destroyed yesterday... I'm hoping we don't lose anyone this fall," he said.

It wasn't hard to tell that the man was trying to keep a steady voice as he talked about his town's plight. Thanks to my conversation with the demons, I now knew why everyone looked like fantasy creatures. The Fallen, as they called those born after the fall of the Metier Crystals, were changed based on their alignment with an element. Thanks to our own crystal benefactor, we knew this was the nature of their Attunement causing changes in their body. Just like the mana changed animals, so did it change humans.

It begged the question of why we, as Bunkerites, hadn't been affected. Then again, we weren't Attuned until we were already grown. While all sorts of questions and possibilities fluttered through my brain, we arrived at the house we'd been lent. Sure enough, Sam and Danny were groggy and hungry. After I explained the breakfast situation, to Tim's significant embarrassment, Samuel jumped to his feet. The lingering cobwebs of sleep thoroughly banished.

"Let's get to this meeting. There is no way in hell people are going to go without food if I can help it."

The blonde didn't even wait for us and went straight out of the house. His stride was so purposeful and quick, Tim and I were left to jog. Only Daniela was able to keep up with his power walk.

Tim tried to get Sam to slow down a few times, but the man was on a mission. When he strode in, door bell jingling to mark his entrance, he was greeted by an empty room. None of the councilmen were in.

"What I was trying to tell you was that they are in the infirmary. Councilman Irwin hasn't woken from the last fight," Tim said.

"Even more reason we should meet then!" Samuel turned with perfect direction right for the infirmary. Apparently, he'd spent some of his time there helping the wounded. Arriving at one of the few still standing concrete buildings the occupants cheered when they saw him. This caught Sam by surprise. Enough surprise for Tim to regain leadership and take us to a small office set into the corner of the building.

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A few candles burned in the corners and a cracked window illuminated the three figures within. Irwin laid on the single bed. His hands, and what I realized were both of his arms up to the elbow, were a blend of bark and flesh. Other than the two men arguing loudly over him, he looked like he was just taking a sweet ol' nap.

"--have acquiesced to their demands. This will only be the first of many," Kirby said as we opened the door.

"How could you possibly know that? The crows weren't exactly dropping propaganda fliers now were they?" The fiery haired man replied. Dylan's hair had taken on a twinge of blue as he stabbed his finger at Kirby's chest.

Tim cleared his throat loudly. "Councilmen. I brought the Gifted as you requested."

Both men stopped themselves mid retort. It took them a moment to gather themselves, but they both turned to us. Somewhat unified in front. As before, Dylan took the lead.

"We want to apologise for that incident. We have been under some trying times, I'm sure you understand." He paused and looked to Kirby.

"We wanted to extend you a formal welcome to Wildwood. Your... aid was invaluable during both of the attacks on our people," Kirby said. There was something strange in his tone of voice, a reluctance of some sort. Regardless, I chalked it up to not wanting outsiders to be responsible for their defensive efforts.

"Yes, very much so. I know that Irwin is indisposed, but we hoped to hear your tale. Your Gifts are some of the strongest we've seen amongst the Fallen," Dylan picked up, before anyone could focus too much on Kirby's tone.

"We are actually not familiar with those terms. Had I not spent some time with your people today and yesterday, I would have been even more lost," I said. Sam looked confused, but I had been able to fill in Danny while he marched.

"Curious. If I may, where are you from?" Dylan asked.

"We are Bunker survivors," I said.

Silence hung in the air for several seconds before Dylan and Kirby both broke into laughing fits. The outburst was so surprising, I even noticed Tim take a step back. He'd been giving us a quizzical look before it turned into one of utter confusion.

When none of us backed down or went along with the joke, the two men slowly lost their sudden mirth. "You aren't kidding?"

"Of course not. This was a serious conversation and I expected it to be taken that way. If it won't be, we will find someone else that wants our help," I said. My body was already half turned when Dylan reached out to grab my arm. He didn't get even halfway before Daniela had it held by the wrist.

"How about we all keep our hands to ourselves, deal?" she said sweetly.

Dylan shivered involuntarily as Daniela released him. "Yes, of course. I will act under the impression you are not lying. However, the Bunkers were never populated. The government said they failed and weren't an option for survival."

"Not trying to be crude, but considering where I grew up it sounds like they lied," Daniela replied.

"Yes. If you three are indeed from a Bunker then maybe a lot of what we were told were lies," Kirby said. Dylan couldn't see it, but the other councilman was boring holes into his back. Yet another layer of intrigue.

"Developments aside," I started. "We want to be of assistance to the people of Wildwood. Since returning to the surface we've made strides in a number of things. Most center around Samuel and his ability to enhance the growth rate of farms, but we are more than willing to assist in any way we can."

"Before we agree to anything, we would like to know where you hail from," Kirby said. "Just to corroborate your story."

"We don't feel comfortable at this time with that. Suffices to say we don't mean you ill, nor do we believe you intend us ill, but we barely know each other," I said. My words were as flat as possible, but I certainly wasn't enjoying the insinuating tone Councilman Kirby had with us.

"That is more than amicable," Dylan said, taking a step forward and reaching out to shake my hand. "I hope we can help each other reach greater heights."

"Same," a hoarse voice said from behind the two older men. Irwin was slowly sitting up on his bed, turning his head to look.

"My apologies. I checked into the conversation somewhere before Kirby started posturing and Dylan stammered to cover it," he said. The man had deep bags under his eyes, but his smile was unrestrained as it jumped to each of us. His eyes were intense, but kind, as he met mine. "Now what's this about food?"

The rest of the discussion settled around Samuel's plan for helping Wildwood. There was a plot of farmland that had been cleared within the walls of the city many years ago, but growing anything there had been near impossible. The effort of managing the nearby wetland while also keeping the... well, everything from being waterlogged after any rain event had led them to create the farms further out from the town. Regardless, after Tim showed us to the spot, Samuel was confident that between him and I, we would be feeding the Wildwoodians by the end of the week.

Irwin had accompanied us while the two other councilmen went about their daily business, in addition to leading the restoration efforts.

"I am going to lay it out on the table for you three," he said, leaning heavily on Tim. "We can't really afford your services or the help you have already given."

"We weren't planning to charge you anything, old man," Danny said, crossing her arms. My face found my palm at the tone she used to address an obviously respected member of their community. Tim's appalled expression certainly corroborates that assessment.

Instead of taking offense, Irwin let out a hearty laugh. The pink fae holding him up struggled to keep him upright but managed it in the end.

"It's been a few years since someone had the stones to talk to a Councilman like that. I welcome it. But no, even if you aren't officially part of Wildwood, we have a system of currency here. Actions like what you have done are considered for the good of the town and remain unpaid. Everything else we hope to give a fair wage for."

"We'll take the minimum. As Daniela said, we aren't doing this for any kind of money," I confirmed. Samuel had been ignoring the conversation entirely and was knee deep in overgrown vegetation half an acre away.

Irwin once again met my eyes before nodding. "I am in charge of the House of Commerce, as insignificant as that is. I am in charge of the crafters, builders and the like. Should you need anything, feel free to reach out to Tim. He will pass it along, whenever he isn't running around with those hooligan friends of his."

"Grampa, you know we do right by the town. The Wild Guard is very important," the pink colored man said. Instead of responding, he waved off the comment and walked off toward a spread of pavilions. One of them was already in the process of going up.

"I'm sorry about that. He can be kind of dismissive," he said.

"Don't worry. Just be glad you have one," I said, turning to wade through the vegetation, after Sam.

For the first time, I cursed my improved Perception as I overheard Tim and Daniela talking.

" What happened? Did I say something wrong?" Tim asked.

"No, you are fine. We... Don't really have much family. Perks of Bunker life: you live. Cons? Everyone that might have been related to you is probably dead," Daniela replied.

The silence that hung in the air was heavy, but I pushed through it just like the bladed grass I waded through.