Whiskey and Zan continued to ‘talk shop’ for a while on their stealth strategy. They figured between the smoke grenades all of them carried, her natural talents for sneaking unseen, and Jiehong — potentially acting as a diversion — they would (hopefully) make do.

“Get some rest, Whiskey. You’ve probably been up all night, haven’t you?” Zan said.

“I fit in a nap some time ago… but I could always use a bit of shuteye. I’ll go find myself a bed in the barracks,” she said.

“Sounds good. A couple of hours? A few hours? I will wake you when Jiehong and myself are all set. We should leave soon, though. If the golems are so despondent during nighttime, we should use the natural darkness as our greatest ally.”

“Agreed. A few hours at most, then we must leave.”

Zan restocked on his grenades, happy to see there were, in fact, grenades for him to restock on, and picked up six of the new smoke grenades. He would make sure Whiskey and Jiehong did the same.

Zan left the command center, but it was not to go and find Jiehong. With Whiskey resting, he had time. So, he used the outhouse, had himself a lunch in the kitchen, then got some rest himself. When he woke, he made small talk among the villagers, both old and new, just to see how everyone was holding up.

How was everyone holding up? Not well. Lots of crying, some people were running low on food, and children were either bored or overworked, depending on one’s capabilities.

Zan realized the situation was bad. The elders were doing their best to keep everyone in line and cared for, but with resources so thin, what could truly be done?

Seeing this only gives me more resolve. I can’t help these people unless I fight! And I can’t fight unless I hold myself together and hold my team up high, Zan reminded himself.

With such things in mind, he went to find Jiehong. He was a Ranger-Knight and it was time he returned to his duties.

Reaching the ‘familial tent,’ which held the Jiehong, his parents, and, theoretically, Zan, he yelled, “Jiehong! Mission time!” But no answer. They were probably asleep. Ducking his head inside the family tent for a quick peek, Zan saw no one.

Where could they be? Zan wondered.

Asking around the villagers he knew, some people had seen the family enter the nearby woods. A dangerous proposition, but Jiehong knew how to defend himself. Maybe his parents did, too? Hard to say.

Zan waited. And waited.

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After a solid forty-five minutes or more, Zan couldn’t wait anymore. They had only an hour before they had to head out for their mission. And he still had to get Jiehong caught up.

Talking with more elders, Zan pinpointed where they supposedly left the safety of the encampment. He crosse the perimeter and waded into the forest trails, though he was careful to watch both his step and his blind-spots.

Zan did not travel too deep into any single woodland path. He hadn’t the time.

But nearing the end of his hour, and with no Jiehong in sight, he had to return to the camp. On the way back, he met Jiehong at a fork in the road, returning from some unscoured path.

“There you are,” Zan said, as they both walked back to camp.

“Yes. I was escorting my parents to a bunker,” Jiehong said.

“A bunker? What do you mean? Did they build one for emergencies?”

“I don’t know the specifics. It all happened quickly. Evidently, some wandering minstrel with money and magic is offering the wealthy in war-torn areas the chance to live in luxury underground or something. I brought them to the bunker.”

It was a weird story. Zan wasn’t sure if he believed it, but he would not get into another argument with Jie. Not so soon after the last. So he said instead, “As long as they are safe,” and he didn’t even bother to rip up Jie for not leaving a note about where he was going.

Entering the perimeter of the camp, Zan said, “We have a new mission. It’s near the borderlands and is sure to get us killed. So, I need you there to die alongside me.”

Jiehong grunted. He seemed frustrated. But he did not turn Zan away. He said, “Fine. Lay it on me.”

Zan explained to him the situation with the huntress and her community. Then explained how the Screen Master bequeathed unto them the newly fangled ‘smoke grenade.’

Expected Jiehong to say stuff -- maybe about the fight or him or the woman and her needs. Or even just about their situation.

He hardly said anything.

“So, considering the distance the border is from our base, we have a lot of walking to do if we are going to get there in a timely manner,” Jiehong said when he finally spoke.

“Yes. I am on my way to the command center now to wake the woman. Then we make final preparations and head out. Maybe it is too early to tell, but I think she is our next order recruit,” Zan replied, the two of them crossing over the perimeter wall.

Entering the war room, Jiehong found new explosive grenades waiting for him in the equipment display, on an extending cabinet shelf. He tossed them into his satchel and was ready to depart by the time Zan returned with the huntress.

“I filled Jiehong in on the plan and I assume you already know who he is, since you stalked us and all,” Zan said.

“Yes, yes… Nice to formally meet you,” Whiskey said.

Jiehong nodded with a focused stare, but a polite one. With chiseled features, sometimes Jiehong could communicate perfectly well with just his body.

“We’re all together, now. How about introductions before we hit the road?” Zan asked.

But the woman’s impatience got out: “Actually, seriously, can we get going? Every moment we waste here, we risk dooming my village to slavery.”

“Of course… sorry, ma’am,” Zan replied, jumped at her sudden screech. Though, later, when he would think about the outburst, he came down in favor of her: in her shoes, Zan would be no less an emotional wreck.

Getting on the road, the now party of three left the safety of the camp to find the sun in set.

Watching the setting sun with perhaps romantic feelings in his heart, Jiehong turned to the newcomer while they walked and told her, “So, your name’s whiskey?”

Whiskey nodded and replied simply, “Yes.”

Underfoot, the crunch of dirt played.

Jiehong said, “I like it. I think you’ll make a great team member. Welcome abroad.”