[6:00 AM — Path fork]
Alex arrived on time.
Maya was already there.
Akari in reduced form coiled around her shoulders. Training clothes. Hair tied back. An expression that clearly said she had arrived before six and wasn't going to mention it.
"Punctual," said Maya.
"I said so last night."
"I thought it was politeness."
"It wasn't."
Maya assessed him for a second.
Then she drew her practice sword.
"Five kilometers warm-up. You first."
---
[7:30 AM — Mountain terrain above the hot springs]
Ishi had watched them leave from her cabin door without saying anything.
When the rest of the group appeared for breakfast, she simply pointed upward.
"The terrain is wide. Don't break the big rocks. The small ones matter less to me."
Raven looked at the small rocks.
"Why do the big ones matter to her?"
"They're old."
"And the small ones aren't?"
"The small ones are replaceable." Ishi disappeared into her cabin. "Like most things."
Raven looked at Emily.
Emily shrugged.
---
