The fifth morning bell rolled across the western plaza as Hajin crossed it, with Juna glued beside his cloaked arm. Loccy kept her hammer strapped at her hip while Vella followed, carrying the satchel well clear of her injured shoulder.
Cassie waited by the gatekeeper lodge with her sword sheathed and the field contract folded beside her token.
Jonas hauled two loaded packs while Toby fussed over his new bow, tugging the straps until his quiver hung free.
"Look at you three, up before the mist even finished inspecting the place," Hajin snorted, stopping beside the packs without lifting his bad arm.
Cassie patted the gear stacked against the lodge, "Straps checked, climbing spikes, four days' dry food, and the quartermaster dug up another day's stock after we finished the first list."
"Five days of dry food," Juna sniffed, her ears drooping, "that's five days of chewing bark."
"You'll survive, you've eaten worse off my plate."
