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What's going on here, Sommer?

I dunno either! I was just driving my truck when the engine blew a gasket, then I noticed this kid lying down by the road. Scared the hell out of me! Thought I hit her.

She fainted out in the wilds on her lonesome, kept saying she was looking for someone in a red hoodie.

I couldn't just leave her out there, so I brought her back here...

Looking for me? I've got no idea who she is, though.

Seems like an unlucky loner to me. Think we can let her stay in our camp? Considering how busy we've been lately, having another pair of hands would be nice.

You know every member of the association has to go through a strict background check, Sommer.

An Infecte—person of unknown origin like her... What if she has something to do with the famiglie?

*sigh*...

The doctor said her condition's stable, so once she's up, send her on her way.

A-Alright then.

This ragazza sfortunata sure is holding that knife of hers real tight. Someone might get hurt. Let's get that off her—

Don't touch me!

You're awake.

You—!

Lyudmila looks at the woman standing in front of her, and gives her bleary eyes a good knead or two.

Sorry... Where am I?

Nuova Volsinii's Truckers' Union.

Oh, so you saved me... Thanks.

Don't mention it. Our members aren't the type to leave an unconscious girl to fend for herself in the wilds. But now that you're awake, we can't help you much further than that.

We'll give you something to eat, but you'll have to go after you're done. See her fed, Sommer.

Thanks for the help. I'll be going, then.

No need to rush, youngster.

I wanted to ask you something, just to be safe... You're not with a famiglia, are you?

...It's been many, many years since I last heard that word.

Figured. You don't look like the sort who would have anything to do with them.

Don't worry about it too much, Eirene's just real worried about wise guys getting their claws into the association. She's got a lot on her mind, so it's not like she has it out for you specifically.

She was the one who paid for the doctor to give you a checkup when I brought you back here, even.

Thanks. I get it, I'm not going to cause you guys trouble.

I just need some time to think... about what I should do next.

Know how to drive?

I've driven a truck in Ursus. Does that count?

Red.

A quiet whisper, and at the same time, an equally-gentle caress.

Like leaves gently falling on grass, the wind that reaches the leeward slopes of the wilds is free of danger.

Once, surrounded by whispers and caresses like this, she slept. She grew.

On Rhodes Island, none dared treat her this way. None <i>could</i> treat her this way, not even Kal'tsit.

...Grandma?!

Can't you see clearly anymore, Grandma?

Like I told you before, my eyes were devoured by wolves. These glasses are just for show.

Only once their eyes are gouged out and placed back into Grandma's sockets can I see you again, Red.

Can't you give me a hug, Grandma?

My arms were swallowed whole by wolves. You must chop off their limbs and bring them to Grandma so I can hug you again.

Can't you teach me how to sing again, Grandma?

I do wish to continue teaching you, but the wolves are always howling, and I dare not startle them.

Why did you take so long to find me, Grandma?

There are simply too many wolves, Red. They are hiding themselves along the side of the road. You must cut off their hides and make Grandma some clothes with them.

*sob*...

Are you really going to disappear, Grandma?

That depends on if you can help Grandma, my sweet child.

I... I found a wolf in Lungmen, a fake one. But she had the smell of a true wolf on her.

I haven't found anything new since then...

Well, actually, I haven't been looking, Grandma.

Oh, I don't blame you, Red. You're the most well-behaved, kindest child in all the land.

I'm not. I passed out on my first wolf hunt. I was too weak. Kal'tsit found me in the grass and saved me.

When I was with her, she told me about a lot of things I didn't know about.

What is 'protection'? What is 'murder'? What is 'suffering'? What is 'happiness'? What can I <i>learn</i>? What can I <i>do</i>?

There's a lot of questions, and they're all really hard. I don't get them.

'Suffering'? 'Happiness'?

It's all because I didn't take good care of you. On the contrary, it's <i>me</i> who needs <i>your</i> help...

If you are unhappy, child, you can stay on Rhodes Island.

I don't have much time left. You can forget Grandma, forget your life as a wolf hunter...

Red opens her eyes.

The windows and door to her room are shut tight. Not even a wisp of wind can find its way inside.

This is the third time this night she has awoken to the same dream.

Grandma needs me...

(Wiggles ears forcefully)

I promised Kal'tsit. If I want to leave Rhodes Island, I need to tell her.

But Kal'tsit's not here. She went to a place called Tremons or something. A city far, far away.

I should wait—No, I can't wait. Grandma can't wait.

(Sniffs in alarm)

I smell a wolf.

Not many true wolves left. They're here.

Hurting Grandma is just a 'game' to them.

And the rules of <i>my</i> game says I should kill them.

...Grandma is still waiting for me.

<p=2>November 5th, 1100 3:17 P.M.</>

'For this extraordinary night, I sharpen my claws!'

'For a swift hunt, I bare my fangs!'

'For unrestrained festivities, I fight to the very last!'

'Only when the last one of us stands can the game reach its end!'

'Why are we this way?'

'Because we are wolves!'

The acting is pretty meh, but it's always nice to support street art! Check out these lights, n' the decor! And those tunes—

Emperor? What are you doing here?

Hey, you here too, ain't you, wolf pup?

A party like this needs a genius artist like me! No shit I'm here!

Take a good look, Agnese, these kids know a party way better than you.

Did you come here for the party or for Agnese?

Agnese might've taught you a lot, kid, but did she never tell you a party's a good place to see old friends?

Emperor here with that hyper-killer stare♪ Friends list full at one hundred no matter where♪ ...Grab a gun, shoot you dead, he don't care♪ Whad'dya think?

You're just singing random words...

Improvisation! It's called improv, girl! Agnese, don't tell me you didn't teach your kid what kinda music the people crave!

Don't bad-mouth her! Agnese's amazing, she taught me way nicer songs than yours!

Oh yeah? What else does she teach you?

Lots of things! How to light a fire, how to find places to sleep, how to hold a bow, how to use a knife, how to hunt and how to bleed my prey afterwards!

Yeesh, what's with all the fightin' and killin'...?

She also taught me about which way the wind blows, what flowers smell like, how to talk to tuskbeasts.

She taught me how to talk to humans, and how to live with them.

Y'know, you might just have the gift of the gab there, unlike that red one. She says half a word n' folks is already on edge.

Agnese also told me that the humans' carnival is lots of fun, and how I can be happy and free in the city, just like out in the wilds...

Sounds like she taught you a lot. You lucky. The other Fangs don't got a chance to learn all that.

The other Fangs...

I met the rest of the pack n' their Fangs. You listen to one word coming out they mouths n' you lose it.

*sigh* Tell you the truth, Agnese, if it wasn't for all this urgent business, I wouldn't wanna have nothin' to do with you 'Signori dei Lupi' or whatever you call yourselves.

I know, I know, that wolf pack's a bunch of stubborn, savage losers, but there ain't no gettin' out of this family reunion for the two of you.

Agnese's family...

'My will is not enough to avert the entire pack's gaze...' The hell you talkin' about, Agnese? What happened to all that 'breaking free from this road' n' 'starting a new life'?

'The game is the collective decision of the pack. Before it ends, we cannot be distracted by other matters. This is our nature...' Why're we back at that boring-ass game of yours?!

'To go against our nature is an endless climb...' Talk about a pain in the ass! Seriously, I don't wanna talk to y'all ever again. I try n' have a normal conversation, but you always gotta bring it back to 'nature' or whatever.

Agnese said 'this game must have a winner'.

You dumbass mangy mutt, I take back everything good I ever said about you!

Forget it. You taught this kid so much about the outside world. Don't tell me you still thinkin' about sendin' her into a deathmatch with the other Fangs? You didn't ask me to get her to Rhodes Island just so she could die today, did you?

If you so worried about keepin' her safe, then get her ass back to Rhodes already. Sheesh, y'all keep runnin' around for no good reason!

Rhodes Island...

Whoa! When the hell did these tuskbeasts come? Who're you tryna scare, flashin' your grills like that?!

They're scared. They can smell the Fangs.

I smell them too.

The wolves are here.

<p=2>November 5th, 1100 4:05 P.M.</>

Hey, what the—! What's the big idea, shoving that freezing can of salt soda in my face?! Scared the crap outta me!

You get way too into Lyudmila's stories.

So, what happened next?

This Talulah lady, did Crownslayer manage to kill her in the end?

No. Crownslayer didn't kill her.

Shame. Imagine staying by Talulah's side the entire time but never realizing your so-called leader was an evil dragon spewing lies... A lot of lives could've been saved.

Say, if this Crownslayer didn't kill Talulah or the Emperor of Ursus, why take that name?

Easy for you to say. We're talking about an emperor and an evil dragon here. You ever killed anyone, Romi?

Wait, you couldn't have, could you? I mean, when you worked for the Borgias...

I've never done any of the sort.

I was just their night driver. They're not gonna ask a guy like me to kill someone.

Considering how crappy your driving is, would the dons really have picked you to drive them around at night?

Night driving... This some sort of famiglia lingo I don't know?

It means exactly what it sounds like, driving at night! You're talking like a police officer! I'm tellin' ya, it's all in the past now.

Now that you mention it, Romi, you've been getting more tickets than usual lately.

It's Carnevale. The whole city's packed full of both people and cars. You know that, man.

And just so you know, I used to drive around a nomadic city full of ruins while trying to hide from a Catastrophe!

Still stuck in one of Lyudmila's stories, huh?

Speaking of, those stories are just ones you heard while in Ursus, right? You go into so much detail, it's almost like they were actually about you...

Look at you guys, drinking the soda she bought you, listening to her stories, and now bothering her with questions. Didn't your mom ever teach you manners?

Got me there, Sommer. Sorry, Lyudmila.

It's fine.

You know you don't need to treat us every week, right?

How long has it been since you came to our camp? Three months? Four?

Not too sure myself, but it's been a while now.

We pay you a wage, but you always end up giving it all back to us. Why not listen to my advice, save some for the future so you can start a business?

You've all got families to feed. Me? I'm flying solo. Don't have anything else to spend that money on anyway. Besides, I'm one ragazza sfortunata. Even if I save it all, it's likely to sprout wings and fly away.

Oh, don't be like that...

Look, it's just two crates of salt soda.

I actually wanted to treat you guys to some beer for the weekend.

But since you guys will be busy with that film shoot at Court Square tonight, you'll just have to make do with soda.

If you're still thirsty, feel free to take more.

I'll have a couple more, then!

Here. Not gonna try one yourself, considering you're the one that bought them?

Oh, didn't realize you haven't had one yet...

Just how many bottles are you trying to have, man?!

Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

...I'm good.

Look, everyone knows, Lyudmila.

Though I wouldn't say we don't completely mind. To tell you the truth, when I took off your mask... It scared the hell out of me.

We just understand that... as an Infected, you're probably more worried than us about it spreading around.

Don't blame Romi and the others for pestering you with questions. They don't mean anything bad about it. They just want to get to know you a little better.

Don't be a stranger, Lyudmila.

The setting sun dyes the grass of the camp and the drivers' faces a deep red. Sommer leans against the back of his truck, stretching his hand out to her. The other drivers look at her, nary a hint of wariness on their smiling faces.

Can you get drunk off salt soda? The Reproba wonders as she furrows her brow.

After a short moment of silence, she lowers her mask and takes the proffered bottled of soda from him.

Alright, it's nearly showtime. Time to pack things up and drive over to Court Square.

Eirene was real clear about how strict the filming schedule is, even stricter than our dispatch timetables. We can't be late, or we'll be causing City Hall a whole lot of trouble.

What about Eirene herself?

Said she wanted to go talk with Judge Lavinia about qualification audits for new drivers.

Oh...

Oh yeah, Sommer, you're really not coming along?

It's easy, you just need to drive your truck and follow along, make a big scene. City Hall's even paying us more than a day's wage to do it.

I-I've been driving a little too much lately. Now that I've finally got some spare time, I wanted to catch up on some Zs.

How 'bout you, Lyudmila?

I've got something to take care of, so I'll be hanging back too.

Suit yourself. We'll be off then.

*phew* Finally...

Once the convoy of trucks has left and night slowly washes over the camp, Sommer, all on his lonesome, goes to his own truck.

He starts the engine, but before he even closed the door, a figure was already sat in the passenger seat, seat belt fastened and all.

L-Lyudmila...

Thought you were going to catch some Zs?

I...

Not much of a night drive with an empty passenger seat, yeah?

Lyudmila, I really...

What was it you said again? Don't be a stranger, Sommer.