Mike watched as the pine marten failed to hide his fear at the roughriders. "M-my name is Jed Whitefall, s-sir. I know the mine well, and I can get you to the cavern easily. A-and trusting me? I... just want to get out of here and go home. My mother and sister are there. It was my big brother and my Dad who made me come". He hung his head, and his ears went flat. "I just want to go home," he repeated quietly.

Inside the steel and ceramic shell, mike looked at the young pine marten, sorrow evident on his face. "poor kid, this is not a place for the meek" he muttered to himself, silent to the outside world. he was yanked out of his thoughts by Nathaniel.

"find one?" the tiger asked as he walked to prowler's side.

"aye, Jed here says he can guide us, seems honest enough." mike said, he stopped himself from reassuring jed. keeping the marten on his toes, would keep him honest. focusing on naida, he watched he back, incase any of the seemily docile mercs changed their minds. as he watched, he decided one thing, opening a channel to Nathaniel.

<when we move out, I go first, then Jed, then you guys." he said. "that way I can tank, our guide hopefully stays alive to guide us, and you can keep an eye on him. sound good?>