[b]”Kinda strange to call you a Guardian, but it's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? I uh… thanks. You won your little battle with the General, didn't you? They let me out right after."[/b]

"'Won' is a bit of a stretch I think... but I made a pretty strong case for your release," Val admitted, surprised at the warmth the flushed to his face. Thank you was a pair of words almost forgotten among the Lawless in the Dust. Usually they showed their thanks by not shooting you in the back when you walked away. The arm that had shared the freezing damage with Mercy's form rolled a bit subconsciously, remembering the multiheaded creature and the near defeat he had suffered. Mercy had been quiet since then, and Val had not reached out to bother the Wild. Perhaps the creature was beginning to understand the value of a partnership.

He looked over at the two new faces in their group, one of which was welcome enough. Wren and his Wild were an interesting mix and were probably much more closely bonded than Val and Mercy. It even had sounded like Wren's Wild might actually be okay with fighting their King, whereas he knew Mercy still considered this a fool's errand that was likely to get them all killed. Hoped for it maybe, since then Mercy could devour their corpses. 

[color=9e0b0f]'You think you have a chance against the King? He is mightier even than the General's Wild, or myself for that matter,'[/color] Mercy's voice rumbled in his head.

[color=0072bc]'I think when the time comes, you'll fight just for the chance to devour a King',[/color] Val shot back.

[color=9e0b0f]'Let us see you make it that far, little Val,'[/color] Mercy replied, dark laughter echoing behind the words.

Val turned his eyes on the kid, Ebony, his frown deepening. "For the record, I am against this decision. The kid is an unknown wild card in a hand we're already playing way too far past the point of safety. You're not a fighter, not a scout, you're another mouth to feed and another body to shield," he said, his voice even and emotionless as though he was rattling off the contents of his backpack, "I'd probably be doing everyone, including you, but excepting Mimi, a favor if I threw you off the vehicle the minute we passed outside of Ghost Corps. Dust if I know what the General is thinking with this call."

"But Mimi and Wren stuck up for the fallaways, and even put up with my sarcastic shi- crap. So if they say you're going, this is the last complaint you'll hear from me about this. Just follow orders when they are given, and get some training in. Wren could probably help you the most with your bond with Mimi. Anyone here can show you how to shoot a firearm or use a knife," Val said, "as much as I'd love to promise you'll be able to hide from any danger we come across, I'd feel better about all of this if I knew you had some training."

Val moved his rifle to an at-ready position, turning and walking towards the first jeep. "Aside from that, it's time we were on the move."