[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] Derik wrapped his blanket tighter around himself as he tried to pick out shapes among the silhouettes of trees surrounding them. He had abandoned any attempts to sleep, finding it impossible in the shaking bus. It was deep in the night but the tractors hadn’t stopped. Some of the guards had taken their Sparrows far ahead, and Lord Daedalus had announced that they were getting close. The anticipation of the upcoming battle had steadily grown, and Derik was on edge. He kept thinking of the blood on Brenon’s hands. Seeing a good friend like the scout splattered with death was terrifying. Scarier still was the thought that it was only a matter of time until he himself would have to kill a person, or until someone killed him… “Hey, Derik,” Irene blurted, interrupting his agonizing and sticking her face in front of his. Everyone was feeling the effects of their long trip, and the tension before battle on top of that, but some were still in the mood for talking. And Irene was talkative as ever. Even in the middle of the night. “I thought you said you were from Hilton,” she pressed, leaning over the back of her seat. “Yeah,” Derik nodded. “Saul says you’re from somewhere else,” she accused curiously, pointing her thumb at Saul, who was sitting next to her. He shrugged apologetically. “Well, that’s because I’m from Wehwalt,” Derik replied, “But I live in Hilton now.” “Where’s that?” Willis asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Irene hadn’t let any of her neighbors sleep. There seemed to be no end to her energy. Ibis and Geralt were on the opposite side of the bus, taking advantage of their distance to get some shuteye. “It was to the east,” Derik explained, “Past all these territories. I left when the Fallen attacked.” “Fallen?” Willis inquired. “Four-arms,” Saul clarified, “The spiders.” Willis’s eyes widened with realization, “Oh, the spiders. We called ‘em six-arms.” “But they only have four,” Derik corrected, recalling the sight of them and instantly regretting it. Willis’s expression darkened, “You ever seen ‘em climbin’ up walls? Doesn’t matter if it looks like an arm or a leg, they still use it. Spiders is a good name.” “You’ve seen them, too?” Derik questioned. “Yeah,” Willis affirmed, “They loot cities like Mertvy first. Infest ‘em. We did a lot o’ runnin’ and hidin’ the last few years. Sorry you ran into ‘em. No one should have to go through that.” Even Irene didn’t speak after that. They rode in silence for a long time before the hum of a new vehicle joined the constant thrumming of their transport. The glow of a Sparrow’s engine was moving down the trail ahead. And it was speeding towards them.