In Sakyo's room, he, Garm, and Ren sit around a large pile of clothes, each folding their own piles. Sakyo takes to only folding towels, and Garm's pile is a neat and tidy mix of both clothes and towels. Meanwhile, Ren's pile consists of only Sakyo's clothes.
[Garm] Master, I fail to understand why we are all folding laundry.
[Sakyo] It's because the chore wheel clearly isn't working.
He looks towards the door where a paper wheel is hung with three chores for everyone: laundry, dusting, and mopping. Even though all three of their names are on it, Ren and Sakyo's names are crossed out and replaced with Garm's name in messy handwriting.
[Garm] I just happen to enjoy doing all of those chores myself.
[Sakyo] The chore wheel was supposed to make it so we all help out. It doesn't work if you do everything on your own. Besides, this goes faster with all of us working together.
[Ren] I agree with Mr. Garm. Why can't we just do the ones we want to? It was supposed to be my turn to do laundry.
[Sakyo] That's because every time I let you do my laundry alone, half of my clothes "disappear" into your clothing trunk.
Ren turns away, her blush becoming more apparent as she drops the shirt she was trying to hide in her pocket.
[Ren] No comment.
[Garm] I just do not understand why you insist on doing such chores together. In my old pack, you must always take care of only yourself. You do not have time to care for others.
[Sakyo] Garm, we're not in your old pack. As far as I'm concerned, we all do our part to help each other out.
[Ren] Yeah, we're like a family.
[Garm] A family? But we are merely slaves. Master, you do not need to treat us like-
[Sakyo] Stop it. You two are only slaves in name. You're both already a part of my family and that's final.
[Garm] I-... I see...
When they hear him say those words, a warm feeling rushes through both of them. Ren can't hold back a giant smile from forming on her blushing face while Garm wipes away the single tear in his eye before they notice.
Just then, something begins to form above the pile of laundry. As if space itself were being distorted in a swirl of light, Kaya's face can be seen as if looking through a window.
[Kaya] Sakyo, is this a bad time?
[Sakyo] Not really, we're just folding some laundry. What's wrong? You're next report isn't for another week.
[Kaya] This is more important. Some of the Nemorians are reporting sightings of something lurking around the barrier. I tried sending a few scouts earlier, but we haven't heard back from them since morning.
[Sakyo] Alright, I'm on my way.
As Kaya's image fades, Sakyo gets up and grabs his vest and other relic for transportation. Holding it to his head, he makes a portal to Raynemor before turning around.
[Sakyo] Garm, you're with me. Ren, can I trust you to finish the laundry without stealing my clothes?
[Ren] No.
[Sakyo] I was afraid of that, but I'm left with literally no other options. Just make sure you don't take too much. I don't wanna come back and find half of my clothes in your dressing trunk again.
[Ren] Don't worry about me. I'll make sure all of the laundry is folded by the time you get back...
With her untrustworthy confirmation, Sakyo and Garm step through the portal.
[Ren] ...After I finish my collection of your underwear and shirts.
In Raynemor, as soon as they step outside the portal, Kaya immediately runs up followed by a small group of armored women.
[Sakyo] Kaya, what's the situation like?
[Kaya] Still nothing from our scouts. It looks like whatever's wandering around our barrier is trying to get into our food supplies.
[Sakyo] Lead the way.
At the edge of the mist barrier, the group walks just outside. Kaya orders the armored women to stand guard inside the barrier if things go south.
[Garm] (sniff) I can smell something. This way.
He leads the way further into the woods, eventually coming up on the three scouts that were missing. They're unconscious, but still breathing. Kaya rushes to them before Sakyo tackles her to the ground. In that moment, a small knife flies right above their heads, landing in a nearby tree.
[Naja] Tsk.
[Garm] There you are.
Without hesitation, Garm rushes towards the masked woman, slashing his claws at her. She narrowly avoids the attack, but slips off of the tree branch. Garm quickly follows her, absorbing the metal bolts from his prosthetic before aiming a smash attack with his palm.
The masked woman is barely able to regain her composure before Garm's claws dig into the ground beside her. A single kick to the ribs launches her away. Despite fumbling on the way, she manages to regain her footing.
Garm can't help feeling that something is off about her. She feels familiar, but he can't place where. He doesn't let himself get distracted as he continues his assault.
While Garm and the woman continue fighting, Sakyo and Kaya carry the three scouts to safety inside the mist barrier before coming back to the fight. When they return, both Garm and the woman are panting and exhausted.
[Garm] I must admit, you are quite nimble. There are not many who can avoid my attacks for so long.
[Naja] I would normally accept such a compliment, but I cannot bring myself to do so when my opponent has become so soft.
[Garm] What was that?
[Naja] You were much stronger when you trained under Father. It seems living such a comfortable life has made you soft.
Garm's eyes widen, and his eyes fill with rage. Not at her taunts, but at the one word he heard above all others: "Father." In that moment, everything that he'd thought was behind him came rushing back. All the bruises he'd endure every day. All the sleepless nights he'd go without food. All the blood he would spit up when his training pushed him too far. Everything came back to the one person he hated the most, the man who had stolen his childhood from him: his father.
He rushes her again, but she continues to dodge.
[Sakyo] Something's wrong. That's not his usual style.
Garm's movements are so reckless. His attacks aren't even being aimed anymore. He's not fighting with the calculated movements he used just moments before. He's completely blinded by his own anger.
[Kaya] Get a hold of yourself!
He doesn't respond. Normally, he'd have some kind of response to Kaya's attitude, but not right now. Seeing that they won't get through to him with words, Sakyo joins the fight. As he breaks in between the fight, Garm finally snaps out of his anger for a moment.
[Garm] Master, I must ask that you do not interfere in this fight. I will kill the insolent Viper myself.
[Sakyo] Calm down, it's not like you to lose your cool like this.
[Garm] I... I am sorry, but this foe is not someone I can afford to hold back against.
[Sakyo] She's fast, but you're stronger. Just play to your strengths and wait for your moment. And don't forget the wisecrack.~
Garm can't help a small chuckle escaping his mouth. He takes a deep breath and continues the fight. This time, he doesn't charge in recklessly, but instead stands his ground. A knife flies towards him, but he catches it easily. More knives fly towards him, but he dodges and blocks all of them.
[Garm] Got it... Um, forgive me Master, but I cannot think of anything to say.
[Sakyo] Don't force it. Let the wisecrack come to you naturally.
With a slight smile on his face, Garm rushes towards a tree. The masked woman jumps out of it to another. She keeps leaping from branch to branch. Garm doesn't try to climb the trees to her level, instead leaping from the trunks of each tree. With every jump, his momentum carries as his speed barely falters.
[Naja] Hehe, looks like you have become quite green in your time away from home.
Just then, Naja is stopped in her tracks. Her leg grabbed just before it could land on another branch. With her speed suddenly stopped, her leg catches on the branch, and she falls to the ground. Garm lands right next to her and pins her arms behind her back.
[Garm] I am not so green that I would fall for such an obvious trick... I believe that was my first wisecrack.
With the fight over, Sakyo and Kaya walk up to the two. After tying her arms and legs, they finally relax for a bit. Garm seems to be quite proud of himself for being able to say something witty in the heat of the moment.
[Sakyo] Good work Garm. I told you all you needed was a calm head.
[Garm] Yes, and I was able to make a wisecrack as well.
[Kaya] Did you seriously teach him to do that?
[Sakyo] I thought it might help him loosen up a bit.
[Kaya] (sigh) Boys.
[Sakyo] That's not important right now. Garm, it wasn't like you to get so angry like that. How do you know this person?
[Garm] ...(sigh) Her name is Naja. She is my sister.
[Sakyo/Kaya] Whaaaaaaat?!
Garm removes the woman's mask, revealing her werewolf ears and traditional face painting.
[Naja] Hey! Give that back!
[Garm] What are you doing here?
Garm's voice is cold, as opposed to his earlier warmth when talking to Sakyo and Kaya. His eyes don't show a hint of warmth when he looks at Naja.
[Naja] I have come to bring you home, brother. Father is awaiting your return.
Hearing those words, Garm's body tenses up like never before. A cold sweat drips down his face as he steps back from the shock. The cold look in his eyes returns as he composes himself once more.
[Garm] Master, may I kill her?
[Sakyo] Not yet.
[Naja] Master? So, this is why you have not returned to us. You were enslaved by a mere human. How far you have fallen, brother?
[Garm] You talk as if you are not the one tied up at my feet. You would do well to not judge my master so quickly.
[Naja] Are you saying that this human is stronger than you?
[Garm] Yes, Master is much stronger than both of us.
[Sakyo] (Really? In what world?)
[Naja] So you decided to betray your pack only to serve another? You are a disgrace, brother.
[Kaya] Ok, I've had it with you! You keep talking like you're so much better than us, but you're the one who just lost this fight! I'm getting tired of hearing you try to sound so tough! And by the way, you still owe our scouts an apology for trying to attack our home!
Everyone is stunned in silence at Kaya's outburst. Garm and Sakyo already know that she's not the best with restraint, but even they've never seen her have an outburst like this. Naja on the other hand is completely paralyzed by her words. Even though she doesn't want to admit it, she's right. She got arrogant and it cost her.
[Naja] I-I was only looking to refill my rations. In my rush to get here, I failed to pack enough for the journey. It was never my intention to fight your soldiers.
[Kaya] Whatever. You're gonna apologize to them even if I have to force it out of you.
Kaya grabs the rope tying Naja and drags her back to Raynemor, leaving Sakyo and Garm standing there still stunned by the sight.
[Garm] Is it ok to let her take her like that?
[Sakyo] Do you wanna try stopping her?
[Garm] That does not seem like a wise move.