Aspiring Writer

You have no idea what you just started. XD be back in 2-3 hours, 1 if lucky Edit: rust, i went over 400 without realizing it again. Damnation it.

Borodin left, and Red scowled at Jack. "Can you try and be less hostile? I get suspicion, but you went too far." Jack shrugged. "Once I believe he is who he says he is, then sure." Red rolled her eyes and turned to Elene. "You okay?" The girl nodded. Red wanted to ask more but decided to let it go. "Alright then, I'm going to doze off. Don't wake unless it's important."

Jack scoffed. "I have my own stuff to do, thank you very much. Try to not take too long."

"Go do so. you want Jack to come along, or are you fine on your on?"

"If you have anything to get, go. if not, rest up. We're leaving first thing tomorrow. We'll wake you for your shift as a lookout."

"I'm the head. He just handles all the supplies and payments," Red said. "I'm paying you, but he's making sure you're getting paid."

Jack laughed. "I run this group! I can take care of myself, thanks."

Wouldn't mental speed or wakefulness make more sense?

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't get so butthurt. You've been here for less than a day. For all we know, you could be a spy or someone sent to kill us in our sleep. Be patient. We'll let you in eventually." Red considered. "She's a telepath." Jack started. "Red! What the-" She raised a hand and she stopped. "We will keep ours secret, but it will be useful if we can communicate telepathically with him." She turned to Borodin. "That okay?"

Elene was about to speak, but Red shushed her. "That's for her to know. Same goes for the rest of us. And if I were you, I'd try and keep yours on the down-low as well."

Wait... I'm supposed to do that?

Red shrugged. "You'd be surprised. Could have been ceremonial or an heirloom." Red took out a bag of orange crystals and threw it to him. "Here. Use those for now." Jack raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Elene laughed. "I like him. He's not as dull as you two." Red smiled. "So what do you have on you right now?" she asked, checking her pockets.

Wait... we're not supposed to do that?

Can't someone from the first heightening identify someone's heightening?

"We don't have anything, but we can set you up with whatever you need." 'Within reason!" Jack yelled. "We have a budget, though some seem to forget that." He glared at Red. "He is supposed to be our bodyguard. A budget won't mean much if we're dead." She turned back to Borodin. "You said you had your own equipment?"

Red smirked. "Jack will set you up. You have any weapons?"

"So you'll need orange crystals, I presume?" Red asked.

"Pleasure," Elene said with a smile, pushing her brown hair back. Jack just grunted, reading something. Red snatched the book out of his hands and saw it was a supply list of what they had and needed. "Thought I told you to take a break." Jack scoffed. "If I took a break, we'd get nothing done," he retorted. Red frowned but gave the book back. "So, Borodin here is a mercenary that I've decided to hire. Remember to put him on the pay roll." She turned back to Borodin and nodded toward Elene. "She is Elene. The grumpy one is Jack. You have questions, ask him. Anything else, talk to her."

She strolled into the local hostel, pushing Borodin in and glancing around to see if anyone followed them. She found her room and knocked four times. Elene opened the door. "Hey. Nice to have you back. How-" she stopped as she saw Borodin. "I see you brought a friend." Red shushed her and pushed Borodin inside, still on edge. Once inside, she calmed down. "Guys, say hello to our new member, Borodin,"

Marissa got up and left the tavern. She covertly ate a few crystals- the ones she already ate were about to run out. Her face curled at the sweet taste.

Vixen breathed in the smell of the new town. She'd used up all her goodwill in the previous one and was looking for somewhere new. She didn't know what the place was called; she'd picked a random direction and just started traveling. You couldn't be late if you didn't know where you were going.

Sure.