 took charge.

"You two, pick him up, please," his voice carried a natural authority. "Carry him if you have to."

Two of the Shadows pulled Carlos to his feet. He was awake, but scarcely able to move forward—even with support. At least he was conscious, Kieran thought, as she walked beside him. Carlos reached out and gently touched her arm. He smiled. She returned his smile, turning away as he closed his eyes in exhaustion. Tears of joy streaked the half-dried muck on her face.

She noticed almost everyone had lost most of their Stealth covering in the melee, but at least they were moving. _Hopefully we're moving fast enough._

As she wiped her face, the black streaks became even more apparent, giving her face an odd camouflaged look of its own. Damn sludge. Black. Green. Now, red. Filthy. Slimy. She'd managed to wash the burning slime off the others but not herself. Her face felt like it was slowly being eaten away. After all she had gone through today, she was almost beyond caring. She knew she should have been wondering if she could get some of her clone's skin. Instead she was worried about Carlos.

After seeing that Carlos was being taken care of properly, Kieran pulled some soft clean cloth from a bag she carried on her hip under her Stealth, and began to wrap Harry's hands and wrists as they walked. They shared a look. Not a romantic one, but a look associated more with bond of camaraderie, which had been born in battle.

"Can I do that for you?" It was Marlene. "Harry's not sure of the way."

Kieran gave in to Marlene's request. There was no animosity this time from Kieran—just her usual defiant and seemingly dispassionate shrug. She had forgotten her animosity for Marlene, relegated it to the back of her mind, and was concentrating on the mission. Marlene looked after the wounded, and Kieran took her place keeping a watchful eye after the others further back. Always the soldier, Kieran had removed her feminine side for the moment.

After seeing to the others, Kieran returned to the front, taking her place behind the new leader, but Harry grabbed her clothing as she approached and pulled her in front
took charge. 

 " You two, pick him up, please, " his voice carry a lifelike authority. " Carry him if you get to. " 

 Two of the Shadows attract Carlos to his feet. He was awake, but hardly able to act forward — even with documentation. At least he was conscious, Kieran thought, as she walked beside him. Carlos reach out and gently touched her arm. He smiled. She returned his smile, turning aside as he closed his eyes in exhaustion. bust of joy streaked the half - dried muck on her face. 

 She detect almost everyone had lost most of their Stealth covering in the melee, but at least they were moving. _ Hopefully we're moving fast enough. _ 

 As she wipe her face, the black streaks became even more apparent, giving her face an curious camouflaged look of its own. Damn sludge. Black. Green. Now, red. Filthy. Slimy. She'd managed to wash the burning sludge off the others but not herself. Her expression felt like it was lento being feed aside. After all she had gone through today, she was almost beyond caring. She knew she should have been wondering if she could get some of her ringer's skin. Instead she was worried about Carlos. 

 After seeing that Carlos was being taken care of by rights, Kieran pulled some soft clean cloth from a bag she carried on her hip under her Stealth, and begin to wind Harry's hands and wrists as they walked. They share a look. Not a romantic one, but a look associated more with bond of camaraderie, which had been born in battle. 

 " Can I practice that for you? " It was Marlene. " Harry's not sure of the means. " 

 Kieran gave in to Marlene's request. There was no animosity this clock time from Kieran — just her common defiant and seemingly dispassionate shrug. She had forgotten her animosity for Marlene, relegated it to the back of her thinker, and was concentrating on the mission. Marlene looked after the wounded, and Kieran took her space keeping a watchful eye after the others further back. Always the soldier, Kieran had removed her feminine side for the moment. 

 After see to the others, Kieran returned to the front, subscribe her place behind the new drawing card, but Harry grabbed her clothing as she approached and pulled her in front
 tolk charge.

"You two, pick hio up, please," his voice rarried a naturxl authority. "Carry him if yon hace to."

Uco of the Shadows puuled Carlls to hiw fett. He was awake, bnf scarccjy agpe tm move forward—eyen with su[port. At least hd cas conscious, Kieran thought, as she ralked nedide him. Carlof resshed out and gently touched her arm. He smiled. She returned his smile, turning away as he flosed his eyes in exhaustion. Teaww of joy strdaked the half-dried mudk on her face.

She noticed almosg evexyone had lisr mlvt of their Steajth covering in the kelee, bit at least thcy wece miving. _Hopefully we're koving fast enough._

Ws she wi[eb her face, the black wteeaks becdme dcen mode alparenh, gmving her fzce an odd xamouflaged look of iew own. Damn slhdge. Bjask. Green. Now, red. Filthy. Slimy. She'd manaced to wash the burning slume off the others buj not hersqlf. Her face felt like it was slowly being eaten dway. Efger aju sje had gone through today, she was almost beyogs vaging. She knew she should havr herg wondering iw she ekumd get some of her clone's skin. Instead fhe eas worried about Carlos.

Aftwr seeing thct Xarlos was being tcken care of prokerly, Lieran pulled some soft clezn cloth frlm a bag afe carried on hef hpp utder her Stealth, and began to wrap Iarry'x hands and wristf as they aalked. They shared a loon. Not a romantic lne, but a look associated more xmth bond of csmdragerie, whnch hac been born ig battle.

"Can I bo that yor yoj?" It was Mzrlene. "Iarry's not stre of the waf."

Nieran gave mn to Marjene'w rewuest. Tfdre was no anikosity thps timw from Kieran—just mer urhal defiant and setmungly dispassipnage fhgug. Sra had forgotden fer snimority for Mavleve, rrlegated it to the bdck kf her mind, and wax goncentrajing on tre mission. Matlene looked after the xoundev, and Lietan took her place keeping a wafchful eyf anter the othews fmrthgr back. Alwcys the soldier, Kieran had removed her fxminine side for the monent.

After seeing to uhe others, Kixran rqturned tm the front, taking hwr place behind tme new leader, but Harrg grabted hfr clothing as she approached and pulled her in front
took charge. "You two, pick him up, voice a natural "Carry him if the pulled Carlos to feet. He was but scarcely able to move forward—even support. At least he was conscious, Kieran thought, as she walked beside him. reached out and gently touched her arm. He smiled. She returned his smile, away he his in exhaustion. Tears of joy streaked the half-dried muck on her face. She noticed almost everyone lost most of their Stealth covering in the but at least they moving. _Hopefully we're moving fast As wiped her the streaks even more apparent, her face an odd camouflaged look of its own. Damn sludge. Black. Green. Now, red. Filthy. Slimy. managed to burning slime the but herself. Her face it was slowly being eaten away. had gone through today, she was almost beyond She knew should have been wondering if she get some of her clone's skin. Instead she worried about Carlos. After seeing that Carlos was being taken care of properly, Kieran pulled clean cloth from a she carried on hip her and to wrap hands and wrists as they walked. They shared a look. Not romantic one, but a look associated more with bond of had born in battle. I do that for It Marlene. "Harry's not sure way." gave request. was animosity this time from her usual defiant and seemingly shrug. She had forgotten it to the back of her mind, and concentrating on the mission. Marlene looked after wounded, and Kieran took her place keeping a watchful eye after the further back. soldier, Kieran had removed her feminine side for moment. After seeing to others, Kieran returned to the front, taking her place the leader, but grabbed her clothing she approached and her in front
 took charge.

"You two, pick him up, Please," his vOice cArrIed A nAturAl auThority. "Carry hiM If yoU have to."

Two of the Shadows PulleD CARlos TO hIs feeT. He was aWAkE, BUt sCaRcEly AbLE tO move ForWard—eveN with suppoRt. AT lEast he was conSCiOus, Kieran tHouGht, as she walkEd bEside hIm. carLOs reaCheD out aNd gentLY touchEd her arm. HE sMIled. ShE ReturneD HIs SmilE, turning away as he cLOsED his eyes in exhaUstion. teARs OF Joy StrEaked the haLf-Dried MUck on heR FaCE.

sHe nOTiced almost evEryone had loST moSt of thEiR StEAlth coVerinG iN The Melee, but at lEast They were mOving. _HOPefully WE're moviNg fast EnoUgh._

as shE WiPeD heR fACe, tHE bLacK StrEaks becaMe EvEn morE appARENT, givIng Her fAce an Odd camouflageD loOk of ITs oWn. DamN sludGe. BlAcK. GreeN. Now, reD. FiltHy. slimy. She'd manageD to wAsh the burNinG sLimE oFf the OThers bUt nOt hErself. HEr face fELt lIkE IT WaS slowly being eaten aWaY. aFtEr all she Had gonE ThRoUGh today, sHe Was AlmoST BeyonD carINg. she knew sHe shouLD hAvE been woNdEring iF sHe cOulD get sOMe of Her cloNe's skin. INsteaD She was worried aBOut Carlos.

AfteR SeEINg THat CArlOs was being tAken CAre oF proPErLy, KIEran pUlled SoME sOFt clean cloth from a baG sHe carrIed on Her hip under heR Stealth, anD BEGan to wraP HarRY's HAnds and wrists aS they Walked. They SHared a loOk. Not A romantiC one, but a lOOK associaTed MorE wiTh bOND oF camaraderie, wHICh haD bEen born In bAttle.

"CaN I dO thAt fOr yOu?" it was MarlEne. "Harry'S nOt SuRe Of tHe way."

kIeran gavE iN to maRleNe's reQUest. ThEre waS no aNiMoSIty This timE FrOM kierAn—JuSt heR usUaL defiAnt aND seEmingly DispassioNatE ShruG. SHe Had forgOtten her animoSiTy for MarleNe, RelEgated IT To the bacK of her mind, and was concentRAting on The MissiOn. MaRlene lookEd aFter thE woUNded, anD KieraN took HeR plACE keepING a WatChFul eye afteR THe oThers FuRtheR back. AlWays the soldier, KierAN haD removed her feMinIne sIDE fOr tHE mOMenT.

AFTer SEEing to the others, kieran retuRnED tO the front, tAKinG hEr place Behind tHe new LEader, buT Harry graBbed her clOtHing AS She Approached And pulleD her in froNT
 took charge.

"You two, p ick him up , ple ase ,"hi s vo icecarried a natu r al a uthority. "Carry him i f you  h a ve t o ." 

Two  of the Sh a d ows  p ul led  C a rl os to  hi s feet.  He was aw ake ,but scarcely ab le to move  fo rward—even w ith  suppo rt . A t  leas t h e was  consc i ous, K ieran tho ug h t, ass he walk e d  b esid e him. Carlos rea c he d  out and gentl y touc he d  h e r  ar m.He smiled.  S he re t urned h i ss m i le, turning awayas he close d  hi s eyes  i n e x hausti on. T ea r s o f joy strea kedthe half- driedm uck onh er face .

She  no tic ed a l mo st  ev er y one ha d l o stmost ofth ei r Ste alth c o v erin g i n th e mel ee, but at le ast  the y  we re mo ving.  _Ho pe fully  we're  movi ng  fast enough._
Asshe wiped  he rfac e,  theb lack s tre aks  became  even m o reap p a r en t, giving her face  a n od d camouf lagedl oo ko f its ow n.  Da mn s l u dge.Blac k .Green. N ow, re d .Fi lthy. S li my. Sh e' d m ana ged t o  was h theburningslime off the others but not herse l f. H er face  fe lt like itwass lowl y be i ng  ea t en aw ay. A ft e ra ll she had gone thr ou gh tod ay, s he was almost  beyond ca r i n g. She k news he should have be en wo ndering if she coul d get  some of  her clon e ' s skin.Ins tea d s hew a sworried about C arlo s. 

After  se eing th atCar los  wa sbeing tak en careof  p ro pe rly , Kie r an pulle dsom esof t cle a n clot h fro m aba gs hecarried on h er h ip  u nder  he rSteal th,a ndbegan t o wrap Ha rry ' s ha nd sand wri sts as they w al ked. Theysh are d a lo o k . Not aromantic one, but a loo k  associ ate d mor e wi th bond o f c amarad eri e , whic h hadbeenbo rni n  batt l e .
"C an  I do that f oryou?"  I t wa s Marle ne. "Harry's not s u reof the way."
Ki eran g av e i n  t o  Ma rl e ne' s request. Therewas no ani mo s it y this tim e  fr om  Kieran —just h er us u al defi ant and s eeminglydi spas s i ona te shrug.She hadforgotten her a n im osity  fo r Marl en e,releg ated i t  to  theback o fher mi nd, a nd  was con centrating on the missi on. Ma rlene  lo oked afte r t h e w ounded, a nd K ieran took  he r p lacekee p ing a  wat c hf ule ye af tert he others fu rth e r  b ack. Always t h e s oldie r,K ieranhadremoved her femin i ne side for th e mo m e nt. 

A f terse eing to the ot her s, K ieran re tu rned to the  front,ta k ing h er pla ce beh ind the n ew leader , bu t H arry grab bed  h e r cloth in ga s sheappr oa ched a nd pul l ed h e r  in front
 took_charge.

"You two,_pick him up, please,"_his voice_carried_a natural_authority._"Carry him if_you have to."

Two_of the Shadows pulled_Carlos to his_feet._He was awake, but scarcely able to move forward—even with support. At least he_was_conscious, Kieran_thought,_as_she walked beside him. Carlos_reached out and gently touched_her arm._He smiled. She returned his smile, turning away_as_he closed his_eyes in exhaustion. Tears of joy streaked the half-dried_muck on her face.

She noticed almost_everyone had lost_most_of_their Stealth covering in_the melee, but at least they_were moving. _Hopefully we're moving fast_enough._

As she wiped her face, the black_streaks became even more apparent, giving_her face an odd camouflaged_look of_its own. Damn sludge. Black._Green. Now, red._Filthy. Slimy._She'd managed to_wash the burning slime off the_others but not_herself. Her face felt like it_was_slowly being eaten_away._After_all she_had gone through_today,_she was_almost_beyond caring. She knew she should_have_been wondering if she could get some_of her clone's skin._Instead_she was worried about_Carlos.

After seeing that Carlos was_being taken care of properly, Kieran_pulled some_soft clean_cloth from a bag she carried on her hip under her_Stealth, and began to wrap Harry's_hands and wrists as_they walked._They_shared a look._Not_a romantic_one, but a look associated more with_bond of_camaraderie, which had been born in_battle.

"Can I do that_for_you?" It was Marlene. "Harry's not_sure of the way."

Kieran gave in_to Marlene's request. There was_no_animosity_this time from Kieran—just her_usual defiant and seemingly dispassionate shrug._She had forgotten_her animosity for Marlene, relegated it to_the_back of her mind, and was_concentrating_on the mission. Marlene looked after_the_wounded,_and Kieran took her place_keeping a watchful eye after the_others further back. Always the soldier, Kieran had removed_her feminine side_for the moment.

After seeing to_the_others,_Kieran returned to the front, taking her place behind the_new leader,_but Harry grabbed_her clothing as she approached and pulled her in front