Rushing to the top deck Ozzy was currently riding on top of to turn into a rat and ride on Emil’s shoulder, much to his chagrin. After thinking a little bit about the ability, he had to admit it wasn’t all that bad. It was an escape option, recovery tool, and stealth ability all in one. Granted it sounded like someone would be able to do a serious number on him if they managed to hit him but that was a big if.

  It was an ability he would be keeping under his hat though, the less people knew about it the better. After all, even if his allies knew they might give it away during a fight, not a big deal out here in the swamp when they were mostly fighting monsters but a big deal if they were tangling with someone actually intelligent.

  Once at the top deck Emil and Liza pushed their way through a semi-circle of core users, depositing Ozzy at the front where he spotted Lucy standing apart from everyone and preparing to address them. With a wave the short woman beckoned him forward and he stepped out of the crowd, nervously swallowing as he turned around to look at a group of nearly thirty people staring back at him.

  “I’d like to introduce all of you to Ozzy, the newest member of our district and a man several of our members owe personal favors to, myself included.” She announced, a murmur spreading out through the group following the mentions of favors owed.

  “I know some of you have been concerned or confused as to his origins and the reason he’s opted to join our district rather than the watchers. The short answer to that is he is good friends with Emil. The long answer is that he’s not exactly from around here. Initially I’d suggested Ozzy and Emil keep his origins to themselves, but seeing as we’re about to go into the southern swamps Ozzy thought it would be fitting to extend an olive branch of trust, hoping that one might be extended back towards him. Ozzy is a child of the leaves.” She said, and a susurrus of excited voices up as the core users all spoke excitedly between themselves.

  Ozzy wanted to curl up into a ball and disappear or maybe use his new darkness ability and run away as a rat. That would probably also work. As every eye landed on him however, and people pointed, whispered, and spoke about him all within his sight he felt like he might just throw up. The only saving grace to the situation was the amount of credit she was giving him in the eyes of the people around them. He hadn’t known it’d be part of the plan but was beyond grateful for the boost she was giving him in reputation.

  “Due to familial strife, he was cast down from the city his familial head leaving him to die in the swamp. That was where he found the besieged swamp wagon carrying Emil and Norman and rather than moving on or going to die quietly in the swamp, he fought with them as a stranger. It is that same altruistic conviction which allowed him to assist in rescuing Norman.” She paused for a moment, a stern look crossing her face as she looked out over the gathered core users. “He has been fighting for us for close to a week and only just got officially added to our ranks. I know there are no kind feelings towards the upper city, but I would ask you all to do me a personal kindness and treat Ozzy not as one of them, but as a warrior of the firelight district.” She finished, silence stretching uncomfortably until a familiar face in the crowd let up a raucous cheer.

  Gustav pumped a now fully healed right hand into the air, shouting a welcome and clapping, the rest of the core users following his example.

  The group moved forward, enveloping Ozzy in a cascade of handshakes, pats, and welcomes. It was like existing in a tornado of faces and smiles, and he was pretty sure people were cycling out and then coming right back just for the fun of it. He’d seen Gustav at least four times, though the man was noticeably sticking to fist bumps and shoulder pats instead of handshakes.

  “Ahem!” Lucy cleared her throat and, in an instant, the upper deck was silent again. “Thank you. Let’s get to the real business of this meeting however.” She said.

  In an instant the group was back in the semicircle though this time Ozzy among them as Lucy began to speak.

  “Once we get into the swamp we will be breaking off the rear wagon and moving in circling patrols around the train. When you are assigned to these patrols you will be under the complete control of whoever is in charge on that wagon. Most likely myself, Dugan, or Carl. Those who are not on patrol will be with going on hunts under the same conditions with one of us. If there are any exceptions or changes we will address them when they arrive. Those remaining on the train not on assignment will be responsible for the safety of not just the train but the crew on board. Downtime may be had in shifts but multiple people must be on watch at all times. Understood?” She asked, and a round of affirmatives sounded out from the group.

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  “Good, individuals to be given priority use in the top deck enhancement emplacements are as follows, myself, Katie, Lorelai, Dugan, Dunphram and Ozzy. If I find that during an attack one of you refused your position to one of that group there will be hell to pay. You may think you’re capable of more ranged damage than they are but I assure you that is not the case. If you believe that to not be the case find me before we lose sight of the city and show me.” She said, giving the group one last hard look before finishing. “I hope you all enjoy some downtime before we make it to the Murk, there won’t be much of it afterwards!” She finished, her words like a starting gun as everyone funneled off and into the various parts of the swamp train where they’d be staying.

  For his part Ozzy opted to wait on the top deck, watching the city and its thousands of components they slowly slipped away from it. Sure, it’d still be a good while till the foliage hid them from Myreluck’s towering heights but at least they weren’t going nearly as slowly as the swamp wagons around them.

  Unfortunately, he was pulled from his relaxation and sightseeing as a pair of footsteps approached him from behind.

  “You lied to me.” Came the indignant voice Ozzy knew belonged to none other than Lyriq.

  Sighing Ozzy turned to face the two approaching him, Lyriq of course, and the incredibly nonchalant elf Florin. “I didn’t lie to you so much as I wasn’t allowed to tell the truth.” Ozzy once again lied, going along with the story Lucy had told and how she’d asked him not to share.

  “What? That literally just means that you lied.” She said, a look of confusion plastered across her face as she looked down at Ozzy sitting on one of the benches.

  Taking a moment to think about it Ozzy had to admit she was right, he’d give that one to her. “Fine then, a lie of omission, seriously though it was just because I wasn’t allowed to say anything.”

  “It wasn’t a lie of omission either moron.” She said, running a frustrated hand through her hair and momentarily flattening her fox ears as she glared at him. “You told me you’d known Emil for weeks, you didn’t omit anything!”

  Ozzy frowned, thinking carefully and realizing she was once again right. Maybe it was a good thing Lucy had been the one to explain his “origin” story. He couldn’t even remember what he’d told Lyriq that morning.

  “Alright I’ll admit that’s my bad. It’s been a long day.” He said, excusing himself from all responsibility as he watched the frustration etched across Lyriq’s face turn to anger.

  She began to say something, caught herself, and glared at Ozzy again, for some reason giving him the floor.

  “I’m sorry for lying,” he said genuinely, “what would you have wanted me to say though?” Ozzy asked.

  Lyriq looked at him hard. “Is this some sort of power play?”

  “What?” Ozzy asked incredulously, wondering what in the hell was this girl’s problem and why she was trying so hard to beef with him.

  “You heard me, are you just messing with me because you think you’re better than me leaf kid.” She spat the term out at him like a slur.

  “Look,” Ozzy said gently, “I don’t care about where people are from, genuinely. I’ve had a couple very hard days and all I’m trying to do is relax before I have more hard days. My feelings towards you are completely neutral.” he paused, thinking for a moment about that statement. “Not true, my feelings towards you are way better than neutral, we’re on the same team here.” Ozzy said, trying to reason with her.

  She spat on the ground in front of Ozzy, hawking a loogie that would have made nine-year-olds everywhere proud. “You’re hardly a member of this district.” She snarled, turning on her heel to stomp off.

  Shrugging Ozzy looked over at Florin, who shrugged in return.

  “She’s not big on newcomers.” Florin admitted.

  “I kinda got that vibe.”

  ***

  Time passed quickly as Ozzy relaxed. A few of the other district members would pass by here and there, exchanging a quick greeting before sitting down to relax themselves or chatting quietly off on the other side of the top deck. It was chill, exactly what he’d been hoping for, and as he watched the city fade out of view behind the encroaching canopies of the bayou he sighed and leaned backwards.

  Stretching himself out across the bench he managed to find a surprisingly comfortable position and he let the motion of the swamp train gradually lull him into what he believed to be one of the world’s best deserved naps.

  “Well well well, sleeping like baby eh?” Fauga boomed, pulling Ozzy’s mind out of its restful happy space and into work mode.

  “It would certainly have appeared so.” Remulas’ high pitched grating voice responded.

  They were all sitting at Fauga’s little coffee table in his workshop. The giant bearded god on his left and the smoky rat on his right. Both of them looking incredibly pleased with themselves.

  “But what do you say Machinist? Do we have a deal for our little stranger?” Remulas asked, his glee nearly raising his already grating voice up an octave.

  “I’d say yes!” Fauga thundered, slapping a massive palm against his knee as he leaned forward to pour Ozzy a glass of tea.

  “I’ll break it down for you Ozzy.” Remulas said, the rat’s creepy eyes shining with divine power as magical scroll popped up in front of Ozzy.