Most Diving groups base themselves around five members. Larger groups do form, in particular when made up of the forces of a Holding but will still break up into smaller units of four to six when searching for Depths born to fight. Smaller groups are possible but require more careful balance and attention since each member must either take on multiple roles or the group leaves itself vulnerable to certain creature types. This is particularly true early on, smaller groups at low levels are often more desperate to advance by taking risks, those who continue down their Path without needing others tell another story.

  Coordinators, those who ensure the group is in band and track enemies often also serve as scouts since both require attention to detail. Controllers either shape the battlefield with barriers or other effects, or shape the participants through enhancement and hindrance. Offensive and Defensive specialists are exactly what they sound like, with the final position that of a medic or actual Healer, since no one ever expects to leave a Dive without at least minor injuries.

  ~ * ~

  Seb squeezed Anya's arms as firmly as he could. Had she been in her Everyday Husk as well he might have almost left bruises from the pressure, but in her War Husk all he managed to do was cause the exoskeleton to flex slightly.

  Anya!

  For a moment he thought she was still caught up in her terror, terror he'd felt flooding through the band from the moment he regained consciousness, only for her to finally lock eyes with him and take a deep breath. Her fear hadn't faded away completely, but was no longer the only thing she was projecting.

  I'm not sure what happened, but I'm not hurt, at least not right now, he sent, releasing her arms as he did.

  Her War Husk faded away as she all but threw herself at him, tears trailing down her cheeks as she clung to him. She held him for a long moment, the band filled with a blur of fear, sadness and relief and incomprehensibly babbled fragments before she pushed herself away once more, wiping her eyes before exhaling forcefully.

  Seb, you almost died, she began.

  I- what?

  The rabbit almost killed you. It gored through your side and left a hole the size of a dinner plate. Not a tear or a gash, an actual hole with nothing left behind.

  He said nothing, he couldn't think of what to say. That wasn't a wound you survived, that wasn't something the human body was meant to endure. That wasn't-

  My War Husk?

  Hopefully a healer can help fix it. Hopefully the bleed-through heals cleanly and quickly. But we have to head back up. You aren't in any shape to keep fighting.

  I can-

  You're in your Everyday Husk Seb. If you get hurt it will bleed through more easily, especially if you're already hurt. You saw what happened to me.

  He nodded, he'd seen just what the bleed-through did to her and it had destroyed her Husk. He suspected her War Husk would have been repairable, but then it would still look like Lisa.

  Tomorrow then. We pack and head back up.

  He could feel her wanting to argue, wanting to leave right away but he continued before she could say anything.

  One more night won't hurt. And it means we can both process what happened before we make the hike.

  She sighed then nodded. Fine.

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  A strange feeling tugged at him, rather it had been tugging at him the whole time but he hadn't paid any attention to it. He turned to stare at the tent wall, looking in the direction of the sensation and trying to figure out what he was-

  Did you leave my sword behind?

  ~ * ~

  Anya forced herself to slow down for the fifth time. Seb couldn't keep up with her if she raced ahead and she wasn't going to leave him behind in the tunnels. She'd wanted him to stay behind at the tent, to stay safe and secure while she went to get his sword for him but he'd insisted on coming along, insisted it would be easier for her to find the right cave if he was there.

  She'd relented when he finally pointed out that if she was getting his sword and he was at camp, who would protect him if another Depths rat happened to wander by. And so here she was, reminding herself to slow down once again so that Seb could keep pace.

  Next cave on the left, he sent as they followed a bend in the path.

  I remember, she sent back. I doubt I'll be able to forget where the cave is.

  Anya saw his sword the moment she stepped into the cave. It was lying where Seb had dropped it, his blood still pooling around it. She felt his shock run through the band as she retrieved the blade, finally moving at her full speed so she could get it into his hand as quickly as possible.

  -my blood? he asked.

  Yes, she answered, there was no point pretending otherwise.

  How many times did it hit me?

  Once I think. She'd only see evidence of a single strike when she caught sight of him falling. That didn't mean it hadn't somehow hit him additional times before he fell.

  And you just took care of it?

  She shook her head as she gave him a nudge out of the cave and back to their camp.

  I wouldn't have faced it alone given the choice. If you'd been able to run I would have tried to distract it and run away too.

  It was just a rabbit though, he sent back, clearly confused.

  Horned Variant. She'd been taught about variants and the risks they posed, he hadn't. Variants are more dangerous versions. Horned ones, like the one you found, are known for being extremely dangerous for their size and level.

  So if it looks strange or different, be careful?

  Always be careful Seb, she answered, forcing her fears back down. Please.

  I will, he sent back almost instantly. As careful as either of us can be at least.

  ~ * ~

  By the time they got back to the tent Anya had been forced to slow down even more. Seb was clearly growing weaker as they went, his breath coming more heavily as he struggled to keep up. She'd tried to suggest carrying him again but he kept insisting he was fine.

  She heard him settle heavily in the tent as she went around collecting everything that they had left scattered throughout the cave over the last month. When she slipped in to join him he was steadying himself against the remnants of their supplies and clearly focused on keeping calm.

  Seb?

  Just tired, worn out. Probably not in good shape if I drop to True Self but I mostly feel I need to rest.

  Seb! She'd know he was getting worn out but hadn't realized it was to that degree.

  We leave tomorrow. You can't carry me and all the equipment. And I can't walk the whole way right now.

  You're more important than the equipment, she argued.

  And if I can't make the trip tomorrow you can leave the equipment. But I think I'll be able to.

  She settled beside him without further argument and pulled him close, letting him lean against her.

  Tomorrow then.

  She felt him nod and relax, her awareness of his thoughts fading away barely a minute later as he fell asleep. It took her significantly longer to follow, her thoughts kept returning to the fight, to his lying there unresponsive, to the blood pooling around him. She'd seen worse when training with the Guards, she was pretty sure she'd endured worse and kept fighting at one time or another. This was his first time though, he'd never actually been hurt when they trained, no lasting injuries, no bleed-through, no threats beyond his ability to even register.

  He'd be hurt again, she'd be hurt again. It was just a matter of time if they kept Diving. Trying to prevent it was pointless, learning how to handle the pain and shock was the only actual solution. Learning to see him bleeding and unresponsive, to come face to face with the idea of losing him though? She wasn't sure how she'd get past that feeling, past that dread. They'd only just found each other, they'd only just started down their Paths together. He had to grow stronger, she had to grow stronger.

  Tomorrow would be the start of that. Tomorrow they would leave the Depths, find a Healer, get Seb fixed up. They would get back to training, they'd get him to level 2 and they would try to get more help from Phelann. There had to be someone who could teach them the basics of enhancements, of imbuements, of how to use techniques to hinder. Seb could handle Energy well enough now while in combat, he didn't fumble his control the moment he had to move. They'd grow strong enough to keep each other safe, to be together for as long as possible.

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