(Page 106) [b]Week I[/b] Shadow slams her helmet to the floor with a resounding crack. "DAMNIT!" Fourth loss in a row. A colorful stream of words pours from the captain's mouth. Hands reaching to grasp clumps of jet black hair. A less than comfortable ghost hovers over her shoulder. "Come on. Let's uh, take a break." [b]Week II[/b] "Who [i]is[/i] this hunter? Why does she keep coming here?" "I know, right? She [i]sucks![/i]" The poor attempt at a whisper reaches Shadow's ears. She's crouched only a few feet away. Keeping her eyes locked ahead, she ignores the resulting sting in her chest. [i]I'll never be any good at this.[/i] "Control." Shaxx's strong voice echoes in her headset. She furrows her brow and places a finger on the trigger of her sidearm. [b]Week III[/b] Blinding, white hot pain flashes behind Shadow's eyes as the titan's fist connects with her helmet. The obliterated armor flies off, leaving her face exposed. "MMPH-" A warm flow of blood drips into the hunter's mouth. She raises a hand to her face, struggling to wipe it away, blinking against the sunlight streaming into her eyes. Stumbling to her knees, Shadow wonders why the guardian hasn't just finished the job. She swiftly receives her answer. A strong hand grips the hunter by her neck, lifting her like a kicked puppy. "Hey!" the awoken woman spits furiously, tasting salt and iron. Her heart races as the white-armored titan eyes her through his visor. "Hey.... you look familiar." Shadow's heart leaps into her throat. "Aren't you that bug-hugger?" Fear stabs sharply in pit of her stomach. She prays her ghost has the sense to stay out of sight. "Heh, don't worry." The guardian laughs unsettlingly, without giving her a chance to respond. "I'm not gonna kill you or anything, not for real. But unfortunately for you, I'm not really a big fan of fallen, especially not after what happened in the prison, so..." Shadow struggles furiously to no avail. Her gun lays feet away on the floor. The titan pulls back a fist balled up with a swell of solar light. "Take this home to your Kell from me."   *** "What has happened?" The brick-hard chest of Variks blocks her way out. [i]Damnit[/i]. Shadow keeps her face turned away, attempting to slide past him to her room. "Nothing, it's nothing," she mutters. "You are hurt," Variks clicks. He reaches out to grab her arm. Shadow pulls away, eyes lowered to the floor. Or eye, rather. The only one she could see out of, anyway. "Captain."   Suddenly stern, Variks slams his staff onto the floor with a metallic ring. Shadow jumps. "Look at me." The vision in Shadow's good eye blurs as she forces herself to look up at him. With a difficulty, she bites back tears. She'd be damned if she cried in front of him too. Variks's eyes widen at the sight of her blackened eye and bloody, split lip. A real hand reaches for her face, and hesitates when she flinches in pain. Delicately grasping and holding her jaw between clawed fingers, Variks turns her head up to inspect the damage that's been done. His touching and prodding normally would have left the hunter flushed and breathless. But she can't even look him in the eye. Shame burns hot as fire through her chest. "Another guardian did this to you?" His voice softens, causing the hunter to finally look at him. "This is not how your crucible is supposed to work...?" he burbles, confused. "My ghost is also supposed to be able to heal me within a sufficient amount of time—" The disappointment in his frost-colored gaze makes her heart sink.      She raises a confused eyebrow, along with a hand to touch what his eyes have narrowed at. A charred bruise in the shape of a handprint —courtesy of the titan— on her neck. "I'll do better next time, I promise," the captain murmurs. These crucible matches were proving harder than she had previously assumed they would be. And every bullet that took her life hurt less than the sting of shame that followed afterward. "What?" Variks snaps unexpectedly, baring needle-like teeth at her. "Do you take me for a savage, like Skolas?" Taken aback, Shadow blinks rapidly. "N-no! Of course n-" Abruptly, the Kell interjects, shakes his head. Reset. "Come." Variks takes her arm in a strong hand, guiding her. "My Kell, I'm fine, my ghost will take care of me. It just takes longer for him to heal me after—" "He is not here, is he?" Variks objects. "He will take too long, yes? We will wash the blood off your face." Shadow reluctantly follows, silently allowing the eliksni to sit her down.      Burbling to himself, he kneels so that he is eye level with the hunter.      She holds back a grunt of pain as he washes the blood from her ivory skin. While her friend's care warms her heart, it's hard to focus on anything but the humiliation stinging in her chest. Sensing this, Variks pauses once the blood has been wiped from her lips. "You have made us proud with your persistence." His quiet encouragement surprises her. Shadow meets Variks's eyes as he looks up into hers. Breathing stalled. A gentle hand raises to brush the hair away from her golden eyes. Shadow's heart can't help but skip a beat. "Do not be discouraged," he murmurs, straightening. Shadow manages a smile, drawing strength from that ever present sparkle in his eye. "Perhaps Variks can be of assistance…”