October 19th, 2018

  “So these are your final assignments, Mr.Tomoshibi?” asked Cheryth, reviewing one paper in a stack of about thirty or so.

  “About as final as I can get until we get more people,” Shouri shrugged, once more in his ‘guildmaster’ attire.

  Shouri Tomoshibi – Guildmaster

  Emily Elara – Vice Guildmaster

  Colette Severine – Etude and Rhythm Specialist

  Elijah Klein – Financial Officer

  Vince Rayburn – Member Maestro

  The woman nodded, her eyes scanning the paperwork once more. “If this was anyone but you I’d question the many missing roles,” Cheryth said, setting the top paper on the stack.

  “Officially our Resonators don’t have a role or rank, but all that matters is that we know where they all stand,” Shouri stated with a shrug.

  “Of course.” The guild liaison nodded. She picked up the stack of paperwork and thumbed through it. “Your property choice was interesting, but fitting for your guild’s theme and mission statement,” a warm smile graced the woman’s lips.

  Shouri’s lips fell to a hard line as his eyes wandered. “Yeah… well we didn’t get the best budget nor did I do the best job directing Klein…” the boy mumbled.

  Cheryth cocked a brow. “The heir of the Klein Foundation needed direction?” she questioned.

  “I told him to get us a fixer-upper, and he said ‘SIR YES SIR’ and made sure we’d need to fix it up,” Shouri droned, slouching in his seat.

  “It was within your allotted budget, I will say that,” said Cheryth.

  “That’s for sure,” Shouri sighed dramatically.

  While the young guildmaster hung off his chair with regret, Cheryth took the time to sign all of the requisite dotted lines on the paperwork.

  “And there we are,” she finally announced. “Pruned Trees Re-Sprout is officially a registered guild with the Riterran Guild Network, congratulations Mr.Tomoshibi,” the woman offered a quiet clap and a smile to mark the occasion.

  “Woo freakin’ hoo.” Shouri twirled a finger. He allowed a small smile of his own to crack. It would be a lot of work, but waiting outside the meeting room were the three that gave him purpose, and he couldn’t let them down.

  “Are we done?” Pacifica hesitantly asked upon Shouri’s departure from the MA Office conference room.

  “What do you think?” Shouri asked, though his tone and rising lips betrayed his intention.

  Not a second later, the boy found himself wrapped in three pairs of arms. “Oof!” he exhaled sharply as he had the air squeezed out of his lungs.

  “Now what?” Rebecca asked.

  “Well, everyone is gonna meet us in Dalliva,” Shouri began. He motioned to the girls to walk with him.

  “It’s a big city, but doesn’t have any other guild there – apparently Elijah managed to talk the city into selling us the property on the cheap and pay for utilities. Guess they wanted something to add to their community or something?” said the new guildmaster.

  “You’d think a city in the middle of Lybertera would have more going on,” Rebecca hummed in thought.

  The quartet found themselves back in the lobby, making a small circle as they continued their conversation.

  “You’d think, but I think it’s due in part to the climate,” Shouri’s expression darkened.

  “What’s that Sho?” Taika asked, her brows turned up with worry.

  “Dalliva is in a part of Lybertera referred to as the Storm Belt,” he began. “It’s very common for intense tornados to strike the area during the Spring and Fall months. It can get very dangerous,” he explained.

  “We can get pretty bad tornados up in Canolapra too,” Pacifica chimed in.

  “I’ve seen a few when I was in Corhiasela before,” Rebecca added, quieter.

  Taika hummed, pursing her lips as she considered what her friends were saying. “Tornadoes are that bad?” she asked.

  “Oh,” Pacifica gasped. “Yeah,” she nodded. “You’ve probably never seen a tornado since they’re not common where you’re from…” the otter realized.

  The lunar fox shook her head. “Non; I’ve read about tornados, but didn’t know they happened naturally,” she frowned. “They’re that bad?” she asked again.

  Shouri flipped her tuner around. The fox’s eyes widened. A trail of devastation through a neighborhood, damage on an apocalyptic level was on full display for the vixen to behold. She grabbed her Maestro’s hands, her eyes darting up and down the screen as she scanned the still image. It was horrifying damage like an army of giant Scherzando decided to level the place.

  “A tornado did that,” Shouri spoke. The lunar maiden looked up, the horror on her face unmistakable.

  “Perché vuoi vivere lì?!” shouted Taika.

  “Plenty of reasons,” Pacifica replied.

  “Some people don’t have the means to move,” Rebecca added.

  “Also, there are those that are attached to their hometowns,” Shouri chimed in, having caught the context.

  Taika furrowed her brow in thought, humming with disapproval.

  “Another reason to set up camp there,” Shouri spoke up. “Should something horrible happen to that city or any of the people living around it, we’ll be there to help,” he told them. “Deaths from tornados don’t stack up until after the storm has passed… when the Scherzando show up,” he spoke lower.

  “Ah.” Taika nodded.

  Rebecca and Pacifica couldn’t hide their proud smiles.

  Despite it all, Shouri was the most driven out of any of them.

  October 20th, 2018

  Taika’s eyes cracked open. It had been a while since they had flown anywhere. Then again, she had only experienced her first flight this year.

  Either way, she counted her blessings that the seats were comfortable. The slot for her tail was always appreciated, as was the plush cushioning that she could melt into. It was a touch bit cold, but she was comfortable in her favorite jacket. And while her jacket warmed her body, her heart was warmed by her Maestro by her side.

  “Sleep well?” he asked.

  “Si…” cooed the vixen, smiling groggily.

  “Good, they just made the announcement we’re arriving soon,” Shouri informed her.

  “Home…” she mumbled.

  Shouri hummed in thought. “Yeah, I guess since this is going to be our guild’s headquarters, calling it home isn’t wrong.” A smile slowly rose on his lips. He nodded. “Home,” he tested the idea.

  Yes, Taika’s heart was well warmed, the thumping of her tail in the seat notwithstanding.

  The plane soon landed and the group disembarked with all of their bags in tow. “Where are we going?” asked Rebecca, noting they didn’t go straight towards the exit.

  “Where do you think?” Shouri teased with a toothy grin.

  “How would I know?” challenged the vixen, pouting at the snarky boy.

  He answered not verbally but with a gesture.

  They had arrived at another set of desks with various company logos plastered on the boards behind the attendants who were stationed in front of them.

  “What… is this?” Rebecca furrowed her brows.

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  “Follow me,” Shouri motioned for his fiery vixen to tail him.

  She was obedient if nothing else, so leaving her fellow Resonators to wait behind she walked with Shouri up to the counter. The Renard wracked her brain trying to figure out what they were doing.

  “Hey,” Shouri shook her out of her thoughts.

  “Huh?” Rebecca blinked.

  “Driver’s license,” he pointed to the patiently waiting attendant.

  “Oh, uh sure,” she fished it out of the pocket inside her blazer and handed it over.

  The desk worker swiped the card on their computer and proceeded to work on… something on their screen. The gears clacked along in Rebecca’s head as she tried to solve the calculus going on here.

  With a “here you go,” her learner’s permit was returned to her, and Shouri was subject to some paperwork.

  It all finally added up when Shouri was handed a pair of keys. “Wait you-?!” before Rebecca could voice her thoughts, she had a car key in her hand.

  “Made sure to get it in red, just for you,” grinned the Maestro.

  Modesty be damned, Rebecca kissed him on the spot. “Thank you!” she cried out, her tail swishing back and forth as hard as she could will it (not that she had control of her traitorous appendage).

  Pacifica and Taika were content to giggle from their spot outside of the line.

  Rebecca was practically bouncing as they left the airport terminal and rode the bus down to the parking lot where their rental cars awaited them.

  “Red red red red,” Rebecca looked around for their chariot of choice. In the sea of vehicles, spotting their ride was looking like a challenge.

  “Maybe we should use the keyfob,” suggested Shouri. Before his idea could be processed by his feisty fox, she bolted into the sky in a stream of fire.

  “Found it!” they heard her shout from the sky.

  “She’s really excited,” Taika noted.

  “I understand the feeling,” Pacifica tittered.

  Rebecca sat in the driver’s seat, her heart pounding. The harmony drive hummed as the AC unit kept the inside nice and cool. Shouri rode shotgun, as demanded by law, while Taika and Pacifica sat in the back, checking out the various parts of the car from their position.

  “Okay…” Rebecca tapped into her training, calming her nerves. She took the time to adjust the mirrors, get the seat in the optimal place, and secured her seatbelt. Her friends waited patiently, thankfully.

  “Just take it slow Rebby,” Shouri told her. “We’re not in a rush,” he advised. She nodded. “Responsibility,” he reminded her. Another nod from the vixen.

  With a deep breath in and out, she put the car into reverse and slowly backed the car out of its spot. “Oh wait-!” she stopped short a couple of times, still getting used to turning the car while reversing. “Shoot! Shoot!” she yelped, narrowly avoiding hitting the immobile vehicles surrounding them.

  Shouri noted his poor vixen’s already frazzled nerves – and they were only out of the parking space. “It’s just like a battle, keep your eyes out for signs around you, maintain situational awareness,” he advised.

  She nodded slowly. “Right.” Honestly, that was probably the best thing he could have said to her. Rebecca’s gaze sharpened as her eyes darted around, analyzing the obstacles around her. Everything was unmoving, but as she knew, that could change in an instant. With a flick of her wrist, she shifted the car into drive and began to navigate her way out of the parking lot.

  Getting out was easy enough. Entering the main streets was the ultimate test, but she centered herself. This was nothing compared to the shit she had gone through.

  It helped that her beloved Maestro was by her side and directing her as always. He was her north star and with his navigation, they had made it to their new home before she had realized what had happened.

  Rebecca’s grasp remained firmly on the wheel; her knuckles white from the grip applied. “I did it… I drove us to a place,” she shook as she spoke.

  “You okay?” Shouri asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.

  “Y-yeah… can you give me a minute?” she asked, using her bangs to hide her face. “You all can go inside.”

  “I don’t want to leave you here,” said the Maestro.

  “Just a minute alone, please?” Her head remained hung.

  “Let’s go Sho, she’ll catch up,” advised Pacifica from the back.

  Shouri grunted. “Okay,” he gripped Rebecca’s shoulder. “Don’t take too long.”

  “I won’t,” her voice cracked, but she held together.

  Getting out of the car, the trio stepped out into the Dallivan soil for the first time. The property they had acquired was a pretty big one all things considered. The building could use some work. It was possibly an old motel of some kind, abandoned to time, but it was still in a livable enough condition.

  That being said, it was obvious to all three of them that a lot of work needed to be done.

  “Let’s check it out I guess,” Shouri started walking towards the building.

  The facility as it was had a lobby area, some back offices, and then the rooms. Shouri had been sent the key to the lobby, which led into the offices. In the back, the keys had been left in a safe which the code was also provided for Shouri.

  “Definitely needs some love,” Pacifica noted, looking around. The carpets were stained with spills from workers long gone, the paint was showing its age, some of the overhead lighting had burnt out, and the décor that remained was probably thirty to forty years out of date. Few electronics were left, so if they wanted to have computers or any other appliances, that would need to be purchased. The appliances that remained such as the compact stoves and refrigerators were clearly on their last legs, hopefully, they’d last until they could gather together the necessary coin for upgrades.

  “Kept us in budget though. That grant was a lifesaver,” Shouri muttered.

  “Could Elijah have paid for this?” Taika wondered.

  “Nah, he got grounded after his dad found out what he did,” chuckled the Maestro.

  “Really?!” Pacifica gasped

  “He’s been staying in such nice hotels!” Taika added.

  “Yeah, we gotta teach that guy how to handle personal finances. He might be able to run a business, but he does a piss poor job at running his life,” Shouri scoffed.

  The two girls nodded slowly.

  “Anyways! Let’s check the damage,” said Shouri, holding up a basket of room keys.

  One by one the trio checked the rooms. After the second room, he had Taika take out their laptop and start to take notes on the conditions of the various rooms.

  “This… is a lot…” mumbled Taika as they finished up the tour. They had stopped in the final room, resting on the furniture that remained.

  “Yeah,” Shouri reclined on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “Eventually I want to have some more buildings built, but for now I think we’ll stay small like this,” he said.

  “Taking in Resonators and giving them a home and purpose until we can find them their Shouri,” Pacifica said with a warm smile. “It makes me so happy to be a part of this.”

  Taika nodded in agreement.

  “It’s gonna be a lot of work,” Shouri remained where he was, his hopeful gaze still aimed at a sky unseen. “It’s what I want to do with my life,” he said.