Read The Bridge
 
“I take it you found no artifacts gyaos “
 
“ Irys.”
 
X looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.  
“Come again?”
 
Irys looked back up at him.  
“I didn’t have a name before… Sunset gave me one, it’s Irys.”
 
X was quiet for a moment before sighing, giving her a nod.  
“Very well then. I take it you found nothing, Irys?”
 
The albino’s thoughts traveled back briefly to the fairgrounds, back to that tent. She bit her lip briefly before answering.  
“No, I found nothing… You?”  
She looked over at his left eye, noticing the cracked mask and bruising even through the darkness and X’s jet black skin.  
“Seems you got into quite a scuffle.”
 
X only rolled his eyes.  
“Twas with the owner of one of the artifacts, she caught me off guard after a car accident.”
 
“Sooo, do you have it? You did win right?”
 
There was a low grumble through the snowfall. Had he not gotten hit by the pipe, had to taken out their transportation quicker, had he gotten serious in fighting Aria quicker; he’d probably have her heart in his hands right now.  
“Battle was won, but they got away at the last moment.”
 
“Well then,-”  
Irys crossed her arms as they walked around to the portal side of the statue.  
“-we’ll just have to volunteer again later for a return trip. This was mostly a scouting mission after all.”
 
“If the master presumes its worth it… Just promise you’ll help me next time.”
 
“Hey you’re the one who climbed up a roof before I could stop you.”
 
“You told me to.”
 
“I told you to split up, not run up a wall you idiot!”  
A chuckle reached the gyaos’ throat and she playfully but firmly punched Monster X in the forearm. X flinched and cringed as they walked through the rapidly opening portal back to Zenith. Irys just managed to smack his bruise-cut combo on his bicep and reopen it.
 
“Grk! I have an injury there!”
 
“Ah suck it in you wimp…”
 
The two teammates stepped through the portal together, at peace.
 
Welcome to the flock X…