I moved on. Past Chicken Little, who sat by Tattletale, then the girls. Kenzie at the end. I knelt down by her.

“Hi,” she said, hesitant. “Sorry about the sass earlier, the bad influence stuff. I don’t want you to think I was serious.”

I shook my head. “Nah, it’s fine. Just checking on everyone. You’re good?”

She nodded, then leaned hard into Candy, who leaned into her in turn, like each was trying to tip the other over or knock their friend off the log.

“Do me a favor?” I asked. “You have eyes on Tristan?”

I saw the hesitation on Kenzie’s face.

“You won’t get in trouble. So long as you’re following the new rules.”

“I am.”

One of the girls to her right coughed and whispered, “Entrapment.”

Candy, I guessed.

“Can you keep an eye on him? Permission granted to surveil. I’m worried.”

“He’s bummed,” she said, nodding.

Crestfallen was maybe a better word. Or despondent.

I just nodded.

“Eye on,” she said, winking.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Sit?” Sveta offered. “There’s not much room on this bench, but I could go all ribbon-y and drape myself over you.”

“Nah, maybe after. Gonna go check on stuff. Feeling restless,” I said. “I was sitting around while you were dealing with Shin.”

“Sure.”

Rain, too, was feeling the lack of bench-space. There was some, but it was beside Mockument and Torso, who were just sitting there, being kinda weird, Torso rocking a bit in place, Mockument dressed up as a creepy jester, staring at the fire.

“Rain!” Chastity called out. “Sit! Squeeze in.”

He looked momentarily intimidated, until Chastity got up and grabbed his hand, pulling him down to the end of the bench. It honestly looked uncomfortable, like his butt was half on the log, but he seemed willing to endure it.

Okay.

Okay, I could let my guard down a bit. Nobody killing anyone. Amy was mostly handled, with my dad finally doing something.

I walked away from it, my thoughts going over the Titans.

I looked at the Patrol members, who seemed to be the dominant population here. Given the sheer quantity of people I saw who were talking to those people, especially with some possible family resemblance, I was willing to bet a share of the civilians who had also come here were relations. There just wasn’t a lot of space.

This was a waypoint, safe ground, kind of. Given the sheer number of supplies, it was possibly where the other Patrols were electing to have stuff stored. I could imagine the Fallen had had plenty of places to stow extra guns, ammo, and food.

I looked for someone who looked like they were in charge, walking around with a clipboard.

“The girl from the community center,” she said.

I thought at first about Fume Hood. Then I remembered my part in it.

I nodded. “Is Gilpatrick around?”

“Busy driving, but he’ll be back in an hour. Why?”