Meeting Her People

River crouched low, snarling at alert. Her hand instinctively flew to the dagger strapped to her thigh, muscles coiled and ready to strike. But before she could act, Sofia's hand hooked down on her shoulder in a firm but calming pressure.

"Hold on, River," Sofia hissed, shaking her head disapprovingly. "It's alright. We are in the midst of friends. This is one of ours."

The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing a sturdy man with a thick beard and a wary glint in his eyes. He wore worn t-shirt and a pair of knee boots and carried a hefty axe strapped to his back.

River relaxed slightly, lowering her hand from the dagger but keeping a cautious eye on the newcomer. "Apologies," she mumbled.

Gonzalo complemented her actions by offering a sheepish grin to the man. "Sorry for the jumpiness, we weren't expecting company. Or perhaps, the companies we've been experiencing these days have left us feeling jumpy.”

The man chuckled and waved his hands dismissively. "No worries," he boomed.