Morning came grey and cool, the kind that settled low over the treetops and made the forest feel closer than usual. Nathan arrived at the training ground first for once, moving through a few slow warm-up forms while he waited, watching his own footwork with the critical eye Hanzo had been sharpening in him all week.
She arrived a few minutes later.
He glanced over and noted her — same composure as always on the surface, same straight-backed economy of movement. But something was sitting differently. The way she took her position had a fraction too much deliberateness to it, like someone who was being careful in a way they didn't usually need to be careful. He filed it away without comment and turned to face her.
"Ready?" she asked.
"When you are."
