They hadn’t been in the tunnels too long, but Mav was still shocked to see the sun so high in the sky. So much had happened in that little time, but looking out onto the Howin streets, one couldn’t tell. 

Maren panted, leaning against the wall, and then took deep, slow draughts from her canteen. It wasn’t long before her head was tilted completely back, then she glared into its opening. 

“Already?” she whispered, shrinking it. 

Mav handed her his water, then paced down the sidewalk. The run had warmed him up, but his triceps pulled on his arms as he walked. He was still too tight, his muscles too cold. 

Dropping to the ground, Mav began doing pushups. 

“Thanks,” Maren said, placing Mav’s water container next to him. 

“Of course,” Mav grunted. 

“We should take this time to rest.” 

“Can’t. Gotta warm up.” 

Maren slumped against a wall, feet from Mav, watching him. Mav continued doing pushups. 

“We can’t fight them on our own, Mav,” Maren said. 

“Yes, I can,” Mav said. “They weren’t as strong as Koda.” 

“Individually. But together?” 

Mav didn’t answer, his arms and chest were beginning to sting. 

“That Cailleach is better than me,” Maren said. “If the fight dragged on, I’d be dehydrated. She barely broke a sweat.” 

“JJ could help,” Maren said. 

“He couldn’t block a single attack I didn’t allow. I don’t know what kind of combat training he ‘excelled’ at in the temple, but he’s not a fighter.” 

“Then he could support you. Annoy her, or something, while you take her out.” 

“Leaving you alone to fight two Ethereal Leaders.” 

Mav’s arms trembled. How many pushups had he even done? “I was fine. They cheated. Ran away to gang up on you.” 

“Even if they hadn’t, how much longer would the fight have gone? Were they close to getting lost to the ether?” 

Mav grunted. “No.” 

“How much longer could you have gone without freezing?” 

“Long enough.” 

“That’s not a good answer.” 

“I’d have done what needed done.” Mav’s body shook, his form suffering as his back began to bend. “Even if I freeze, I can take those two out. Like that monster in Linick.” 

“I don’t want to see that again.” Maren’s voice was small. 

Mav’s arms gave way. Panting, lying on the ground, Mav finally looked at Maren. She sat hugging her knees, fingernails digging into her thighs. Her blue eyes, normally so radiant with amusement or rolled with bemusement, were dull. There was the same ache behind them Mav saw whenever he was alone, looking into his reflection. 

“I’m sorry,” Mav said, struggling to sit up. “There’s a lot of people Serene can hurt. I don’t want to fail them.” 

“I get it,” Maren said. “But if we continue, JJ won’t be the only one drowning.” 

“But–” 

Sirens sounded in the distance. Down the road, people were running along the main street to the right, out of sight. Cop cars zoomed by, going the same direction. 

“Something’s happening,” Mav said. 

“And the cops will see to it,” Maren said. 

“But what if it’s because of our fight?” 

“Other things happen in this city, Mav, especially in a neighborhood like this.” 

“But what if my attack did something up here? What if I destroyed a building, or–” 

Maren leaned forward, took her two hands, and squeezed Mav’s cheeks between them. Mav had to admit, he’d never been shut up in quite this fashion before. 

“Calm?” Maren asked, with a hint of a smile. 

“Yes?” Mav said. 

“Good. Now, listen. We can’t do what we did in Linick. This has to go above board.” 

“But we can do it legally if our only job is to find JJ.” 

“That had been the plan,” Maren said, voice patient. “If we couldn’t convince him to come back with us. But those Wielders complicate things. Mav, we can’t face them alone. And if your explosion caused a problem up here, we’d need to report it. Right?” 

Mav deflated, his cheeks squishing between Maren’s hands. “Yes.” 

“Then that’s what we do. I know Paul didn’t want this going on any police report, but that can’t be stopped now. This is way over our heads. We need help from the officials.” 

Mav crossed his arms. “Fine.” 

“Good.” Maren released him and smiled, though her eyes were sad. She pulled an earpiece from her bag and tapped her tablet a few times. “Paul? It’s Maren. Listen, we need to meet up. As soon as possible. Yes...” 

Mav sat back, stomach churning, losing himself not to Maren’s urgent voice, but the sounding sirens in the distance, imagining whatever chaos they were rushing toward. 

So much for getting stronger.