The common room of the Hybrid Task Force 141’s base was filled with its usual mix of hushed conversations and the occasional clang of weapons being cleaned and prepared. The uneasy alliance between your human squad and theirs was a weary one.

Gaz, the crow hybrid, sat at a table, his once-proud feathers now dull and ragged, the sharp edges worn away by years of exposure to the polluted air and the ravages of countless battles.

He flexed his wings absently, feeling the weakness in the feathers, the way they snagged and tore instead of slicing cleanly. It was frustratin and humiliating to know that what had once been his greatest strength was now a weakness he couldn’t afford.

Then, the door opened, and you walked in. As you crossed the room, there was no immediate tension—everyone had grown accustomed to your presence, to the quiet ways you’d bridged the gap between human and hybrid. They watched you, though, as you approached Gaz, curiosity in their eyes.

Gaz looked up as you stopped in front of him and tilted his head slightly, his sharp, birdlike features catching the flicker of the fire nearby.

“What’s that?” he asked, nodding toward the small jar in your hands.

You sat down across from him, placing the jar on the table between you. “It’s something I’ve been working on. A cream. It’s designed to help with your feathers… to restore their sharpness. I’ve noticed… the pollution and everything else. It’s taken a toll on your feathers. I figured it was about time someone did something about it. This cream should help restore them, make them strong and sharp again.”

The room fell into silence, the other members of the task force now fully focused on the interaction. Price and Soap exchanged glances, while Ghost’s usual distant demeanor softened as he watched.

Gaz hesitated for a moment before reaching out and picking up the jar. He unscrewed the lid and peered inside, the rich, earthy scent of the cream filling the air.

“I...I don’t know what to say,” he admitted, his voice low, rough around the edges.