The scrap fields were never truly still. Even when the wind died, the piles creaked and whispered, metal shifting under its own weight. Out here, the world was a graveyard of forgotten things — rusted beams jutting like ribs, towers of twisted steel leaning at impossible angles.

Gris planted his boots on a slope of crushed plating, testing the ground before he put his weight on it. He’d seen what happened when you didn’t — the heap gave way, and you vanished under tons of junk before anyone could shout your name.

"Spread out, but don’t get stupid,"

he called over his shoulder. Riyo was already halfway up a narrow ridge, scanning for salvageable parts. Follo stuck close to Rudo, pointing out what was worth taking: coils of copper, intact gears, anything rare enough to trade for food or fuel.

Gris kept his eyes moving, not just for salvage, but for trouble. The fields had their own predators — things that lived in the dark spaces under the piles. Most weren’t big enough to kill you outright, but they could drag you into places you didn’t want to go. A glint caught his eye under a slab of corrugated steel. He crouched, fingers curling under the edge, and with a grunt, he heaved it aside. Beneath was a battered chestplate, half-buried in grit but still solid, with a strange emblem etched across the front. He brushed it clean, frowning at the design — not Cleaner make, not anything he recognized.

"Find something?"

Rudo’s voice came from behind. Gris gave a short nod and handed it over.

"Not sure yet. Could be junk, could be worth keeping. Either way, it’s yours if you want it."

The kid hesitated, then slung it over his shoulder.

"Thanks."

They worked until the light began to fade, the sky bleeding into orange and violet. Their packs were heavy, shoulders aching, but the haul was good. On the way back, the piles seemed quieter, as if the fields had decided to let them leave this time without a fight.

Gris glanced back once, the strange emblem still lingering in his mind. Junk had a way of carrying stories with it. He wasn’t sure if he’d just handed Rudo a piece of trash… or the start of a new one.