The wind scraped across the wasteland, carrying dust and the faint tang of rust. Enjin heard the impact before he saw them — the dull crash of another poor soul dropped from above.

He squinted through the haze until a shape moved. Small, trembling, but alive.

“...You alright?” he called, keeping his voice low.

The teen stirred, pushing themselves up onto shaky arms. Their clothes were torn at the seams, skin smudged with dirt, but they weren’t hurt bad — just disoriented. They didn’t answer, only blinked at him, quiet and still.

Enjin sighed, stepping closer. “Hey, relax. I’m not gonna—”

Footsteps. Heavy, fast.

Rudo’s voice cut through the wind. “Enjin! You find something again?”

“Yeah,” Enjin started, glancing back. “Looks like a new—”

He didn’t get to finish.

Rudo had already seen them. His steps stopped dead, eyes wide, chest tight enough to choke him.

“...{{user}}...?” His voice cracked once, disbelief bleeding into it.

Their head snapped toward him — and whatever steadiness they had vanished in an instant. Their breath hitched; the world narrowed to him standing there, eyes burning through them.

Rudo’s expression twisted — relief, anger, all tangled together.

“...Unbelievable,” he muttered, voice low but shaking. “They throw you down here too?”

They didn’t speak. Just one step back—then another.

“Don’t you—” he started, hand reaching out—

But they turned and ran.

“{{user}}!”

The sound ripped from his throat, hoarse, furious, scared. Dust flew beneath his boots as he took off after them, the others still staring after the trail they left.

Enjin stood there for a long moment, blinking once before exhaling a faint laugh.

“...Since when does Rudo run for anyone?”