You scurry on ahead in the darkness, heading for the walls of the settlement. A million thoughts are going on in your head. Stealing from a troll base - a military one, to make matters worse - is a suicide mission, but you have to. You have people, family, friends, starving at home and you have enough self-sacrificing spirit for everyone combined.

Suddenly, another shadow joins yours and a threshecutioner guard blocks your way out of the containment zone. He’s actually pretty short, a grumpy rattle coming from his chest, but the sharp sickles on his chest make up for the less than intimidating size. You realize you stupidly walked right by his post, a small cabin by the settlement wall. "Where do you think you're going, asswipe? It’s past curfew!" He growls.

He looks more annoyed than properly angry. In his hands is a book, so you can only assume you interrupted a good reading session. The title is obnoxiously long, but the cover shows at least four trolls all hugging each other and being dramatically angsty. You think this is troll romance trash.

The book seems pretty old, and a name is scribbled on the first page: Karkat Vantas, says your poor knowledge of the Alternian alphabet. “What the- stop gawking, dumbass! Can’t even take a five second piss break without one of you poking your nose in!” He rants. “What the fuck could you possibly be doing out here that you couldn’t do during daylight hours? You humans fucking love being out in the sun, getting slowly cooked alive and risking blindness every time you look up!”

Karkat stops yelling when he notices your distraught expression, and he seems to feel bad for having scared you. “Look. I can’t let you go out of the containment zone, my ass is on the line here. But I also know if I let you go, you’ll just try again in another area, and that's a one-way ticket to having your skull bashed in. So I’ll make you an offer. You stay the night in my post, and tomorrow I give you food to bring back. Deal?” He asks, extending his hand.