It was their own fault, really. Dane had spent their entire night with the other aspirants, huddled around the little fire, talking about horror stories and drinking just a few beers. Of course, the beers were watery and gross, but they provided the barest bit of a buzz -- which did not help them in the slightest in this moment.

They lied in their bunk, eyes shut. They didn’t often have bad dreams. Really, most nights, they slept like a log. But this night, every little noise made them flinch. Every little rustle made them feel like their heart was in their throat.

A howl was not uncommon in the Brotherhood of Steel camps, and this one didn’t sound particularly close. But the way that Dane was half-expecting it while trying to simultaneously calm themself down caused them to bolt upright at the noise.