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Sand followed after Trad as he guided her to the dorms, trying to commit the way to memory as they walked. There were few distractions on the way there. The other students walking the halls had business of their own, and Trad’s attention as they walked was largely focused on his scroll, leaving the group to make the trek in relative silence.

Trad finally lowered his phone as they reached a door, and he announced their arrival to the team’s room. Sand let herself in, ignoring a sudden feeling of unease that gripped her as she walked past him. murmuring her thanks as she walked past him. Her boots thumped against the wooden floor as she stopped before a red, circular rug, taking the view in. The off-white walls and open window opposite to her, along with the obvious signs of being lived in, gave the room a warm aura.

“Not sure if it compares to the dorm you had at Atlas but I’m sure you’ll agree it’s better than bedrolls in a ruined fort,” Trad said as they walked in.

[i]Not that the latter’s hard to beat.[/i] She nodded. “It’ll do.”

Trad continued to point out the door at the side of the room. “Bathroom is over there by mine and Grane’s beds, if you need to study we have a few desks right here by Robert and Delta’s…” 

Sand glanced at him as he paused, and saw Trad’s eyes fixed on one of the beds. She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“Well, I guess it’s your bed now…” He muttered somberly. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to go check on Robert, see if they know the extent of his injuries.”

Sand stepped aside, letting him through. Briefly, she wondered if she should say something, but the man was out the door before anything worthwhile came to mind. Instead, she walked over to Delta’s bed.

The sheets were messy, as if someone had slept on the bed that morning, and a Beacon uniform was splayed over them. Sand knelt to grab the pillow, which had fallen to the floor, and dropped it at the head of the bed. [i]It’s not as if Delta expected what happened.[/i] She reminded herself. 

“Is that a bathroom?” she asked. An inane question. Trad had already said as much, and she didn’t wait for confirmation before she walked in. 

She closed the door behind her and placed her hands on the sink. 

[i]Too fast. This moved too fast.[/i] She could not blame the Headmaster for making the decision of placing her in this team. It made sense. But perhaps he should have allowed some time for mourning, or at least for someone to collect Delta’s personal effects. 

[i]So I could at least pretend I’m not a replacement. I wonder how Delta would feel if he knew the next person his team met only minutes after he died had immediately filled in the vacancy he left. Was that all he was worth?[/i] She had never felt so much like an intruder in her life.

She shook her head, letting out a tired sigh. Then again, among them all, she had the least right to complain. She had lost no one in the debacle, after all.

Sand turned on the faucet, letting the cold water pool in her hands before bringing it up to her face. The cool liquid washed over the layer of dirt and sweat that had accumulated on her skin.  Energized, she took the moment to eye herself critically in the mirror. 

Her hair was greasy, matted with sweat and straighter than it would normally be. She would need a good shower the first chance she got. She could not see any injuries on herself, at least. Her clothes had light tears and scratches here and there, but something told Sand a deeper examination would only reveal bruises, at worst. She’d have to make a choice later as to whether she would have to replace her apparel or sow it back together. Glancing down, she lifted one leg, looking at where one of the Creeps had bitten her early on in their outing. The Grimm had failed to penetrate her boot's tough leather, but its teeth had left whitish marks around the ankle.

She hummed. Looking at it a certain way, it gave the boots character.

Her scroll vibrating distracted her, and she pulled the phone out of her pocket. She nodded as she scanned the message that announced her welcome to the school, and the activation of her scroll ID. It seemed she would be free to come and go as she pleased. Good. Regardless of her feelings on the matter, she would need to begin settling in.

Sand entered a number and brought the phone to her ear. 

[hr]

A moment later, Sand left the bathroom, looking refreshed, but this time she didn’t pause to take in the room. Instead, she walked past the beds, towards the door.

“I got some things to take care of,” she said as she made for the hallway. “I’ll be back later with my things.”