Torches crackle softly in the low wooden hut. A gust of wind whistles through the cracks in the boards. A few shadows gently sway. 'Come in.' The hut door is hefted open, and a mass of somewhat hasty green squeezes into the firelit space, having to get far more intimate with the doorframe than doorframes typically experience. 'Got everything?' 'Y—You bet...' Gavial gives her head an impromptu massage. 'Bring it out.' Gavial hoists her tail back to bundle up the bag behind her, and takes great care to open it up on the table. Out fall a wide assortment of weapons. Those standing around the table grab one each. 'Dagger.' 'Cutting edge is sharp. Signs of whetstoning.' Another voice makes itself known. Gavial twists her head around looking for it, only to quickly give up and pull it back. 'Chainsaw.' 'No junk in the chain, lubrication on drive shaft is fresh, and handle wraps have been changed before. Motor system is running well, power system is stable.' 'Uh-huh. The axe?' 'About the same condition as the chainsaw. The only difference is the axe has some slight rusting...' 'Don't mind her. The metal was rusted when I made it.' Yet another voice has emerged. '...Didn't you tell me you used the best materials?' 'Those are the best materials. Even the 'Rage Ironhide' didn't get it as good as this.' 'Quit it a sec, you two, we're not done yet... Gavial.' 'Here...' 'Where's your staff?' 'Muhh, my staff...' Gavial hangs her head low. 'Where is your staff? Bring it out.' Gavial realizes she's not winning this, grinds her teeth, and pulls her staff out of her boot. Well, boots. 'Staff's... broken.' 'How did you break it?' 'Clobbering people out there over the last few days. I just gave it a whack once and... it snapped.' 'How? You know I reinforced it. All you had to do was take good care of it and... Gavial, give me the inspection form. Have you filled it in properly?' 'No duh I did!' 'What were you doing last month on the 3rd? You were meant to give it maintenance that day, but you've written nothing here. Did you forget?' 'Did not. I was, uh, I was busy that day with... oh! No, I got it! I was scrapping with the Durins' machines! You even gave them the blueprints for those!' 'I do recall that, but it doesn't change the fact you wrecked your staff, so...' Gavial sucks in a deep, deep breath. 'So like you laid out. Five days without eating meat. I'm ready for it...' After a brief silence, with the table shooting a few glances between each other, there's the sudden telltale 'pfft' of a laugh. 'What the hell's so funny... Tomimi? Zumama? Inam! What are you guys laughing for?' Gavial asks through a frown of complete suspicion. Inam is scratching at her head. 'Gavial, the fact that you can take proper care of your weapons is impressive. I wonder if we can thank the statue being erected...' 'I literally guaranteed you guys! You didn't even believe me?!' 'We're only finding out in the first place because people tell us you keep complaining about weapon upkeep being a hassle,' Zumama explains. 'We wouldn't let you go without meat for five days, Gavial... that would be too scary for you,' Tomimi quietly adds. Gavial sighs a slow sigh of relief. 'Scared the hell outta me. I seriously thought you guys were gonna have me lashed down...' 'I'll make you another staff. Remember to care for it regularly!' 'Yeah, you don't have to tell me... huh? Something smells good. Is that—' 'That said, seeing how we know you, we decided we'd punish you via other means... This is a whole pot of Acahualla-sourced meat stew!' Inam unveils. 'Gavial, you have to stand over there and watch us while we eat the entire thing.' Gavial's eyes pop out of her skull. 'You guys are torturers! ACTUAL TORTURERS!'