[Station Nine Outdoor Training Facility, Charlotte, North Carolina (May 2, 2023)]
Maria Ortega lowered herself onto the grass with a quiet sigh, rolling one shoulder to ease the lingering tension from the morning's training session.
The forest clearing was still and bright beneath the late-morning sun, surrounded by towering pines and hardwoods that swayed gently in the steady breeze. A few miles outside Charlotte, Station Nine's outdoor training grounds felt far removed from the noise and chaos of the city. All while somehow managing to perfectly capture the rugged vibe that you normally couldn't get in this part of the state.
For Maria, that was exactly what she needed to start her day.
Today marked only her second day back at work.
Her month-long training assignment in Austin had been valuable. She had learned new techniques, worked with unfamiliar agents, and pushed herself harder than she had expected. But after weeks of combat drills, hard workouts, and constantly changing schedules, she was grateful to finally be back in such a familiar setting.
Across the clearing, Sebastian sat on a fallen log, drinking from a water bottle as though the grueling exercises they had just completed had been little more than a morning jog. Meanwhile, Robin stood nearby, reviewing notes on a tablet while somehow looking perfectly composed despite spending the last several hours running drills.
Maria glanced between the two Conley family siblings before speaking.
"So…" The raven-haired woman said, her voice calm but carrying enough curiosity to draw their attention. "Can I finally see him?"
Sebastian immediately gave his partner a confused look. "Him?"
"Your new companion." Maria replied.
"Oh..." His grin widened. "That him."
Robin snorted without looking up from her tablet. "He's been waiting all morning for someone to ask."
"I have not!"
"You absolutely have."
Sebastian ignored the Vice-Captain and stood up from his seat. "Fair enough. I guess you've earned it."
Maria sat up slightly.
She had heard rumors and half-finished stories about Sebastian's newest magical companion from some of the other guys in their squad ever since she had gotten back. And every version had somehow made the creature sound larger than the last. She suspected that it had been some sort of playful exaggeration, but she quickly discovered she was wrong in her assumptions.
Sebastian stepped into the center of the clearing and raised one hand. Then a faint silver glow gathered around his body before spreading outward in a circle of shimmering energy. The air suddenly hummed with life. Then, a moment later, a massive shape emerged from the light.
Maria's eyes widened.
The dire wolf stood taller than Sebastian's shoulders even while on all fours. Its body was enormous, easily larger than most horses, with powerful muscles shifting beneath sleek black fur that seemed to absorb the sunlight around it. Its bright green eyes glowed with an almost supernatural intensity as the beast surveyed the clearing. And the sudden drop in temperature had not gone unnoticed.
The creature was easily one of the most impressive cryptids that Maria had seen in her life.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then the wolf turned its head toward Sebastian and gently nudged him with a muzzle large enough to knock over a small car.
Sebastian laughed and scratched behind one massive ear. "Well, here he is! Dumas, the newest addition to the crew!"
Maria stared at the beast as she further inspected its appearance. The dire wolf looked less like an animal and more like something from an ancient myth.
"Wow…" She finally said.
Sebastian's smile became positively smug. "Right?!"
"He's incredible."
The wolf's ears perked up at the praise.
Maria stood up from her spot on the ground and slowly approached it. The creature watched her carefully before lowering its head slightly. Then she reached out and ran a hand along the thick black fur.
It was surprisingly soft.
"I've never seen one this large."
"Neither had I." Sebastian admitted. "Until I found him."
Robin finally lowered her tablet and looked up. "Yes, yes, it's truly a wonderful companion."
Sebastian sighed. "Here we go."
"You finally found a beast big enough to match that ego of yours."
Maria couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Sebastian, on the other hand, looked particularly offended at the comment. "My ego is perfectly reasonable!"
Robin laughed. "Reasonable? My dear baby brother, your confidence enters a room five minutes before the rest of you even has the chance."
"That's called presence!"
"No, it's called a warning sign."
Maria folded her arms and watched as the two siblings began to argue for the third time this morning. Meanwhile, the dire wolf, Dumas, settled onto the ground beside Sebastian, apparently content to observe the argument.
"You act like confidence is a bad thing!" Sebastian pointed a finger at the woman.
"No, confidence is fine..." Robin replied while flipping a hand through one of her braids. "But you crossed that line years ago."
"I crossed it with style."
"Is that what you tell all those useless skanks you usually spend your time with?"
"Hey, that's not nice! Besides, it's not my fault that people like me just because I'm friendly."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Friendly? Is that what you young people are calling it nowadays?"
"Exactly."
"Sure…"
Maria shook her head slightly.
The argument continued for another minute, with neither sibling showing any intention of surrendering. It wasn't a serious disagreement. It never was. But it seemed to be just how the two of them operated. Sebastian wore a grin through most of it, while Robin delivered her remarks with the calm precision of someone who had spent her entire life winning these particular battles.
Eventually, Robin simply shook her head. "You know, if your wolf inherited your personality, we'd all be in trouble."
Sebastian patted the dire wolf's shoulder. "Don't worry, he's much smarter than I am."
"That's not exactly a high bar to meet."
"Hey! What the hell's your problem, Bird Brain?! Is Wajo ready to lay another egg or something?"
Maria quietly chuckled at the duo in front of her.
The simple exchange felt familiar. Normal. And normal was something she appreciated more than she used to. For the first time in weeks, she wasn't stuck thinking about bonding exercises, unfamiliar instructors, or intensive evaluation drills. She wasn't trying to prove herself to anyone.
She was simply here. Back with her team, back in her normal routine that she had gotten used to over the last year.
'Damn…has it really been a year already?' The young woman wondered. It's hard to rationalize that she had been with the DPA for that long. Where did the time go?
The morning training run had gone well enough. Captain Mubele had been pleased with her progress when he came by earlier to check on them, and Sebastian and Robin had both seemed satisfied with how she performed. There would be more work ahead, of course. There always was. But for now, things were peaceful.
The forest was quiet except for distant birdsong and the occasional rustle of leaves from where some of the other guys in their squad were still training. The sun was warm without being oppressive, and a cool breeze drifted through the clearing. After the past month dealing with the unforgiving Texas heat, it felt nice not to have to fight against the elements for hours on end.
Maria leaned back onto the grass and folded her hands behind her head. Nearby, Sebastian and Robin continued their playful argument while the dire wolf lounged beside them like some giant guardian from a forgotten legend. But with the way that its giant tail was wagging, it looked like he was enjoying the show.
Maria watched them for a few moments before turning her gaze toward the bright blue sky overhead.
Austin had been fun; she was glad that she had gone. But she was equally glad to finally be home.
Hopefully, things would stay quiet for a while.
Hopefully, life would remain this simple.
As the breeze stirred the treetops above, the young woman allowed herself to relax completely and enjoy the pleasant weather, content to let the peaceful moment last as long as it could.
-(o)-
Character Profile: Maria
Name: Maria Araceli Ortega Muñoz
Alias: N/A
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Birthday: August 27th
Birthplace: [Redacted], Michoacán, Mexico
Height: 64in
Weight: 152lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Race: Mestizo
Magic: Beast (Serpentes)
Occupation: DPA Agent
Stat Chart: B(+)
-Physical Strength - 2.5
-Intelligence - 3.5
-Magic Amount - 5
-Magical Control - 3.5
-Magic Sensing - 4.5
-Special - [Redacted]
Fun Fact:
-Favorite video game of all time is Fallout: New Vegas
-Favorite food is beans and rice.
-Favorite manga is Dorohedoro
-Has recently started playing the Cyberpunk OTTRPG with some online friends.