Ed was shouting before Shane even reached him.
"I told you to sit there!"
His voice cut through the camp, sharp and ugly.
"Don't look at me like that!"
Carol stood silently, eyes lowered.
Sophia clung to her side, frightened, looking around as if searching for help.
"Dad…" Sophia started.
Ed snapped toward her.
"Shut up!"
Shane stopped a few steps away.
He didn't intervene. Not yet.
He waited until Ed shoved Carol aside—hard enough to make a point, not hard enough to draw immediate backlash.
"That's enough," Shane said at last. Calm. Almost bored.
Ed turned on him.
"And who the hell are you to tell me that?" he barked. "This is my family."
Shane didn't raise his voice.
"People are watching."
"Let them," Ed snarled. "Maybe they'll learn who's in charge."
Shane stepped closer, angling his body so their voices dropped.
"You see the newcomers?" he asked casually.
Ed snorted.
"The ones in armor? Yeah. All dressed up like it's a damn parade."
"With a lot of weapons," Shane added. "And food."
Ed's eyes narrowed.
"So?"
"So people like that don't ask permission," Shane said evenly. "They take."
Ed grinned, rough and mean.
"Let them try."
"That's what worries me," Shane replied. "But to be sure… we should check."
"Check?" Ed laughed. "I'd love to."
"I'm not saying start a fight," Shane said quietly. "Just get close. See how they react."
"See if they're really that calm."
"And if they're not?" Ed asked, almost hopeful.
"Then we'll know," Shane said. "Who's dangerous."
Ed cracked his knuckles.
"I ain't scared of them."
"I know," Shane nodded. "You're not the type."
He glanced briefly at Carol and Sophia, then stepped back.
"Just don't make a scene. Not in front of everyone."
"At night. Quiet."
Ed spat on the ground.
"I'll go see what they're really made of."
Carol looked up, fear clear in her eyes.
"Ed… please don't."
He raised his hand.
"I said shut up!"
Shane was already walking away.
And that was exactly how he wanted it.
If Ed got hurt—not his problem.
If Ed didn't—Shane would learn something useful.
Either way, his hands stayed clean.
End of Interlude