Patrol guards.
One carried a small leather pouch attached to his belt.
The other carried an identical one.
The first man continued complaining.
"It smells like something crawled into it and died."
The second sighed.
"Just bear with it."
"I'm trying."
"No, you're whining."
"Because it stinks."
The second man stopped walking.
Then pointed toward the dark water below.
"You know what happens if you don't wear it."
The first immediately became quiet.
Several seconds passed.
Then he reluctantly asked,
"Are they really that aggressive?"
The second stared at him.
"You joined three weeks ago."
The first nodded.
The second pointed at the water again.
"Remember Daren?"
"...Yeah."
"That's what happened."
Silence.
The first man looked at his pouch.
Then tightened it around his belt.
"Never mind."
"It doesn't smell that bad."
The second rolled his eyes.
"That's what I thought."
The patrol continued walking.
Their footsteps gradually faded.
Eric slowly looked at Kai.
Kai slowly looked at Eric.
Neither spoke.
Then Kai quietly whispered,
"We need those."
Eric immediately nodded.
"Absolutely."
The pair waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Then Kai stood.
"What are you doing?"
Eric whispered.
Kai cracked his knuckles.
"I'm borrowing their pouches."
"Borrowing?"