The others took their time. It would have been easier wrangling a herd of deers into a corral. Vatra glowered over her shoulder, staring at the approaching boots to avoid sending daggers even further into the flesh of those who'd made who wait outside like an idiot with Fulgora at her side.

She didn't like being made to look like a fool.

Hisato stopped to her right. "Thaw out," he whispered. "You're practically bursting into flames."

"Maybe I caught some illness I don't know about," Vatra said through clenched teeth. She ignored everyone walking down the boarding ramp to join Brian. "Perhaps I'm dying, and I'm about to be reborn."

"No," Hisato said with a laugh. "You need a vacation." He slapped a hand to each of Vatra's shoulders and squeezed.

Vatra rolled her eyes, following along with Hisato to the bottom of the ramp. "It's what I've been saying, yet you all insist on testing my patience at every turn. It's like you want me to commit murder."

"Ah!" Brian shouted with a start. He turned to face Vatra with a wave of his arms. "No, sorry. There is no violence allowed on Teruta. It is a very strict policy."

"I was joking." Vatra inhaled sharply. "A poor joke, I suppose."

"Yes, please. Be careful of what you say around some of the guests here. I'm sure you already know, but we cater to some very exclusive members. Such words, even meant as jokes, would alarm the security. I can't guarantee you wouldn't be kicked off this planet, or even worse, for just insulting the wrong guest," Brian explained.

Vatra nodded in understanding. "Right, sorry. I'm sure everyone else understands, too." Her gaze fell on Enyalius with a heavier weight than the others.

The god clearly felt the intent behind her look. "I don't recall being the one to threaten someone right off the ship." Enyalius folded his arms, brow raising. "I'll be on my best behavior, though."

Brian sighed with relief. He gestured down the path toward the resort with a wide motion of his arm, white-gloved fingers stretching out ahead of him. "Now, if you don't mind following me to the resort. You can place your bags on the cart, and your belongings will be in your rooms by the time our tour is done."

A metal table of sorts lifted from the landing pad as they walked toward the sand and hovered above the gap. Vatra walked over and placed her bag on the cart as instructed, her gaze wandering down into the depths of the unknown below the landing pad. She noticed faint lights pulsating as if in tune with the beat of a heart.

"This planet," Vatra started, tearing her eyes away from the tunnel beneath them, "why is it such a prime destination?" She dragged her boots through the sand after Brian, keeping her place near the front of the group.

Brian turned to look at her with a grin. "Right into the questions about the resort?"

"I'm curious," Vatra said with a shrug. "There's many planets with beautiful scenery. Teruta is beautiful, truly, but I've seen many planets like it."

"With respect, I do doubt that," Brian said. He folded his hands in front of him. "Teruta isn't only renowned as a resort planet because of its beauty, but because of how isolated it is. The only planet in orbit around its star, which means it can be easily defendable. There were no native species here, except for floral, of course. We introduced every creature in the ocean and on the land, so there wasn't any invasion or competition to resources. A natural resource of beauty. Now, that's something you can't find anywhere else. A blank canvas."

"Hmm." Vatra looked around. "I suppose I didn't think about that."

"No," Brian gave a small smile, "this wasn't a planet anyone had to take. It was made. Crafted and molded into a desired destination. No one that comes here has to feel guilty about relaxing. Which makes it an even better experience."

"It did belong to someone, though, didn't it?" Nat questioned.

Everyone stopped in the middle of the path, just short of the shadow the resort threw over the sand. Vatra yearned for the relief of the shade, but she didn't want to already find themselves kicked out before they were invited in. She gave Nat a look of warning, echoing the look of the others.

"What do you mean?" Brian asked.

"Well, like you said," Nat paused, walking over to a lone palm tree growing beside the path. She laid a hand against the thin trunk, palm flat against it. "The planet belonged to the plants before you arrived." Nat looked back to the group, her eyes narrowed and lips pursed as if holding back another thought she dared not say. A thought she knew would ignite Vatra's temper.

Bite your tongue until it bleeds if you need to, Vatra willed into Nat's mind. If I have to, you do, too.

Brian chuckled nervously. "Oh, you're one of those people. Every so often, we get your type. Rest assured, our impact on this planet is very minimal. In fact, the resort, defense systems, and the docking bay are the only changes we've made to the surface. The land was even bare in this very spot before we settled in," he clarified.

Nat pulled her hand away from the palm tree slowly, casting a look of uncertainty where the trunk met the sand. "Like it was made for this very resort," Nat said, heavy sarcasm lacing her words.

It was obvious Brian didn't catch her tone, or at least he made no attempt to care, but he turned to the structure with a proud grin. "Yes, as if the gods of the universe laid out their plans for us to build here."

A round of chuckles passed through the group.

Brian looked back with a raised brow, but shrugged off their reaction and pressed onward. "Would you all have any preference of where to start for the tour? I could show you the outdoor amenities first, or begin inside."

"I would love-" Fulgora started, but her words were swallowed as Vatra clamped a hand over the goddess' mouth.

Digging her fingernails into Fulgora's cheek, Vatra only released her grip when Brian turned to find out why she didn't finish her sentence. She let her arm drop heavily to her side.

"Ah, wherever you think are the most popular spots to enjoy, we would love to see it," Vatra replied with a forced grin.

Brian gave a sharp nod and directed them down the path leading toward the resort's entrance.

"What the hell was that?" Fulgora seethed, her voice a harsh whisper in Vatra's ear. "That hurt."

"We need to keep on task, and entertaining this tour to every last second only distracts us," Vatra said.

"You were just as excited as I was about this place not too long ago," Fulgora muttered, rubbing her jaw.

Enyalius weaseled his way between the two of them. "She still is, can't you tell? That's why she's so mad she feels bad about letting herself take a moment to relax. At least it's you she's bullying this time."

"You wish for death?" Vatra snapped her head around to the god, voice raising just a little too much.

Beyond his shoulder, Vatra noticed Revna and Hisato give her glances of warning. Calm down. Cool off.

Gods, I am too stubborn to admit I just want to soak in a bath for a few hours and not worry about anyone, or anything, else. Even if Ares could be just a few feet away with Spyro somewhere.

The responsibilities had piled onto her more than she'd expected. The weight of not only her crew, of finding Spyro, rested on her shoulders, and so did righting the wrongs of Hephaestus. She was exhausted. A dogged determination to fix everything had worn her down to a shell of who she was. Who she wanted to be.

And now Vatra had found herself losing her temper at the drop of a hat toward the very crew she considered her family.

Vatra didn't want it to be Enyalius' last words to dredge up an apology, but she wasn't one to hold onto her pride when everyone was looking at her like she'd spit in their eyes.

"I'm sorry," Vatra blurted out. "I just need to float around in the warmest water they have, and drink the most thought-numbing alcohol they serve."

"We all do, I'm sure," Hisato stated.

Fulgora nodded. "It's all right. Now, let's see what Brian has to show us. It appears we've all fallen behind him, and I don't think Geb and Set are the best conversationalists to be at his side." The goddess giggled, pointing to her fellow storm gods.

Following her gesture, Vatra's eyes fell on where Brian had stopped at the resort's entrance. Geb and Set were beside him, silent and stoic as if two, marbled statues. It was true. The gods really didn't say much unless spoken to.

As they approached the resort, Vatra took in its grandeur. The building was expansive. At its entrance was a canopy made of glass, held up by columns engraved with fish similar to the ones she'd seen swimming beneath the water's surface. Vatra placed a hand to one of the columns, the stone unfamiliar to her. Its pale, gray color was vaguely similar to marble, but there was a warmth to it that felt unique to its quality.

"There's no other guests outside?" Revna asked.

"Like I mentioned," Brian paused, "our guests are very exclusive. They'll be in designated areas. This area is only for entering and leaving. Please, we have only begun our tour."

Allowing her hand to fall away, Vatra was pulled along with the others toward the glass doors leading into the darkened resort. Into the unknown, and hopefully toward some answers. But, most importantly, hopefully to some well deserved rest for them all.