Tex grinned as Jenny scampered off, working on yet another knife with his whetstone. He heard the creak of the tree branch and knew who was approaching.

"Top a the morning to you, O Fearless Leader," he said, only grinning wider when North slapped the hat off his head. "How was your beauty sleep?"

--

Ezra pushed up from his last push-up and toweled off the light sweat that built up on his dark-skinned, muscular arms from his warmup routine. The humidity made it worse than it really was, but it was a relief to pull on a t-shirt instead of a sweater, finally. He had morning duty and North wouldn't like it if he was late. He had an example to set, after all.

Besides, he didn't want to miss Tex and North sniping sarcasm at each other. She didn't really show it but he knew few things made North happier than getting to match wits with one of her oldest friends. He laced up his boots and strapped on his knife sheaths. The sledgehammer he used as his primary weapon went into a loop on his belt. Once it was secure, he headed out of the barracks.