Echidna

It had been quite a day for Echidna but she lived for this sort of thing. Sure, it was hard labor but she wasn't giving up until all the homes destroyed in the war were built. After all that happened, Echidna felt like she owed the citizens a new home. A place where everyone could call home and hopefully, accept one another. Gonzalez was doing great. All of the people loved him despite his appearance. It was nice to see him take her advice to heart.

Where it was nice rebuilding everything, rebuilding also came with a new hardship for Echidna. She had to run everything since she was the leader of this outfit...and it certainly wasn't easy. Nowhere near as easy as chopping heads off in the war. At least she was keeping fit during all of this. Echidna hated the idea of losing her physique. The one downside of there being no more war in the region. Not that she was complaining. She'd rather there be peace and no one dying but Echidna certainly wasn't a maiden meant for the domestic life.

"I should probably swing my axe around for a bit. Get some tension out of me." Echidna said to herself as she took out her axe. She always kept it sharp...just in case. One never knew when a random band of pirates or thugs would stumble upon them out here in the Western Isles.

"Echidna!" came a voice and Echidna sighed. Just when she was about to blow off some steam, too! Lowering her axe on her shoulder's armored guard, she turned and quirked a brow.

"What is it, Archer?" she asked him curiously. It was one of the local politicians. People that Echidna didn't much care for. Politics was never her strong suit. Neither was running a town. She wasn't a mayor.

"You can't be seen swinging an axe around like that! Not in the public eye. The war is over. People shouldn't be seeing you still acting like a thug." Archer chastised as Echidna rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time he's told her this.

"Look, Arch. I don't care. I'm going to swing my axe and keep my skills up to snuff. If it weren't for me, a lot of the people here would have died. I think they're fine with me being who I am. You don't see me going around trying to make you change your ways, do you?" Echidna retorted. A hand on her hip. She always had this feeling that Archer simply didn't like women in charge. He used to be the former mayor's advisor. Now, he kept trying to act as Echidna's advisor when she didn't feel she needed one like him...but was too nice to say that. Archer huffed. Momentarily narrowing his eyes as he glowered at her for a moment with that scrutinizing gaze of his. Not like Echidna cared.

"Is that the only reason why you came over here to speak with me?" Echidna asked him. It was perplexing.

"Why, no. No it's not! You see, we have...some unsavory men at the docks." Echidna rose a brow as she looked out toward them. Seeing no sign of a commotion. Further puzzling her before looking back at Archer.

"Really? The docks look fine to me."

"No, no. Well...what I mean to say is...well, they...don't look the part of people who should be...seen there. They...well, to put it bluntly, they look like nothing more than your common pirate. It's...bad for business, you see..." Echidna sighed at that. Archer was always making remarks about the men that Echidna led here to help rebuild the town.

"Look, Archer. I get what you're saying...but this is their home too...and they helped build it. If people can't accept them for who they are, like we do, then they're not worth doing business with to begin with." Echidna stated firmly. In her eyes, everyone should be treated with respect and kindness. If others couldn't do that then they weren't worth their time.

Archer spluttered at that. "Are you kidding?! That's...that's preposterous! If you did that, we will surely go without food! Without important goods!"

Echidna had enough of him at this point. Waving him off, she spoke. "Look, I don't care. I just want to swing my axe around after a hard day's work. Why don't you go home to your wife and kids and stop worrying about what I'm doing or what anyone else is doing. Okay?" Archer huffed before turning on his heel and storming off. Watching him go, Echidna shook her head. Still, Archer had a point. Not when it came to their people, no. His point though is they were in need of food and goods. Since they started to rebuild, the neighboring territories didn't send out any ships yet and it was getting concerning. The very people that Archer complained about were the only able bodies that could go overseas to contact the neighbors for trade. Mind made up, Echidna decided that this was a matter that she had to attend to.

As the tall woman made her way down to the docks.

[Choose your own story.]