"Rise and shine, punks!"
As soon as Runt Jin heard her cousin Alder's deep voice booming through the barrack tunnels, she leaped off her bed and onto her feet. "Hey! That's my line!"
Runt always slept in the next day's share of training clothes. She wanted to be ready in case some Hellborn delinquent barged his ugly face into the barracks and attacked during the night. Oh damn, it would tick her off so badly if some rude demon did that! She would turn that sucker into something resembling her meatloaf disaster whenever she attempted to cook (key word 'attempted').
"I wonder what we're doing for training today?" She wondered aloud as she put on her running shoes. Runt still didn't know how to tie her shoes... so she just never undid her laces.
---
Parlando heard the new Commander's voice from down the hall. It sounded like Alder was already in the training caves. Humming to himself, Pearl began to get dressed, hoping today was a good day.
Pearl loved everything about the barracks and training, honestly. It took his mind off... everything that had happened. His dormmates were all brothers to him, even grumpy Commander Alder. It was just a shame his childhood friends, Lawrence and Runt, were in the other dorm.
Pearl was almost done getting dressed when he realized his shoe was gone. He always put his shoes neatly in the same spot every time. Where could it be?
"Hey, has anyone seen my other shoe?" He asked, holding up his left trainer. The telltale purple laces dangled in the air.