Two nights after Kansas City, the Feral Eclipse tour bus hummed along the I-70 corridor beneath a wide Missouri sky. Inside, the crew lounged in their usual post-show sprawl—Cassie curled up with a book in the corner, Jonah practicing finger taps on a pillow, and Gabriel pacing the length of the bus with his eighth espresso of the day, rambling enthusiastically about adding a bubble machine to their light show.

Emily sat on the edge of one of the unused bunks, her knees drawn up, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands. She still hadn’t quite convinced herself this wasn’t all a dream.

Thane appeared beside her with a soft knock on the bunk frame. “Hey. We don’t usually make it official, but…”

He handed her a laminated lanyard. Bright red. Custom printed.
Feral Eclipse – Crew Access – Emily
In the corner, written in Gabriel’s scrawl, someone had added: Starcatcher.

Emily stared at it, eyes wide. “I… get my own badge?”

Thane smiled. “You’ve already earned it.”

Jonah peeked around the corner and grinned. “Also, heads-up—we assigned you Bunk #8. It’s the one under mine. Rico’s above you, so don’t worry about sudden guitar solos. He’s surprisingly quiet.”

Mark walked by with a mug and added, without looking up, “But if you hear mysterious typing at 2 a.m., it’s me reprogramming the ghost lights. Nothing to be alarmed about.”

Cassie leaned over the couch with a grin. “And if Gabriel tries to explain the tour layout using snack metaphors again, you’re legally allowed to hit him with a pillow.”

Gabriel popped up from the kitchenette, holding a cookie. “The cookie tray is the stage layout, and I stand by it!”

Diesel called back from the front of the bus. “She ain’t allowed to bring drama unless she brings enough cookies for the rest of us.”

Emily laughed, warm and real, hugging the lanyard to her chest.

Thane leaned in slightly, voice low but full of kindness. “You’re one of us now, Emily. Just be yourself, help where you can, and don’t be afraid to learn. We’re loud, weird, and slightly cursed, but… this pack sticks together.”

Her voice was soft but certain. “I won’t let you down.”

“You already haven’t,” Gabriel said, hopping into the opposite seat and handing her a cookie. “Now let’s teach you how to survive load-in without getting crushed by a rolling rack.”