The tension in the locker room was thick as the Crescent Moon challengers stood in silence, their spirits bruised by Ryder's defeat.
Mercury paced back and forth, her hands clenched at her sides, barely holding in her frustration.
Kaida leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, looking down with a frown.
Catarina, usually quick with a joke, sat quietly, her tail flicking anxiously behind her. Eratz seemed calm, looking at the screen, though his gaze was distant and his expression hard to read.
Finally, Catarina spoke, breaking the silence.
"I think we should go check on him, nya," she said, her voice filled with worry. "Ryder… he looked really bad out there."
Kaida grunted, nodding.
"Yeah, we should be there for him. He gave it everything. Sitting here feels wrong."
Mercury's pacing picked up as she ran a hand through her hair.
"You're right. Ryder fought his heart out. He deserves us being there for him."
