Note: This is a reboot of a previous story of mine by the name of 'A Home for Stray Cats'.

Updated 1/27/18: Changed some wording, and fixed some other stuff. Nothing big. Look for more chapters coming soon.

Blue skies as far as the eye could see.

The sun shone brilliantly in the morning sky; just another day for the world. Though if one from our own world were to look in on this one from the outside, he would find it to be very different from his own.

Immeasurable miles of clouds have replaced the oceans, though no one soul could recall when this happened. Continents no longer exist. Instead, mind-shatteringly massive titans traverse this ocean of clouds with a majesty nearly unmatched.

Were one to peer closer they would find, due in part to life's tenacity and doggedness to always find a way, animals inhabiting these titans. Some of them familiar in shape, others almost alien when compared to our own. Yet all of them live within their own unique ecosystem as dictated by the titan they live upon.

Look a little longer and you'd also discover humans, hosting an array of races and features, coexisting with these titans and their animal inhabitants. Their settlements built upon and even integrated into these titans are part of a complex, but all too necessary, symbiotic relationship.

Somewhere in this world, a massive trading vessel floats lazily above the clouds with two massive balloon-like titans tethered to it. Traffic in and out of the vessel is unending, as ships constantly dock and undock. A majority of their passengers head for the vessel's heart, which hosts an extensive bazaar. Merchants of all shapes and sizes barter their wares there; the chatter and clinking of coin simply a part of the everyday noise to them and all that visit. It is for good reason that the denizens, as well as the vessel's visitors, affectionately called this place "Goldmouth", for the riches that seem to pass like water through its corridors.

Aboard this monument of trade, in a certain side room, a group of individuals wait. While most of them are silent, one, a girl with pointed cat-like ears and shoulder-length beige hair, lets out a prolonged sigh of annoyance.

"Ugh… how long are they going to make us wait?" The girl drawled as she paced back and forth impatiently around the room. "It's already been like an hour," she grunted.

Another member of the group, a man with jet black hair styled into a faux hawk with black armor to match, cracked an eye from the sofa upon which he'd comfortably sprawled himself. "Nia, if you've got that much energy to pace like that, how about you take a walk and leave it to the grown-ups here." He murmured lazily, rolling his neck with a series of cracks.

Nia narrowed her eyes. You're one talk, she thought. Considering you have been hogging that sofa since we got here.

"My Lady." A familiar, deeper voice addressed her. Turning, she found Dromarch; a large white-furred tiger — her Blade and companion in life — eyed her sympathetically. "Please don't mind Malos. You know he's just annoyed as you are." He consoled quietly.

She regarded the tiger's pleading expression with a bit of skepticism, briefly taking another glance at Malos, who returned with an expectant expression. "Yeah, I guess..." She crossed her arms indignantly. "I just hate it when he calls me a kid is all." She let out a defeated sigh.

"Yes…He's a bit vulgar, that one." Dromarch hummed, "In any case, my lady, I'd recommend you at least take a seat. All that pacing isn't helping your temper at all."

"Yeah yeah. Whatever." Nia halfheartedly scraped her feet towards the nearest chair, Dromarch following close behind, and slouched a bit as she made herself comfortable.

Time passed at the same pace a slug moves across the ground. Slowly.

Nia's eyes began to wander around the room, taking in its features with a certain amount of apathy. There were two doors to the room: a set of double doors around the corner leading to their employer's office, and a singular door leading out onto a balcony overlooking the vessel's bustling bazaar.

Her gaze drifted again, passing over Malos, who'd gone back to napping again, his hand placed over his eyes. She could hear a faint purring sound. Nia glanced over to find Dromarch had taken up residence next to her chair, curling up into a warm ball on the ground.

She giggled a little. "I don't know how you do it big guy but," she began lightly dragging the back of her gloved hand over his head, tracing the intricate light gray lines marking his fur. "You make sleeping look easy."

Nia leaned back with a sigh. Without much thought or purpose to it, she dug a hand into the leather pouch she kept strapped to her waist. From it, she raised a small oval-shaped bronze locket. With a click, she opened the trinket revealing a small picture of a middle-aged man and a young girl inside.

Nia stared at the pair's frozen smiles blankly, her thumb idly rubbed the locket's metal edge.

A quiet rustling from the nearby wall drew her attention and she quickly stuffed the locket back into her pouch. Looking up, she found a lone man with long spiked locks of messy white hair leaning on the wall, his features obscured behind a mask. He was dressed in grey armor, its design similar to that of an eastern culture lost to time.

Jin…? When did he get here? Nia briefly wondered.

The man noticed her looking and nodded. Despite her confusion, Nia couldn't help but smile a little. Jin's subtleties had always been something she'd appreciated.

There was a loud yawn from Malos as he stretched on the sofa once more, eventually cracking an eye open. It took him a moment to notice Jin, at which his eyes seemed to light up.

"Ah, Jin. I was worried you weren't going to make it." Malos proclaimed with a smile while composing himself.

Jin was quiet for a moment then spoke, his voice soft yet sharp. "I was talking to Sever back on the Monoceros."

Malos' smile faded. "Ah, him." He scratched the back of his head.

Jin pushed himself off the wall, crossing his arms. "He was concerned as to why you didn't take him along."

Malos clicked his tongue in annoyance and sighed. "I told you Jin. The guy has a knack for running his mouth when he shouldn't." He slowly rose from the couch, arching his back, letting off a series of audible pops. "That and-" The man cracked his knuckles satisfyingly. "I don't like him."

While Nia hadn't been with the group for very long — in fact, this was to be her first job with them and it was a big one at that — she had noticed there was a distance between Sever, Malos' Blade, and Malos himself.

"Don't be hard on Sever, Malos." Jin cautioned.

Malos smirked. "And why should I, Jin?" His voice dangerous but playful.

"You know full well why," Jin stated, his expression remaining stoney.

Malos stared at Jin before showing off a toothy grin. "You're worried about me scaring off our salvager aren't you?" He attempted to goad a response from the stoic man.

Jin sighed, shaking his head.

There was a series of loud guffaws from Malos. "Alright, Jin. I get it." He put his hands out for effect. "I'll be good."

Grinning contently he took a seat back on the couch, whilst resting his feet on the coffee table in front of it. Jin let an audible "hmph" slip and took a chair for himself, crossing one leg while doing the same with his arms while he sat.

They dropped it just like that? Nia shook her head tiredly. She truly didn't understand those two sometimes.

There was a click and the double doors opened. Through them came a woman wearing a scantily clad outfit adorned with various jewels and gemstones. Her facade, while on the surface simply portrayed a sultry seductress, was quickly dismissed by her prompt and professional expression, denoting a woman with a high degree of intelligence and skill. Carefully, she closed the doors behind her approached the group, and bowed. "Your salvager has arrived. If you'd please, follow me into the next room you may meet him." She gestured towards the double doors, her voice careful and respectful.

Malos let out a low whistle. "Who knew this Bana guy had an eye for talent and beauty." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, looking the woman up and down.

Nia couldn't help but notice the woman purse her lips slightly at his comment. He really can't control himself, can he?

Bending over she gave Dromarch's head a small pat, waking him from his nap. "C'mon big guy. It's time." The tiger gave a short yawn and slowly got to his feet, giving his snowy pelt a short shake.

Eventually, the group assembled in front of the double door, Nia somehow finding herself at the front of the pack. It was not by her choice, as Malos had encouraged — actually, forced — her to go first and make a good first impression due to her unique look.

Now here she was, and aside from Dromarch giving her another sheepish look, she had no other recourse.

The woman stood next to the door as if waiting for something. From beyond the door, there was a deep but audible "Bring them in." As if a switch had suddenly been flicked, the woman threw open both doors and sauntered forwards into the main office.

Nia let out a small exhale and followed, feeling more than a bit anxious. Alright, here we go.

Nia tried her best to appear as confident as possible, putting an extra swagger in her step, as she stepped into the oversized office. Her copper eyes took in its interior, quickly spying their potential salvager who stood in the middle of the room.

Much to her surprise, she found not a man or woman, but instead a boy. Judging by the dumbfounded look on his face as he watched them file out before him, she figured him to be about fifteen or sixteen.

Maybe he's supposed to be a go-between or something? She wondered. There was no way they'd hire a kid…

It took a moment for the kid to wake up from his short-lived trance. "Wow… Drivers and Blades!" The kid exclaimed. "And they look so cool…"

We look cool...? She couldn't help but glance down at her yellow jumpsuit for a moment before giving herself a small mental shake. Whatever, it's just a kid being a kid.

As Jin took a step forward, the boy's mouth dropped a little as the man addressed him. "There's something that we need to be hauled up." At the mention of the word 'hauled' the boy's head tilted ever slightly. "There've been some shifts in the currents and it's shown up in an uncharted area."

"So what's the catch?" the boy asked, folding his arms.

Jin blinked. "... It's a long ways down."

The boy displayed a big grin. "I like a challenge."

There was a hoarse, throaty chuckle from the head of the room. From behind his already very large desk, appeared an incredibly chunky green Nopon adorned in garish jewels of all types and sizes.

The Nopon's garish fashion immediately tipped the cat-eared girl off. This was their recruiter: Chairman Bana, leader of the Argentum Trade Guild.

The oversized furball leaned over the desk, his beady eyes taking in the group with amusement. "Crew was very picky in choosing team. Only wanted salvagers from Leftheria," he said, stroking his fuzzy lip. "That's when Bana had idea." He pointed to the boy. "Should hire Rex!"

Nia's jaw nearly dropped. They were ACTUALLY hiring a kid for this?!

The boy threw a knowing look to Nopon and flashed a big smile. "Heh heh heh. You made the right choice!"

Nia couldn't help herself anymore. "I'm sorry, but are we really hiring a kid here?" She turned to Jin and Malos. "This is a joke, right? Don't tell me we're going to be hiring babysitters as well!"

The pair of them stared at her blankly before the boy rounded on her. "Hey lady, what's your deal? You look as much of a kid as I do!"

Nia turned back to the boy with a scowl. "And I'd assume, considering how much you are getting paid, you act with some more professionalism."

"Hey that's-"

Nia took a step forwards putting her hands on her hips. "ESPECIALLY when you're working in such a profession as-"

The boy suddenly stomped forwards. "Don't you dare-"

"Enough!" Dromarch announced as he stepped in between the feuding two before they could meet. The tiger eyed Nia with a disappointed look before turning to the boy. "Ahem- Rex was it?"

The boy tilted his head a little looking a little taken aback. "Er… yes?"

"Please, if you would excuse my lady's discourtesy." The tigers apologized, bowing his head.

Nia grit her teeth. "Dromarch, the kid obviously isn't qualified for-"

"Drop it, Nia." Malos interrupted. "Although, you're not wrong about him being a kid…"

"And?" Nia asked, worry welling up in her stomach.

Malos uncrossed his arms, an evil expression taking over his face. "Should be easy enough to check…"

"What do mea-"

Suddenly, Malos lunged forwards, bearing down on the boy with the sword he kept attached at his backside. Though instead of a meaty thunk, he found himself only splitting open air and the boy standing a few inches away from his slice. A small smile formed on his lips. Was it just luck? He wondered.

Malos quickly swung again, only cleaving open air. His eyes followed Rex as he grabbed what looked like a makeshift metal sword from the wall. Suddenly Rex rushed him, the sword gripped with both his hands. Malos held out his own weapon with one arm, easily blocking the kid's blow, their weapon's grinding shakily. He observed the fiery look in the boy's golden eyes, noticing how his eyebrows creased with exertion as he tried to overpower Malos' defense.

With ease, the larger man forced the boy backward. "What are you playin' at?!" The boy yelled, quickly finding his footing.

Meanwhile, Malos ended the scuffle, sheathing his weapon, contemplative.

"Malos, what the hell are you doing?! He's just a kid!" Nia yelled.

Malos turned to her with a smirk. "You said it yourself: 'what if he's not qualified?'"

"That's not-" Her voice caught in her throat. "I didn't-" She felt her face begin to burn with a shade of pink.

"Oh, but you did, and now we know." He turned back to the boy. "You'll do alright, even if you don't look like a driver…" Malos rubbed his chin, "Where did you learn to move like that, boy?"

Rex still held his sword defensively, "Gramps taught me a thing or two…" His grip tightened. "Even when I was little, it was his idea of playtime."

Malos' lips curled back with amusement. "You've got skill that's for sure. Guts as well." He began walking to the door "Kid, you'd better work hard." He waved a hand almost mockingly.

Nia watched as Malos and Jin walked out of the room, the tightness in her chest finally releasing with a silent exhale once they were gone. Suddenly aware that the boy was still looking at her, and still very wary, she composed herself, more than a little embarrassed, and shuffled her way out the door of the office with Dromarch in tow.

Author's Note: So yeah it's been a while. For those coming from the old story, welcome. Those just joining in, I hope you liked what I had so far.

Feel free to give constructive criticism or ask questions. Otherwise, thanks for reading.