Meanwhile, the group continues to make their way towards the mountain. Along the way they find a nearby station. Realizing how long the trek is, they decide to stay at the station. Neo, Torta, and Vermilla all rest outside the station. Zafira, Tuga, and Ruby managed to get a room to stay for the night. Zafira plops onto the first bed in the room while Tuga goes to shower. "So Zafira. I've been meaning to ask. How did you end up with all the... mechanical bits on your limbs?" Ruby asks pointing at the mechanical limbs of Zafira. "Well... you see these aren't prosthetics. I always had my arms and legs look robo-ish. I told Tuga this but I am a hybrid. Dad was a human. Mom was a machina." Says Zafira as Tuga gets out of the shower. "Never knew that was possible. Even after thousands of years of coexistence, I though it wasn't possible due to how different humans and machina are." Says Ruby surprised by what Zafira said. Zafira mentions her worry that she may be the only hybrid on Cobalus. "Don't worry about that Zafira. In this day and age, who's to say there aren't more people like you. I think we'll run into a few eventually." Tuga says trying to cheer up Zafira. Zafira thanks Tuga and Ruby before suggesting that Tuga and Ruby talk about themselves.

Upon the suggestion, Tuga begins to discuss his reason for joining the Defenders. "When I was younger, I heard stories of special people who used their power to help others. I was mesmerized by the tales that I wanted to be like those people. I wanted to be some one who helped people which became easier when I met Torta." Tuga said reminiscing about his younger years. He then explained how the Cobalan defenders noticed his determination and offered to recruit him. Zafira asked what the Defenders thought of him before he joined. Tuga explained that the Defenders though he was some vigilante and instead of stopping him they hired Tuga as a means to keep him and Torta in check. After hearing this, Zafira asks Ruby how they ended up in the circus. "Well I initially didn't think much of the circus a first. At the time, I was more focused on helping out my home town. Eventually, I wanted to see what the world had to offer. I wanted to go beyond just my own town. I also used to do performance to cheer people up when things got bad. So I joined the circus and met Vermilla. Since then we've been traveling around to bring smiles to peoples faces." Said Ruby. Zafira was glad to hear Tuga and Rubys stories and said that they'll continue their journey in the morning. Afterwards, all three of them went to sleep in preparation for the next day.

The next day, the group of Riders leave the station and make their way towards the mountain. Along the way, Tuga mentions how quiet the surrounding area is. This quietness is suspicions to them. The area is usually filled with mekanimals of all kinds but they heard nothing, not even a chirp. Just then, Neo picks up a scent nearby. The scent is a familiar one, a scent of danger. Just then a stampede can be heard and the group dodges out of the way of the frightened mekanimals heading their way. Eventually, the Riders and their Mekanimals notice someone in the distance. They see a strange man on the back of a Razorclaw bear. Behind the Bear is an army of belonging to the Ironclaw raiders. "So you are the pests I've been hearing about. You've gain quite the reputation but I'm afraid this little game ends here. Nothing personal, I'm just following orders." Say Titus, the man on the back of the Razorclaw bear. The Riders and their Mekanimals, realizing that stampede was caused by the Raider, prepare themselves for a fight with Titus and his army of Raiders.