[A scoff - self-derisive, quiet.]

No.

I was only a maskmaker. Onewa was an artisan, Nuju studied prophecy, Whenua was a lead archivist in the Great Archives. Matau only tested vehicles. Nokama was just a school teacher.

[His eyes stay focused at his hands.]

I wasn't well-liked from the start. I'd never had to speak up for myself so much, and I felt I never really belonged.

But none of us knew what we were doing. In hindsight, I cannot blame the others for being impatient with me, or with each other.