[center][h2][color=#008b8b]Fionn MacKerracher[/color][/h2][/center]
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The climb hadn't been particularly easy by any stretch, even without a Niyar trying to hinder him. The weight of the mud that gradually grew to cake his arms and front made it more difficult with every foot gained; but between his strength and his indomitable stubbornness, he climbed upward all the same, cresting the peak in that section just barely devoid of the conflagration that rapidly finished engulfing the rest after he stood. Through the fire and flames he caught Gisela's glance as she looked his way, a distinctly unimpressed look—surely it had to be for Aisling, who had disappeared and left him to finish his climb.

He grinned and gave a small wave; as he looked around further, he couldn't see anybody else atop the hill, only Gertrude flying higher above. Gisela called a fog upon them, and once it lifted he could see Gerard and Fleuri at the opposite side, looking as winded from their sprint as he felt from the climb.

He paused for a moment, glanced between them, Gisela, and Gertrude as the rest all started to ascend...a momentary flash of uncertainty across his face, not seen since they'd fought the Golden Boars some nights before.

Finally grinned again, and gave the two he'd originally been ordered to move with another wave. There was no room for uncertainy in Fionn's mind, not after the duel he'd sought had been stolen from him; [i]he'd[/i] made it first, and the rest of his assigned squad with him. That was good. Gisela turning and giving Gertrude a dressing down was good as well, for all the trouble it might cause the rest of them; likely the old mage was the only one that their newest would listen to at all, no matter how much she affected disdain and disinterest at her elder's words.

With a mumbled word his hands returned to their proper shape, and with another, the focus and energy just released was transferred—drying the mud caking him in an instant, where it cracked and flaked off with a flex of the muscles and some simple stretching and bending, leaving nothing but dust behind. And an instant later, Gertrude went right back to her previous antics, outwardly disregarding what Gisela had told her...though no doubt the words would stick with her regardless. Fionn stepped forward, placing one hand on Gertrude's shoulder—ready for however much she'd hate it—and looked over to Gisela.

Better he field this one, than the captain have to debase herself for such a fragile ego.

[color=#008b8b]"Give her a bit more credit, Gisela,"[/color] he cajoled, his usual friendly smile plastered on his features. [color=#008b8b]"She had a better vantage point than any of the rest of us, to see how I was faring with Aisling and how close [i]any[/i] of us were to the top—not to mention how little flames like that bother some of us, or that our goal was to get to the top, not reach it and [i]hold[/i] it after. She was playing to the rules of the game, smart, like. Can't blame her for that, can you?"[/color]

He gave the girl's shoulder a squeeze. Reassuring, at least to anyone else that wasn't such a brat—no reason he couldn't have a little fun with it if he was going to play at [i]her[/i] game as well. [color=#008b8b]"Now, Gertrude, that little plan of mine wouldn't have worked at all without your help, and you know it as well as anyone, so it's your victory as much as the rest of ours. Keep it up and show us what you can do when you don't have to hold back as much, eh?"[/color]