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Ah. So clairvoyance it was. Great, the old man had actually [i]seen[/i] everything, not just known in some general, abstract way. Not that it changed anything for Mathias, but is was a little bit embarrassing. Last week's hunt had not been his finest moment... it was difficult to look dignified when slathered with deer gore and having several panic attacks at once.

The mention of Canada, as joking as it was, sent a pang of longing through his chest. Home... Unlike most of the others gathered here, leaving the country actually was an option for him. Might not be his choice to make in a few months either, if his employers didn't renew his work visa.

[colour=lightsalmon]"You wouldn't make it across the border,"[/colour] Mathias answered matter-of-factly to Lena's question. [colour=lightsalmon]"Border security is less strict when leaving the U.S. than when coming in, but it's still a fucking pain. Not sure your little burning friend there would pass security screening. And they watch the lake like fucking hawks, so good luck smuggling yourselves across."[/colour]

[colour=lightsalmon]"Anyways, if these [i]hunters[/i],"[/colour] Mathias sneered at that last word, [colour=lightsalmon]"are both real and as well established here as the old man says, then they no doubt have some kind of presence in Canada as well."[/colour] His jaw clenched in irritation, the sharp point of his fangs cleanly piercing through the filter on his cigarette. [colour=lightsalmon]"Wouldn't be much of an escape... And eligibility criteria for free healthcare is dependant on your permanent resident status and which province you're in, so you'd probably not even get that."[/colour]

Mathias dropped and crushed his cigarette butt under his shoe, and turned back towards the old elf. [colour=lightsalmon]"Now, you say you wanna teach us how to fight like mages. Mutually assured survival, yaddy yadda... my question is how you plan to make that happen."[/colour] He looked the man up and down, unimpressed. [colour=lightsalmon]"You haven't had your magic any longer than any of us. How are you expecting to teach us anything?"[/colour] He waved his claws and further bared his fangs in a self-deprecating rictus. [colour=lightsalmon]"Fuck, just look at me! I don't exactly scream spell-slinging potential like you people! How do you figure you're going to teach me?! Tell me to aim for the fucking jugular?! I've already figured [i]that[/i] part out!"[/colour]

Mathias forced his jaw shut with a sharp [i]click[/i] and took two deep breaths, trying to calm his frayed nerves. Maybe he hadn't totally finished freaking out about turning into a monster, unlike what he'd claimed earlier. [colour=lightsalmon]"Just... this is a lot."[/colour] He pointed at the Benefactor. [colour=lightsalmon]"I don't like you. I don't trust you, and I'm not sure if I should believe you. In fact, I don't trust anyone here! I don't [i]know[/i] you people! You're all strangers!"[/colour] He huffed. [colour=lightsalmon]"Magic is real, I don't know if I'm even human anymore, I don't know anyone in this town, and I've got to go to fucking work tomorrow! And I can't skip, because if I lose my job, I lose my work visa, and if I lose my visa, I get sent back to Canada, and what will happen [i]then[/i], old man?!"[/colour]

He buried his face in his hands with a despondent groan. He was so tired. God, why did this all have to involve him? He should just disappear into the woods, that would solve all his problems... No work, no magic, no people, and no witch hunters...