Achronum

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

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Location: Training Room B
Skills: N/A

Every decision set in stone? Did Poisson-Pas know how many decisions Danni made a day? Wasn't that the whole reason for erasers, with those weird posters with pencils for people who never make mistakes, sometimes make mistakes, and always make mistakes? Poisson-Pas really needed to live in Danni's shoes for a day (mini Poisson-Pas, hehe) and maybe he'd change his stance. Danni couldn't even settle on a color scheme some days - asking him to set anything in stone was a task.

"Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. You want me ta what?!" Danni squeaked, the events of his try-outs flashing before his eyes, just with Dee and Zelds instead of dummies. "Are you, like really really, sold on t'at? I'm a fan of Zeld's plan 'ere 'cause it doesn't involve people meltin'. Like, I just got t'e trick down but me and t'e flyin' are still kinda new, we ain't goin' steady yet and yes, you should 'ave confidence in me because I am, in fact, t'e best, t'is is also a lot of fire. Like, melt your face off, melt my face off, melt his, her, their face off kinda fire." Danni's voice got higher and higher as he worked himself into a panic, the idea of fire while their movement was restricted like this turning the panic dial up. It felt like when two of his toes got taped together with a bandaid and Dee had to possess him before the fact he couldn't spread his toes turned him into a sobbing fire bomb.

So when Zelds made a bridge, Danni gave a heavy sigh of relief as he slumped as much as he could onto Dee. "If I 'ad more practice wit' t'e flyin' stuff, I'd be down but I'd probs fuck someone up right now, tbh." Danni reasoned with Dee. And it wasn't a bad plan, but the chances of him freaking and exploding were… very, very high.

Like from where their flaming corpses would fall from!

Zelds abilities were fly as fuck though. Making shit out of nothing was just so nifty, he was low key jealous. He'd always have a mirror, or some firecrackers, or a coffee! He wanted to cheer when the bridge extended across the gap a bit and he was about to point out they could just jump the rest of the way as it shattered and Zelds was fucking off out the room. Danni looked between the doors and empty space where a bridge was a few times as he process before he looked at Dee.

"Did… Did she just leave? Danni asked, dumbfounded. "Did t'e t'ird person on our team just fuckin' walk out on us? Did she… Does she know who she's… Oh, 'ell naw. We ain't quitters, we don't give up, and ain't anyone goin' ta bail out on Danni and Dee." Danni struggled with the knots on the rope, Poisson-Pas apparently displaying his weird old man knowledge by tying irritatingly difficult knot, so he abandoned them and went charging with Dee at his side after her. No one walks out on Danni Kingston. Not a god damned person.

"Oye, Zelds! Get back 'ere!" Danni demanded, his stride completed unhampered by Dee at his side. It was as natural as walking by himself honestly and he barely noticed he'd pulled Dee into his little crusade. "We are gunna finish t'is course come 'ell or 'igh water and you are absolutely not allowed ta abandon us. So ovary up, and get t'is shit on t'e road!"

The Shattering of Aegis

The Snakeburrow Woods

_{16th of the Full Autumn Moon, 1698 P.A.
Evening - Overcast skies}

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, friend! Hold your fuckin' horses with that thing." The man nodded at the blade, holding his hands up in surrender. The man was older, grey streaks in his hair and beard, the parade of years evident at the corners of his eyes and mouth. He wore simple traveler's clothes, although a carved a carved bone amulet of Melanar hung around his neck and a heavy sack sat at his feet, along another, heavier man who seemed more than content to slumber where he lay.

"We're really jus' passin' though, sir. We aren't looking for any sort of trouble, didn't know nobody was 'round. Didn't realize we were this close to the road to be honest." He offered up, eyes darting to his bag and back to the sword like he was trying to gauge if he could get to it in time. "Just don't wanna be bothered by the thing everyone is saying is hunting the roads these days. Figured if we struggled through the brushes, we'd be safe instead."

Meanwhile, Esvelee paused as Kyreth motioned for her silence and after a long beat, nodded. She looked beyond the treeline, hoping to catch a glimpse of the voice but she didn't see anyone so she slowly pushed herself back towards the cart in the event she had to make a run for it.

The Glynwood Institute For Thaumaturgical Studies

---

Luc registered that the hair was a birthmark, but he was too busy staring incredulously at the guy who stole food from him. Did this guy think because he was some sort of- of- whatever he was, he could take food from Luc? Sure, the nice one made him a little uncomfortable because he didn't know what he wanted or like, noble manners, but food theives he was plenty familiar with and Luc was not above biting his fingers off next time. He had an older brother; he knew how to play dirty and it came down to it, he'd start licking all his things to claim them.

"Yeah, let's go explore. Place has got to have some cool hiding spots. Not that we'd ever need to hide, but you know when things get boring- not that magic is going to be boring but listening to people talk about one thing for too long makes me want to crawl out of my skin so at home, I'd just go wander around the forest on the edge of the farm but I don't really have that here and hiding places would be a good place to kinda calm down, you know? Plus, even us non-mages, well I guess I'm a mage now, know the stories about the things under Glynnwood. they're even worse than the magic monsters that'll eat your feet off if they dange off the edge of the bed or the ones that will take your teeth if you don't brush them because you don't deserve them." Luc went on, only stopping himself when he finally shoved something else in his mouth. He chewed the bread an approperiate amount before he swallow, avoiding the choking this time.

"Oh, I'm Lucian, by the by. Friends call me Luc though." He pointed his finger at Food Theif. "Though, you can only call me that if you don't take anymore from me. I will bite you."

Court of Nuhl

_{October 9th, 528 - 12:20am}

Execution Level- Hasgad Holding Facility

"What the f-" The Inquisitor screeched in pain as his electricity blew up in his hand, grabbing wildly at Quinn as he was snatched away from him. Hasgad hadn't expected her to turn herself over but he'd been banking on her being some shell shocked, worrisome girl rather than a fire spitting solider. He managed to get a shield up just in time, most of the fire hitting it but the heat on his face told him how lucky he was. She'd have turned him to ash if he'd been half a second slower. He flung a net of lightning back out in retaliation, and maybe that's why he didn't see the dagger in the other hand, still blinded by the flames.

The pain took a second to register, and he swore viciously as the elevator doors opened and his soldiers rounded the bend. Two vampires on the elevator paused a moment as they took in the look in Chadwick's eyes, the confidence and hunger. A volley of arcane lances hurtled their way from either side of the hallway, sacrificing accuracy to get more in the air, and one vampire, a short sword in hand, lunged with the intent of burying his blade in Chadwick's chest.

In the main chamber, the far door creaked open and the sounds of the wind in the trees creeped into the killing chamber.

Hasgad grabbed Donavan's arm, the one holding a dagger in the inquisitor's side, with loathing twisting his face. "If I'm not getting our of here alive, you aren't getting out of here alive, leech. None of you are!" He spat. Everyone's hair stood on end as lightning coated Hasgad and he channeled every volt he could into Donovan, the small of burning flesh as the lightning ate at Hasgad too. Arcs of it leapt out of Donovan's back, surging towards Quinn, Lyra, Roan, and Caspian.

Bounties of Space

Danny Kingston

---

With an amused snort, the man kicked the hover cart into high gear and took off into one of the several tunnel ways branching out of the hanger. The driver wove between vehicles, tongue sticking out of his mouth each time he barely made it between hulking transports. The lights in the tunnels flickered more often than not, if it wasn't a strecth that was missing lighting entirely anymore. The rumble of engines and turbines echoed violently around in the tight, enclosed spaces, and a myriad of dents, scrtaches, and rust spots stained the walls and floor.

Eventually, the tunnel opened up into the Fallow Biome. The scattered lgihts around the biome glowed like a sunset in the pollution, and the acrid stench of molten metal hung settled like air in unprotected lungs. The Drag sat heavy just ahead, smokestacks and glowing windows and marching Maurauders greeting anyone who entered. The curve of the hover track took them away from the mercenaries and instead took them to a bustling crowd of hard and weary people, rough and wary of others, wandering through a slapdash business and entertainment district for the common laborer. Plenty to do to keep the mind off the exhaustion, to keep the coin in the Biome, to forget the haze and the pollution of a once fair city. Lights here lined the streets and walkways above them and virtual signs displayed street and business names, when they worked.

The driver dropped the trio off in front of a relatively unmarred building - a few questionable stains on large door but it was better not to ask - and whisked away into the crowded hover track. the sign above it, shimmering green and violet, announced it as Kol'Kill and a number of the people on the crowded iron walkway slipped into it even as others pushed past April, Danni, and Dorian without a second glance. A curtain in the window upstairs twitched.

"Oh, 'ow I 'aven't missed you Titan." Danni sighed, not bothering to remove his mask before they entered. "Who da 'ell said t'at livin' on met'ane moon was a good idea? I couldn't stand livin' in t'is metal dome, never seein' t'e stars, never seein' space, never gettin' ta zip around wit' my two besties. It's kinda like 'ell, ya know? But, 'ell doesn't 'ave drinks so let's get one!" Danni pulled open the door to Kol'kill and waved April and Dee in.

The inside was half full, the dinner rush not quite at its peak yet. A number of scattered tables were full, but one or two around the room still had space. Only one person sat at the bar along the left side of the room, insteresting colors swirling in the glass on the bar top. Sandix stood behind it, a tumbler shaking in their hands as they nodded at the group. Their life partner, Haxxal brooded in an opposite corner and nursed a large flagon of a steaming liquid while gaurding a spiral staircase that disppeared in up into the second floor. A small stage was set up at the far end and a harpsichord, scuffed and tarnished along it painted edges, sat besides it, a red skinned, wrinkled four armed Tardanian sat at it playing along while a pale woman sang on stage. Motes of purple light followed her and despite only one person singing, her voice sang in three different octaves, creating a complex round all on her own. It was clear what she sung went unknown to those in the room, but anyone could tell that while the song was energetic and upbeat, there was a sharp edge of meloncoly underneath it all that those who had lost everything could recognize.
"I'mma pop over to t'e bar, get myself a drink and a refill." Danni sloshed his half empty hip flask. "Y'all wanna grab a table so we can have a proper bite to eat? we can off t'e goods, scarf down somet'in' real quick, and t'en do a little noising around?"

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

---

Location: Training Room B
Skills: N/A

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! On se calme, on se calme!" Danni held his hands placatingly. "I didn't mean dat. Yeah, Poisson-Pas broke me, but I ain't know jack from shit about you so we're still chill. 'onestly, I'm just surprised ya ain't a toddler or somet'in'. Princess always mentioned the little sister and I coulda swore she said she was like, I dunno, five? But we can do dinner sometime, 'ave a little spa night, make an evenin' of it, ya know? Oh, Beanie, we can invite Zelds ta our fashion show! Did we ever pick a place, btws? I vote for middle of t'e school entrance, flirt wit' t'e stage craft group and see if t'ey'll put somet'ing' toget'er for us. T'at way everyone can bask in our beauty!" Danni clapped at his own idea, but his thoughts hit a stand still at Nemo's interruption.

"Aw yeah, that's my Beanie! Best of t'e best, t'at's why she's t'e bestest Bean- Wait." Danni whirled on Nemo from where he was congratulating Sabean to face Nemo. "Poisson-Pas, why didn't you tell me we were competin'? Like, I don't wanna pick t'e teams, t'at sounds like responsibility and I'm 'ere ta kick butt and 'ave fun, but I wanted to compete! Dee, Beanie, what was the competition? Can we 'ave a redo? Not t'at you don't deserve it Beanie, but I wanna play too!" Danni whined. Danni was too caught up in the whole fuck-Nemo-up-physically-and-mentally thing and he'd missed whatever they were competing over! Not cool!

And then Beanie didn't want to be on a team with him. What the hell? Princess didn't give a damn they were on different teams, Poisson-Pas didn't give a damn 'bout them as people since all they were was to make 'im look good as a judge's team and he had the audacity to leave Danni out of the competition of whatever the challenge was, and now Beanie didn't want to be with him. Did he smell? Was he having a breakout? Danni freaked out and quickly used his phone to check his face, sighing when he didn't see anything. He opened his mouth to protest, and loudly he'd like to add, but Beanie gave him the look that meant she was scheming and Danni paused, instead opting to link his arm through Dee's and propping his arm on Zelda's shoulder.

"Well, since Beanie 'ere thinks she can kick our buttons, we'll just 'ave ta prove her wrong. Tie us up, Poisson-Pas!" Danni demanded, the emotional roller coaster of a day making him buzz with more energy than normal. He definitely needed an outlet and the obstacles course was as good as any.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

---

Location: Training Room B
Skills: N/A

"Well, Spicy-that's your nickname now btw, you're welcome," Danni said over his shoulder to the short stack at his back. "You might as well pull the trigger 'cause then at least I'd be just like my dreams, dead in a heap on the ground." Danni grumbled, arms crossed in front of him as he pouted. The three of them were so excited; they'd been sure the trio would have been on a team together and between the radio silence from Princess and Dee's just straight up acceptance of the situation, Danni felt the motivation to be here start plummeting.

Still, he leaned over to Beanie while giving Dee a thumbs up on managing to fuck with the teacher. "You're gunna spill t'e beans later, right? Like, dance, drink, spill t'e tea? Regularly fuck with him wit' whatever spooky shit you got outta 'is 'ead?" Danni stage whispered to her, while maintaining eye contact with Nemo. He decided he didn't like Nemo. Not picking Princess was an insult to her, which was an insult to all three of them, and then just brushing him off instead giving into his demands was just the nail in the coffin. Old guy was a dick. Yes, he was encouraging and yes, he was probably very likable but he broke the three of them up and that meant he was the devil.

Danni partically swooned into Beanie's arms at her declaration at Spicy. "Aw, you love me! I love you too!" Danni beamed and then whirled around on Zelda. "Okay, now Zelds, listen. T'at… I don't know if t'at was right but t'at doesn't matter. What matters is confidence, the presentation. Eyes on t'e prize and t'e prize is 'is mental stability. You're a kickass rockstar who can make flaming bees, alt'ough maybe lay off t'e flaming bees 'cause I ain't tryin' ta be Hootsifer ta Dee's Lilith and all t'at jazz, and t'at beats weird time jumps any day!"

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

---

Location: Training Room B
Skills: N/A

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Such a spicy freshie. Someone didn't 'ave t'eir coffee t'is mornin'." Danni laughed at Percy's outrage, sauntering over to throw an arm around his shoulders. He waved off Percy's accusations with a boop of his nose. "Never said Zelds ain't good 'nough; if Dee wasn't terrified of bees, I'd 'ave been pretty chill wit' t'e fire bees t'e other day. Super fuckin' cool 'onestly. I mean, respect for t'e flames and all t'at. But t'e t'ree of us winnin' toget'er 'as been a dream for years and I ain't lettin' a little 'iccup get in t'e way of t'at!" Danni reasoned.

Of course, it took a bit to register what their coach told him. April wasn't on their team? Instead, they would be on opposite sides of the field, every blow against the other another crack in the dream and victory cost not just tears, sweat, and.blood but friendship and bonds built with this dream.in mind. Danni couldn't even begin to consider it, pulling out his phone with a shaking hand as his vision blurred with unscheduled tears, no new unread messages begging for attention. April hadn't even respond to his text.

Did she even care? Did she like her new team that much? She got Leah, a new team, and she just decided that was good enough for her, fuck Danni and Dee?

Absolutely the fuck not.

Percy forgotten, Danni stalked towards Nemo. He could feel fire boiling under his skin and he managed to keep it under control, only a little smoke curling off of him for a moment, as he jammed his pointer finger into Nemo's chest. "Oh, so you can see t'e big picture? I saw you already out of t'e way of my fire when I messed up and blew up t'e judges table. You a fucking psychic or somet'in' too? You able ta peer t'rough time or do you just Madam Razz this shit? Well, you go back ta your crystal ball or go pop back two days or whenever t'e 'ell it was, and change your damn mind 'cause you sure as 'ell didn't see 'ow puttin' us at each ot'er's t'roats would fuck t'in's up." Danni seethed through angry tears.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

---

Location: Dorm -> Training Room B
Skills: N/A

---

---

Dorian could hardly sleep the night before. Between what had happened with Percy, what he’d seen in his audition, and the anxiety of what team he, April, and Danni would be placed in, the nerves had eaten away at him until his eyes began to burn from exhaustion and he’d finally passed out for the night. That night he didn’t dream, or if he had he couldn’t recall anything but darkness. The knock woke him up, a tightness in his chest growing as he bolted upright in his bed and looked towards the door before noticing the two slips of paper that slid beneath the frame of the door. He took in a deep breath as the vice grip that plagued his chest had dissolved into pure excitement. This was as close to Christmas as they got in AA. Dorian bounded for the door, screaming all the while as he snatched the pages from the floor, pressing them against his chest so he couldn’t immediately see the results until Danni had a chance to as well (fully forgetting they came inside sealed envelopes) ”Get up! C’est l’heure! C’est l’heure! Allons-y Danni!” He wanted to go and grab April so they could all check the results simultaneously, but the loud squeal coming from her room let him know that she could hardly wait to open hers. He tossed both of the envelopes atop the mini fridge, pulling out two bottles of water as he emptied them inside of their electric kettle and popped it on to get water boiling for some coffee. Sure the school had some coffee shops on campus, but they carried cheap stuff that took so long to get to the west coast that it may as well be stale. No, Danni and Dorian needed a fresh brew purchased straight from the country it originated in.

Danni groggily peeked a single eye open, vision still hazy as Dee's banshee wailing dragged him out of sleep. He briefly considered throwing a pillow at the offending sound but just the thought of moving his arm left his muscles protesting and he promptly decided against it. It had been a long day with an exhibition he hadn't been anywhere near confident about and add in the nervous energy of desperation, sleep had been an elusive bitch. And now, for some reason, Dee was wailing at the ass crack of dawn. Danni just let out a looooooong groan before burying his face back into his pillow. Nope, too fucking early.

"Coffee." Danni demanded from his pillow, words muffled. Dee was saying something, but all he cared about was his snuggly cocoon of blankets and a popping hot, bitter cup of fragrant bean juice. Higher brain functions would have to wait 'til then.

Dorian couldn't believe what he was seeing from Danni. How could he not be excited for this?! He took the empty water bottle and tossed it straight at Danni. "It's bein' made already. Now get up!" There was a familiar clicking sound as the lever on the kettle flicked back up to signal that the water was ready and hot. Dorian meanwhile ground some beans of a Brazilian Dark Roast, pouring the batch into their French press before pouring in the hot water atop and letting it sit. "April's already squealin' next door! We must've got in toget'er but I wanna seeeeeee." They'd always tried for one of the judges teams, but not once had managed to score into it. But this year they all decided to not only make it on a judges team together, but they were going to win the Contest of Champions.

Danni grumbled as the water bottle hit him, and flopped over with a dramatic whine. It felt like it was 6am still and with no knock yet, it must have been. "Whatcha goin' on about? They haven't knocked. Can't we sleep 'til they knock?" Danni whined, though he sat up at the smell of coffee brewing. He struggled his way out of his cocoon and shoved himself up. He rubbed his eyes with a yawn, stretching at the end. He blinked, eyes protesting the flood of light, when he saw them: the envelopes sitting innocently on top of the mini-fridge. He gasped, lingering vestiges of sleepiness gone in an instant.

Danni tripped over himself as he stumbled off his bed and scrambled to the envelopes, picking his up with sparkles in his eyes. "T'EYCAMEIN?! WHYDIDN'TYOUWAKEMEUPFASTER?!?!!" Danni screeched excitedly, bounding over with both and waving Dee's eagerly in his face. OPENOPENOPENOPENOPEN!!!

Dorian snatched his envelope out of Dannis hand and held it so that his name was facing him. He looked up at D with sparkles in his eyes, the coffee could wait (it'd have to it took a few minutes to brew). "On t'e count of t'ree. One, deux, t'ree!" he tore the flap open at the same time as Danni had, pulling out the paper as his eyes quickly scanned the letter in his hand. Excitement welled inside of him with every word he read. Not only was he on one of the judges teams, it was Ser Nemos! He wasn't too crazy about Sabine, though he'd rather fight with her than against her, Zelda hadn't exactly given him anymore confidence especially after the way she'd just left her sister in a pool of water, he screamed as he saw Danni's name, and then froze at Percy's.

Dorian hadn't seen him since their kiss, one he wasn't even sure Percy would know or remember. He didn't even know why it happened, but it was a secret he'd kept to himself for now. Either way relations were strained with him, and he wasn't sure how well this team would work out, but he needed to have faith in Nemo. It was a judges team, a dream of Dorians, and that meant they believed this group had what it took to rival the Young Avengers.

Danni continue to scream as he tore into his envelope, quickly tossing it somewhere in the room as the team listing took his attention. Not-a-Fish's name was there at the top, which meant he got on a judges team! They thought he had what it takes to be a fucking Champion! He'd known it the whole time and now they finally recognized it! He took a few quick breaths to calm himself down, afraid he'd break out in flames if he didn't. Once he felt like he'd gotten it under control, he read the team listing.

Beanie was there at the top of the list, and he shrieked with excitement. Bad bitches were gonna kick ass in this Contest and then the world! Zelda Flynn… He frowned for a second before he remembered. Zelda, the little sister of April, duh! Flaming bees and all that jazz! Oooh, so fun! Maybe they could swap stories about Princess to bond!

He nearly vibrated out of his skin and slapped his best friend's arm. "We're on t'e same team! Dream team! Beanie, you, me?! I knew it! We knew it! You, me, Princess…" Danni's good mood went on a hard pause as instead of April Flynn, aka Princess aka Greatest Girly aka one third of the Dream Team, Percy Novikov stared back at him. Who the fuck was this dick ruining their Contest team? He felt like he should know this guy but his identity didn't matter. What mattered is he was ruining their perfect junior year and their chances at winning the Contest! "T'ey made a typo! 'ow unprofessional is t'at! Obviously, t'is is supposed ta be April Flynn instead of t'is Diana knock off. Or maybe Zelda was t'e mistake, but eit'er way we need ta go correct t'em! We were supposed ta 'ave Princess!" Danni declared, stomping his foot as he glared at the page.

Dorian brightened back up as Danni went off. "You're right. I'm sure t'ey meant to give us April instead of Zelda. Wrong Flynn clearly. We can bring it up to Poisson-Pas before anyone 'as to get embarrassed by it. I mean we bot' know 'ow unreliable magic can be." He chimed in, echoing Danni's sentiment. The coffee was just about done now as Dorian got up to gather their trailer thermos' so they could take their morning coffee on the go, placing the two cups near the French Press before slowly letting the strainer down to help express the oils. "Come on teammate let's get ready before we go and burst t'ier magical mis'ap bubble."

---

He walked arm in arm with Dee, confidence oozing off of him. He looked damn fine in the red accented uniform and they were about to get Princess on their team. Poisson-Pas would apologize, flip the Flynns, and everything would be right in the world! And if it didn't happen, he'd just let the dreams of friendship and happiness for this year crumble while he ugly cried in the training room. Maybe some uncontrollable flames sprouting here and there, no biggie really.

"Oye, Poisson-Pas!" Danni called out the second he entered the training room, blowing a wink and a kiss at Beanie. "T'e letter ad a mistake but we caught it, so you're welcome!"

Dorian saw Percy from across the room, his cheeks tinged pink as he looked away from Diana's brother and towards Sabine, giving her a meek wave as Danni addressed their coach. "Danni be nice, chances are Nimue made t'e mistake. Eit'er way we know you meant to chose April and not Zelda. Clearly a magical mis'ap 'appens all t'e time." He said just before sliding the lid on his Tervis, sending the sent of fresh Brazilian coffee wafting into the training room before he took a sip.

The Shattering of Aegis

The Snakeburrow Woods

_{16th of the Full Autumn Moon, 1698 P.A.
Evening - Overcast skies}

“Yeah, I s’pose a walkthrough the woods with ravenous rot infested wolves would be.” Esvelee agreed, nodding. “Never been nowhere but home and Wilree. If I didn’t have home, I’d probably take to wandering for a while myself but with the old man gettin’ older every day, someone’s got to keep the farms running. Red fern’s too critical to let fall to the wayside because of some wanderlust and all that.”

As the moon rose unseen behind cloying clouds and the night lengthened, the music of the Snakeburrow Woods rang out above the noises of the nighttime critters. Usually barely a buzz in the back of the mind, the rising music accompanied a slow swell of aether. Leaves in the distance crunched, a branch snapped, and the loud thud of something heavy hitting the ground in the distance broke the swelling melody. It came from the opposite direction from Cerric, Esvelee looking between the two points concernedly.

“Giles, you blumbling drunkard, get your flea ridden arse off the ground and keep walkin’. We still go a few days to go before we meetin’ with the conclave.” A voice laden with exasperation rang out through the woods. “I ain’t agree to this little scheme of yours just for your ass to die halfway through. So. Get. Up.” A sharp smack punctuated each word at the end, but still there didn’t seem to be a response.