(A/N: Copied over from 'Show, not Tell' so that this stuff wouldn't continue to run into my DxZ drabbles. Updates will be way more sporadic and little to no timeline is fully established on the drabbles that I write for this story, so again, please message me if you have questions or leave the questions in a review so I can clarify in the next chapter A/N.

Also please note that Ket is a shameless self-insert. And despite the magic and the powers and Titans and the like, I've actually tried to keep personality, physical and verbal traits and quirks, and some of the anecdotes that she tells as true as possible. Even the shameful, embaressing or downright gross ones. Because honestly, once I hit eighteen I stopped giving a fuck about what others thought and holy shit it shows SO bad. Like 'did you wash that shirt?' "yeah probably. Maybe last year or something."

Anyway, I digress.

Cheers mates!)

Florida

"This is awful." Den muttered to Lok, once again having to extricate his legs from a densely twined rope of briar. "I know everyone jokes that Florida is bad but this–"

"You'll get used to it." Dante assured the two younger Seekers as he passed them on the poor excuse for a trail. The ground was damp, nearly soggy with rain, and the thick leaf litter was hell for footing. Everyone but Lok and Den were doing moderately well considering though, and they were making good time through the dense hammock of trees and underbrush.

A barked laugh from the head of the odd procession rang out. Their guide spun around, bound ponytail flaring out at her waist. "That's bullshit, son. You never get used to this!" And she cackled to herself quietly, shaking her head as she turned back around and mumbled to a mildly amused Zhalia at her side. "Get used to a Central Florida summer. Ha! Twenty one years and I still hate it." The woman devolved into further mutterings about the ways the local flora and fauna enjoyed inconveniencing her during the sweltering half of the year that dominated her state, bobbing her head back and forth.

"Why don't you move, then?" Sophie asked, waving a stick a few feet in front of her face to clear away spider webs that were still intact after the guide parted the main ones with her machete. "If it was that terrible I'm sure you would have gotten out of here by now."

"Because, my dear Casterwill, I am a broke-ass-bitch." Zhalia snorted at this, and Dante cracked a grin. "Besides, there's no place like this place. The closest you can get for diversity is bloody Australia, and it's too dry there for me. Florida's unique. Special in it's own way, ya know?"

Den subtly nudged Lok with his elbow and whispered, "Like some of the residents…."

"Son, I will let you step on that Cottonmouth."

Lok frowned and halted, looking around nervously as he grabbed Den to stop him from taking another step. "On that what?"

Stopping the rest of the group, the guide sheathed her machete and slung a long tube off her back. "Just stay right there, yeah?" With practiced ease she drew a rifle from the tube and pulled a small magazine from her pocket, locking it in and chambering a round. "Don't…move…a muscle." With each word she crept closer to the two now frozen boys, eyes trained on the ground.

And with a surprisingly quiet but sharp pop a previously invisible serpent writhed in death throes at Lok's feet. He squealed and lept away, while Den let out a "Oh, cooool!" as the guide pinned the head and removed it, grinding it into the ground.

"Cottonmouth." The woman smiled broadly, lifting the dead snake by its thick tail. There was a wild, excited light in her golden brown eyes that was a little frightening in its intensity. "Also known as Water Moccasin. More popularly known as dinner."

Zhalia chuckled as the guide repacked her rifle and resumed leading the group. "This is going to be a good one."

Dante shook his head but smiled nonetheless. "If we survive it."

"ONWARD, YE LOUTS! MORE FLORIDIAN EXPERIANCES AWAIT!"