Ok a little shorter than normal but you'll see why. Had to throw a Zelda ref in too X3.

The next morning the sun peeked over the trees. Matt woke on the roof, smiling at the colours the sun cast on the sky. Al was already up watching it.

*I always loved this part of the morning...*

*Yeah.*

Matt hummed, just listening to the birds singing. Al smiles leaning on him. He hugged him a bit.

Eventually they head back inside. Al hurrying to pee. Matt chuckled, walking alone after.

A few minutes later Al meets back up with him in the kitchen. Matt just smiled as he made pancakes. Al sits at the table.

*We got some orange juice, if you want?*

*Sure. What you wanna do today?*

*I really don't know.* Matt chuckled.

*Go for a run in the woods?*

*If you want to.* Matt smiled. *We could take the fairies with us. They hate being shut up inside.*

*Sure, how's Ro's wing by the way?*

*I'm not too sure actually. I've not seen her for a while.*

Al hummed at that. He finished cooking and served them a stack each. Al smiles digging in.

As they eat, the fae come join them, drawn to their strawberries. Ro was being carried by the others. Al glanced up at them smiling. They smiled back before stealing a berry each. Al goes back to his plate. Matt watched for a bit before eating his too.

They all eat then wash up. Once done, Matt asked if he wanted to check on anyone before going. Al shakes his head.

*Alright, let's get going.*

Al grins heading to the door, not bothering to put on shoes. Matt just grinned and followed suit.

They head out to the trees and Al glances up to the tree tops. The leaves danced in the gentle breeze overhead, making dappled sunlight flit across the shadowed mossy ground. Al smiles turning to Matt.

*Go on you if you want.* he smiled back. *I'd say you're strong enough now to be okay.*

*I've got a fun idea!* Al turns to the fairies. "You guys wanna race? Me and Ro against you two.

They shrug, but Ro grins, all for. "It'll be fun!"

Al smiles climbing into the branches. "Where to Matt?"

"To the top, pick a budding leaf, then back down again."

Al grins reaching down for Ro. She hopped into his hand. He puts her on his shoulder. "Hang on tight."

She gripped into his shirt, grinning. "Ready!"

"Start us off bro!"

"Fairies on the ground too... ready? GO!"

In a flash Al's hands and feet morphed and he leaps up to the next branch. The fae took off as fast as they could, little wings just a blur. Al leapt and swung through the branches as easily as Tarzan. Steadily climbing higher.

They were neck and neck. Al reaches the top and snatches a leaf. The fae are just a moment behind. Ro whooped and cheered.

Al makes his way down swinging front one branch to the next. The fairies were closing the gap now, artfully dodging branches. Al let's go of the next branch dropping straight down.

It was that little bit of momentum that saved him. He touched the ground first, the fae a couple seconds behind. He stumbles a bit on the landing, but laughs anyway. Ro was laughing with him, loving her little joyride.

Al sits on the ground to catch his breath. He rolls his shoulder a bit. Ro giggled in delight. Matt grinned.

Al smiles. His shoulder felt a little tweaked though, might have pulled a bit on the way down.

"Al and Ro win!" *You okay?*

Al chuckles. *Muscles are still kinda weak.. Might have pushed to much.*

*I think we should have a nice little walk now then.* Matt smiled softly.

Al smiles back. *It was fun though.*

*Good,* he hummed. *I'm glad you're happy.*

Al stands up after a minute grinning. Matt threw an arm around his shoulder, half hugging him.

"So where to now?"

"Wherever the wind takes us."

Al smiles at that as they take off at a slower pace. The fae flit around them, chattering happily. Ro stayed with Al. They walk around for a while at one point coming near the barrier.

It was nearly undetectable. Just a slight shimmer to the air and a faint hum told it was there. It exhumed power. Al watched it for a minute. He pulls up enough power to smell around a bit.

If he looked across, he might see the remnants of charred corpses of people who tried to get in. Besides that, it was just the smell of the forest.

He still fidgets a bit though. Though it was a large area it still pulled up the fact he was confined. In all actuality, Al could walk straight out of the barrier... Iain only told him he couldn't so he wouldn't wander off.

Al sighs a little turning away. They continue on. Matt eventually coaxed him away from it, stumbling across a patch of wild berries.

Al smiles a bit. "Think their edible?"

"They are!" The fae grin, going and grabbing some. Al picks a few too. They sit and have a little snack. The berries were sweet and juicy, refreshing.

Too bad they didn't have a bucket or something there was more than enough for a pie, but he supposed other things needed them more than they did. That said, there was plenty... Maybe a few handfuls?

Al grabs a few more before they leave. They stroll back, just enjoying the sunshine. They had been gone a few good hours, by the time they got back it was a little past one.

Arthur was pottering about the kitchen. He smiled as they came in. Al smiles back putting his berries in a baggie and storing them in the fridge.

"Have a nice walk boys?"

"Yeah. It was fun." Al smiles.

"That's good then... Say, don't suppose either of you have seen Molly this morning...?"

Al shakes his head, wincing a little inside.

He frowned softly then shook his head. "Alright..."

Al fidgets slightly before going to the sink to wash the berry juice off his hands. Matt followed suit, asking how everyone else was. Al perks his head up.

Iain was getting much better, Francis practically bullying him into health. Nate had said little more and the only real issue was that no one had seen Molly all day. Al frowns softly.

"We know for a fact she isn't near Nate... Ivan's been guarding it all day."

Al glanced off in said direction worriedly. Matt did too. There was no way she was down there though.. They swept the house top to bottom.

Al fidgets. He wanted to find her but he didn't want to piss her off again. She was so unstable, it was debatable how she'd even react...

Al hugs Arthur a bit. Trying to reassure him. Arthur hugged back, letting the contact ease them both. They stay there for a minute. Matt left them to it and went upstairs.

Al pulls back smiling softly. Arthur smiled reassuringly.

'How've you been doing?' Al had used up most of his voice talking with the fairies earlier.

"I'm fine," he smiled warmly. "A little bit tired, but I'm okay."

Al smiles. He was slightly worried though, Arthur had had the shield for a while now. He was fairing okay... Maybe it was time to pass it on soon though...

Al sits at the table talking with him a little more. They chatter for a bit, talking nonsense mainly. It made Al smile. It was that little boost they needed. Small pleasures to remind them why they were doing this.

Al glanced up as Ivan comes in. The latter hugging him for a moment. Arthur let them have a moment before asking about Nate.

"Not much except whining to be fed.. Though I have learned he hates the silent treatment. When I patched him up last night he seemed disappointed I didn't outright kill him."

"Likely because he knows its better than suffering and we're not about to let him off easy for what he's done..."

Ivan nods while he gathered some bread.

"Keep him alive until we can't find a use for him, then just let him starve.

Ivan nods again before leaving, Al fidgets a little.

Arthur lay a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"

Al shrugs softly. 'Just kinda nervous I guess..'

"What about...?" There were just so many things now...

Al shrugs again. He felt off ever since he saw the barrier, unsure if it's just his phobia or his sixth sense for bad vibes. Likely a bit of both...

Al glanced over. Arthur looked a little pinched, but otherwise fine. Al smiles slightly. He smiled back and patted his shoulder. Al grips his hand lightly.

He smiled warmly. "Want to help me make dinner today?"

"Sure." His voice squeaked at the end.

He rubbed his back. "Let your voice rest. I'll make you some warm lemon to help ease it."

Arthur quickly mixed it up for him. Al watches him, thoughts turning in his head.

He handed it to him and gave him a quizzical look. "Something bothering you?"

Al sighs a bit. 'I donno.. I can't stop thinking about Nate..'

"None of us can really... Which part of him is upsetting you..?"

'I.. I donno.. It just feels like something's wrong..'

He frowned softly, hugging him again. Al hugs back.

"As soon as he stops being useful, he's gone... I promise...!"

Al wasn't sure that was the problem though.. They'd figure a way around it somehow... He sighs squeezing tight before letting go.

"Come on, lets not linger on it."

Al nods.

He smiled a bit. "What do you fancy for dinner?"

'Donno, whatever's good.'

He hummed and started looking. Al glanced around too. They still had a lot...

Al pulls out some pasta. 'Mac n cheese?'

"If that's what you want." Arthur smiled.

Al smiles and looks for some meat to go with it. Once it was gathered, they start cooking. Al hums in his head a little, trying to distract himself. Arthur helped as best he could, keeping him busy.

They were setting up the table as Francis came in. Iain limped along with him, having insisted on coming down and settle for having help. Al watched them come in. Ludwig and Ivan joining soon after. Matt came in last, still no Molly...

Al frowns softly, uneasiness coming back full swing. Ludwig announced he was heading back to base in the morning. Iain just nodded then announced he was taking the shield back from Arthur tonight.

Al picked around on his plate while he eats. The others eat quietly. *Bro... ?*

*Yeah?*

*Everything okay?*

*I donno.. I just have this bad feeling..*

Matt frowned a bit. Al's bad feelings usually tended to be right... Al continues to eat but remains distracted. They finish up, a certain tension building.

Al glanced to Matt before leaving the kitchen. Matt frowned softly and followed. He wanders the house looking for Molly's scent. His eyes lingered on the basement door.

Her scent was strong there, but old... She hadn't been down there for days. Al lingers a moment more before continuing.

Her scent was spread around the house, but seemed stronger upstairs. He walks up. He ended up being lead to the pool again. He frowns a bit opening the door quietly.

It was dimly lit, just a glow. Molly was floating in the water, staring at the ceiling. Al frowns watching, he wasn't sure if he should disturb her. She twisted and dove under, small body lithe and sleek in her black swimsuit. This was her form of physical release.

Al pulls back glancing at Matt. *At least she's ok..*

*As okay as she can be,* he sighed. *How long you think she's been there...?*

*Donno..* Al shuts the door gently.

Matt frowned softly, glancing back. Al sighs glancing around.

*So what now...?*

Al fidgets before going downstairs. Matt frowned then followed along, not happy leaving her. Al didn't want to either but he didn't want to upset her again either. Why did it have to be so complicated...

Al ended up going outside wandering into the woods.

They were spending a lot of time out there... Iain sighed as he watched them go again. "I'll be happy when this is over."

Al had a hunch though. He walks out to the barrier and starts tracing it. It was a perfect circle, a mile in radius. He hears something and paused. Matt stopped behind him, frowning. He could hear voices..

*You hear that...?*

Al nods. Since it was dark he couldn't see very well even with his eagle. But he could smell people just on the far side. Matt listened closely, trying to hear.

"Well since we can't get inside, I say we smoke em out!"

*Can they do that?!* The house was very far in, but did the shield stop fire? Al shrugs worriedly the voices continued to argue.

They seemed determined to either get in or get them out... There were a lot of them too..

*We need to get back and tell them!*

Al nods turning back. Matt grabbed his hand, starting to jog.