Click click click.

Augur stirred and yawned. "Do not call me now, of all times, you little bastards."

Click click click.

With a whine, she sat up and groped in the darkness for her bracelet and bone. She kept one by the other, and found both in good time. With a scowl, she held the battered and chipped makeshift club close to her bracelet and whispered, "If you must wake me, then speak. But woe betide you restless bones, if this omen you bring is not one of good providence and happy times."

A pulsing green and cyan fire erupted at the tip of her bone club and filled her tiny room with an ethereal glow. She stared down at the bracelet she held in her paw.

Click click click.

One by one, she ran through each of the little bones on the accessory, her thumb feeling the smooth, chipped or sharp nature of each and every little tooth, fang and claw she'd looped through it. The bones were a comfort to her - reminders of times now past. Good or bad, they were times she had, and she treasured every moment. She could relish in equal measure the peaks and the valleys - marvel and misery, brothers that meant one thing above all else: life flowed through her own bones still.

The little fang, oldest of the bunch - this was the offender. And the chattering that came filled her soul with dread. A valley was coming, but not for her.

Amp tossed a key to Thorn and jerked her head towards the warehouse next to them. "All done."

"What'd you do to the poor bastard?" asked Thorn, flipping the key in his leafy hands with some difficulty.

"Does it really matter?" asked the flaaffy, grimacing.

"Never was a fan of wetwork, eh?" said Thorn, looking the sheep up and down. "Can't say I blame you."

"Hate the smell after the shock goes on long enough." She rubbed her nose for added effect. "Stinks." A spinda rounded the corner from the other side of the warehouse and shot them a grin. "Or maybe that's just Gutter."

"Spots are singing, are you lying to Thorn about me again?" said Gutter, bouncing a key in his paws, still grinning.

"How long do we have?" asked the servine, throwing an apprehensive look at the warehouse.

"As long as we need, I think. She won't be waking up for a while," said Gutter, glancing down at the key in his paw. "Possibly ever, but I think I held back. Not really her fault this is her job."

"Pity for someone who'd be caught in the blast anyway?" asked Thorn, shooting Gutter an inquisitive look. "Strange of you."

"Eh, collateral damage is what it is, but she has a chance with what we've got planned. No chance if I just drop her, you know?" said the spinda, waving the comment off.

"How fucking noble," mumbled Amp, rolling her eyes. She stepped up to the warehouse door and unlocked it. A series of runes on the lock and the face of the door shone cyan for a moment before they faded away, filling the air with the sound of rushing wind, though nothing fluttered in the sound of the breeze. She swung the door open and gestured for the other two pokemon to enter. "You know what's in here, if you want to keep telling yourself that, maybe you should just head on home." She paused and clicked her tongue. "Or get clear of this shithole altogether."

The spinda chuckled and stepped past the flaaffy and into the warehouse. "Daf's gone, gotta do right by her."

"You hear what happened?" asked Thorn, brushing past Amp and peering around inside the cavernous building.

"Nope," replied Gutter.

Amp shut the door behind them and locked it from the inside. The hum of runes coming to life sounded like a crack in the wind, and the interior of the warehouse became deathly still once more. "We ran into someone who saw it from a nearby house. They ran for cover when everything went to pieces and got a front row seat to…" She trailed off and shook her head. "It was awful."

"Crazy bitch didn't even kill her," muttered Thorn, looking Gutter in the eyes. "Just… like that, right through the stomach and out the back. Daf crumpled and that psycho weavile just walked away. Left her there, crying and paralyzed, until a quilladin came over and showed her a bit of mercy."

"Sounds like a quilladin alright," said Gutter, frowning. "Poor Daf. I didn't know it was that bad. We know who did it?"

"Eyes said she was wearing those fancy mail gloves. Had to be Ran, right?" said Amp, looking at Thorn.

"Yeah. The bitch that our 'King' is fucking. She's cracked," mumbled Thorn. He shook his head. "Glad I didn't get a front row seat."

"What, you think you can't break her spine?" asked Amp as she shoved the lid off a large crate and peered inside. "Gods above, how are we gonna move all this?"

"Got that taken care of already, I think," replied Gutter, pulling the lid off another crate and beginning to unload thick burlap bags. "We just have to get the crates unloaded."

"All of them?" asked Amp, throwing the spinda a horrified look. "Look how many there-"

"As many as we can manage, yeah. Sorry, but we did this at night for a reason," huffed Gutter. He pulled the last bag from the crate and slid the lid back on, then turned to the next crate in the row and pulled the lid off to begin anew. "And no, I don't think I can."

"What?" asked Thorn, unloading his own crate with his vines and peering curiously around the warehouse.

"Break that bitch's spine. She took down a mean fucking dragon to get where she is," mumbled the spinda. "Didn't you know?"

"You're the one with ears to the street. All I knew about Octavian was he was supposedly helping us," explained Thorn. He let out a bitter laugh. "And look where his 'help' got us."

"Thought it was Outrider that killed Octavian," said Amp, breathing heavily as she unloaded her third crate. "This shit is heavy, Gutter, you sure we can move all of this?"

"I said I've got it covered; they'll be here two hours before sunrise and we'll help them load up. We'll have to be fast though, the guards change at sunrise."

"Could be snoring in hay right now," grumbled Amp. She tossed a bag atop the pile she'd created and scowled. "This shit better work."

"We'll get a demonstration when we're clear of this place, don't worry," said Gutter, now working on his fifth crate. He groaned as he tossed bag after bag out of the box. "These things are heavy though, I'll give you that."

"Outrider helped," said Thorn as he set two bags down on the ground in his own pile. "Team effort."

"That old dragon that tough to kill?" asked Amp.

Gutter shook his head and shrugged. "Who knows, we weren't here. Thorn's right, all I've got is what bubbles up off the street. Not much on the other three that those two hang with. Like that quilladin."

"He's merciful," offered Thorn, sealing his sixth crate and opening a seventh. "So there's that I guess."

"Yeah, sure was nice of him to finish off Daf," said Amp sarcastically. "Really noble."

"You heard Eyes. It sounded like a mercy."

"I don't care if he told her a story and gave her her favorite berry, he still killed her."

"Technically. Claws on that psycho bitch are what really did it."

"Heard rumors she can teleport on top of you," whispered Gutter, looking worried. "Is that shit true?"

"Not sure, Eyes said he missed it," said Thorn.

"How the hell does a watchog miss something?"

"Happened faster than a blink, Gutter, what do you want from him? He was probably scared he'd get found out."

The spinda waved the comment off. "Whatever."

"You'd be pissing yourself too."

"Yeah but I don't give up on lost fights," shot back Gutter, now cracking open his eighth crate.

"That why you sounded so scared just now?" jabbed Amp, grinning.

The spinda grinned in spite of himself. "You tell me you'd stare down a teleporting weavile with stiff knees, I'll wait."

"Fuck off, fine," admitted Amp, shaking her head. She began to open her ninth crate then stopped and called back, "How many of these we cracking?"

"I told you already, as many as we can manage," said the spinda, "Don't tell me you're already getting tired." He grinned.

"Shit's heavy."

"And it ain't getting lighter, so let's move. We don't have all night, remember?"

The small talk that filled the rest of their time in that warehouse was inconsequential, melting away more and more into pure huffing and puffing as the three pokemon wrenched open and unloaded crate after crate. The warehouse seemed endless, but soon their rummaging began to reveal boxes containing something other than the bags they sought. Small boxes, tools, fuses…

When the fourth consecutive box of irrelevant material was cracked, Gutter spoke up. "We're done here."

"Thank the gods, I can feel my arms starting to seize up," whined Amp. "What do we do now?"

"You two wait here, and I'll see if our transport is ready," said Gutter, looking between the ampharos and servine. He made his way over to the door out of the warehouse and unlocked it, disabling the runes protecting the entryway and slid the door aside. There sat their means of getting everything they could out of the warehouse: a covered cart and a very unhappy looking gogoat.

"Trudge. You made it," said Gutter, offering the goat a smile.

"Yeah, yeah. This shit's gonna kill me," mumbled Trudge, looking displeased. "How many crates of this garbage am I hauling?"

"Not sure," replied the spinda, shrugging, "More than a dozen, easy." The goat's reply came in the form of a low grumble and indecipherable muttering. With a chuckle, Gutter added, "Won't be that bad. I'll help load. Who'd you bring to help?"

"Me," said a voice from behind Gutter. The spinda turned around and came face to face with a watchog.

"Eyes. Volunteered?"

The watchog nodded vigorously. "Wanted to help with this." His head swiveled left and right and his nose twitched several times. "We're burning moonlight, we should move."

"Right." Gutter leaned around Eyes and waved to Amp and Thorn, beckoning them over. As the two pokemon drew close, he mumbled, "Leave a crate's worth. Should be more than enough to wake everyone up for the day."

"How are you setting off?" asked Amp, cocking her head. "I'm not sparking this shit for you."

"There's fuses and line he can use, don't worry," said Thorn, waving a leafy arm dismissively. "Just make sure you're clear of this place before it goes up, yeah? Can't lose you to something stupid now, Gutter."

The spinda grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Go home and sleep, I'll be there before you're up."

"Don't think I'm sleeping through this," said Amp, looking towards the warehouse.

Gutter waved them off and beckoned for Eyes to help him load the sacks. As they did, the watchog huffed, "Gutter." The spinda grunted to signal he was paying attention. "Why are you doing this?"

"Same reason you are."

"How long did you stay in that camp?"

The spinda tossed several bags into the cart and stopped briefly to catch his breath. "I lost track Eyes, if I'm being honest."

"Rough count on seasons?"

"Eyes. How in the name of the fuckin' Abyss would I know? I didn't count. Twelve, maybe?" He made his way back to the pile of bags and picked up another pair. "Did you count?"

"I was with Mother for exactly fourteen seasons, one month, two weeks and five days," said the watchog at once. He approached the pile and picked up a sack.

"You counting up to when Mother died?"

"No, I counted up to the point that Vain told us she was dead. Easier that way."

"Don't miss a thing, do you?" said the spinda, giving him a wry grin.

The watchog tossed his sack into the cart and stared the spinda in the eyes. "I missed what that weavile did."

"Maybe that's for the best."

"Maybe it is." Eyes looked back at the sacks of black powder, waiting to be loaded into the cart. "Or maybe that's just what I tell myself." Gutter looked on as the watchog walked back to the pile and picked up two more sacks.

He really didn't miss a thing.

Ran was on her feet before she'd really woken up. The sound of the door to her room slamming open left her bleary-eyed with her claws raised and her heart pounding. On the other side of her bed, Outrider too stood ready to face whatever had barged in. The cream and purple shape in front of her slowly sharpened into the form of Sava, and with a poorly stifled yawn, Ran mumbled, "S-Sava?"

She would have relaxed, but barging into their quarters unannounced could only be bad news. Ran wasn't ready for just how bad the news was.

"A warehouse exploded," said the mienshao, her voice curt. "We're still gathering information on just how many pokemon were killed, as well as the extent of the damage." She maintained her ramrod straight posture as she shifted her gaze from the weavile to the lucario. "No one has claimed responsibility. But…"

"It's obviously the Dregs, yes," replied Outrider, his gaze hardening. He grit his teeth and growled. "If I had a single one of them in my grasp…"

"We do not, so it is irrelevant what you would do, Outrider," said Sava in an even tone.

The lucario closed his eyes and sighed. "Yes, yes. Of course. We need to act. I need to act."

"There are a great deal of pokemon on the lowest floor of Crag waiting for further direction. For the moment, most citizens have simply been directed away from the blast area. Our defense forces have created a perimeter to block access to the location. I'm sure you understand that, given how many pokemon pass through the area, this has been-"

"Ill-received yes. Between the fear, the curiosity and the apathy, I'm sure the ground floor is currently completely immobilized," said Outrider, sighing and moving towards his dresser to remove his shinguards.

"Many have taken to using the pathways through the farms outside of the city. It has helped. To some extent."

"Foot traffic seems like a strange thing to be worried about after a warehouse explodes," said Ran, frowning. She looked over at Outrider. "Right?"

"Yes and no," said the lucario, strapping his shinguards on. "If there are any follow up explosions, their body count will be…"

"Astronomical," said Sava, finishing his sentence. "It is concerning just how many pokemon are still going about their day, Outrider."

"The attacks have become all but rote," grumbled the jackal, "Those without a bottomless reserve of fear have run dry, and now all that remains is apathy." He strode over to Sava and gestured past her. "Lead the way."

"Wait for me!" said Ran, sprinting to the dresser and pulling her gloves out. "You're mad if you think you're going down there on your own." She slipped the cool chainmail over her claws and paws and looked at Sava. "Why did the warehouse explode? Is there a support nearby?"

Sava appeared to chew her tongue for a moment before she beckoned for the two of them to follow her. The Chambers of Authority were still quiet, and their footfalls echoed through halls as Sava explained, "The warehouse held exactly what the Dregs needed to destroy it in the first place."

Outrider grimaced. "And that would be?"

"Black powder. One of the main storage areas for it, in fact," replied Sava. She drew a sharp breath in through her teeth and added, "Preliminary investigations have left us no real leads. Of course, I've only known this for slightly longer than you have. A runner found me, likely hoping that I would then go and find you."

"Of course. After so many attempts, why wouldn't they steal black powder?" muttered Outrider. He growled and overtook Sava, beckoning for her and Ran to catch up. "We have to get down there as quickly as we can."

"The destroyed warehouse isn't going anywhere, Outrider," said Ran, huffing as she caught up.

"No, but the Dregs are."

Sava frowned. "So single-minded." The jackal spared her a single glance with eyes full of distaste before facing forward again.

Gutter yawned and drew closer to the ring of pokemon blocking access to the rubble that surrounded the area the warehouse once stood and looked about. The noticeable anger, interest and fear etched onto the faces of the pokemon around him were irrelevant. He was searching for the reason he forsook a good day's rest after a long night cracking crates - he was looking for Outrider.

The plan came courtesy of Eyes. A watchog would be tempting to take down - they never miss anything, as is their nature. A watchog that was connected to the plots around the city would be irresistible to Outrider and his underlings. All they had to do was get Eyes caught and have him start lying. The lack of enthusiasm from Thorn and Amp brought a frown to Gutter's lips, but it hardly mattered in the end. They would have jobs to do in the near future just the same.

He pushed past a pair of gloom and found himself face to face with a golduck. She appeared more concerned than officious when she looked at him and said, "Sorry, but we can't let anyone get close to the warehouse. What's left of it, anyway."

"Listen, this is important. I need to speak to whoever is conducting the investigation here. I saw something suspicious, and if we don't act now-" said Gutter, his tone urgent.

The duck looked alarmed and said, "Wait. Really? You saw who did this?"

"I don't know, but they're definitely associated with this, so please if you could-"

"Hold on, hold on," said the golduck, raising a webbed hand. She looked around, clearly uncomfortable, and then looked back at Gutter and added, "I think you'll want to see Outrider."

Gutter suppressed a grin and gestured at the golduck. "The King is here? Then let's go, I don't know how long they'll be at the cafe." The duck nodded and beckoned the spinda to follow. Much easier than he'd expected. Then again, the situation was rather dire. Wasn't every day that something as large as a warehouse simply explodes. Perhaps the novelty would wear off quickly.

As the two approached the lucario, the weavile at his side snapped her attention to the golduck and then to Gutter. She raised an eyebrow and frowned. "Current," she said softly, "Who is this?"

"Gutter," said the spinda, cutting in. He felt a chill run down his spine. She was unmistakable - the gloves, the burn on her elbow, and those claws. Those claws… They were freakish, longer than any weavile's claws he'd ever seen in his life. He tore his eyes away from their cruel points and added, "I need to see the King, now.."

Ran's eyes narrowed and a misty breath fell from her mouth. "Outrider is no king."

Feeling smug and terrified was bizarre enough that Gutter hoped he'd never have to experience it again. "Look whatever you want to call him, it doesn't matter, I might have found one of the pokemon that helped do this so please let me talk to him."

The weavile seemed unconvinced. He had no idea why - his performance was flawless. Plus, the bitch hadn't said two words to him before this conversation. Had something tipped her off? He did his best to look agitated, tapping his foot and trying to look past Ran at every opportunity, but couldn't shake the feeling it might not be enough.

Finally, Ran tore her eyes away from him and looked over at Outrider. "Outrider." The lucario held a paw up to the mienshao and stantler he was speaking to and looked at the weavile.

"Ran?" he said back.

"This spinda wants to speak to you," she said, her tone brisk. She gestured to the spinda. "Gutter. He says he might know something about what happened here."

"I do hope it's more than 'an explosion happened here' or something to that effect," said the mienshao, cutting in. "Enough pokemon have come forward touting that tidbit like it's an achievement they figured it out." She leveled a gaze similar to Ran's on Gutter. For the second time in too little time he felt a chill run down his spine.

"I think I saw someone who was involved with this," said Gutter at top speed. "On a balcony, at a cafe nearby. They were mumbling something about dregs. As soon as I heard it I ran here, but we have to hurry, I don't know if they're still there.".

Outrider looked around. "A great deal of pokemon are watching what is happening here at this very moment. What makes them suspicious and not simply curious or aghast at this state of affairs? How is simply mumbling about dregs enough? That pokemon could have been cursing them under his breath." he said quietly. The look he leveled on Gutter twisted his stomach in a knot. He gestured at the destroyed warehouse behind him and added, "I'm sure you can see why."

"They were muttering up a count under their breath. I think they're seeing how it is you're responding to this situation." He looked around at all the pokemon. Outrider seemed interesting but largely unconvinced. The mienshao, for her part, looked bored. Ran looked annoyed.

"And how exactly did you hear them?" asked the mienshao, stepping towards the spinda.

I was standing on the balcony with them after finishing up a pastry in the cafe. After everything that happened today I figured a little tea and some time to recover from this…" He gestured at the destroyed warehouse. "...would be a great idea. Instead I heard a watchog mumbling about something and it didn't sound good. But every second we spend here is time for them to leave."

He wasn't exactly lying. He had hatched the finer points of the plan on that balcony with Eyes, after all. He'd had tea there. He'd even had a nice pastry filled with crushed cheri berries. And Eyes was going to leave if he didn't get to the cafe in the next hour. Gutter pushed that thought from his head. He didn't need the threat of capture making him nervous in front of a lucario.

"A balcony? Down here?" asked Ran, cocking her head. "I thought roofs didn't exist this far down."

"Mostly," muttered Sava. "A few buildings have cutaways that act as covered balconies. Mostly businesses, as you might imagine."

Gutter could see Outrider come to life before his very eyes as something like revelation crossed his face. The faraway look of disinterest the lucario had been giving him melted away into keen interest in a second. "Lead me," he repeated, his tone now urgent. "If time is of the essence, then so be it. Let's chase down this lead.'

"You're going to waste time on this, Outrider? Hardly seems like a wise course of action, if you ask me," said Sava, shifting her gaze to Outrider.

"It's not a waste of time! The Dregs are terrorizing Crag, do you really want to leave a lead on the table just because I'm some random citizen?" said Gutter, firing up. He held his angry stare on Sava for a second before looking at Outrider. "I thought you cared about what the common folk of Crag had to contribute. Well this is what I can contribute. But if that watchog leaves the cafe-"

The lucario's expression changed to one of displeasure. He made a noise in his throat and shook his head. "A lead is a lead, Sava. Especially since it's quite clear we have nothing to go on at the site of the explosion."

"We've hardly investigated," said Sava, putting her paws on her hips.

"And I'm the one that is best suited to it? There are no auras for me to read here. But if that watchog is still at that cafe…"

The mienshao let out a low hiss. "Your tip is appreciated, Gutter, but I don't think you've made a convincing argument for something that could just as easily be referring to berry wine. Your concern is appreciated nevertheless"

"Speak for yourself!" said Outrider, rounding on Sava and raising a single digit. "I have been tracking the Dregs for far too long now, and I will not pass up an opportunity to catch one in the act."

"Of passive observation?"

"And whatever else it is they're doing. You can stay, but I will not let this chance slip. Lead the way, Gutter. Ran, let's go."

"I'm with you," said the weavile at once. "Lead the way, Gutter."

Current made a noise that signaled the start of some word, but she closed her mouth and simply stared on as Outrider walked past her. Gutter gave her a wave and a nod to thank her, but the look the golduck returned betrayed some kind of regret.

That mattered little to him. He had the King following him - and that was all that mattered. Lead the King. Give up the bait.

And so he did. Through a muttering and confused crowd that watched as a spinda led the King and his concubine through the streets of Crag. Past confused onlookers that stopped to watch the bizarre procession as Gutter whisked the lucario and weavile away to a cafe where Eyes was waiting.

Gutter pointed the cafe out to them as they drew closer to it. Outrider called out, "Stop." The spinda did so and turned to look at the lucario. "Ran. Wait out here." The weavile opened her mouth to protest but Outrider put a paw to her lips. "Not because it is dangerous, but because you are swift. If that watchog is in here and they run, chase them down." He slid a paw up to her cheek and added in a softer tone, "Incapacitate them, but no more. We need them alive."

The weavile nodded. "Alright. Just be careful. Please." She reached up and pulled him down far enough to kiss him. "Okay?"

"Of course," said Outrider. He turned back to Gutter and gestured at the front door. "Please."

The spinda nodded and made his way into the cafe. It was very late in the morning at this point, and few pokemon remained at the scattered tables inside. Despite the dim ambient light and generally poor air that existed this far down in Crag, the unmistakable scent of summer blooms wafted through the entire building. A lilligant behind the counter waved to them cheerily and called out to Gutter, "Back so soon? Another tea, maybe?"

The spinda waved the offer away. "Sorry, I'm just here to show him something." He gestured to Outrider.

The lilligant squinted at the lucario then jumped. "Oh, the head of Crag? Here, in my cafe?" Several pokemon turned their heads towards Outrider, but the lucario waved their attention away.

"As you were. I simply need to find out if someone is still here," he said, his tone even.

"Who?" asked the lilligant.

"A watchog," said Gutter, before Outrider could reply.

"Haven't seen the only one that's come in leave just yet," replied the plant, bringing a leafy arm to the side of her head and tapping it. "So, maybe?"

"Thank you," said Outrider, nodding. "Let's go, Gutter."

The thin wooden door that led out onto the balcony creaked as it swung open, revealing a quiet space with a few tables and chairs, and a single pokemon. Seated in a chair at the edge of the balcony was Eyes, a cup of tea in front of him. Gutter pointed at him and said, "That's him."

He stayed in Outrider's shadow as the lucario marched up to the watchog. He opened his mouth, but the groundhog cut him off. Eyes stared into his cup of tea as he said, "I saw you coming."

"Did you now?" replied Outrider, his tone rough.

"Yes." Eyes looked up at the lucario and gestured at his brilliant red and yellow eyes. "How could I possibly miss you? Or that weavile? Of course, you're not exactly blending in, Outrider." He glanced in the direction where Ran stood at ground level, waiting. "Nor is she."

"You're still here," said the lucario, his tone becoming uncertain. He looked back at Gutter and gave him a concerned look. "That's an odd thing for someone associated with the Dregs to do."

Eyes stared back at Outrider and then tilted his chair far back enough to catch a glimpse of Gutter. "Is that what he told you?" Outrider nodded. Eyes shook his head and chuckled. "What, did he hear me muttering some kind of evil plan under my breath? Maybe saw I was whispering a secret message to a cutiefly before sending them on their way?" He paused and scowled before raising his voice. "Or perhaps he simply heard me talking to myself about how to repurpose the dregs in berry wine that's made at one of the farms here."

Outrider looked over at Gutter once more, his brow furrowed. "I hope this wasn't a waste of my time," he said.

Gutter did his best to look like he'd just made an important realization and raised a paw. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. What kind of berry wine?" he asked, looking at Eyes.

"Bluk. We add pomeg and chesto to it for complexity," said the watchog, sounding thoroughly displeased.

"I work at the only berry field that makes wine in all of Crag," said the spinda, pointing at him and scowling. "We don't use any of those berries! We exclusively use jaboca berries as the base of the wine!"

The watchog stared back at Gutter and then looked over at Outrider. "He's making that up."

"Why would I make that up?" asked Gutter, looking confused. "That doesn't make sense."

"Maybe this is what Dregs do. Get innocent pokemon wrapped up in false accusations for fun."

"You're the one that mentioned Dregs."

"I work on a farm that makes wine, you idiot, why wouldn't I mutter about dregs to myself?"

"Silence!" shouted Outrider, stepping between them. "We're going downstairs and clarifying this. Someone is bound to know in this cafe, and if no one does, then I will personally escort both of you to the berry field you claim to work at and get to the bottom of this."

Gutter and Eyes stared at each other. They'd played their roles too well. Gutter swallowed and blinked three times at the watchog. Eyes gave him the barest of nods and said in a shaky voice, "I don't think I will." He was up and over the railing before Outrider could lunge for him, and a moment later he'd leapt off the balcony and down to the ground below.

A hideous shriek filled the air, sending Gutter clambering up the railing and peering over to see what had happened. Did Eyes really fuck up his landing?

He felt a stone slip into his stomach. Ran stared back at him, holding up Eyes, whose face was screwed up in equal parts with pain and terror. Gutter looked on in horror as he realized she wasn't holding his arm - she'd run her claws through it.

"I think you've done Crag an incredible service, Gutter," mumbled the lucario. He looked down at the spinda, who stared back, trying his best not to look disturbed. "Thank you. You've saved the lives of countless pokemon with your spirited attempts at deception." The fist was in front of his face in a blink, and the world went black right after.

Outrider took the stairs down to the street two at a time, his heart soaring. At last. At long last. He should have expected the Dregs to become overconfident at some point. But never did he imagine he'd catch two of them lying to his face. He nodded at Ran and gestured for her to follow him, holding the spinda over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

He finally had his key.