(QueenDramaLlama: Thank you for the story follow.)
Just as I foretold, Hex thought grumpily as she made her way to Glumshanks' room. The sorceress had just spent the last hour being scolded by Master Eon for using 'fear' to manipulate Buzz. According to the Portal Master, it was no way to 'make friends'. Hex waited patiently for him to finish, but, inwardly, she disagreed with his sentiment.
People saw what they wanted to see, nothing more nothing less. Most people judged her as soon as they saw her. She was, in their eyes, the undead witch incapable of any emotion other than mild irritation or slight distaste. Hex didn't need or want friends like that. Fear was merely a tool in the sorceress's arsenal, and she would continue to wield it with deadly accuracy.
Hex arrived at her destination and pushed her current train of thought away. The sorceress rapped lightly on the door and a moment later Glumshanks had appeared. "Time for dinner," Hex murmured.
The sorceress led the way through the many halls and pointedly ignored the whispering and suspicion directed their way. Hex caught snippets of conversations and none were positive.
"What's he doing here?"
"... sniveling troll should run along back to his master…"
"... can't be trusted… betrayed Kaos…"
Hex felt her core temperature plummet as her anger rose. She realized she was not the only one who had heard the cruel remarks as Glumshanks' ears drooped. The sorceress forced her temperature to rise as she turned back to the troll. "Would you rather go back to your room?" Hex asked gently, "I can bring you dinner there."
"N-no, that's okay," Glumshanks hurriedly said, "I wouldn't want you to miss dinner on my account."
The sorceress smiled softly, "It is not necessary for me. I am not one of the living."
"I'm so sorry," the troll backtracked, "I didn't mean to-"
"Think nothing of it," Hex waved it off, not offended in the least.
They entered the dining hall which was just a glorified cafeteria. The sorceress stayed close by Glumshanks' side and sent icy glares to those she knew had been gossiping. The two quickly picked out their dinner and Hex led Glumshanks to her usual table in the back.
Stealth Elf and Chill were already there waiting for them. As soon as she saw the sorceress, the frost warrior started waving them over enthusiastically. Where she got all that energy Hex would never know.
"Ya gotta save me," Chill cried as soon as the sorceress sat down, "Stealthie's tryin' ta poison me!"
"All I said was that you should eat more vegetables," the ninja huffed. Hex glanced at her friends' plates. Chill's plate was piled high with grilled fish while Stealth Elf's had fruits and vegetables. Hex's own held a singular slice of pizza that she may or may not actually eat. Before the sorceress could decide, Chill snagged the slice off her plate and took a bite.
"Happy now?" the frost warrior asked the ninja after she swallowed, "It's got tomato sauce."
Stealth Elf grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like "Tomatoes are fruit" but let the matter slide. Hex didn't mind that her pizza was pilfered. The sorceress hated to waste food and she knew Chill would finish it. The frost warrior had a bottomless pit for a stomach.
Hex glanced Glumshanks' way. The troll sat stiffly and hadn't touched his food. "Don't worry," the sorceress said with a serene smile, "Chill always acts like a hyperactive child on a sugar rush."
"Do not," the frost warrior insisted playfully with mock offense. Chill beamed warmly at Glumshanks and some of the tension left his shoulders. The sorceress had known her friends would follow her lead and welcome Glumshanks. After all, Stealth Elf and Chill tried not to judge others without getting to know them first, a trait that endeared them in Hex's eyes. If only everyone were so understanding...
A hand slammed down on their table and all conversation ceased. Hex glowered at the interrupting storm giant, but he ignored her. "I think I speak for all of us," Lightning Rod said to Glumshanks, "When I say 'get out'. No one wants you here."
The sorceress stood up swiftly, but she still saw the troll recoil. By now, all eyes were on the unfolding drama. "Clearly, you don't know as much as you think you do," Hex stated crisply as her temperature plummeted, "I don't want Glumshanks to leave." Stealth Elf and Chill slid into place beside her, each affirming the sorceress's claim.
"Then you are traitors!" the storm giant declared with finality.
"If you have a complaint, you may take it up with me in the arena," the sorceress challenged coolly. With a flick of her wrists, Hex conjured a skull into each hand, "But I… can't promise that you'll live to regret it."
Lightning Rod clenched his fists and his lower half went from white and fluffy to ominous thunderhead. Sparks jumped from his hands to his cloud and the storm giant's expression darkened as he started forwards.
Suddenly, Hex was thrust backwards into Blizzard Chill by a gale force wind. The frost warrior gripped the sorceress's shoulders and managed to keep them both standing. Hex whirled to fire a phantom orb at Lightning Rod but paused when she realized that he, too, had been hit with the whirlwind.
A spiney, blue blur shot between the would-be-combatants and halted. The sorceress blinked slowly before recognizing her oldest friend.
"Enough," Warnado rumbled, "You know how Master Eon feels about fighting in the dinning hall, and I don't think anyone wants to explain to him why all the tables are in splinters."
The turtle directed his attention to the storm giant, "I don't suppose you want Master Eon to find out about this little incident, do you?" Lightning Rod huffed under his breath but stormed out off the hall.
Having successfully defused the situation, Warnado turned to Hex. The sorceress arched an eyebrow as her temperature returned to normal, "Was that gust of wind really necessary?"
The turtle grinned cheekily, "I was going to use a full blown tornado, but Sonic Boom convinced me not to."
Hex shook her head, "Well then, you should thank her, or you would have been the one informing Master Eon on why the tables were in pieces."
"Will do," Warnado replied. He made to return his seat where the obsidian griffin and her babies were waiting, but paused when he felt the sorceress's hand on his shell.
"Thank you for your assistance, old friend," Hex murmured as her eyes met his.
"Any time. I've got your back," the turtle nodded before taking on a mischievous air, "But you should really stop inciting fights. What was that? The third one today?"
"It was the second," the sorceress muttered, "And I can't help it if some foolish mortal goes looking for trouble."
"Mmhm," the turtle hummed in a way that suggested he didn't believe her, "Well, see ya later." Warnado trotted away and Hex turned back to her friends. Stealth Elf had taken a defensive stance in front of Glumshanks and Chill removed her hands from the sorceress's shoulders. The frost warrior crossed her arms and looked a little distressed. The behavior in itself was strange and Hex made a mental note to ask her about it later. For now, though, the sorceress's main concern was escorting Glumshanks back to his room without another disruption.
"Come," Hex commanded as she glided over to the exit. The troll shadowed her with Chill and Stealth Elf on either side of him. The sorceress knew they had caused quite the commotion in the dining hall, but, thankfully, no one stopped the foursome. She paused outside the door to Glumshanks' room.
"My home resides a fair distance to the North of here if you have need of me," Hex informed Glumshanks.
"It's surrounded at all times by this super creepy violet fog," Stealth Elf
piped up, "You can't miss it."
"It's not creepy," the sorceress denied. Hex glanced at Chill. Her friend never missed a chance to tease her, but, now, the frost warrior didn't even look her way. Blizzard Chill's arms were tucked tightly against her torso, and her posture was rigid.
"I thought all Skylanders lived in Skylanders' Academy," Glumshanks murmured and the sorceress was, for the moment at least, distracted from her growing worry.
"Most do," Hex said, "But I prefer the solitude that it grants."
Glumshanks nodded in understanding, and the group said their good nights. The troll entered his room, and the sorceress was finally able to give Chill her undivided attention.
"Alright, what's wrong?" Hex frowned, but her eyes betrayed her concern.
The frost warrior jumped when she was addressed, "Oh, nothin'."
"I've known you for years," the sorceress sighed, "You can't lie to me."
"Show us your hands, Chill," Stealth Elf requested quietly. The ninja had noted early on how Blizzard Chill had hidden her hands from view. For a moment, Stealth Elf thought the frost warrior would refuse as she glanced apprehensively at Hex.
Chill slowly uncrossed her arms and revealed her fingers to be a sickly blue. The sorceress heard the ninja's breath hitch, but she could only stare uncomprehendingly at her friend's frostbitten fingers.
"How…" Hex asked bewildered, but she already knew the answer. During the confrontation with Lightning Rod, Blizzard Chill had touched her frigid, deadened flesh when her temperature was well below freezing. It was her fault.
"It's not as bad as it looks," the frost warrior attempted to soothe Hex's rising horror.
"Infirmary. Now," the sorceress snapped.
"How can you tell me to go to the infirmary, when you never go yourself?" Chill grumbled but complied with Hex's wish. The frost warrior had planned to go anyways, but she wanted to make the point that when the sorceress was injured she should too.
"Because, unlike you, there is nothing in this world that is life threatening to me."