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Chapter 58

Battle Against The Pest Rat
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Riou struck the rat quickly with his tonfa, hitting the creature with two fierce blows before dodging away before the rat could retaliate. The attack may not have hurt the rat too much, but it did allow Andrew to carry Elaine away from the line of fire. Andrew also had the presence of mind to grab the quivering Fitcher by the arm and drag him out of harm's way too. The attack also served to annoy the rat, who had just assumed it had found an easy meal. Instead it had found itself under attack, this time by Nanami. She followed her brother's example, hitting the rat with two swift attacks using her three-part rod, before back flipping away before the rat could claw her. And with claws the size of small daggers, it probably was a good thing that Nanami dodged the attack. The rat seemed to be somewhat wary of the group, and had backed away slightly.

"I don't think we should get too close," Riou warned the group, "Anything that could hurt Elaine like that is definitely a threat."

"There wasn't even a mark on her," Andrew yelled as he ran back into the fight, drawing the Star Dragon Sword and glaring straight at the rat, "Whatever it did to her, it wasn't a physical attack that knocked her out."

"Can we just kill this thing before it attacks us?" Chris gripped his staff tightly in his hands; "It looks like it hasn't eaten for a while..."

"Thanks Chris," Andrew muttered sarcastically whilst he rolled his eyes at Chris, "Motivational speaking is not your strong suit."

Chris opened his mouth to respond, but Andrew had already charged at the rat, ready to strike the beast down. Andrew's swings were on target, but the rat showed incredible nimbleness by dodging most of the blows. The slashes that it couldn't dodge it managed to at least parry off with its paws. The rat obviously knew it was dealing with more dangerous prey, and was seemingly more prepared than before. The rat slashed at Andrew, who only just managed to block it with the sword. Andrew backed away quickly before the rat could slash at him again. Instead of backing away like the rat had done before, it decided to go on the offensive. The rat charged at the group with a mighty tackle, catching some of the group off guard. Riou and Nanami dodged to the side easily, whilst Chris had to drag Millie away from the attack by her arm. Andrew was still recovering from the rat's earlier attack, and didn't quite move to the side in time. He caught a glancing blow, but with the size of the rat it was still enough to send Andrew crashing down to the ground in a heap. The Star Dragon Sword slipped out of Andrew's grip and clattered away harmlessly. It uttered it's discontent at that in such a way it was worth wondering if the sword had spent too much time in Viktor's company.

The rat closed in on the downed Andrew, but was cut short by one of Avara's minor lightning spells. The magical energy crackled around Avara as the rat turned around to face the mage. The rat began to charge at Avara, but he simply shot off another small lightning bolt at the rat. The rat had no choice but to back off again, it's gaze fixed on Avara. Which was a silly thing to do considering it had five other people to worry about as well. It may have been bigger than your average rat, but it didn't seem to be any more intelligent. Both Riou and Nanami managed to hit the rat a few times in succession before having to dodge away from its claws. Chris then attacked the rat from the opposite side, managing a few strikes with his staff before jumping backwards to avoid the rat's swipe. Millie then cast Open Gate, which summoned a mystical fox to attack the rat. Avara may have been right to worry about Millie using her Blue Gate rune in the sewers, but she was at least smart enough to summon something that was small enough to fit in the room. This ensuing chaos gave Andrew ample time to recover his senses. It wasn't until he heard the sword's complaints that he realised he had dropped it, and quickly rectified that situation by picking it back up off the ground.

"I'm so sorry!" Andrew apologised quickly to the sword, before charging at the stunned rat. Andrew's attack was swift and true, and the rat howled in pain at being directly struck by the sharp edged (and sharp-tongued) Star Dragon Sword.

The rat had no choice but to back away from the group. As one, they sensed victory. They moved towards the rat slowly, all watching for it to make any sudden moves. The rat seemed to be cowering away from them, as if it knew it was outmatched.

"That's one unusual rat," Chris mused as everyone continued walking towards it, "It's like it actually has a brain or something."

"That thing isn't a rat, I've seen rats before," Nanami chipped in as she readied her three-part rod for attack, "Rats are those little annoying things that Barbara keeps moaning about. THAT thing is a monster."

"Well, if Barbara simply kept her storage room tidy..." Avara muttered, mostly to himself. He didn't need anyone else commenting on his remark since Avara knew that he was right. Besides, Barbara's vault wasn't the immediate problem...

"We really showed that rat who's boss, didn't we Bonaparte?" Millie said in her usual cheerful tone, turning to look at the place on her shoulder where Bonaparte usually rested. Only problem was, Bonaparte wasn't there...and Millie didn't exactly react in a quiet manner. In fact, she screamed. Loudly. For at least ten seconds. Everybody else was forced to cover their ears as her screams were so loud. Even the rat seemed to cower away from her wails.

"Is she done yet?" Avara removed his hands from where they were covering his ears, but not before he rolled his eyes at the way the girl was overreacting, "Good. Your little pet is on top of the rat. Kindly get it to move before I accidentally hit it instead of the creature."

"'Accidentally?'" Andrew didn't believe that one for a second. Avara tended to be deadly accurate with his spells, there was very rarely anything 'accidental' about Avara's aim. However, Andrew couldn't put it past the young mage to hit Bonaparte on purpose...

Millie blinked in surprise as she followed Avara's gaze to where Bonaparte was resting. The groundhog seemed quite content on top of the rat. It squeaked as it realised that it was suddenly garnering more attention than the big rat it was on top of.

"Bonaparte! Get down from there!" Millie chided her pet, and to her dismay Bonaparte didn't move an inch, "I mean it! We've got to defeat that nasty rat, and we can't do that if you're on top of it!"

"Says who?" Andrew muttered to himself, not quite believing what he was seeing. He sighed and shook his head in dismay, "This is unreal…"

"We're not ACTUALLY going to wait for her to move Bonaparte, are we?" Even Nanami was embarrassed by this display, watching Millie futilely try to wave Bonaparte down, "Come on, a few more hits and we'll have that thing beat! We hit the rat a few times and Bonaparte'll jump right off anyway, right?"

"Millie, please move...we'll get Bonaparte down for you," Riou could feel the disbelieving stares he was recieiving from the others, and he felt completely embarrassed because of it, "Let us kill the rat before it can get it's second wind."

"Stay OUT of this!" Millie turned fiercely to look at Riou, the sudden show of temper causing him, Nanami and Chris to flinch. Avara remained bored by all of this, and Andrew simply looked embarrassed to be there, "Now, where was I…oh yeah, Bonaparte! This is your last warning! Get down from there!"

"Oy...I don't believe this…" Chris suddenly felt a headache coming on. Mostly everybody else could probably say the same about how they were feeling about Millie's antics.

"I've had enough of this..." Avara narrowed his eyes and held his right hand forward, the mystical rune beginning to glow, "Get out of the way girl, I'd almost hate for you to get in the way of my wrath."

"Don't you dare!" Chris pointed his staff at Avara, his words filled with serious anger, "I'll knock you out before you can fire off more than one bolt."

"I sincerely doubt that," Avara replied coldly, not even turning around to face Chris, "You'd more likely hit yourself than come anywhere close to hitting me."

"Willing to test that theory?" Chris fumed, not exactly happy at the suggestion that he was incompetent, but he had at least managed to get Avara to turn around to look at him, "I've a few tricks up my sleeve too. We'll just let everyone else handle the rat and we can..."

Chris momentarily turned his attention back to the rat, and his eyes widened in fear at what he was looking at. Millie was walking straight towards the rat, obviously to try and physically remove Bonaparte from the rat. Time seemed to stand still as Millie raised her arms to try and coax Bonaparte down, and Avara looked shocked as Chris ran right past him towards Millie and the rat. Avara noticed everybody else following a split second afterwards, and finally he turned around himself to witness the spectacle. Millie didn't even see the rat begin to emit a noxious green cloud until it was too late. Millie's eyes widened as the green mist surrounded her, and it seemed the rat had only enough energy to target her and her alone.

"MILLIE!" Chris screamed as the mist began to subside. He couldn't see Millie, and for a moment he was scared that the rat had eaten her. Luckily, she hadn't been eaten, but unluckily she was lying down on the ground. Her eyes were closed, and it seemed that she was unconscious at best. Chris ran over to Millie and knelt down beside her, momentarily forgetting about the rat that was right in front of him. The rat lifted it's paw to strike Chris down, and it looked like it would get a clean hit on the distracted Chris. Luckily for him, Riou and Nanami managed to attack the rat before it could attack Chris, and the rat was forced to swipe at it's more immediate threat instead. The two easily dodged the rather weak attack, and managed to strike the rat with another blow each before jumping back in case the rat spewed it's mist at them.

"Andrew, help Chris get Millie out of the way," Riou ordered. Andrew responded with a nod before moving towards Chris and the fallen Millie, "Avara, we could really use a lightning bolt or two over here..."

"I'm fully aware of that fact," Avara was standing as far away from the rat as he could without leaving the room, his staff pointing directly at the rat. Magical energy was crackling along the staff, which is where the lightning magic would eventually emanate, "Just a little more time…"

Chris didn't even notice Andrew run beside him until he spoke up, "We have to move her in case the rat steps on her or something. Chris? CHRIS, NOW! Oh, forget it! I'll move her myself..."

But Chris wasn't listening to Andrew, let alone fully acknowledging Andrew's presence. It didn't fully register with Chris that Andrew had lifted Millie off of the ground and moved her away from the danger zone. In fact, Chris had suddenly forgotten the presence of everybody else in the room bar himself and the rat. He gripped his staff tightly in his hands, fury building up inside of him. With a roar of anger, Chris threw his staff directly at the rat. Riou and Nanami watched as the staff suddenly stopped right in front of the rat, and stay suspended in mid-air. Riou and Nanami looked at each other in confusion before turning to look at Chris. Both gulped as they saw that the rune on his right hand was glowing brightly.

"We may want to move..." Riou and Nanami said simultaneously, before jumping away from the rat and the staff. Both watched as the staff began to slowly spin around in mid-air, and both Riou and Nanami suddenly had a fair idea what was about to happen as it picked up speed quickly.

"I'm guessing I'll have to wait until Chris has his little heroic moment to do finish it off," Avara rolled his eyes and waited impatiently.

The staff was soon spinning around too quickly to properly see it, and as a result it was created a tornado effect. The stiff breeze that was created from the velocity wasn't the attack, although it was beginning to blow debris around with ease. The staff, whether Chris had control of it or not at this stage, was rapidly striking the rat multiple times as it span around. Riou and Nanami watched on in wonder, whilst Avara merely raised an eyebrow at the effect of Chris' rune.

"A wannabe-mage with a non-magical Rune...well, that's on par for Chris..." Avara shook his head as the staff began to slow down again, "Hopeless..."

As Chris' staff began to slow down, it also began to lost altitude. Eventually it stopped moving completely, and it clattered down to the sewer-floor. Chris fell to his knees as the effect of using his Rune overcame him. Chris looked up at the rat, it didn't seem to be moving. Chris let out a small breath of relief before looking over at Avara.

"See, I told you I had a few tricks..." Chris managed a small victory grin as he regained normal breathing, "Now, let's get Millie and..."

"Chris!" Riou yelled suddenly, "Look out!"

Chris turned back around to see, too late, that he hadn't defeated the rat like he had thought. Instead, he saw a very pissed-off looking creature that was charging straight at him.

"Oh crap..." Chris muttered as the rat charged straight into him. Chris was sent tumbling to the ground head-first, and he landed very awkwardly. Riou and Nanami rushed over to where Chris landed, leaving Avara to finally use his magic against the rat.

"Finally..." Avara muttered as a pair of lightning bolts fired from the tip of his staff, crashing straight into the rat with a brilliant bright light. Avara's eyes were used to the murky darkness of the room, and thus the brightness of the lightning caught him slightly off-guard. His earlier spells didn't cause as much light as this more powerful spell did. Momentarily blinded, he didn't see the rat charging directly at the source of the light...Avara himself. Thus he found himself caught completely by surprise as the rat careened straight into him, knocking him directly into the wall and completely winding the mage. Avara slumped down to the ground, apparently unconscious.

"Avara!"

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Andrew carried Millie out into the corridor where he had left Fitcher and the still unconscious Elaine before. Fitcher looked worried as Andrew placed Millie gently down on the ground. Unnoticed by everybody, Bonaparte had followed Andrew, and was now squeaking softly at the still form of it's master. If it was possible, Bonaparte looked worried.

"Er...I take it you're losing?" Fitcher asked Andrew nervously.

"Just stay here," Andrew replied angrily, before charging back to where the others were still fighting.

Fitcher shied away from Andrew's anger, looking in fear at the two unconscious girls, "Two down..."

There was a brief moment of silence, followed by a brilliant flash of light. Fitcher heard Andrew yell Avara's name a few seconds after the light had faded, "Make that three down…" Fitcher moaned. Suddenly his lost wallet didn't seem worth recovering when he was obviously about to lose his life.

"Uhhh…Ow, my head…"

Fitcher turned round in surprise to see Elaine sitting upright, holding her head in both of her hands. She groaned again as she attempted to stand back up. She seemed unsteady, even though she was using the wall to steady herself.

"Miss Elaine, you shouldn't try…" Fitcher began, but was silenced by Elaine's supremely dark glare.

"Don't tell me what I shouldn't do," Elaine's voice was shaky, and it didn't help that she was feeling incredibly dizzy, "Ugh...I feel like I'm going to be violently ill...what happened to the munchkin?"

"The rat knocked her out, I guess," Fitcher replied worriedly, "Strange, she doesn't seem to have a mark on her."

"Urk...that green gas," Elaine struggled to remember her encounter with the rat, which was apparently still being a nuisance, "It must've got her with that too…ugh, my head's spinning. Oh...damn, that gas was poisonous too...stupid poison, no wonder assassins frown upon using it..."

"You mean you've both been poisoned?" Fitcher said in horror, "Ack! We need to get you both to a doctor!"

"No time for that, that rat's still out there. It's a good thing I raided Nanami's bag before I left the inn, guess I owe her some money for this," Elaine reached into a hidden pocket in her outfit and pulled out a small vial of liquid, "This antitoxin should do just fine until we get back out."

Elaine removed the cork from the vial and drunk about half of the liquid. It tasted bitter, and Elaine shuddered at the awful taste before putting the cork back into the vial, "Bleagh…ugh, yuck. When she wakes up, make her drink the rest of this."

Elaine handed Fitcher the remaining antitoxin and turned to head back towards the room where the Pest Rat was currently in heated battle with Riou, Andrew and the others.

"You don't mean to go back and fight that thing, do you?" Fitcher asked, completely horrified, "You're not even walking straight…you're staggering like a drunk!"

"I'm not going to let a stupid RAT beat me or my friends!" Elaine retorted angrily, unsheathing her knife from where it previously hid waiting to be unleashed at any given target, rat-shaped or otherwise, "Try stopping me, I DARE you!"

"...good luck?" Fitcher replied meekly, watching helplessly as she edged her way along the corridor, still using the wall to keep herself steady, "Stupid girl...it's stunts like this that get people killed..."

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Riou, Nanami and Andrew glared at the rat, which had backed away from where it had rammed Avara into the wall. Nanami backed towards Avara to check on his condition, leaving Riou and Andrew to face off against the rat.

"I can't believe this," Andrew muttered to Riou, "We're losing to a RAT!"

"I think that we'd better keep this to ourselves once we leave…" Riou nodded in agreement, "It is somewhat embarrassing..."

Nanami rushed back over to them, "He's still breathing, but he's out of the count for now...it's up to us three now."

"It can't have much left, surely?" Andrew tried tallying up the amount of poundage they had already dealt to the rat, "Let's just strike quick and dodge back before it can retaliate."

"Good plan," Riou nodded, "It can't hit all of us if we attack together."

As one, they charged with weapons ready to attack. The rat was taken by surprise by the sudden onslaught, and it could do little to defend itself against the tri-attack. Blood oozed from where Andrew cut it with the Star Dragon Sword, and the rat roared in pain. It lifted it's front legs off the ground, and the three rushed backwards before it could bring it's paws down on top of them. Unfortunately, the resulting impact shook the room, and shook some of the foundation of the ceiling so much that it began to fall down to the ground. Riou was the first to notice some bits of the ceiling hit the ground, and made the slight mistake of looking up. Andrew and Nanami looked to see what had captured Riou's attention, and both wished they hadn't looked. The three jumped to the side, Riou and Nanami to the right and Andrew to the left, as larger pieces of the ceiling began to crash to the ground. Riou and Nanami managed to dodge the worst of it, but unfortunately for Andrew he just failed to avoid a particularly large piece of the ceiling. It struck him on the left shoulder, and knocked him down to the ground with a thud.

"Andrew! No!"

Riou and Nanami turned to look at the corridor to see the still unsteady looking Elaine looking horrified at what had just happened to Andrew. Her eyes were wide, and it seemed that Andrew wasn't moving after being struck. She turned to look straight at the rat, with what could only be described as fury burning in her eyes. Elaine took a step towards the rat, but couldn't move any further as a sudden pounding pain erupted in her head. She screamed at the pain as she fell to her knees on the ground, her head in her hands. Riou and Nanami looked at her in horror, but had no time to help Elaine as the rat was closing in on them. They brought their weapons out to defend themselves.

Elaine could only just make out the rat's form as the pain in her head began to subside slightly. But it was replaced by the same voice that had plagued her thoughts and nightmares recently. The Assassins' Lore was calling out to her again…

You don't have to help them...you could easily backtrack through the sewers and escape the way you came in. There's no point helping them, they'll just let you down in the end. Assassins can only rely on themselves. Leave them...you don't need to help them...

"No...you're right," Elaine said quietly, as the pain began to reach tolerable levels, "I don't need to help them."

Elaine managed to stand up again, this time feeling a lot stronger than she had previously felt when she woke up. The antitoxin was taking effect, and Elaine smiled a slightly evil smile as she focused her attention completely on the rat.

"I don't need to help them," Elaine repeated loudly, causing Riou and Nanami to wonder what she was talking about, "But I do WANT to help them!"

Elaine screamed loudly as she charged at the rat, her knife held ready to strike swiftly and often. The only thoughts on her mind now were of protecting Riou and making sure Andrew would be safe. The rat was still preoccupied with Riou and Nanami, and it didn't realise Elaine was there until the first slash of the knife. The rat howled loudly as the first slash was followed by a more powerful second, then a third. The rat spun around to hit Elaine with it's paw, but she easily ducked underneath it and slashed the rat's face with her knife. The rat tried to crush her underneath it's paw, but Elaine dodged easily by spinning around it, and managed to slash the leg with her knife as she spun. Riou and Nanami used this advantage to attack the rat from the other side. The rat couldn't defend itself from both sides, and thus all three managed to strike the rat quickly and often. The rat, in what could only be described as a last resort, spun around quickly. It whipped Riou and Nanami with it's tail, knocking them both away from it. It tried to hit Elaine with it's paw, but again she managed to duck underneath it. Unfortunately, Elaine didn't react quite quickly enough as it struck her on the back of the head with the paw Elaine had just thought she avoided. She fell to the ground stomach first, but quickly rolled around on to her back...just in time to see the Rat lift it's front two legs up to bring down on top of her, and crush her.

"Oh no you don't!"

Elaine rolled to the side quickly as Andrew charged straight at the rat. Nobody had noticed Andrew recover from having a lump of ceiling land on his shoulder, and it was obvious that his left arm was suffering from it. It hung uselessly, but luckily for everybody concerned, Andrew was right handed. Thus he held the Star Dragon Sword tightly in his right hand, and swung it in a violent arc at the rat's unprotected underbelly. The rat fell to it's side, obviously in serious pain. The rat tried to get back to it's feet, and it seemed it would manage this feat.

"Hell's teeth, what'll it take to kill that thing?" Andrew muttered through the coursing pain in his shoulder.

"Give you a hint," Elaine pointed at Riou, and Andrew looked to see Riou raise his right hand in the air, which could only mean that Riou was about to use his Rune, "This might just do it. Are we in the way?"

With a fleeting glance at Riou, neither of them had to bother answering Elaine's question. Andrew and Elaine quickly moved out of the line of fire as Riou cast his spell using the Bright Shield Rune. It didn't take long to take effect, as a brilliant white light engulfed the room. It shone brightest over the rat, since that was what the spell was targeting. Nobody could see the rat as the spell took full effect. Everyone else was forced to cover their eyes for the duration of the spell, since the alternative was possible blindness. The light took it's time to subside, but as it did everybody was able to uncover their eyes. The Shining Light spell certainly lived up to it's name, and it took even the most experienced eyes in the room a while to regain normal vision. After much blinking and non-recommended rubbing of eyes, everybody was finally able to see the fallen form of the Pest Rat. It was lying still, it's horrible eyes closed. It was, unquestionably, past tense.

"Finally..." Nanami huffed, falling to her knees in exhaustion, "Well done, Riou!"

"We'd better check on everyone else," Riou motioned around the room at the others who had fallen during the fight, "Nanami, check on Chris. I'll see about Avara. Andrew, go and get Fitcher and Millie. Elaine, see where that door behind the rat leads...hopefully it's out of these damn sewers."

Nanami, Andrew and Elaine nodded before setting off to their assigned tasks. Chris and Avara had both had the wind totally knocked out of them, but they were otherwise okay. With a little goading, Riou and Nanami managed to wake them up. Both groaned in pain as they were helped to their feet. Elaine came back in soon afterwards.

"There's a ladder that leads out of here just ahead," She reported, "I don't know where it leads, but anywhere but here is preferable right now."

"Agreed," Riou nodded, "Let's get out of here as soon as Andrew comes back with Fitcher and Millie."

"Millie..." Chris muttered weakly, not quite fully recovered, "How is she?"

"Unconscious, possibly poisoned," Elaine replied as gently as she could, something she found quite difficult to actually do, "Don't worry, I gave Fitcher some antitoxin to give her when she wakes up."

Chris looked somewhat relieved, but obviously not fully. He didn't look sad, but he did look incredibly angry.

"I never thought one pesky ray could be so much bother," Avara said angrily, not too happy that he had to rely on Riou to remain standing. Avara may have been physically hurting, but he felt like his pride had taken a worse beating from this, "You do realise that infernal Winger led us straight to that thing. We're nothing but fools for falling for such an obvious trap."

"Yeah, we fell for it alright," Chris added, almost equally as angry, but he was unable to muster the authoritative tone he wanted. Chris' pride wasn't hurt, although he certainly was feeling bruised on the inside as well as the outside. He wasn't even angry because it seemed they wouldn't get their stolen money back, "Damn it all! He knew we wouldn't give up the chase so easily! We ran headfirst into his trap without even thinking about how dangerous it could have been…and now Millie…she's…"

Chris found himself unable to continue as his anger subsided, and was replaced by grief. His eyes welled up with tears that he refused to let fall.

"She's fine, Chris."

Chris turned around sharply to see Andrew, Fitcher and a healthy looking Millie walk back into the room, an excited Bonaparte following behind them.

"I gave her the antitoxin like you said," Fitcher nodded at Elaine, "She was up pretty quickly after that."

"Millie! You're okay!" Chris managed a smile, "Thank goodness...I was worried for a second there!"

"Sorry I worried you," Millie apologised to Chris, "I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, don't apologise!" Chris butted in hurriedly, "I'm just glad you're okay."

Millie smiled weakly, she may have looked okay but she was in need of some rest. Something everybody in the room could sympathise with.

"Come on, the ladder out of here is this way," Elaine said, leading the way past the defeated rat, "I pity whoever has to clean that up."

The group walked in silence through the corridor that led to the ladder, and more importantly to the exit.

"Some things are more important than money, huh?" Chris said to Avara as they walked, still being aided by Nanami and Riou respectively, "Guess you were right."

"You seem surprised by that," Avara replied smugly, his bashed pride receiving a minor boost, "Next time, just save yourself the bother and believe me right away."

Chris nodded weakly in response. He didn't feel quite up to arguing with Avara at that moment...he could always get back at him for this at a later date. Right now, the ladder leading out of the sewers was his worst enemy. Avara was forced to be piggybacked up the ladder by Riou, whilst Andrew climbed the ladder with Chris on his back...not an easy feat taking Andrew's injured arm into account. Millie was last up the ladder, with Bonaparte resting on her head, and very soon they were all met by the extremely refreshing feeling of fresh air.

"Ah! That feels so nice!" Nanami squealed excitedly, "I've never been so glad to be outside in my life!"

"We'd better figure out where we are," Riou looked around for any tell-tell signs, and quickly found none, "I assume we're still in Two River, but where?"

"Well, it's definitely not the Winger district, and it doesn't have the same feel as the Human district," Andrew surmised, "So…based on that, I can only assume that we're..."

"What are you all doing in here!?"

Everybody looked alarmed as they looked around to see where the voice had come from. Fitcher seemed to be the first to see the very angry looking Ridley storming towards them, but it didn't take too long for Ridley to become rather apparent to everybody.

"...in the Kobold District," Andrew finished lamely, sighing desperately.

"Oh, crap," Elaine shook her head and raised her hands in the air in frustration, "Now what's happening?"

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