Gummadoon Dungeon

"They got away, Blastus," Gumlittle offered as a means of comfort. "It…it didn't hit anywhere vital."

The French knight was not comforted in the least, burying his face into his hands. At least they could move now, though it was little relief. After Emi's outburst, she had been quick to drag them away from the edge and down to their own dungeons. She was ranting and raving the whole way, gloating about how she was going to drag their children back here and kill them slowly and in the most painful way possible right in front of them. She reveled about how they would be so easy to track, that they would make stupid mistakes.

She also made doubly sure to reiterate that while Blastus' arrow had flown off course, it _had_ struck. Blastus had been silent ever since, just sitting on the ground, head in his hands. Despite how they wanted to, neither Gumlittle nor Plucki could touch him. While they could talk to one another, if they tried to reach out, to touch one another, lay a hand for comfort, they would be magically blocked. It felt very similar to a locking spell though much smaller than most standard ones. She was purposely leaving them together but making it impossible for them to work together. All for her own amusement. It made Gumlittle sick. Blocking them from the very thing that made up most of their lives—the affection, the bond with one another.

Cruel.

She had left them to their own thoughts and rushed off, anger and frustration as she barked orders about 'find those cubs!' Oh, the horrible tone of that order. She made sure to give her demand to her undead horde while within their listening range: "Bring me back the heads of each and every one of those cubs. With or without their bodies." They knew she meant it too. She had killed children before. Oh, they had waded through the mass of bodies she had left in her wake. She made no discrimination between adults and children. If she sent her horde after their children, they would not stop.

They HAD to get out of here. They had to get out of here and get to the cubs before she did!

It was quite clear that she had enchanted the locks on the cell doors. The shackles that would appear on their ankles and wrists if they moved too much was proof of magically enhanced security measures and it only seemed to chime up if they attempted to work at the doors to the cells. She was clever, that had not dulled with age. Foolish. They had been foolish. As soon as Lady Bane had no longer been required in their talks, they should have moved to a warded room. They should have…

Gumlittle shook his head. Little good pondering the what ifs. Focus on the now.

"Do you…" Blastus' halting question was helpful at snapping him out of his thoughts, "Do you think they will go to the Glen, mes freres?" He couldn't erase that image, that image of Toni falling forward and not rising again. He had not heard the telltale sound of arrow piercing flesh but all the same, seeing the cub fall, so suddenly and not get back up. He shuddered internally. He needed to know if the boy was alright. He had to know. Being stuck here, unable to help them, not able to guide them…that was the worst.

Plucki was quiet but just for a moment and he shook his head "No. I doubt they will. Cubbi's a smart lad. They're _all_ smart lads. If anything, they'll try to lead them away from the Glen." Plucki had no doubt on this. Cubbi as well as the other boys were far wiser than their years. It wasn't just his personal bias, it was the truth. He had learned long ago to set aside his personal opinions when assessing another fighter. It was something his title required. So, when he set aside his love of those boys, especially of Cubbi, he STILL had the utmost faith that they would know not to go to the Glen. "Where they'll go, I can't say but I know Cubbi well enough to know that he won't go to the Glen. I doubt he'll go to Dunwyn either." He allowed a half-hearted smile though it hardly seemed appropriate "And if anyone knows a place to go in that forest, it will be Cubbi or Sunni." Small favors…

Blastus nodded; he had the same suspicion. Emi was underestimating their children and thank Gum for that small blessing. "Still, Emi's army aside, there's the matter of natural dangers, n'est-ce pas?" He didn't want to bring it up but it was true. Not even Corvi was allowed to camp on his own yet. While the woods of Lorath were not the most dangerous of all forests, in fact they were far from it, the fact remained that at night, there were dangers there. Wolves for the most part, trolls, even some reports of a few goblins here and there. Not normally near Gummadoon but with that sorceress' influence literally pouring out…Gum only knew what dark creatures were seeping out from the dark of Drekmore now that that sorceress' aura was saturating everything. There were things that Blastus had seen in his life that crawled out of Drekmore that he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. Common legend stated the place was cursed and while no one had been able to prove that, he did not doubt it for a moment. Nor did he doubt the kind of nightmares that lurked in the mountains of that land or in the depths of its caverns. Emi or whatever essence was within her would draw dark creatures like a flame brought moths.

And their cubs were potentially in the thick of it. With no aid, no weapons, no sanctuary. Without them there to provide protection.

"Where will they go?" Blastus said aloud. "Where is there for them to go where she won't follow?"

Only the echoing, dank silence of the dungeon answered him.

Lorath Woods

The running through the woods was swift and there was little care paid to the noise they were making. Stealth was not most important right now. Speed was. They needed to put as much distance between Gummadoon and themselves as they could. Cubbi and Sunni seemed fairly calm but that was to be expected. They had grown up in this forest. For the cubs from Gummadoon, the most they had seen of this forest had been before the fleeing of Gummadoon into the time stream which meant only Corvi and Martinni had any memory of it and forests, land, landmarks, they all changed dramatically in as little as a year, let alone 500 years! Granted, they had spent a few hours doing tracking in the woods a few days prior (how things had changed and so quickly!) but this was different.

"C'mon, can't slow down now!" Cubbi advised, leading the way through some underbrush. His group of comrades followed, though he could hear their labored breathing. That wasn't a surprise. They'd been running for some time and it had been full speed for most of it. They had to keep going though. The hideout Cubbi had in mind was only a little ways ahead and he really hoped that it would work. It was the best hidden spot he could think of. It was a ways away from Gummadoon but a ways away from the Glen too. He hated this running but what else could they do? If Aldi hadn't warned him…

Cubbi was so caught up in his thoughts that he nearly leapt out of his skin when Corvi suddenly grabbed his shoulder and said "Wait."

Or, least, he had thought it was Corvi until he heard that very feminine voice. Confused, he stared at Sunni, "Sunni what…"

"No," Corvi agreed. "Hush and listen."

Cubbi blinked and exchanged a glance with Martinni and Flynn. They just expressed the same dumbfounded look but kept quiet as the two oldest members of their group commanded. Sure enough, they heard the faint rustle. It wasn't that loud but definitely indicated someone moving towards them, though not too quickly. Swell, had they been followed and tracked this far out? What good would it do to hide if they were just going to be tracked right into their hiding spot? Panic began to rise in Martinni's chest but to his credit, he didn't verbalize the yell he wanted to. Cori and Morri stared at the older cubs, with Morri pulling his youngest brother close to his side.

Gently handing Toni to Martinni, the eldest faced their surroundings with narrowed eyes. "Back," Corvi said simply and withdrew the knife that he had never given back to Blastus from his belt. Some of his blond hair was still wrapped around the hilt. He shook it once and brandished it, fully ready to deliver a death blow like he'd been coached if he had to. He kept his face held high and positioned himself in front of his brothers and the younger ones. For all his courage, he felt his stomach fall like a stone. He was trained, yes, but he wasn't weapon trained, not yet (despite how he'd pleaded with Blastus on his last birthday to start that with him) and while Blastus had given him a super-short overview before he had run to the Glen, he just had a knife! What would a knife do against a sword or a spear? Knives were good against those that were unarmed but…

No! He scolded himself. Panic is the last thing to do in a survival situation. It only gets people killed! He narrowed his eyes. C'mon, Corvi, focus! Blastus has pounded that into your head for years. Use it!

A deep breath steadied his hand. No matter what he desired, circumstances were what they were. He was the eldest, he was the best trained out of the bunch. What came through those bushes… nothing was touching these cubs unless it plowed through him first!

Sunni mimicked Corvi's stance, pulling the larger of the knives from her belt. She had seen Buddi train, she had practiced some. She remembered all too well Buddi correcting her stance and her grip several times but it was something else altogether to think you would actually need to use it! Her heart was pounding so hard, she could feel it in her ears. Shifting backwards a little, she let her eyes take in the cubs behind her. Not just Cubbi but all the others, standing there, baffled, confused and frightened but standing firm all the same. A surge of energy and courage took her heart and a sense of purpose she was not used to feeling.

She flexed her wrist, stood waiting—

The bushes parted and Healer Huckleberri nearly screamed when he was greeted with two cubs with drawn knives, dropping his basket and throwing his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. It was quite a shock to his old system and he dropped his cane in the process.

Corvi deflated, arm falling.

Sunni let out a deep sigh of relief.

Martinni accused "Gum, don't DO that!" with one hand to his heaving chest and Flynn put his hands on his thighs and exhaled loudly.

Cubbi narrowed his eyes, keeping his wary stance. He certainly recognized Huckleberri but with all the possession and tricks and stuff going on, how could they be sure? He crept closer, slipping between Sunni and Corvi and accusing, "Are you really Huckleberri?"

Corvi, catching on quickly to Cubbi's concern, took on a protective stance again, "Excellent question." He raised his knife again, pointing accusatorily. "Prove it."

As for poor Huckleberri, he was even more confused than ever. First, since when did any of their cubs carry weapons, even small ones like knives? The knights would livid when they became aware! Weapons training was required before cubs were issued a weapon and he was pretty certain that young Sunni's family was not aware of her acquisition of a blade, not from what little he knew of them. He was fairly certain the Glen Patriarch would be against it and yet here she was, wielding one quite effectively. Secondly, what happened to them? Corvi's hair was cut at a horrible angle, with his left side being about three inches shorter than the right as if it were sliced at an angle, Martinni was cradling a hurt Toni who had a nasty cut on his temple and was unconscious, Flynn looked petrified and young Corvi's little brothers were clinging to one another like their lives depended on it. All of them looked like they had been running without pause for quite some time. With the looks of fear and distress painted over their faces, he was more determined than ever to find out what was going on but that would require winning their trust apparently.

"I do not know what had spurred such fear in you, lads" he began "But I assure you that it is me." He knelt, both to gather his cane and to see if the lack of height might calm their hearts a bit. It seemed to ease the youngest ones but Cubbi and Corvi would not relent and still regarded him with caution and fear. He addressed them directly "Young Corvi…what prompts this fear? I am the same Huckleberri you have always known."

Corvi narrowed his eyes farther until they were mere slits and did not falter as Cubbi spoke out "But you might be possessed."

"Possessed?!" Huckleberri nearly fell over "What in Gum's name…"

Flynn cut in "Where have you been, Healer Huckleberri?" He wanted to believe it really was Huckleberri, please…an adult! "Haven't you heard about Emi?"

The healer frowned, deeply, looking over the group "So it is not rumor?" He had heard the stories circulating though he had tried to ignore them. After Emi had been imprisoned, he thought it might help the cubs get over their fear by retelling some of the milder stories of her evildoing - both as a teaching lesson and as a way to show that such evil, no matter the source, could be dealt with. He admitted he'd taken some delight in scaring them but never to the point that it cost them sleep at night. He was far from a prankster age by the time she'd been captured but humor had always been his go-to coping mechanism. Now though, while he had thought the recent tales had been cubs taking to such stories of evil once more - albeit with some embellishment - it appeared he had assumed falsely. He never imagined that they could be true once more. No, he had not WANTED them to be true. However, it was quite apparent by the cubs in front of hi9m that this was no mere rumor. Not counting the true panic and terror in their eyes, the fact that they were so far away from the grounds of Gummadoon proper, let alone the castle, meant something much more dire and much more real. And, while Corvi was young, he was a rational lad and would not be on some escapade without a reason behind it. Not with his little brothers in tow.

"it's real," Cubbi insisted, his eyes still trailing Huckleberri for any sign. But possession was so hard to figure out. It looked and sounded like Huckleberri but how could you be sure? Cubbi racked his brain a moment, thinking. Well, there was always asking him things but wouldn't, if he was possessed, wouldn't whoever was possessing him be able to answer? Well, maybe not. Cubbi could remember being able to block Zorlock from his most private thoughts, much as it made him shudder to think like that. "So tell us something really small that only you or Corvi would know." He demanded, folding his arms.

Corvi blinked in surprise at Cubbi but then…yes, he supposed he did make sense. He was the eldest of their group. He had been among Gummadoonians the longest. And Cubbi had been possessed before. He would know what to use, wouldn't he? With no other expert, they would have to run with it. Much as they still were learning about one another, Corvi had yet to meet a cub with more tenacity than this pink furred cub and his loyalty towards them, towards the knights, towards Plucki was to be admired. He would trust him.

Corvi set his sights on Healer Huckleberri, weapon still at ready, ignoring the little voice in his head that was screaming that holding an esteemed elder at knife-point was grounds for the most horrendous punishment imaginable. This was a completely different scenario! "Healer Huckleberri…if you please…"

The elder frowned; this was most unorthodox and he normally was not one for baring pieces of your soul but for the purpose of comforting their nerves, he relented. "Alright, children. Corvi, your grandmother… Corvi, I'm sure Cressi told you about her crush on me, misinterpreting an interaction we had." The Healer smiled "I believe she was ten when she asked me out for a date which I politely declined. It humiliated her but she learned a good lesson about making sure communication is clear and not make assumptions."

Corvi knew that story. His mother had told him once when he was about Morri's age, joked that he might have ended up with Healer Huckleberri for a grandfather but she had also stressed the lesson his grandmother Jacei had learned- communication might mean the difference between death and life. Ironic…if he had taken her words to heart and told Blastus about his mother when it first happened…no, no time to focus on that. Focus on the now. Corvi did know the story that Huckleberri mentioned. His mother had told him the story of his grandmother's infatuation a few times; he had the feeling she was deeply amused by it.

Cori giggled, throwing his hands over his mouth. Morri bit his lower lip to contain a chuckle though man, it felt good to be able to laugh again. He'd never heard this story! Corvi would have to tell them more later!

Looking to Cubbi, Corvi reported "I believe him." He hoped that his guess was right but this wasn't a story that would lingering near the front of the mind. You would need to dig to find it. Plus, Corvi found that as respected as Huckleberri was, he probably would not provide much advantage to the enemy, given his age and position. While healers were indeed revered, Huckleberri was retired; it would make more sense to possess Sarrika if you were going to take a healer. So, he gave Cubbi a firm nod in addition to his statement.

That was enough for Cubbi. Falling back into survival mode, he stated, "Lotsa stuff is going on Healer Huckleberri but we gotta hide and regroup first." He looked over to Toni in Martinni's arms, "Maybe you could check Toni for us, too?" Cubbi knew so little about injuries now that he thought about it. He knew enough to put pressure on wounds and with Toni, he'd known to elevate his arms (That's what Sarrika had called it, right?) but head injuries and other things, he really had no knowledge. The fact that Toni hadn't woken up yet bothered him immensely.

The old healer finally took note of the unconscious child and while he wanted to demand answers, the cautious, the fear in the group was impossible to ignore. They were practically in sprint-mode as it was. It would do no good to tend to the hurt child here if they were expecting to have to take off again and he truthfully did not like the thought of just sitting in a forest and tending to wounds, unless they were life-threatening. A quick look over of Toni eliminated that possibility.

"Lead on, children." The old healer said simply.

Lady Bane's Palace

Lucki was uneasy.

Lady Bane had been quiet. Way too quiet. Lucki had grown accustomed to hearing her rant, rave or plan but she was being silent. As they made their way through the empty corridors, he couldn't sense anything from her. Her spirit was still, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. That in itself was conspicuous. That, plus the fact that while it had been subtle, he was catching the way she would watch intently whenever Tavi performed magic. He was not a fool, far from it. His sister had always been gifted in magic, it was a family trait but Lucki knew as well as anyone knew that the difference between his sister's skill now and before he had died was astronomical. Lady Bane knew it too.

Lucki didn't like it.

"This way?" Tavi's voice broke him out of his melancholy and worried thoughts. She was pointing down a corridor that led into the upper levels of the palace. Clean and neat, as were all the halls around here but there was definitely a foreboding essence to it. He felt for Lady Bane, felt some hesitation on her part which was enough for him. He gave his sister a simple nod and forced his feet forward. It was nice to be in control again though. While Lady Bane could certainly fight him for control, she was doing it less and less. She had faded from feeling like an overwhelming ocean on his spirit to the sprinkle of rain. He welcomed it.

Not this way, she hissed suddenly, breaking into his concentration.

Lucki frowned, both physically and metaphysically, paused in his step. Why?

This is MY home, you whelp! She snarled, her frustration not being hidden in the least. If you want to…

Except that's not why you're protesting. Lucki shot back. He was stumbling a little bit. It was hard to coordinate everything while you were fighting with a crazed woman inside your head. Tavi kept looking over her shoulder at him but she had yet to say anything. You paused before you said anything. What are you hiding?

The sorceress was silent.

Lucki cursed under his breath and Tavi did stop that time. She approached, lay her hands on her brother's forearm. Her eyes were bloodshot and yet she pushed onward. She had to be so tired, so exhausted and yet she refused to relent. It shouldn't have surprised Lucki. He had known Tavi her whole life and there was not one second where she didn't possess their mom's stubbornness. It was really showing itself here. Despite her worn body, she showed nothing but concern in her eyes. Lucki gave her a half smile in response.

"I'm fine, Tavi." He assured her. "Just this ol' witch is hiding something and I don't like it."

Tavi narrowed her eyes. "Don't try anything funny, Lady. We can do a lot more than you think we can."

Lady Bane's spirit bristled. The indignant little twerp. Oh, she would show them all right. She would show them who was powerful…she would SHOW them who was to be feared! She would be a puppet no longer. The silly gummi girl was making this so easy. So close. Spirit hopping was difficult but once she had the girl, she could be rid of this annoying boy child and once she got her hands on her books, with this kind of power…oh, yes, it would sweet! They would grovel, they would weep!

She locked her sights on the girl, sought out her soul, her weakened reserves. Spirit hopping, especially for a human soul required precise concentration but the girl had physical contact with her! It would be simple and …

Her joy went dark as she tried to concentrate on the girl only to be stopped cold. The voice from her host body was cold as ice and legitimacy made her tremble.

No. You are not touching my sister. YOU. DON'T. TOUCH. HER!

You're hardly in a position to stop me. She threatened, pushing aside the fear (no, it was NOT fear) he had ignited in her, with a little sneer. What was he planning on doing? They were both stuck in the same body. Was he truly planning on fighting her tooth and nail the entire time? Even his gumption would eventually die.We both benefit. She truly enjoyed twisting it around that way. She was so close to her spells she could feel the electricity in her fingertips and with that girl at her disposal, what would she have to fear?! You'll have your pathetic body back and I'll be rid of you. Perhaps your sister will prove more cooperative now that Mother has broken her a little. If not…

She was not prepared for the sudden thrust of power and strength from all around her. Not like before. This was worse than before. Before, she had felt like she had been pushed up against a wall but now, she felt as if the gummi boy was trying to strangle her! She fought back, her concentration on the gummi sorceress child broken. How was the brat this strong?! It made no sense! He couldn't possibly be this strong! It was impossible!

She fought back but then there was a surge of pain, immense pain, ripping pain and light and…

GET OUT!

Tavi knelt, putting her hands on her brother's shoulders as he fell to his knees. "Lucki!" She demanded, tears in her eyes, "What's wrong?!"

He was fighting an internal battle, she could see that but beyond that, she was utterly clueless. His face was deeply contorted, not a look she really saw on him much, not even when he had become injured during training before. Her heart began to throb inside her ribs. What was happening? Was it his body? Was it breaking down, as they were warned? It didn't look like it and he had even alluded to the fact that it may not be as fragile as it was before; it was certainly holding up pretty well. That left her only with Lady Bane as the probable cause.

"Lady Bane!" She hissed "You leave my brother alone! We're gonna get you to your stupid body and then we don't hafta ever talk again, okay? You stop pestering my brother!"

Her ongoing tirade was cut off abruptly when her brother screeched, "GET OUT!"

There was a flash of intense light that seemed to engulf her brother and then it seemed to pop out of his body and land a few meters away in a fumbled mess. Tavi stared, her eyes nearly bulging out of her skull. The nearly blinding light seemed to take a form, a humanoid form. It stirred, seemed to sit up and yes…Gum, it was Lady Bane! Transparent, flickering and utterly petrified but it was her! Her spirit! Lucki had thrown her out? Could he do that?!

It seemed so. The sorceress' spirit was flickering. Without a link to the earth plane in a body, her human spirit was swiftly being called to the beyond, whatever that meant for her. Her eyes flashed to Lucki's, met his exhausted and lethal gaze.

"Never…EVER…threaten her."

Gummadoon Dungeon

Emi had returned to them every so often, each time with more news. News that she was pulling gummies from their homes, news that she was ripping Gummadoon apart seeking out any hiders, news that her horde was moving swiftly in all directions.

Yet, she had not come with news of their cubs' capture. It was a light to their hearts. Somehow or another, their cubs were still free! Plucki would have been bursting with pride over their resourcefulness if fear didn't still rule his mind. Emi was a devious one and she had not lightened any over the years. They could hear the commotion as they literally tore apart quarters, they could hear the pandemonium as citizens screamed and tried to flee. Yet they were helpless to do anything about it.

"Sir Plucki."

There she was again, that dark, sinister voice. He shifted his gaze as she materialized in front of him, smiling. It was never a pleasant smile, always a twisted and dark gaze. This time though, she was not alone. She held Sir Fai close at hand, meeting the Captain's eyes. The knight was slightly younger than most, yellow furred and he looked quite beaten up, as if he had been in quite the battle. He did not doubt he had. The remaining knights would certainly be putting up as much resistance as they could!

"You really should have taught your knights more respect. Truly…hitting a bearess…" Emi made a tsk sound with her tongue, shaking her head with pity.

Sir Fai snarled "You are no bearess."

Gumlittle stood and addressed her. "Emi, there's no need for this…"

"Oh but there is." She interrupted the second in command. She shifted her eyes to Sir Fai. "See, is not Sir Fai here your resident scouter? He has been exploring Lorath Wood since you have returned. Quick on his feet I recall several of you saying." She smirked, "I hear quite a bit from my prison." She shifted, released the knight so he was standing in front of her. "So, he seemed a natural candidate to seek out those poor lost children, right?" She pursed her lips and put on a false pouty face.

Sir Fai's eyes narrowed into mere slits. "If you think I am helping you, you are truly demented."

Heaving a deep sigh, as if full of regret, she paced, her long black hair fluttering behind her like a cape. "Oh, why must you all be so difficult…" She raised a hand to the knight, her palms illuminated. "Surely, you will reconsider?"

Sir Fai's only response was to raise his head and for a moment, he met Sir Plucki, Sir Gumlittle and Sir Blastus' eyes. There were no words exchanged, just a simple nod from Sir Fai and a clasped fist over his heart. The gesture said it all—It has been an honor.

"No." Fai spat.

Plucki was fairly certain the bear's heart had stopped before he even hit the ground.

Lorath Forest

"Wow…" Martinni looked around at the little hideaway that Cubbi had led them to. "How did you find this place again?"

Cubbi sat down, still sticking as close to Toni and Corvi as he could. "Tummi and I were running away from some ogres and found the waterfall entrance." He pointed to the cascading wall of white and blue. "Didn't take us too long to find the other exits and entrances. Think the knights ever used this place?"

Huckleberri gave a light chuckle as he gently tended to young Toni. "Perhaps. Perhaps not, my boy. There used to be quite a few other gummi cities, so many years ago. They gradually dwindled away, until only the strongest and largest remained. Several of them merged _into_ Gummadoon." He caught Cubbi's amazed look and added "But when all this is said and done, why don't you bring Plucki here and ask him?"

That thought invaded Cubbi's thoughts for a moment. Oh, would there be a time when they could do that again? Oh, the things he would ask Plucki. The Captain has shown him so much and man, wouldn't it be nice to show him something in return? It was an intoxicating desire but he had to ponder, if only a moment, if it would ever come to pass. Would they…could they…

No! Stay positive!

Cubbi eyed the healer, "Is…Toni okay?" He felt Sunni's hand on his shoulder and was immensely grateful for it.

Huckleberri nodded "he will recover. He has a nasty blow to the head but he should awaken soon."

The group let out a deep sigh of relief but that was nearly destroyed by noise in the forest above. Instantly, hearts turned to ice. Had they been trailed? Followed?

Corvi stood, "I'll go see."

Morri leapt up "But Corv…"

"I'll go." Corvi insisted again. "Morri, you keep Cori calm."

Flynn bit his lower lip and locked eyes on their eldest "But Corvi, what if it's…"

"That's why I'm going, Flynn," the teen responded, feeling quite exhausted, both physically and emotionally. But he was oldest of their group. It was his job to stay calm and to act. Besides, he was one of the few with a weapon. Sunni had one but he had the superior physical strength. It fell on him.

Sunni joined his side "I'm coming too, Corvi. Two is one and one is none." She insisted.

Sensing that arguing with her would be fruitless, if Cubbi's stories were to be believed, the teenager only nodded and slowly took the stairs upward. Sunni trailed behind, trying to shift to the palms of her feet to keep as quiet as possible. Her heart tightened in her chest but there was no time to be frightened. Her sweat-drenched grip on the blade hilt tightened and while she doubted it could do a lot of good, she felt significantly better having _something_ to defend herself with as opposed to nothing. All the same, she wished that Buddi was here.

Corvi's raised hand stopped her trek.

"Corvi?" She whispered.

He shushed her, "Stay back. I don't see anything yet but I don't want to give away both of us." She nodded to the logic of that and slunk back into the underbrush.

Corvi's heart was racing as he paced, his ears perked up. He could hear a lot of things but one was definitely footsteps…no, two sets of footsteps. He slowly brought his knife to attack position…

"Behind you, Corvi!" came Sunni's shouted warning.

He whirled around, struck out without waiting any further and heard the familiar twang of metal hitting metal.

Found himself staring face to face with a very familiar face.

"Sir Ecri!"