You see something in the sky.
People, flying down to your position.

"They're coming," I mumble.

They land beside you. You recognize them, but they're clearly beat to hell. Pythia, Painon, Parker, Milo, Seth, Sebastian.
Pythia is carrying Parker, seemingly unconscious, and Milo is carrying Seth.

I sheathe my saber for the moment, looking at the new arrivals. "You guys look like shit."

"What the hell happened to the place you guys were defending."

"Feel like it." Pythia responds, glancing from Hale to Quin shortly, walking over and laying Parker down beside Finn. Milo tentatively follows and lays Seth down a few feet away, wincing at seeing his father and brother unconscious on the ground beside one another.
"It blew up." Sebastian deadpans.
"We blew it up." Milo replies weakly.

I watch them land and look back up at the sky.

i gesture toward parker and seth. "what happened to these two?"

"Where's Cole."

I blink, pinch the bridge of my nose, and sigh, in that order. "Great." I study them. "Wait. Where's--" I frown. "--where's Cashel. And Cole. Don't tell me that--" I break off.

"Cashel is alive."

"They... they got hit." Milo answers Silas quietly, placing a hand on Parker's side.
"They're up there." Pythia jabs a thumb behind her, to the building you were just in. "There was... someone. On the roof." She winces.

My face breaks and I bury it in my hands.
I start to cry. Fuckssakes

"They're fucking THERE?"
No. No, I'm not doing this. "How many of you can still fucking fight," I snap. "We're going back. Right now."

"Hale." Pythia glances at you. "Please, for once in your life, stop talking. Watch Finn, make sure he wakes up." She crosses her arms and leans against a wall, bowing her head down silently.

"Well what the fuck are we supposed to do now?" I don't direct this at anyone in particular, just the general group.

"No! No, I fucking won't! We were JUST THERE, Pythia! We LEFT! We have to--" I shut my mouth and lean against the wall.

"Let them see it," I say quietly. "Let them."

Two figures lift off from the roof of the building and make their way towards you.
Cole carries Cashel by a hand, setting him down beside you, and Cole sets down beside him. Both of them have their faces set, completely neutral. Cole's glasses are missing and his face is stained with splashes of blood. Cashel, similarly, has blood splattered on his cloak and some wiped on his hands.

I reach into my pocket and take the lock of hair. I hold it out (in the direction that I hope) is Cashel.
"I think you might know what to do with this better than me. I wanted to give her a burial, but I don't- I don't know how."

Cashel silently takes the hair. He stares at it for a few seconds before tucking it in his own pocket. "What did you do, Quin?" Pythia huffs at his words. "That is EXCELLENT fucking question."

"She was on the stairwell. She was bleeding really badly." I draw my knees to my chest. "She wanted to see the sky, and I stayed with her. I'm so sorry."

All the fight drained out of me for now, I do what Pythia says and go sit against the wall next to Finn. I pull my knees up to my chest as well and take a deep breath.

"I mean." He takes a breath, hands unwillingly clenching to fists. "The energy. You're one of her followers now?" Pythia tilts her head to watch you explain yourself, silent.

I look between them. "I don't know. I don't- I didn't mean to. There was this web of energy around Hale, and I just... yanked it away. And it went into me instead." I shudder. "And I talked to one of the worshippers, but they- I don't- they knew who I was."

I lift my head. "You're fucking WHAT? You fucking what?"

I flinch, and shrink into myself.

"Katanalosi? The big bitch in the sky who's trying to KILL us? Who did THIS to Finn?" I point at Finn, and then the sky. "THAT to the fucking Baroness? HER follower?"

I turn away from the new group, also looking at Quin. I don't say anything, just sort look at him in confused shock.

"I'm not going to let her do to Quin-" She gestures to him, "What she did to my moirail." Pythia adds quietly, tilting her head up to Cashel, asking a question without words. "I can't..." Cashel shakes his head. "I can't get that out of you. Not without virtually killing you, at any rate." "I know who could." Sebastian pipes up, arms crossed. "You do too." "Finley." Pythia buries her head in her hands, groaning. "Finley could. Only Finley." "Why is it ALWAYS Finley." Cashel scowls.

I take the blindfold off and meet Pythia's eyes. "I would rather die than let them help me."

I scoff. Of course it's fucking Finley.

"They're dead anyway." Sebastian waves a hand. "We have to find some other way."

"No. Don't you get it?" My fists curl into balls at my side. "It's not just the fucking energy. They KNEW me. They knew what she did to me. They said I was going to end up like- like the fucking Betrayer. I don't even know who that is." "But from what that worshipper described, they didn't fare very well!" "I don't want to end up like them! Don't you get it?" I keep going, my voice steadily raising in volume. "I'm just going to hurt more people than I already have! Don't you fucking GET IT? I don't WANT HELP!"

"What the FUCK do you know about getting people hurt," I say quietly.

"Enough." My hands relax at my sides again and my eyes lower back to the ground. "I know enough."

Pythia grins into her hands. It's all you can see of her expression from here. Cashel spins on his heel and begins pacing, away from you. Milo doesn't move a muscle, frozen by Parker's side. Cole lowers his head. Painon looks like he feels very out of place. Painon gently rests a hand on Pythia's shoulder.

I look up at her and feel my stomach sink even further. “I’m sorry.”

"Me too." Pythia mutters.

Okay. I’m starting to realize now the consequences of my actions here. For once. I stand from where I sit and walk over, putting a hand on her shoulder. “We can try whatever you think would help. I didn’t mean what I said earlier.”

She barely moves. Cashel turns and paces over to Parker and Finn, kneeling between them and inspecting them.

I bring my hand back to my side and step back sheepishly, looking at the sky again.

He holds a hand out over Finn's chest for a few seconds. A dim blue light filters out of it and onto him. After a moment or two, he turns to Parker. Parker's hands and ears are twitching, and his head is jerking side to side, eyes darting around underneath his eyelids. "We have no way of waking him up for now." Cashel says to open air, quietly. "Maybe if Navy were here, or..." His gaze wanders to Quin.

I look back at him. “What? Can I help him?”

"Pythia, could you hold Parker." He asks, you think, though it really sounds like more of a tired command. She pushes off the wall and moves over to his side, replacing Cashel, who walks over to you. Cashel takes one of your hands and pulls you over to the other side of Parker. "Roll him over." Pythia complies, turning Parker onto his back. "Quin, I'm assuming you met the worshippers who shocked the back of your neck." He takes your hand and lifts it up, folding your fingers in the same way you saw the worshiper do.

I nod wearily.

He releases your hand and gestures to Parker. "The back of his neck. Make it quick, just a tap with your first two fingers."

I jab his neck with the fingers. I’m a little overeager.

You feel a bolt of electricity race down your arm to your fingers and into his neck. Parker instantly twists and sits up with a yell, panting. He starts to mutter under his breath, eyes darting around frantically, and Pythia kneels in front of him.

I move back to make room. “What was that?” I quietly ask cashel.

"Hey, hey, Parker. It's okay, I'm here." Pythia says softly, taking his hands. He stares at her, eyes wide, still breathing heavily. "I tho- the lake, I was- in the lake. Again." Pythia pulls him into a hug and he latches in without hesitation. "You're not in the lake. You're here, safe, with us. Okay? We're safe." His ears fold back and he begins to cry into her shoulder. "You did the same thing they can." Cashel mutters in response. "A split-second hallucination of a past regret that you can't deny."

I shake my head. “Get it out of me. Please.” My hands grip my arms tightly enough to leave a bruise.

"Quin." Cashel turns to you fully, lowering his eyebrows. "It would be like sticking you in the sun. You'd be nearly burned to death, if not simply incinerated." He winces, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck.

“I don’t care,” I say quickly, almost tripping over my words. “Just do it, cashel, please. I don’t want to be like them.”

"No." Cashel deadpans, lowering his hand.

I glare at him, furious, before turning away from him and walking to the outskirts of the group and sitting down again. I put my head between my hands and curl into myself.

Finn stirs slightly.

I rise pretty slowly and stretch my limbs, completely disregarding and not noticing the mood of the room (or alley as the case may be). “goooood morning how is everyone doing” “...” I notice the deadly serious tableau in front of me. “i missed something didnt i”

"You missed a bit." Milo gives you a weak smile, dropping Seth's hand and standing.

I smile and offer a fist. “hey bro” I then do a sweep of everyone and notice Parker. I then crouch down and check on him. I don’t know what strength or level my powers are at, but I do my best to provide some relief. I channel into him the feeling of a beach day Cinnabar and I had on the Island.

"Hey." Milo bumps it. Parker's emotions lash out at you and push you away. You can't help him. Not like that.

I stop. I just...hug him. It has been a messy day and lord knows he could use it.

Pythia loosens her grip and slips away, letting you two hug in peace. Parker squeezes you tightly, as if you're going to disappear at any moment.

“hey hey hey im here im not going anywhere” I do a kind of “get over here” nod to Milo.

Milo nods and kneels beside you two, wrapping his arms around you and Parker.

As we enhance in a much needed family hug session, I mouth to Pythia and the others what’s wrong?

Pythia just shakes her head.

Hm. I nod back in resignation and continue to make sure Parker is okay.

"They're here." Cole whispers. His head is tilted up at the sky.

I glance over to Cole, before looking into the sky myself.

i stare up too, holding a hand above my eyes to block out the sun if necessary. what do i see up there?

It isn't necessary to raise a hand. A shadow falls over you for the second time, blotting out the sun. It falls over the entire city. A brand new ship is overhead. This one is larger than any other ship currently in the sky by far; even the large one from Katanalosi's worshipers is diminutive by comparison. It resembles, in make and appearance, the Baroness' ships, but not only is it larger, but it's worn. Scorch marks and shredded parts of the hull set it apart from the sleek, clean designs of the rest. "It reeks of death." Sebastian mutters, furrowing his eyebrows. "No wonder you could see it coming."

“hi sorry sir who exactly is here”

Cole smiles. "What an asshole."

"Hey. You ever think you people should fucking elaborate? Do you get an ego trip from being vague? We're in a fucking WAR!" I bang my fist on the ground. "Will somebody, for FUCKING ONCE, just TELL US WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

Seb points up at the front of the ship wordlessly. Nobody really has words right now. A burning violet comet arcs off the deck of the ship, jetting towards the large worshiper ship positioned overhead. "No." Pythia hisses incredulously. Sebastian laughs and throws his hands above his head in the first full grin you think he's risked this entire time. The comet dives for one of the three front prongs of the ship just outside of the gun. It flies right through the base that connects it to the rest of the ship. The prong begins to slowly drift downwards, completely shattered off, just like that. Another figure, one you can't make out, flies from the ship, down towards the now-falling piece of the ship.

"Who the fuck is that?" I ask, squinting up at the figure.

"FINLEY!" Pythia practically screams, shouting up at the sky.

If it is possible to shrink anymore, I do so. This day sucks ass, huh.

I look to Hale and Quin.

I jump to my feet. "It's FUCKING FINLEY?" I scream. I'm brimming with rage. I need to punch something.

The figure extends her hands and pair of lime green cords wrap around it, slowing its fall. You can see her straining to push it back up.

“isnt that uhhhhh yeah i guess it is”

"FLO!" Cashel yells, ecstatic. "THAT'S FLO!" Pythia raises a hand to Flo. Sebastian quickly does the same. An effort is an effort. Milo and Parker stand with Finn and each raise a hand.

Alright, half and half. Pull yourself together here. I stand and raise a hand.

The comet circles around and latches onto the prong, pushing it back up.

I frown and raise a hand as well.

i glance around at the others and raise a hand in the same manner, not questioning it.

I'm not listing all the bitches I control here. They raise their hands.

I follow suit, raising my hand as well.

I see the both of them raising their hand and I rise up and do the same as everyone else.

Slowly but surely, the prong changes directions. It moves backwards, up towards the ship, crashing through the drive core and completely demolishing any firing capabilities the ship had. Pythia drops her hand. "Let's get out of this fucking alley." She jumps up and onto the roof of the building beside you to see better. From here, you can see the troops fighting. They're still overwhelmed by the Baroness' troops, but most of them are staring up at the ship, horrified. Now that the ship is dealt with, the green figure flies back to the larger beat up ship, and the purple comet- Finley- zips down towards earth. They dive down towards the end of the street you had been on and soar over the rows upon rows of enemy soldiers you see before you. The soldiers fall in waves beneath them, simply tipping over as a purple energy is vacuumed from each one of them and absorbed into the comet. They arc up, then straight down into the center of the parking lot. The soldiers around them fly back at least fifty feet in a rage shockwave all too similar to the ones Hale has been dishing out. Pythia laughs and jumps off the roof, soaring down to the parking lot beside them. "FINLEY!!" Finley laughs, brushing their hood off and tugging their mask down. They have cerulean blue hair, predictably. Unpredictably, their arms all the way to their mid upper arms are black and charred, fingertips in the shape of claws, purple light leaking through the cracks. A black tail lashes behind them, similar to the ones you saw on the crawlers at Audesce. They prop their hands up on the hips and grin. "What's up, Pyth?" She practically bowls them over in a hug, which they return a few seconds later.

“oh they are definitely related to you hale”

I can only stand there in shock.

Cashel squints at them. Sebastian also jumps off the roof, sprinting for them. Pythia lets go just in time for them to be enveloped in another hug from their longtime childhood friend. They return this one a bit faster.

I look over at Maia and Silas and Cole, mouth watch this, and then shove Hale and Quin towards the newcomers.

Cashel steps off the roof and calmly marches towards them.

My eyes are locked on Finley. I take out my staff and step in front of the others.

Sebastian and Pythia step aside. Parker's next up. He squeals in excitement and charges through the air at Finley, tackling them backwards in a hug. The two tumble in the air, Parker completely latched onto Finley, tail wagging involuntarily. You think if he had less self control he's be licking their face. Finley chuckles and the two set down, Parker releasing Finley only to hug them properly for a few more seconds, then finally stepping back. "You know, I didn't think you'd be... THIS excited to see me." They raise an eyebrow. "Getting that desperate around here?"

I shove Quin out of the way and stomp up to the happy reunion. "You fucking did this, didn't you." I glare at Finley with all that I have before rounding on Pythia. "What the fuck is your deal! You tell me I have to be WATCHED, so I don't GO EVIL, like FINLEY, and here you are FUCKING HUGGING THEM?"

I scramble to my feet and resume my stance. “Do not go up there,” I hiss to the others behind me.

Finley snorts and begins laughing loudly, raising a hand to their mouth. "Aw! How cute." They wave a hand. "Nobody hates me more than my own family, per usual."

I put my hands up and rejoin the others back there.

"Wrathful little man," They mutter, winking at you.

"Shut your fucking mouth," I snarl. "Unless you're going to teach me how you did that--" I motion towards the battlefield. "--don't fucking speak to me."

"Build up enough anger and anything is possible." They smirk, eyes sparking. Pythia takes a step back, deciding to speak up. "Yes, Hale, that was before they saved my life." She glances at Finley and shoots them another quick smile. "Again." Finley adds. "I've saved your ass before too." Pythia retorts. "Not my LIFE. I could've lived with a robot leg. Would've been cool."

"So are they not evil anymore? Am I not--" I make air quotes. "--destined to go bad?"

"None of us are 'going bad'. Doesn't work that way." Finley crosses their arms, eyes wandering past Hale and landing on Quin. "Speaking of."

I just stare back at them. I’m furious and grief stricken, but above all, I’m terrified. I try to look menacing. “Do not come any closer to them,” I say quietly. “Or I will hurt you.”

Cashel stops in front of Finley, crossing their arms to match them. "Can you get it out of him." "Without hurting him." Pythia adds quickly. "Sure can. It IS harder the second time, though." They tilt their head around Cashel to look at Quin again. "Kinda funny that first time I tried to help you. You wanted it back so badly." "Surely you heard me yelling? I said I don't care. Right?"

Surprise flickers across my face. “Wait. Are you Jamar?”

"Jacamar." They shake their head. "Not my name. I never tell people my real name. Would you really have liked me to say 'Oh yeah, I'm Finley, the one person you hate most, and you just said we aren't so different'? Didn't think so."

Realization settles in. I feel furious, before my shoulders slump a little. “Well, we aren’t as different as you might think.” “Which is all the more reason you should heed my warning to stay the hell away from them.”

"I'm not going to heed shit." They shrug. "Ask any of these guys." They gesture around them to the other ancestors. "Listening to people isn't really a thing I do. I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not."

“You ARE,” I spit. The tip of my staff starts to glow purple, and a few sparks crackle around me. “Going to stay the FUCK away from them.”

They laugh again and point to the ground in front of them, stepping away from Cashel. "Come here."

I don’t budge.

They sigh. "So you can tell me what to do, but I can't tell you what to do? I see how it is." They push out their hands, open, then clench their fists and rapidly pull them back. You, Quin, in case it wasn't clear, quickly slide forward, feet against pavement, towards them, stopping three feet from their position. Pythia glances between you two nervously.

I shout and swing my staff at them.

They grab it in their hand effortlessly, stopping it dead- exactly like the worshiper did. "Quin." Pythia warns. "Stop."

I look at her for a moment before lowering it slowly. A tear runs down my cheek. “I know who you are,” I say lowly. “I know your mother. And I know what you are capable of. So let me be very clear.” I point at them. “We don’t have many choices right now. But if you ever make a move to hurt anyone here, I’m not going to back off the second time. Do you understand me?”

"She's not my mother, but nice try." They grin. "And Quin, if I wanted to hurt anyone here, they would already be dead." "And I know that you already know that. So! Let's cut the shit," They clap their hands together and crack their knuckles. "And get that thing out of you. Assuming you want it out, that is." They glance at Pythia.

“Yes. I want it fucking out of me.”

"Stand back, everyone who doesn't have the last name Lygari." Finley advises. Cashel and the ancestors all move back accordingly.

I glare at them even harder. “How’d you-?”

"You learn a few things stuck in a void for eighteen years." They shrug and take a step back, readying their hands. "By the way, this might be... uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable."

I just give a small nod. “Can’t be worse than standing here with you.”

They snort. "Glad to see someone has a sense of humor around here." Finley leans over and draws their hands from the ground up, slowly. You feel something shift in your body from your feet to your head. It clings onto your bones, trying to pull you with it.

I grit my teeth and stand my ground.

They repeat the same motion, but faster. You can feel it tearing away from you, screaming as it's pulled up towards your lungs. It's like it has a mind of its own.

I stumble, and grab at my chest.

It filters into your lungs as Finley continues to move. In a swift motion, they raise a hand above their head and the strange energy is pulled out through your throat. It happens much faster than it did last time, and isn't nearly as disruptive. Or gross. It circles around in their air, striking out at Finley. They seem to corral it with their hands, compressing it into a smaller and smaller ball. "Gross." Pythia mutters. "Hey Cashel, catch!" They punt the congealed ball of evil, apparently, over Quin's head at Cashel.

I cough, and wipe my mouth with a shudder.

Cashel presses the heels of his palms together and extends his arms towards the ball, fanning out his hands. A ray of burning fire explodes from them, incinerating the ball. You realize, suddenly, that THAT'S what he would have had to do to your entire body.

I still would have done it, for the record. I am relieved that I did not have to though

"Once more just to be sure." Finley mutters. They repeat the motion and push it out through your lungs again. A few more pieces congeal into a much smaller ball, which is then also thrown and incinerated.

I look up at them and consider saying thank you. I choose not to. "Is that all?"

"Sure is. All done." They give a slight mocking bow and straighten, glancing at their claws casually. "Next time, don't eat a bunch of Katanalosi goo, okay? Okay."

"You think I did this shit on purpose?"

"I watched you do it on purpose." They roll their eyes. "You're even a rogue, and they don't take things for themselves. They REDISTRIBUTE them. You definitely didn't do that."

I punch them in the face.

Finley snatches your wrist before you hit them, twisting your arm, but they release it quickly. They blink in surprise. "Hey. What the fuck." Where their hand touched your arm, you feel like you're being burned. It fades in only a few seconds.

I yelp, and rub my arm. "Well, EXCUSE ME for not knowing how to handle KATANALOSI energy!" I shout. I smack my forehead with an exaggerated smile. "Oh, right! I'm a rogue! I should have just redistributed it like I was TAUGHT to, silly me, what a little fucking oversight!"

"You had Etoile with you." They frown. "And that doesn't fucking matter. Shut up and give me your hands." "Finley?" Pythia questions. Cashel just crosses his arms.

I just scowl and after a few moments I put my hands out.

They grab your wrists and turn your hands over to inspect your palms. Your skin burns again where they touch, but it doesn't go away. They watch your expression carefully.

I try not to wince because I am the way that I am, but I can't help it after a few moments. I give a small hiss of pain.

Finley releases your wrists when you hiss and looks at their own hands silently. "Finley." Pythia repeats more firmly, stepping forward. "Don't. Don't tell me something bad. Don't give me more bad news." "You're marked." They look up to meet your eyes, dropping their hands. "What do you know about Katanalosi?"

I scowl. "She's a huge bitch, keeps fucking with me. I met her yesterday." "She had me inside of this weird empty space, and then she got really big and grabbed me and started going on about me giving her a body or something. I told her to fuck off."

"You." Finley stares at you. "You gave her a form. You gave her that form. The form I watched claw out of Ennui." "She GRABBED you."

"I didn't fucking mean to! I didn't give her anything, she just said that I did!" My face pales a bit. "Her dumbass worshipers knew me, too. Said I was going to end up like the Betrayer. Sounds like a huge tool," I add. "But that's all I know."

Finley rolls their eyes. "Thanks for the compliment. I'm 'the Betrayer', ooooooh, scary." Pythia pales. "No." Finley's expression drops and they glance at Pythia, then back to you. "Katanalosi has chosen a new channel, and it's you." "WHAT!" Pythia explodes, throwing her arms in the air. "YOU WERE A PERFECTLY GOOD CHANNEL. WHY WOULD SHE PICK HIM- A KID?" "No, no. You can fix it, can't you?" Pythia steps forward again, hands flexing desperately. She's used to solving problems with a sword. This isn't her area of expertise. Finley shakes their head. "I was a little kid when I was marked. Quin isn't any different. It's been years and years. That's... too long."

I look between them. I feel increasingly sick. "What is that? What's a channel?"

Finley opens their mouth to respond, but doesn't get the chance. Cashel interrupts first. "Now really is not the time for this. Nothing will change between now and when the battle ends." Pythia bows her head and takes a breath, focusing herself before she straightens again. "Right. We have a job to do." "Look!!" Milo points up at the sky excitedly. "Me and Seth did that!" "Er. Seth and I." He clears his throat, lowering his hand. Overhead, you see countless people rappelling down from the huge ship parked above all the others. They stream down and land on the enemy ships. There are thousands of them. Two figure are flying towards the ground from the ship. One is much smaller than the other. Or maybe one is just much bigger. In any case, the larger one has a set of impressive wings held still behind them as they soar. The symbol of the compass, black on white, rests on the inside of their wings. The other wears a white cloak, and her most defining feature is the white streaks in her messy hair. The larger one is carrying someone in their arms. Finley takes a step back. "No use standing around." They cast a quick glare up and rocket away, vanishing before anyone has time to react. The smaller of the two slows down and chances her trajectory, flying away to a different part of the city.

I watch them go, before turning back to the two new others.

"So are we finally fucking fighting again."

The troll lands before you silently, setting down the person in their arms. They scramble away, quickly adjusting their shutter shades and looking around. "Damn, we got a whhole fuckin circus up in hhere."

I eye them both suspiciously. They were the ones traveling with Finley. "Who are you?"

"Whhy does EVERYONE always ask thhat first, hhuhh. You can't start withh, like, 'hhi', or, 'sorry thhat you're about to die but at least I'm entertaining', or somethhing." They wave their arms around. "Anywhho I'm Lepiot. I don't need to ask whho Y'ALL are, since you're clearly all clowns." "Youu speak too muuch." The tall troll comments quietly.

Alright. My fifth shocked expression in the past two minutes. "No shit," I say hoarsely. "Like the- the lepiot on that ship that crashed? The goth girlfriend one?!"

"G-" Lepiot's arms drop and their expression morphs to an incredulous frown. "Hholy shhit. No way." They brighten up and point at you. "You're still alive! Hhahha!"

This is not usually my style, but today has been enough to make me loosen up a little bit. I grin and stride over, hugging them tightly. "Oh my God!! You're fucking alive!" I then pull back, grip their shoulders, and shake them violently. "What the FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

They laugh a little as you shake them. "A whhole lot more thhan a clown shhakin me is gonna fix!! Let go, moron. I got enoughh vertigo flyin all over hhell." Parker runs over to the tall troll and jumps up to hug them around their chest. "Svalin!! I'm glad you're alright!!"

I let them go and cross my arms. "Miracles must really exist," I mutter. I can't help but smile a little, though. Finally, some good fucking news.

I groan loudly and stalk back over to the descendants. "Finley had a fucking point. Why the FUCK are we standing around? Can't you do this shit LATER?" I'm at the end of my rope. I need to get back out there, or I'm going to do something harmful here. I summon my axe and swing it down on the stone beneath my feet, then spin it, slamming the base on the ground. "What the hell are we doing!" I snap. "We need a fucking plan!"

Svalin hugs Parker and releases him. He stands aside quietly. Pythia and Sebastian both just spare a nod at Svalin. They tilt their head at Hale, smiling beneath their hood. "Cuuriouus."

“cough cough dramatic cough cough

"I'm very glad Finley flew away before that." Pythia nudges Finn with a grin.

I point at them. "You shut the fuck up. I already don't like you. Who the fuck are your kids, huh?"

"I think youu already know. Youu never wouuld have liked me. Youu take after youur ancestor." Lepiot makes a subtle jab at Svalin with their thumb, before drawing a line across their throat and shaking their head. Not to anyone in particular, just more of as a general PSA.

I clench my hands into tight fists. "Next person who says I'm like Finley is getting their ass kicked," I say slowly. "You fucking got that?"

"Youu even souund like them, muuch less speak." They hum lowly. "I will depart for now. Wait for the stars to bluur before youu move." They spread their wings and soar into the air lightly, ghosting away in a seemingly random direction.

I stare at Svalin for a few moments as they depart, before looking back at the rest of the group, and unsheathing my saber once again. "Hale's right. We need to fucking get back out there. Do we have any sort of plan here?"

"Wait- wait. Wait." Pythia raises her hand in a gesture for you to stop. "Stars blur."

I squeeze my eyes shut and shove the rage back down. I'll need it later. I exhale raggedly. "Fine. This better not take long."

"That didn't make any more fucking sense the second time." I wave a hand at the sky in frustration. "I don't see any fucking stars blurring!"

She snaps her fingers and her eyes go wide at the same time Parker and Sebastian's do.
"Hey- wait, that was the codephrase." Sebastian remarks. "For the army."
"The army??" Parker raises an eyebrow. "The army is gone. This-" He gestures around to the Baroness' troops- "This is the army. There's no more army."

“i mean if you squint really hard they tend to blur oh codenames never mind”

"It was never about the army." Pythia remarks, tilting her head at the sky. "I'm going to need a chiropractor after this."
"OW!" Parker yelps, clutching his head. "I wish people would stop doing that." Cashel points at a space in the sky where the stars stretch and twist. Another warp portal opens, similar to the one the worshiper ships emerged from.
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