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The lute gave a loud, discordant twang as the strings snapped free in a shower of sparks. The strings snaked over Des' wrists, pinioning him to the lute.
"Shut...up..." Cheeva stood, hands curled into fists. Around the glade things began to shake and twitch. Tankards and waterskins danced against their straps, swords slowly began to unsheath themselves, the chain that bound Toshi and Inutai twisted like a snake. The bones from their meal of rats gathered together, the skeletons rattling about underfoot.
Cheeva stood over Des, her brown eye gone. Instead it bulged, bright red with blood.
"Shut....up..." she grabbed him by his collar. "K-Kered was...Kered was...Kered was a far better man than you could ever be, you sick, disgusting arse of a man. And..."
Her words cut off with a sob. There was a ringing sound of flesh against flesh as Cheeva slapped Des hard across the face. Then, with a flash, the cat raced back up the tree, out of sight.

"You really weren't expecting that?" Gyp directed at Des. "The power surge, I wasn't expecting, but the slap was rather obvious."

He cast a thoughtful glance at the lute.

"I don't know about any magical repair, but I could repair that the way you'd repair a normal lute, if need be. I don't like seeing things broken." The light Fluff, which he'd lost track of just before Des had spoken, chirped from just behind his head, and he jumped a little. It perched atop his head happily, whistling and humming the lute's previous song.

"Sleep would be good, I guess." Gyp didn't bother to add he probably wouldn't be able to sleep... He hated trying to when there was so much on his mind. Instead, he gestured at the light Fluff that was curled on his head.

"It'll warn us if anything happens, so I think It can take watch? We can still switch around and take turns if anyone is uncomfortable with that."

(hey noise we're doing eb screens for the manga if you want to come. Grunny sub server, whisper angela or nim.. dress GIB)

Angela had thought she wouldn't be able to fall asleep against a gnarled tree and surrounded by a pack of weirdos.

She was alseep in a few seconds. The events of the day had exhausted her and before long, she was roaming the dream world with sparkles, bunnies and a choir of orange, singing penguins.

**

Des set aside his lute and laid back right where he was, folding his arms behind his head. His cheek was still stinging from Cheeva's slap. He didn't like any of these people any more than they liked him, to be truthful. Everyone of them lacked courage and motivation. All they could think about was getting home and none spared a single thought for any of the people in this world who were suffering because of the current on goings.

This is why he hated mortals. A bunch whiny, selfish brats too focused on their own pitiful lives to see greater things. And Angela (and possibly Zen) were just Celestials contaminated by mortals. He sighed and closed his eyes.

He tried to never get mixed up with mortals. Trouble was going to come from this, for sure.

The first thing Basti felt was pain. Something small and hard had landed none too gently on his abdomen. This was strange, because his family tended to stay out of his room during the night, so things really ought to stay where they were last placed. The second thing was that it was colder than it should be indoors. Groggily, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. Upon opening them he realized that he had not been having a very bizarre dream; he was, in fact, no longer in Konalter where he should be. He also noticed that Angela and Des were staring at the messenger, who was standing as though he was a marionette with good posture. Cocking his head, Basti threw a questioning glance at Des and Angela, wondering what in Lau's name was going on.

Cheeva shook herself awake. She ran through her checklist instinctively. What had woken her? A rustling noise. Where was she? Apparently...up a tree. Where was th noise coming from? Below. Where were her weapons? She patted her body quickly. All at hand but the knife she'd given Zen.
Blinking, Cheeva looked around. Why in the world was she up a tree? She remembered the garbage conversation by the fire and then...Cheeva's eye narrowed. Des. It had something to do with Des.
Cheeva wiped her eye and peered dwn, blinking it to clear the blur. Something was happening below. Zen, Bird-boy and the Midget - at that arse, Des - were gathering around the messenger.
Cheeva tilted her head, trying to get a better look at the man. There was something decidedly odd about him. Her fingers crept to her knives as Enrion's head tilted up.

[[ scream Not cool, Angela, not cool XP Just because I was a tiny, weeny bit insubordinate, you go and set me on fire.]]
Cheeva didn't have the chance to scream as the flames engulfed her body. She felt herself - understandably - lose her balance and tumble to the ground.
Her heart raced; she couldn't think. It was hard to breathe, something was blocking the left side of her nose. She tried to open her eye but there was nothing there to open. She was blind. And all around was the sickening smell of burning hair and flesh.
Cheeva groaned breathlessly as she felt the magic flooding out over her body. She tried desperately to stop it but it was no use. Sparks wound down her left side, sinking into the flesh, cauterising the wounds. More drted over her body, knitting together the lesser cuts and scratches from her fall from the tree. She felt the sparks hit the burns and die. Magical fire...there was no way the magic could heal her. But not for want of trying.
She groaned again as she realised her fate - the magic was going to keep draining out of her until she was healed - her own body was going to kill her, even as it tried to save her.