We rode on horses through the dark forest, each of us wearing a cloak to hide our... Gifts. I rode in the front, next to Mina, and Leva and Sprocket took up the rear. Everyone else rode in the middle. Many of us were hungry, but all of us were tense. We knew that Catastrophe had agents everywhere, and that even a group member could be a spy. One should always be careful.

Suddenly, through the fog, we saw what we had all been looking for: the Bog and Burrow Inn.

We walked through the door and saw an otter sitting behind the counter. She was very pretty, and her name tag read 'Lisa'. 

"Rooms thirteen and fourteen, please,"

Before she could ask questions, I slid her a bag of Æther, gold and gems. In response, she gave me two sets of keys. I turned to the group.

"Follow me." 

We set up the room, and I got everyone's attention. 

"Okay, so Sprocket and I will go to the main living area and dining area, and Leva and Shadow can go door to door and also to the library," I say.

"Sounds good," Sprocket nods.

We all agree and split off. 

Amazingly, I managed to survive a dinner of crumby human food. 
And there were the agents I was suppost to be contacted by. WHy did they not listen.

I cover my face with my hood, and wait. 

I turn on my forcefield, and wait. Sprocket is here. In one hand, I hold a bribe for anyone I want to go away. In the other hand is my Aether pistol. I creep out, and put on my cloak.

I look at the two hooded people in the dining area. Suspcious....

I look closely at one of them at different angles. A flicker around it confirms my suspicions- a force field.

"Sprocket," I whisper. "We might have trouble."

Bog and *Burrow.

:P Sorry.

~Icicle 'Icy' Soul

I'm waiting at the counter of Bog and Burrow. The animals are nervous--there's a lot of humans here today, could BIG be doing something? But I know much better than that. Mina fits right in, and she laughs and talks with the rest of us.

I greet the elk at the counter.

"Hey, Nip." I say casually. "Ohh, Icicle! What will it be today? We have an ale special!" Nip, the Elk, says to me. "Nip, I've said this before, I'm a kid!" I criticize him. He ducks his antlered head down low. "My apologies Icicle, I forget that humans age...differently." He says. I sigh. "Can I just get a Root Special?" I ask him. "Sure. How tender?" He asks. "Hmm, just about tender enough to bite into without trouble, but with that same roasted taste." I say calmly. He laughs. "Icicle, you never change!" I smile, and grab a seat next to Mina. She, Sprocket, and Leva are talking about something.

"Guys..." I whisper. "I think we have a problem."

They stop talking and look at me.

"There's way too many human-looking people here. That's either B.I.G, or.." I whisper. "Agents of Sailhaven?" Sprocket asks. "Yeah." I whisper. "Besides, look at that one--I swear he's hiding something under his coat."

Sprocket gives him a few glances then nods. "He's hiding a weapon. From the bulk shape, it's probably a modifyed AEther Pistol of some sort. If he's working for the government, I would guess it's a 8.0." She says calmly. My mouth drops open. "How did you--"

The man comes over. "Excuse me," He says calmly. "Can I talk to one of you in that side room? I have it rented." He says, a note of purpose in his voice. "Sure." Mina says, and is about to stand up--"I'll go." I say quickly. He frowns. "But you're the youngest, you probably don't even understand civilized--" "--so what? You said nothing about age. Let's go 'talk' or whatever." I say calmly.

I give Mina a glance like "watch my back" as we head into the side room. 

I'm just going to jump right in.

I shoulder open the door to the Inn, longbow slung over my right shoulder. As I step inside, I take in the newcomers with slightly narrowed eyes. Great. Let's just hope they are passing through, and not here to cause trouble, I silently say to myself, brushing the cowl away from my face and unclasping the dark green cloak that had been shielding my body from the light drizzle that fell outside. After hanging the cloak on a peg, I unslung the longbow and quiver of arrows that rested on my back and shoulders, gently place them next to the cloak. I then stride toward the desk, brushing several strands of damp hair that were stuck to my forehead to the right. "Lisa," I quietly great the otter behind the desk as I come to a stop near it. 

Lisa glanced up, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Archer! How good to see you."

I chuckle softly at that, resting my elbows on the table. "Who are those strangers?" I cock my eyebrows, leaning in ever so slightly. "I'll have the stew." That being said, I pull back once more, casting my eyes over the room with a small frown.

She shrugged, glancing up at the young man's face. "I don't know, but they pay well." 

I roll my eyes, turning the objects back on her before I speak again. "I'll be at table 12. Call if you need me." I then turn on my heel, striding towards table 12. As I pass my bow, I casually scoop it up, plucking three arrows from the brown leather quiver. After reaching the table, I rest the longbow on the table, laying the arrows next to it while I slowly sit.

~ Trillian 

i slip silently up to the door that sprocket, Mina, and the hooded boy went into. My job in this whole operation had been security si I had been mostly hiding in,the shadows and watching for threats. I try the handle of the door. Locked. I sneak outside and around to the window instead. Perching on the sill I draw the black sword. Ever since Octavia had captured me the cuffs had deterred any attempts to remove them, so I was stuck using He Who Bends Times sword. I can hear talking in the room, slowly I reach down and flip the catch up. If this turned violent I would be there in a second. 

After talking to a good friend Archer, I looked around, and started to get a little nervous, there are a lot of humans, that only happens when something bad is gonna happen (mostly) Then I notice a lump underneath my desk

*reads note*

(dear Lisa,

What I put under your desk is a shotgun, this is a weapon that packs a great punch when shot, just pull the trigger and it'll fire ammo, I gave you some blanks and the real thing, watch where you point it, I labeled the ammo so you can know which is which. I know inns can be rowdy, so I gave this to you free of charge, careful of the recoil!

      . Alexander R

You coundn't have brought it at a better time Alex! Now, how to use this "shotgun"

Sprocket slips away, and I move away too. Icy may have wanted me to have her back, but Sprocket's prepared. 

I walk into the living room, noticing that every single one is tense. An archer sits in the corner, the otter uncomfortably adjusts something, and everyone else seems to be ready for something. 

Leva and Shadow arrive, pausing next to me. They're about to tell me thier findings when I hold up a hand, and talk in sign language to Shadow behind my back.

They're prepared.

I clear my throat.

"Would anyone like to leave before we start?" I ask loudly.

Everyone looks up, rigid.

I hear a click behind me, the sound of a gun cocking. Lisa.

"Alright," I sigh, taking out my gun, Shadow and Leva doing the same.

"Let's begin." 

I fire my pistol, and scions swarm out of the walls. I hear the reinforcements running towards me. Good.

"This area is under quarantine." I yell.