Base Quest, thankfully, went by as normally as ever.  Keefe, Dex, Sophie, and Biana were all on one team while Fitz, Tam, and Linh were on the other.  They decided to ban abilities since Sophie was on the side with more people and the last time they'd played, Linh had soaked everyone.

The game went on in circles before a team would win and then they'd reset and do it all over again.  Needless to say, Keefe's team won the most rounds.  Gays were always superior.

They finished at sundown when Della called everyone in for dinner (which was massive - seriously, were they cooking for a whole kingdom?!) and after they were stuffed and it was completely dark outside it was FINALLY time for the bonfire.

The best part of the whole day, Keefe was pretty sure it'd be.

Biana walked around, handing everyone a heated blanket.  She winked when she gave the one to both Keefe and Dex before walking back to Sophie with theirs and wrapping them up in it.

The Empath looked at Dex who seemed perfectly fine even though it seemed to be freezing outside.  They hadn't started the fire yet.

With a bit of awkward ungracefulness, Keefe unfolded the blanket, handing a corner of it to Dex who put half of it around him, leaving the rest to Keefe who had to scoot even closer in order to comfortably fit.

"When do you think Alden will start the fire?"  Dex whispered in Keefe's ear.  He jumped.

"I dunno," he whispered back, "probably pretty soon. They might bring out ripplefluffs first though."

"We just ate enough to feed an army of ogres - no offense."  Dex looked back at Ro.

The princess shrugged, mouthing the words 'I'm still hungry.'

Keefe raised an eyebrow and lifted his hand, making a gesture as if to say, 'What? How?'

Ro shrugged, eyes wide like the whole thing was a huge mystery to her.

Dex snorted.  "You two are weird."

Lovise nodded alone with him.  She stood next to Ro under a tree and even though they too had been given blankets, they weren't using them.

Keefe rolled his eyes and looked back at where the fire would be soon.  "What are you gonna write?"

"Isn't that supposed to be a secret?"  Dex questioned.

Before Keefe could respond, Alden and Della came back out.  Della was carrying a tray of ripplefluffs (which she began to pass around.  Yes, the boys took some) and Alden stood directly in front of the fire, a special lighter in hand.

"It is best that you all write the thing you would like to burn the most."  He announced.

Everyone scribbled something down on their paper.  As a joke, Keefe leaned over to take a peak at what Dex had written, but the boy snatched the paper away before he could see and threw it into the pit, face down.  The Empath did the same.

"Now," Alden continued.  "For the flame.  Are you all ready?"  He grinned at the last part.

Fitz, Dex, Sophie, Biana, Keefe, Tam, Linh, and even Ro all cheered as Alden set the paper inhis own hand aflame and threw it down, igniting the entire bonfire which quickly shot into the air.

Keefe heard Biana chuckle as Sophie squeaked, probably startled by how big the fire was.

Dex shivered.

"You okay?" Keefe asked, leaning more towards him.

Dex nodded, but he still didn't look or feel okay.

"What's wrong?"

The Technopath shook his head.  "Just memories.  Sorry.  I'm fine."

Using his right hand to keep the blanket on his shoulder, Keefe wrapped an arm around Dex's waist.  "Do you need to go somewhere else really quickly?"

He shook his head again.  "No, I'm okay.  Thank you though."

"Okay," Keefe said hesitantly.  "Don't be afraid to tell me if you need help."

"I won't." Dex sucked in a breath, holding it for a moment before blowing it out.  Seemingly subconsciously, he reached up and touched his neck as if to make sure the only thing there was his registry pendant.

Keefe could tell he still wasn't feeling too good.  "Let's just take a quick walk."

"Fine," Dex conceded.

Before the two of them got up to silently leave, Keefe managed to make eye contact with Biana, who had her arms wrapped around Sophie who also wasn't looking too great.  He tilted his head in an attempt to signal that he and Dex would be right back.  She seemed to understand and nod before leaning down and whispering something to Sophie.  The Enhancer looked back at the boys and then to Biana, who nodded.  She gave Keefe and Dex a thumbs up and quietly, the two stood up to go.  Keefe grabbed the heated blanket just in case.

Once the two were far enough away so that the other's wouldn't hear them, Keefe began speaking.  "You cold?"

"A little bit, but it's okay."  Dex said.  "It's like a wake up call if you get what I mean."

"Wanna see the lake?"

Dex shook his head.  "I don't care.  I think I just needed to get away from that for a moment.  Thank you."

Keefe nodded, taking a right turn.  "Sorry to bring this up..."

"No worries."

"But I haven't seen fire freak you out in a while... Did anything happen?"

Dex looked into his eyes and shook his head again.  "No.  It was just a bit more... vibrant that I anticipated."

"Yeah," Keefe agreed.  "Seriously, I know the Vackers are extravagant, but dang."

Dex snorted.  "Wonderboy and his family are pretty weird."

"You got that right."

The two almost walked into a small patch of trees, but Dex turned them, keeping them in the open grass.  Keefe followed, figuring the other knew what he was doing.

"Is it okay to ask why you, uh, grabbed your neck?"

"Hm? Oh," Dex mumbled.  He moved to stare at his feet.  "It's nothing.  Just something that happened during that whole circlet fiasco.  I'm all good."

Keefe looked at the other in alarm.  "Foster or Grady didn't choke you out or something, did they?  Not any of the councilors either?  Because if so, I don't care about the laws of this land, I will seriously go ape shit."

Dex snickered.  "Nah, it was Brant, so I don't think you can go 'ape shit' on him unless you bring him back from the dead."

"I might just to make him suffer."

The two walked in silence for another minute.  They walked around the large house, but never went into the trees.

"That asshole gave me a scar, you know."  Dex said.  He spoke so quietly Keefe wondered if he was even supposed to hear him.  "It's, like, the size of a thumbprint because that's what it is, but I still have to see it whenever I get dressed."

Keefe's eyebrows tightened in concern.  Was this secret information he wasn't supposed to know?  "Where is it?"

Dex uncrossed his arms and stopped walking to pull up his shirt a bit.

Keefe stared at the marking just below the boy's ribcadge before he dropped his shirt and continued his pace.

"It's not awful," Dex said, "but it still kind of sucks."

"I get that."  Keefe said.  He might as well open up a bit too, huh?  "I have a scar too, but it's not from anyone like that."  He added when Dex looked at him in mild alarm.

"Who's it from?  If you don't mind me asking..."

Keefe shrugged.  "Ro's dad.  It almost killed me though, so that was fun."

Dex winced.  "I'm sorry."

"Don't be.  It's something I can show off to ogres now I guess."

Dex nodded.  "Still, ow...  Do you want to head back now?  I'm feeling a bit better."

"Sure."  Keefe said, turning around.  "Although I seriously am going to draw some pretty messed up stuff and throw it into that thing."