The path out of the territory Opal had come to understand as the 'Lowreeds' was by far the toughest they'd traveled. She almost missed the high-flying bridges of Lster while she did her best not to slide into the swamp as she scuttled from tree root to tree root. They all seemed to be covered in some kind of muck that made them slippery along with everything else. Luckily no one fell in although they lost one bag of food which Kait accidentally dropped while attempting a jump. The swamp slurped it down like a chunk of meat in a soup and left some hideous bubbles behind. No one bothered trying to retrieve it.

On the other hand the short forest had it's own issues. They had just arrived after three harrowing days of tying themselves to trees to keep from falling into the muck while they slept and Opal had expected for it to be smoother from here. In a way it could have been except despite Yue's constant reminders that they were all part of the same cohort and needed to get along, Kait had yet to apologize to Opal.

So instead of getting treatment for the frequent nettle stings she encountered, she continued to suffer. And those things hurt. For awhile after each stab it felt like fire was racing up and down her legs. She could only wonder about Spark who had to face it without clothes. His entire stomach had turned red as well as his legs, but unlike Opal he wasn't refusing care from Kait- she wasn't offering it. He looked pretty miserable as they finished up their first day in the forest and cleared a section of shrubs to make camp.

"Our next stop will be Cattenvarn."

Proga sat up a little straighter. "Could we register at another location?"

Yue frowned. "It's the closest one and if we want to make it to the city before she moves on again, we cannot afford too many side trips."

"Registration?" Opal was nibbling at some dried fish gifted for them from the Lowreeds.

"Candidates need to register as such. It helps them get through different territories and alerts their educators in the area they are to be assessed."

"Wait- I'm confused. Aren't we following our educator?"

Yue winced. "Yes well, Pyrope isn't like most of them. She's not keen on assessing Candidates since most of them fail. Also she's... well... she's interesting."

"Vicious, rude and borderline dangerous is what she is. She defected from a rebellion when they started losing but she knows her stuff. And if the current Guardian says she's an educator, she's an educator."

Opal stared at Proga as he counted on his fingers. "She was why you were near the humans."

"Correct."

Opal frowned, already not liking this Pyrope and glanced over to see Gabbro's reaction. She expected his usual nonchalance with a hint of what he was thinking, not a full scowl and was it her or did his eyes look muddy for a moment? He noticed her looking and shook his head. "I've heard of her. Yue- it's a fools run to try and get her to approve you."

"She's the best." Yue said simply. "And after all we've been seeing we clearly need to be trained by the best. Something sinister is happening."

"If Yue says we go, we go." Kait responded simply, placing her hands over his nettle stings. Opal felt a twinge of jealousy but refused to request her help with her burning legs.

Obsidian was hovering over a nettle bush, carefully pulling the nettles off without touching the ends. He had a fairly good collection when he brought them over to Gabbro who took them without comment until he saw Opal staring.

"These are very useful with certain types of spells. Imagine being stung with one of these ten times over. It might slow someone down a bit."

Opal nodded with a wince. She certainly didn't want to experience that. Even Proga shuddered at the thought.

For once he wasn't sitting right next to Yue or even Kait. Opal crossed the clearing to join him, curious. "What's wrong with Cattenvarn?"

"They are a bit... uppity there. Plus it is all underground."

Spark twitched as he pulled out a nettle. "Underground?"

Proga glanced at him and sighed. "Yue- he's going to need clothes. They will never let him in looking like this. Even if most of them cannot see."

Yue eyed him and Opal thought she saw a twinge of guilt with how he looked. "Kait. Please tend to Spark. He's clearly been having the most trouble."

"But-"

Yue cleared his throat and Kait stood. She looked very sullen as she approached the fire demon who now appeared nervous. She began running her hands over him the same she had for everyone else except she kept turning her head away and Spark looked like he was in some sort of trance. Did it really feel that good to have the stings removed? Opal glanced down at her own legs and heard Proga sigh.

"I thought Kait was stubborn but you might win."

"I don't know what you mean."

"If I had access to ingredients for poultice to put on your legs I'd do it but this requires direct healer contact. So you're going to have to say yes when she asks this time. We don't want the stings to get infected."

She wondered why she bothered coming to check on him. "Proga can I ask you a question?"

A small smile. "You always do."

"Is there anything I can do to help? You seem... not like yourself."

He lowered his head slightly, golden eyes searching hers. He sighed. "Am I acting that terribly?"

"No! I mean... you just seem so angry."

"I am. I knew Ren since he was small. I guess... I am not taking his death so well. I keep forgetting that he's gone- that we are no longer looking for him and each time it feels like a kick in the chest. Kait is worse and you can imagine how Yue feels. He hides it well but I've never seen him so heartbroken. It's a wonder he is still leading us at all."

Opal dropped her head and put her hand on his leg. "I'm sorry."

His much larger hand covered hers and for the first time in days she saw a real smile. "I appreciate that."

Opal looked at Kait finishing up with Spark who now was just laying flat on his back, an expression of relief on his face.

Opal took a deep breath. If she was really grieving this much, this one time, she would forgive her. "Kait- If you aren't too tired can you help me as well?"

Kait's eyes went a bit wide, almost sad, but then she nodded quickly. "Of course!"

Opal was starting to understand why Spark was still happily on the ground. Without the sting her mood had improved substantially. Which might have been the reason she responded to Kait when she also announced she would like to collect nettles.

"I can help."

Kait's eyes remained wide. "Oh- that's really? You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Well alright then." She smiled brightly and once more Opal had the odd sensation she didn't quite understand of feeling stupid she hadn't forgiven her immediately. Kait offered her a bag and confirmed the way Obsidian was doing it was correct and safest. That was probably the most surprisingly thing she'd heard all day.

They found a nettle patch further away from the group, not wanting to step on Obsidian's toes, and Opal listened to Kait rattle off all the things she could use stinging nettles for which included a balm for pulled muscles when watered down a bit.

"Kait."

"Yes?" Kait looked up.

"Why did you hit me before."

Kait's face fell a little. "I... am sorry about that."

"So why'd you do it?"

"I can't really explain."

"Why did you get so mad at Spark for kissing your hand?"

"I can't really explain that either..." Opal expected her to look embarrassed but instead she looked scared. She didn't want to push it but felt like she was still owed an answer to something. "Ok then. Why is Spark with us?"

"Huh?"

"Proga and Yue barely tolerate him." That seemed to be less true as the days had gone on. At first it seemed like he and Yue were at each other's throats however now most of their arguments didn't have the same amount of venom. She'd see the intensity in Spark's eyes when Yue was kidnapped. He was more than prepared to destroy that bar if the owner hadn't talked.

"They said that he accidentally burned you and that's how you were all caught." Opal said this like she didn't know for sure but she had seen the scars on Kait's body. Spark's flames were deadly. She had the distinct feeling the only reason Kait survived a burn that large was because she was a healer herself.

"Well," Kait stood up and wiped her hands together. "I forgave him." was it Opal or did she sound vaguely defensive?

Now was probably one of the few times she would be able to press Kait to talk about something she didn't want to considering she was still trying to make up for the slap.

"Just like that?"

"No." she sighed. "It wasn't 'just like that'. I hated him for quite awhile. He got us captured after all even if it was an accident."

"He causes a lot of accidents."

Kait only nodded. "It was my fault too. We had just been attacked and Ren's cohort was split from ours. It was just Yue, Proga me and a few others."

"Lor?"

"Yes. We were right by human territory and were hoping that Ren might have made it to the point he was supposed to meet with Pyrope so we kept close to the area. And that's when we came across Spark. He was in a human set trap. It basically worked like a paralytic, a gas pouring out of a mechanical tube. Any demon that walked too close could be unable to move. They'd just pick them up and take them away. I should have just left him there, after all he wasn't part of our cohort but... but he looked... he was still mostly awake and his eyes..." She paused, eyebrows knitted. "I don't know why I did it but I knew I could withstand the paralytic longer than most demons. So I went to pull him out. I got him most of the way, far enough that the gas stopped working. He's stronger than he seems and he panicked. He didn't know who I was or where so he attacked me." She touched her side, closing her eyes and wincing at the memory. "Proga and Yue saved me but the gas made them weak too so when the humans appeared to pull the demons out of their trap we couldn't fight back. Spark didn't even try to fight. He just tried to run."

Opal shuddered at the whole thing. She could understand Proga's and Yue's anger now. Without him they really wouldn't have been taken by the humans.

"But you forgave him. And wanted him to come with you."

"It took two years." She now was picking nettles again. "He actually helped nurse me back to health along with some of the humans. Guardians save me, I didn't want him touching me but I was in and out of consciousness. I survived though. When I was well they put me in charge of the infirmary after one of the humans died and he would come by every day to offer to help. I kicked him out each time." Her scowl turned into a smile and she tucked her hair back. "He's stubborn... Once though I was so busy with three dying humans I let him help and found out he was good at it. Strangely good."

"With the dying?" She remembered the girl in the camp and Ren.

"Yes. I still don't know why. But... basically two years of working together and him apologizing daily wore me down. And then we got to talking and it turned out..." Kait's ears turned a little red at this. "...he could be sweet. He was bad at expressing it verbally. He didn't want to be a loner anymore. I helped teach him how to talk to other demons-"

"This is him after practicing?" Opal was glad she didn't meet him when he was supposedly 'bad' at communication.

"He honestly barely spoke before- watch your fingers there- I ended up inviting him into our group. I made him promise to control his fire and use it for Yue. You've seen how powerful it is." Her face was determined. "If he took all those bands off there would be no way the group that attacked us would win. He... just needs to learn."

Opal realized suddenly what she meant. Those insane flames were only a portion of what he was capable of. Used correctly he might even be more powerful than all of them put together- not that Opal added anything to the equation. "You wanted to use him."

"Maybe I did at first." Kait kept her chin lifted. "Then it also turns out we get along." She admitted.

"I like him." Opal told her. "He's a bit rough but he means well I think." She was rewarded with another smile from Kait.

"I know he does."

"Especially when it comes to you."

Now her ears were definitely red. "Well he owes me after the burn."

"Sure." Opal considered pushing her on it but since she freaked out after receiving a kiss on the hand maybe it was a subject to avoid for now. She decided to change the subject. "So what do you know about the territory we are going to next?"

"It's a very interesting place. The demon's there are a little... snooty? Maybe that's the word. Yue probably would prefer to go to a place a little easier for use to navigate but it is the closest by quite a lot."

"Have you been before?"

"Once when I was very small and even though I was that young I was expected to have the same decorum as all the others."

Opal pricked herself and winced. She didn't like the sound of this at all. The combination of Spark, herself and worst of all Obsidian was likely to cause some chaos. Just living around Obsidian made every day a gamble.

Apparently Gabbro was thinking the same thing because when they returned he immediately asked Kait how her stock of calming and sleeping candies were.

"Did ya find enough?" Spark approached Kait with a level of caution. She may have healed him but that was at Yue's command. Evidently their conversation earlier had improved her mood towards him because she nodded and asked him if he wanted to help her crush the nettles when Opal bowed out. The activity didn't sound particularly exciting but he responded enthusiastically and the pair went to Kait's supplies.

"I'll need you."

Opal jumped at the soft voice in her ear that sent tingles up and down her neck. Gabbro was leaning over her shoulder with his usual causal expression. "For-?" She tried to sound annoyed at him for surprising her but it was hard with him that close.

"Controlling Ob. He's unlikely to enjoy Cattenvarn, not to mention they won't care for him either. Will you be able to do some hand holding when I am not able?"

Opal looked at the demon currently laying each nettle out carefully in a row. He didn't look so problematic now. She remembered her memory of being in charge of them all. "I've got it." She promised.

The walk to Cattenvarn wasn't as bad now that she was no longer upset with Kait. Also the nettle bushes had thinned out the further they got from the swap. Soon the ground was mostly rocky and sandy. It was a very good thing they did not have the wagon. The ground was much too uneven to walk quickly much less roll something. Interestingly they came along a pair of carts selling what appeared to be ear and nose plugs. They also had fascinating shoes which covered the top of feet, heels or claws but allowed the front to touch the ground. Luckily one of them was selling clothes as well so Spark was able to cover himself again. They were strange though. The color was awful, a beige gray that matched the rocks and sand but it also had beads that clicked when he walked and patches with different textures on his front, back and arms. Proga took this opportunity to pet him from each side until Spark ended up leaving singe marks around the sleeves of his new shirt. After seeing him wearing it Yue decided they all should get one.

Apparently it was normal attire for Cattenvarn and they might as well all show up looking, and sounding, like the rest of the community.

"It will be simple. We'll need to go to the registration team and be tested."

"Tested?" Spark asked, holding Obsidian at bay since he decided he wanted to follow Proga's lead and feel all of the textures on his shirt. Fortunately the fire demon seemed to have more patience for him and had not burned his new clothes completely off.

"Yes. Not just anyone can become a Guardian. They will want to see what I can do. And you all as well."

"What?" Opal raised her eyebrows. "Us too? But I..."

"You'll do your best of course." Yue said, nodding to her. "I'm sure you'll do fine."

"But I can't do anything. And Obsidian can't focus long enough-"

"I'm not sure exactly what they expect from us but I promise you- you'll be fine."

"Its true." Proga nodded. "They may just ask you questions."

"May..." Opal mumbled feeling chilled even under her thick new outfit. She fretted over getting the cohort in trouble for being a useless member for the rest of the walk, paying so little attention that she didn't notice they were taking a very long set of stairs down to the point it was getting chilly and the light from the opening overhead was getting further and further away. Soon it was only a slit on the ground behind them.

Cattenvarn had its name carved into the ceiling along with a creature that looked to have a woman's top half and a snake for the rest of her body. The Guardian.

Opal looked down, realizing she could only see the first level of steps without any sign of other demons or shops. They had said it was underground, she just did realize that meant there were no lights at all. They were going into a territory where they would be completely blind.

----------------------

Kait still isn't willing to talk about herself but at least she admitted what her original plan was for having Spark tag along. That seems to have changed slightly...

I'm not sure how much I like this chapter. It will probably be one of the first to be edited however it is done on time and the group is where they are supposed to be!

I've been feeling claustrophobic with the news about that submersible all over the place- it was just fitting that I would be having the group wandering into the darkness at the same time. I am not a fan of caves myself they are too spooky. I do like bats though. I am rambling

Thanks for reading

-Andi