"How will we be training with another candidate and cohort when we are competing against each other?" Opal was bringing more supplies to Gabbro for the wards he was making, like in the forest. However, now they issued a nasty shock instead of just a warning siren. Proga was using his shadows to place them all along the alley way. Pyrope had decreed the only correct way to enter would only be from the roof. She's used the strange telepathy, which was quite amazing. But not quite as amazing as Proga and Gabbro working together quietly. Proga even complimented Gabbro on his spell work once.

"Usually it ends a few ways." Gabbro explained without looking up from his work. He lifted two folded papers in his palm. A smoke-like tendril wrapped around them and flowed back down the alley. "A candidate gives up, near the end of the training they fight for the opening, an instructor makes the choice for them," he held up two more fingers, "the candidate or too many of the cohort is killed, or, one candidate choses to step down and join the other cohort."

"I'm sorry- did you say killed?"

"Not by the other candidates- or at least not if it can be proven. That's not allowed. Its usually training or the instructor."

"Pyrope... may try and kill us."

"Well unlikely us, unless you piss her off enough. She'd go after Yue."

Opal swallowed. "and the training?"

"It's intensive." Proga noted as he walked past him to the other section of the alley. "Most deaths are from that."

"That makes me feel loads better." Opal looked down at her hand, thinking of the weak spiral of water she was able to control.

Gabbro looked up. "It might help you understand your abilities better."

"Do you think she could help Ob break the curse?"

He was looking down again. "That's a possibility."

Opal tightened her fingers. She could only hope. Poor Obsidian was struggling so hard. He did seem a little... frightening during some of his lucid periods but she believed what Gabbro said- it was mostly because he was constantly frustrated trying to get his mind back in order. She returned to the building to find Obsidian insisting on feeding Yue by hand despite the ice demon's nervous expression. At least she could expect him to be loyal to Yue. She caught Yue's eye and smiled at him.

He sat up straighter and gently took the bowl from Ob's hands, pointing back to the kitchen and saying something she couldn't hear. Obsidian looked put out, but followed whatever command he'd been given and skipped past Opal, patting her cheek. "Hi big sister."

"Hi Ob." She nodded to him, watching his eyes starting to glass over and he stopped in the kitchen, proceeded to take a seat on the floor and pull various utensils from a cabinet. Opal very much doubted those were Yue's instructions.

She took a seat next to her candidate. Proga and Gabbro were finishing up protecting their location, Kait was sleeping off her earlier exertion, Spark was probably up to his favorite activity- burning anything and everything and until she interrupted it seemed Obsidian was intent on caring for Yue. She motioned to the kitchen.

"Why did you send him away when I walked in?"

"I'm not sure what you mean- I merely asked him to gather a larger spoon and apparently he became distracted. And I don't need help to eat." His eyes were avoiding hers.

"He was surprisingly alert for awhile there."

"Indeed. It seems like the timeframe is lengthening by the day."

"So... what will happen when the curse breaks?"

"Well," Yue started matter-of-factly. "He'd obviously need some time to recover, but then I'd like to see what he is capable of-"

"Not what I meant. Why do you run when he sits next to you?"

"I don't do that."

"Yue. You know you do."

He appeared very intent on his soup for a moment before clearing his throat. "Sometimes perhaps- because he's injured me before when he's in a bad mood so I am simply creating space to avoid that."

Opal glared at him. He certainly came up with excuses quick. "Its not because its off putting to see a demon his age behave like a child half the time? What if that wasn't the case? Would you treat him differently then?"

"Of course I would." He scoffed. "If he acted his age I-"

"Why did you follow him in Lster?"

"Why are you asking so many of these questions?"

"Its what I do best. It's because you thought he was cute so you were off your guard, isn't it?"

Yue put his bowl down carefully. "No. That is minimizing the event."

"So you do think he is cute then."

"He barely knows where he is most of the time."

"Nice attempt to dodge the question." She dropped down next to him with a broad smile to compete with his grimace. "You mentioned he seemed lucid when you first met. So hypothetically, if he wasn't cursed?"

"He-" his eyes darted around the room. "is unwell. Those types of thoughts would be inappropriate. But... hypothetically...? He is objectively attractive. So, yes, I suppose I find him cute. Are you happy now? Stop smiling like that. Why are you laughing? Shh, Opal! I don't need everyone knowing this. It doesn't paint me in a positive light."

"Oh, Yue- everyone already does know. I just wanted to make you admit it."

"They do not... do they?" Opal tried not to laugh at his alarmed expression. "I did not like this conversation, but I suppose it is useful to know what my cohort thinks of me."

"Don't worry, prince. Your behavior has been nothing but honorable as far as I have seen."

He relaxed slightly. "In any case, we cannot separate his behavior from the curse and his true objectives. It's fanciful thinking that he would continue his..."

"Flirting?" Opal suggested.

Yue winced. "I was thinking antics... point being all of this is moot." She caught a hint of disappointment on his serious face.

"If you say so."

"Now that you have squeezed information out of me, would you mind doing what Obsidian was unable to? My legs do feel weak."

"Big spoon coming up."

Gabbro and Proga returned. To Opal's astonishment neither seemed injured and both of their expressions were carefully neutral.

"The alleyway is locked down- anyone other than Pyrope comes down it will be in for an... unpleasant time." Gabbro brushed his hair back from his face and Opal noted the sheen of sweat.

"So who are we hiding from." Opal asked, pulled her knees to her chest. "Pyrope actually seemed... nervous."

"She's going scorched earth- literally. So I'm guessing she's blaming the humans for this." Yue pressed a finger to his temple and turned his unfathomable blue eyes to Proga. "And if that's the case its likely to be the same ones who poisoned us outside their dome."

"Ah. So this is our fault."

Yue nodded and Gabbro raised his eyebrows. "Care to elaborate, prince?"

"There was no way they didn't know we were involved in the jailbreak moons back- even with damaged cameras. And... we may have encouraged the remaining humans to continue their push for freedom to nearby camps." He glanced at Opal with a weak half smile. "If you were wondering if your friend lead a successful rebellion, I'm guessing our answer is in the response of this city. They are hunting for us more seriously. She must have dealt a vicious blow to their disgusting method for treating overpopulation. Unfortunately for us."

Opal perked up. "You think Gray forced them to worry about us."

"I do."

"We should help them, then."

"Help them? We've already helped them quite enough. We got ourselves entangled enough that a city previously indifferent to inhuman occupation is now setting traps." Yue rubbed his arm. "Fairly effective ones at that. Opal, Gray may not even be alive at this point."

"Even more reason to seek them out!" She leaned forward. "Help them set ruin to the groups that plan to trap us."

Proga grinned a broad white smile. "Opal, you are suggesting we overthrow a human government, you know that right?"

"Ok sure then, maybe I am."

"Humans are none of our business." Yue said, voice bland.

"We did interfere a little already..."

"It was a mistake from the beginning- born from spite after our capture. More interference-"

"You are supposed to protect demons as a Guardian, right? What better way to show you are capable than stopping this kind of human activity." Opal pressed. "Plus, as you said, its probably our fault. Leaving it like this would be irresponsible."

Proga cocked his head. "She makes a valid point, my Prince."

Yue grumbled. "I know. I hate it when she does that." Opal lifted her chin while Yue rested his on tented fingers. "And I do feel a touch of resentment for the wound. I think the humans should be a little more cautious when dealing with us. They are too arrogant. But Pyrope told us to stay put."

"If I may, Prince, I think Pyrope would appreciate that line of thinking knowing her history. I think you'd impress her if you had a plan to bring them back into more respectful laws by the time she returns." Gabbro's words were quiet and Opal chewed her lip noticing the little thrill an option for malice gave him. Had it always been that plain in his behavior? She knew almost nothing of Hellhounds but supposed it would make sense for them to favor the more aggressive route for problem solving.

Obsidian took this opportunity to kneel back before Yue. "Yes Prince, lets make them pay for thinking they could hold you."

Yue's eyes darted to Opal briefly and she bit back a smile. "Even if all of you approve of this idea, it would still need to be unanimous."

"I'm sure Spark would be fine with it." Proga noted.

"Yes but Kait-"

"-would also like an opportunity to remind humans of the dangers of playing with demons." Kait stood in the entryway, glowering with messy hair and a stern pout on her lips. "They took three years, Yue. I think they need to learn again not to meddle in our affairs. Guardians are charged with punishments and protections. You heard all the humans in the camp, they majority don't even believe we exist anymore."

"We don't even know the structure of the humans'-"

"By your command, my Prince." Obsidian had taken his hand, hazel eyes brightly mischievous, "I was expected to study and infiltrate. I know who leads the human and much of their technology."

Yue looked stunned. "You know how to access their electronics."

Proga and Kait looked impressed as well. Gabbro only frowned.

"Is... is that unusual?" Opal asked the silent group.

"It would explain why Obsidian was highly sought." Kait said. "Not many of us have studied human technology. We haven't needed much of it throughout the years but in the last hundred or so it went from being easily recreated through magic, like their cars or lights, into something more complicated. They stole our permeable covers for The Road for their entire cities, but they are also able to cover their grounds in them. Disconnect us from the Earth."

"So in some cities you cannot access your powers if you use up what you have..."

"I often can't." Yue noted but nodded to Obsidian. "They can if there are other living beings nearby. Obsidian, you are saying you can access their computers? Open doors? Change lights?"

"Turn off retinal scanners, alter the nutritional makeup of their food, stop intercranial information downloads..." Obsidian counted. "I was learning to override public transportation grids when... when..." his face scrunched in his attempt to remember. Gabbro placed a hand on his arm.

"When you were cursed. It's ok, Ob, do not strain yourself."

Obsidian gazed at him placidly and Opal frowned at the exchange.

Proga dropped on the couch next to Yue, bouncing him slightly. "So what would we like to do?"

He looked around the room. "I suppose the first step is figuring out where Gray's group ended up."

"Yes." Opal agreed immediately, excited at the prospect of seeing her friend again, even if she was just a human.

"The same demons that killed Ren and cursed Ob are likely to be intwined with the humans that captured us." Kait said. "Obsidian, do you remember where you learned to use the human technology?"

Gabbro narrowed his eyes, about to argue, but Ob squinted in concentration and took the hand that Kait held out.

"Kait- don't you just recovered-" Proga argued too late. Ob was staring off into the distance while Kait's wince turned to a grimace and finally with a yelp she pulled away. Ob blinked back to the present and then staggered into the kitchen, digging for a penicil and paper which he began using to write a string of words and numbers, then the outline of a building.

"It's in 82."

"That's right next to Gray's hometown. I bet they were going there- which one did we escape from?"

"It had no title. It wasn't a real city." Yue explained. "But if your friend was from 84 and described a decent amount of government workers that seems like a fairly good target if 82 was a tech town."

"Commuters into it?" Proga asked and received a nod from Yue.

"Yes!" Opal agreed, surprised with how quickly this was turning into the kind of scenario she had hoped for.

"Deep breath, Opal." Proga gave her a half grin. "We can't rush out the door. We need Pyrope's blessing first. And an actual plan."

Yue leaned over Ob's drawing. "I think the first thing would be to find our little group of misfits with their gifts to make sure someone was available to take over..."

They spent the rest of the afternoon reviewing the best way to remove the current humans from power. There seemed to be a disagreement on methodology. Specifically, if the humans should be removed from existence as well as their positions. Obsidian stayed lucid for the majority of it which for some reason seemed to worry Gabbro more than give him a sense of relief. Maybe this was still not his normal but just more normal than usual?

The sun was starting to set when Pyrope burst back in, covered in a considerable amount of ash and trailed by nearly as blackened Spark who appeared to have picked up a bit of a swagger as he walked in behind her.

"You weren't kiddin' about the firepower." She barked as the room turned to face her, but her orange eyes were on Yue. She gave him a fanged grin as she shoved Spark in a surprisingly playful manner. "We train him up a bit and there won't be much that can stop him. Well, other than my other guardian student of course."

Gabbro turned his head sharply at that. Yue noticed and crossed his ankle over his knee. "And why would that be?"

"Eh, you'll see soon enough. Now. What's this mess?" She swiped one of Ob's drawings and squinted. "We already burned down their precious museum-" Pyrope started. Kait looked to Spark for confirmation and he hooked his fingers behind his head and gave her a pleased grin in response. "-but it looks like you have more revenge on your mind?"

"We are finding the group that the Prince gave a favor to, damaging and or finding the control codes in city 82 and removing the head's of 84." Obsidian told her succinctly. "Because they need a reminder not to interfere with us."

Pyrope lowered the paper and raised her eyebrows at Yue. "That true, princeling?"

Yue cleared his throat. "If they felt safe enough setting traps for us in our own territories, never mind how close they are to human cities, they are a danger to demons in this guardianship. I believe it is in the best interest of the local demons to, ah, remind, the humans their best course of action is to keep their soft little hands to themselves."

Pyrope narrowed her eyes. "You do, do you?"

"Additionally..." Yue's face went cold. "I'm rather furious they snapped iron around me in the first place. A little pay back is in order."

"You plan to warn them with blood?" Yue nodded. Pyrope's face split into a wide grin. "I'm liking you and your little group of eccentrics more by the minute." She settled down to listen to their plan, only interrupting to confirm with Ob that he was, indeed, able to interfere and alter human tech.

"Unfortunately, we will have to meet the other cohort at a later date." Yue explained. "Since we are now on a time limit. Where is it we should meet up again?"

"Kles." Pyrope told him with a yawn.

"Kles?" Kait repeated looking startled.

"Too rough for you, kid?" Pyrope taunted. "You want armor to defend against his flames for real, that's where you need to go."

"Of course we will go where you summon us." Yue stated flatly which made Pyrope snort.

Opal looked around and Proga bent his head to her ear. "Unofficially, if you were looking for a mercenary or killer for hire, Kles would be a good place to start." He whispered, looking meaningfully at Gabbro and Obsidian who hadn't so much as flinched at the name. Gabbro did however look anxious to leave.

"Prince, its starting to grow dark. Don't you think we should be crossing the boundaries before the sun sets to limit suspicion?"

Yue surveyed the group, eyes lingering on Obsidian in particular. "With your leave Pyrope-"

"Yeah yeah. You have my permission. Hey, Spark-" He turned his head. "Bring me a fresh skull while you're at it. Cleaned of flesh. Think of it as an opportunity to practice your precision burns. I want that thing pristine."

Kait made a look of disgust and was the first one to leave up the stairs. Obsidian meanwhile giggled to himself, singing a song under his breath about bringing her a full skeleton as he skipped up the stairs.

*******************

Interesting fact: bunnies stomp when they are upset because it sends vibrations into the burrow to warn the other buns something is wrong. But they still look like grumpy little guys so I can't help but find it cute!