Dinner, while delicious, seemed to never end. Kait didn't look at anyone the entire time, even when Spark and Opal, after Corax's story took yet another detour further into the past, had a break from flicking food at each other to try and hit her instead. Proga again sat like there was a board against his back, only occasionally glancing at them. By the time the group made it back to the sleeping chamber it was again very dark outside.

Yue's reaction was minimal to the news and Opal wondered if that was just part of prince-ly training or if she had overestimated how important Bloom's story was. It was a while before he finally spoke.

"That was reckless."

"It was faster than the other options." Opal felt hurt. She'd only done what he'd requested.

"You don't understand. Last time we met with these demons they easily overpowered us and we had triple the numbers we have now."

"We are expecting them if they hear about us- we are chasing them this time and they don't know how many we are." Opal was surprised Proga was sticking up for the plan he had opposed so strongly.

"I didn't want to put any of you in danger while we are here."

Kait waved a dismissive hand. "We did it to ourselves and it's done now. What I want to know is did you get any information out of Corax."

Yue dragged a hand down his face and sighed. "Yes."

"I'm confused- shouldn't that be a good thing?" Opal cocked her head.

"But at what cost to my ears, Opal?"

"Stop being dramatic." Kait snapped. "What did you find out?"

"We weren't the only ones to be attacked around that time and it wasn't by other royals. Something... insidious is going on. Half the guardian prospects have disappeared in the last four years. It's been kept away from the general population to keep from causing panic. However apparently there was even a guardian whose body gave out before a successor was properly trained so rumors are spreading in the Dry Forest."

From the expression on Kait's and Proga's face that must have been really bad. Even Spark looked uneasy.

"But... why? That kind of instability would only increase Royal power. So if its not Royals doing it who then?"

"Corax mentioned he's seen an increase in avaricious demons. Its been causing quite an issue in smaller territories. Offspring born with little connection to the earth at all."

Opal put both her hands up. "Help."

Proga shook his head. "Demons are connected to animals... birds, deer, wolves, humans, but are born with connection to the earth that allows us access to energy those creatures can't. Well- some humans are able to learn but its not innate. We can get into details later but the important thing is this energy is limited. Normally when a demon died it returned to the earth. But it can be passed on to a living demon."

"So... it's a power thing?"

"It's a stupid thing to do. Its more likely to kill you or drive you insane then connect you to a different area of energy. I-" Spark paused and gave Yue a sideways look. "I've seen the ritual before. A couple times. The ones I watched failed."

Kait put a hand over her mouth. Proga's eyes went wide.

Although Yue's face registered disgust his voice was even. "That will be helpful information for us to know."

Spark relaxed.

Proga shook his head. "If we are dealing with the kind of demons that might be trying to do that with guardian candidates, I think we need to re-think our plan- as in, drop it and go back to the ice territories."

"I'm not going back without finding out where my brother is."

"I'm not saying we don't find him. I'm saying we consider that this whole thing was a bad idea from the start. I'm not letting you go on a suicide quest. And I'm sure as hell not letting you take Kait with you."

Yue narrowed his eyes. "This is a situation I will require my healer for. I think you need to remember your place, shifter."

Opal had never seen Proga's eyes that bright before. They were glowing and... was it her imagination or were the shadows by the strange lamps starting to move?

The two stared each other down until Kait slammed a hand on the floor. "Knock it off! Neither of you get to make choices for me. We don't even know for sure if that's what is happening or if it's even connected to your brother."

"Come on Kait, I'm the dumbest one in the room and even I know the chances of them bein' unrelated are basically zero."

"I agree with both of Spark's sentiments." Yue grimaced and looked over the top of their heads. "I apologize, Proga. That was selfish of me. I... offer you all leave if you wish. I'm going to Tixe."

"I'm going." Kait crossed her arms. "I won't leave my position and I'd like a chance to thank whoever got us trapped in a human dump for three years."

Spark was staring at her. "If you want my help... prince," He choked on the word. "I'll come."

"Seeing as I have no one but you all I guess I'm in but I'm not sure what I can do."

Proga put his face in his hands and groaned. "This is a terrible idea. I want that on record I said that. Yue, make sure to mention I said that in your eulogy for me."

"I'm grateful. To you all." Yue stood up his face stone and headed towards the wash chamber. "We organize tomorrow and leave the day after."

"He didn't seem very grateful."

Proga sighed. "The less he shows the more he means it. Ouch!"

Kait had slapped his arm. "Don't even joke about dying."

Proga put both hands up in surrender as Spark laughed but it was cut short when she turned on him next and grabbed a handful of his shirt to pull him down to her eyelevel. "If you call yourself dumb again you'll regret it. Opal!"

Opal froze, wary of the smaller silver-haired demon.

"Do you want the white robe or the purple one?"

"...purple?"

"Good!"

The door shook as she slammed it closed.

Spark rubbed his neck. "Proga, what the hell did you say to her?"

Proga grimaced. "You'll have to ask her its not my information to share. Although I wouldn't suggest doing it now."

"Honestly, I'm feeling a little less doomed if she's going to protect us." Opal stretched. She was finding it difficult to be afraid despite the very obvious disadvantage they would be at. Opal was more scared of being left behind. She hoped she wouldn't be a burden. Would any of them admit it if she was? When Kait returned with the unnaturally soft robe she crawled into bed. All night she tried to get the images of Ermine's blank eyes out of her head only to have them to appear in the rest of her friend's faces.

------

As Yue said, the next morning they were gathering what they could to make the journey. At Proga's insistence the group did this in the park to have something pleasant while they prepped for their deaths. Kait gave him a nasty look and he stopped saying it. As Yue explained the options for path's to Tixe Opal stared up at the red sky. Today it was closer to pink with the clouds covering it, alternating with white sunlight and the shadows of demons flying from one perch to the next above her.

"-ingredients for wounds." Yue was alternatively pushing the white hood away from his eyes and pulling it back over to cover his hair. Walking around with a prince was not a good idea. He'd managed to convince Corax that the pair of them would be too obvious together if he wanted to tour the territory. Their host grudgingly agreed not to go with him this time and let him borrow a cloak.

Kait was holding a small book bound in what looked like compacted thick red leaves. She was jotting down what she wanted to have on hand and seemed to be trying to consider every possible injury she might encounter. Her face was tight with stress but at least she seemed to have forgotten her argument with Proga last night.

"What did you do when they attacked last time?"

"I'd rather not dwell on it."

"But its important. We can't possibly account for everything they might do but we can figure out what went wrong last time. Where we are weakest. Well, where you all are weakest since I'm not much help."

Kait closed the book. "We'd had some sign of them the days leading up to it from the scouts trailing the convoy but when they attacked it was very sudden. They must have had a demon that could manipulate sound because the first thing I remember was I could see the fighting but could not hear what the others were saying. They basically cut communication. Clever since I'm sure we would have the upper hand in organized battle."

"They split the convoy, literally. A fissure broke part of the land apart between my brother and me."

"So it sounds like they got around your superior training by making sure you had to work alone." Opal frowned.

"Oh that's good."

"Why would that be good, Spark?"

"We don't work together well. Might be better we don't get in each other's way."

"I disagree." Kait pointed at Opal. "When she had you turn Yue's ice to steam that was very effective."

"Actually that's a good idea." Yue eyed Spark with dismay. "If they try to force us apart again, that would be an extremely useful way to stop it. The steam not only would cause physical injury but that rapid of a chemical reaction might also disarm an incoming energy attack."

"If you make an ice shell dome it could even work from all sides."

"Not unless you want to burn to death too, Opal." Spark frowned. "How do you expect me to make fire in a dome and not kill ya?"

"Well it couldn't be a full dome- you'd need air."

"I'd still fry you! Even without the dome if ya want fire I can't promise I won't hit any of you."

"Kait?"

"This would need to be a last resort option, but, yeah I think it might be do-able. I could at least try and create a flame-resistant tonic. It wouldn't last very long though without a slow dispensing amulet but at least we wouldn't be fried. Let me see your arm, Spark." He offered it to her with an eyebrow raised. She ran a finger from his wrist up.

"This should be a good vein. "

Spark jerked his arm away. "What?"

She rolled her eyes and reached for him again. "I need your blood."

"No!"

Kait grabbed his wrist before he could get away. She ripped a page from the book she held and handed it to Yue. "I'll need these things for the tonic and common medicine."

He examined the paper. "Proga will you help? We have quite the list."

"Yep."

"Opal, will you assist me with making the tonic and poultices from what I have now?"

"Sure." Opal was pleased to have something to do.

"Lets go somewhere more private. The whole park doesn't need to see this." Kait tucked the book under her arm and shouldered her bulky pack until Opal offered to carry it. A resentful Spark followed at a distance.

"I still don't understand why you need blood." Spark held his arm out and propped his chin on his other hand.

"Opal, can you hand me a bottle? The gray stone one- perfect. I don't need blood I need your blood. I don't have time to make a regular fire-shield potion or amulet. Honestly I like this way better anyway."

"I don't."

"Why?"

"I think it's a safer method if you know exactly who's flames you need protection from. Blood is what feeds your whole body so if his skin is safe from the fire the source of that safeguard is in his blood. It wouldn't help much against another demon's flames though." Kait extended her free hand. Opal stared at her nails grew longer, thicker and dark.

"How-"

"Demons take more than one form, Opal. This just happens to be a good intermediate for many. Stop wiggling!"

"I'm the one about to be bled out!"

Kait sighed and tossed Opal a broken piece of white stone from the path a tree root had torn up. "Jab him with this. Not too hard."

Opal caught it and before he could turn jabbed him in the side.

"Ow!"

Kait held the bottle under his wrist. Opal could see bright red blood flowing down his arm from where she'd cut him at the same time. "Nice distraction. You're a good assistant!"

"Thanks. Let me know if you need me to do it again."

"Eat shit, Opal."

Once the bottle was full he yanked his arm away to examine the wound. Kait handed the bottle off to Opal and held out her hand. "Give me your arm again."

"Why, you wanna take it off this time?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm going to fix it."

Opal watched in fascination now that she was close enough to see what was happening. Kait pulled a hair and put one hand over the cut. She squeezed gently with one hand and drew a pattern with the other. The blood turned silver for a second and then she pulled her hand away.

"That took you longer than with Proga. Or me."

"Well I only started the process before. If I'd have done that here it would have left a decent scar and probably still be painful for quite a few days. Also this takes more energy. I would have passed out long before I got to half of Proga's wounds."

Opal bent to examine the area and saw his skin looked untouched. She still had a shiny area on her own leg for a scar.

"Need anything else from me? Good." Spark got to his feet before either could answer.

"Where are you going?"

"I need a break from all of you."

Kait sighed as he pulled his hood up and disappeared.

"Should we, follow him?"

"He'll find his way back. If he says he needs a break, he needs a break." She waved a dismissive hand. "Here- now that we have this we need to move quickly. It's better fresh."

Opal worked to crush leaves between a small stone and a bowl. She recognized a few of the plants Kait had showed her outside of Lster.

"You learned all of this from your father?"

"Not all, but quite a bit. Proga's not half bad either but of course he can't add his energy to concoctions. You could try though."

"But I can't do anything."

"Stop saying that. Try." She handed her a ball of fabric doused in a fragrant liquid. "Wrap it around your own arms then roll it back into a ball, just make sure your thoughts are positive- preferably about protections in this case."

Opal did as she was told. She closed her eyes, at first all she could think of was Ermine's broken body in front of her when she failed at protection. She forced that away and instead tried to picture all of the humans that had made it alive.

"Nice work!" Kait removed it and showed her. Faint violet streaks were briefly visible in the pale fabric before fading away.

"I did it! Does that mean I might be a healer?"

"Well- no. Even humans can add energy if just a little. But it's a good step!" Kait added after seeing Opal's face fall.

They worked in the shade of the trees for hours. Opal's fingers were starting to hurt and were stained blue when they packed up and made for the house. When they entered Lilyfoot was dashing in with a platter of dried fruit. The hall was completely full of brightly wrapped clothes, baskets of food and some of the scented oils from the baths.

Kait sighed. "I guess Yue told Corax we were leaving."