Hawkins clung desperately to the uneven surface of the rubble. Cricket was still on the rampage and although they didn't have much time, they had still managed to cobble together some kind of system with the Traited available.

Odi moaned pitifully as the two Firestep wolves helped to move her behind the giant wave shaped slab, Cull being hoisted up by Thea a few metres behind. Hazards magma tipped claws sunk into the gravel as the Scale Shrieker struggled to keep her weight only to collapse onto the ground a few moments afterwards. Blaize darted out of the way before being buffeted by the scattering of rocks and dust, eyeing the mangled set of wings worryingly.

"That'll do fine." Hawkins said nervously, the threads of dwindling Smoke Trait on high alert for Cricket's presence. 

He could only spare as much Trait as he could muster, thankful for the young Thyraxian's healing ability. Thea let out a sigh of relief, setting Cull gently beside Odi's foreleg as not to jostle her before returning to her duties and sharing the load between her patients. Thyraxians could restore broken bones and aching limbs while lessening fatigue but Trait could not always be restored by other Traited. Odi's wings included. Hawkins needed as much time as he could to put his plan into motion, Trait or not.

Thea clung close by to the large dragon and the unconscious Fire Traited, Odi's wheezy breaths coming out soft and slow as her shadows began to form against the shade. They wouldn't last long against the steadily rising sun. Axis didn't get as much sunlight as Opalis but six hours could be the difference between life and death for the heavily injured Scale Shrieker. Cull however fared better in the sunlight so he was positioned to both block and absorb the sunlight in a vain attempt to awaken him.

"How is she?" Hack asked nervously, working on shading the dragon with Rin.

They were using their Traits in tandem, melting the rocks with Rin's gathered flame while Hack shifted each piece into place like a molten rock wall. It barely hung over Odi's head but it was a necessary precaution in case Cricket decided to intervene. Thea floated along the ground, clearing as much as the gravelly surface as she could before setting the still unconscious Cull gently next to the injured Scale Shrieker.

"Could be better." Apollothea said at last, her quiet, lilting voice sending tufts of wind rising with every word spoken. 

Meanwhile, her Agar took watch by clinging to the edge of the reinforced rubble, her Air Trait cushioning her from below. She was the best person to keep a look out since Cricket shared the same Core Trait as her and it would be easier to spot a familiar face in the distance. It was also the only job she'd begrudgingly agreed to do now one of her comrades were out of commission.

"So, how are we stopping this lil' bitch again, Rin? We can't coax her into her Lullaby state, she's too far gone." 

Rin nodded reassuringly at Hawkins confusion at the term, suddenly humming a similar tune that Cricket was warbling earlier on repeat. Hawkins felt his eyes begin to droop along with the slow, steady rhythm of the unusual song. Was it some kind of self hypnotism that kept Cricket docile?

"Well, you know about the different Tarragon abilities, right?" Rin began, ignoring her companions glaringly blunt look.

The Air Traited groaned, wiping away the sweat and dust from her forehead as she shuffled around the top large barricade to avoid the discussion. Hawkins whipped his head around, too curious for his own good as he leaned against the hard rock before deciding against it.

"What do you mean by that, Rin?" The Mediator asked, fighting the urge to take out his notebook and take notes on the conversation.

Tarragons like Cricket didn't manifest just from summoning their powerful grimoires. Green eyes or not, it normally emerged through a traumatic experience or heritage of unexplained circumstances. Those from Tarragon kept their secrets of compulsion to themselves but all other countries knew what could happen if they too acquired the power of possession. Hawkins didn't want to pry but the fact that a member of the Swarm knew there were physical differences in Tarragon abilities could change how they were perceived all across the nation.

"Oh no you don't, Mediator. You'll snitch to your whole squad and then a whole army of Tarragon will come for our sorry hides!" Mantis called back, dropping from the ground in disgust. 

Rin sighed and crossed her arms, mentally exhausted from dealing with such a self centred Traited. Hawkins knew that Mantis wasn't wrong but still, if anything could help kids like Cricket from being abused by their own power then every scrap of information could help improve things for the future. It would have certainly helped him in the past if he had known a fellow Smoke Traited.

"The biggest thing we all need to be wary of is not Cricket's compulsion. It's her Haze Trait." Rin said nervously, tugging at her torn sleeve.

Hawkins cocked his head to the side, his Trait mimicking his movement as the strings of smoke shifted to the left slightly.

"I thought her Tarragon isn't connected to her Trait? Isn't it why there's a whole race of them with different abilities added on?" Hawkins asked, attempting to figure out the gaps from the existing information.

Rin made a face, her mouth twisting in confusion as she tried to explain such a complex method to someone who didn't know her friend first hand. Her brother was better at explaining things simply, her strength relied more of a hands on approach.

"Normally yes but apparently Bewitcher Traits are different. I don't know the full details but there are two sides to a potential Tarragon's power. Submission and Influencing. Someone like Thundreign's Regent for example is an Influencer Tarragon. He mainly uses his eyes and voice to suggest people into a state of calm or fear to get what he wants."

Hawkins shivered despite the stuffy air surrounding them, trying not to remember the stories he had heard of the Thundreigns new Regent. The rumours of their supposed involvement in the Undercity had stirred up a lot of suspicion since returning home from Axis. He had only heard it in passing but he was surprised to hear how much of it was true and how much the Swarm actually knew about the sightings. The Mediators may have been scattered by the Divide's protection but that didn't mean they didn't have their connections. It seemed the Swarm had more of an influence in this world than he and his colleagues had first realised.

Making a mental note to confer with his superior officer about the Swarm's plans, Hawkins decided to stay silent and allow Rin to continue. Mantis was displeased by her younger Traited, deciding to grumpily return to her lookout post while lashing out at the crudely constructed barricade with a well placed kick. Rin rolled her eyes, shrugging off the sneer that the Air Traited continued to send her from behind her back.

"A Submission Tarragon projects power into their voice and gaze to affect people's nervous systems. You recieve pain almost instantaneously compared to an Influencers subtle way of using their gifts to confuse people. Much like a dragon with Tarragon, if you lie the pain only worsens. The Throneholder of Opalis is the perfect example of that." Rin said, fidgeting nervously as she glanced up at the sky before focusing elsewhere as best she could.

Hawkins noticed her anxiousness and was about to inquire further but he soon felt a scalding pain wash over him, frantically searching for a familiar green fog. Seeing no Trait in sight Hawkins shook his head and veered away from the conversation for a moment. Clutching his chest with one hand he gingerly pried his other hand into his pocket, glancing at the Fire Traited in front of him who was now staring at Mantis. If it wasn't Rin and there was no sign of Cricket yet, then what was it?

 It was as if he had been branded with hot coals, fighting the urge to yell out he began sweating horribly as his hand dared to linger inside his jacket pocket before jerking back at the smouldering heat. This wasn't Rin's doing. 

The black grimoire was angry. It was angry at the Throneholder of Opalis.

"I-I see." Hawkins said, struggling to change the subject and stop himself from being burned alive. "So, Cricket...is a Submission type then?"

Rin didn't seem to notice his strained voice, focusing only on the horizon in front of them. Screams of distant horror rose up behind plumes of black smoke and collapsing buildings. Axis was fighting hard but it could only do so much to protect them from the dreaded Bewitcher Cricket of Tarragon. She bit her lip, forcing herself to look away from the looming destruction and smiled solemnly, shaking her head once.

"No. Cricket is both. She is an Imperial Tarragon."

Hawkins stifled a sigh of relief as the grimoire steadily began to settle down. He tugged his clenched hand away from the tattered leather and longed for a cigarette to busy his hands but he knew there was none left. Slowly, the shock registered in his facial nerves as Rin looked away once more, a mix of embarrassment and regret giving way to an emotion he never thought he'd see on a Swarm member. Guilt.

"Her parents are...well, were once of noble lineage long before Tarragon became an independent nation. They loved each other but wanted no part of their countries legacy so they fled to Shuriken. Cricket was born during Shuriken's destruction, just as her parents died alongside it. She survived...somehow but her Trait has never been the same since."

Hawkins noted Rin's hesitation in her voice, her quivering hands and unfocused eyes. It was only natural for her to be nervous but something felt off to him. That word...somehow. Her voice broke over the explanation of Cricket's childhood, it felt unfinished in some way. There was no doubt she knew more about Cricket but the Throneholder of Opalis too? It would make sense considering the Swarm's connections. If only he had more time to-

A loud explosion echoed Hawkins disbelief as the two suddenly glued their eyes to the horizon. They barely had a few minutes to spare before destruction rained down on them once again. He needed more time. He had to decide what was most important to know. Otherwise, who knew if they could get out of this alive.

"So, what about Cricket's Trait? How does that change her Imperial Tarragon?" Hawkins said hurriedly, trying to keep Rin's focus on the conversation.

The Fire Traited nodded rapidly, forcing herself to look away and restore as much Trait as she could. She allowed a flicker of a flame to emerge on her palm, streams of smoke peetering up towards the Mediator before disappearing into thin air. With their nerves settled a little and a steady output of Trait occuring, the two continued their discussion, hoping that Mantis would do her job.

"That green mist acts like sensors and helps her detect people via their Trait. If she locates you once she'll be able to do so again, it's how we found Odi after all." Rin said, recalling how the young girl had helped them with their mission.

Hawkins fought down his annoyance, gesturing for the girl to keep going no matter what. Rin bit her lip, avoiding the sore subject as best she could before continuing her rundown of a Haze Traited.

"Cricket knows all of our capabilities and how much Imperial Tarragon to use by forming her Trait into feelers. They are very sensitive, which is why she keeps them at a distance." Rin said, trying to think of anything useful they could use to combat her Trait.

Hawkins sighed, running his hands through his dust covered hair. Finding a way to counter someone who not only knew their Traits but also had a failsafe which could send everyone into submission was not good odds. But Cricket was still a kid with a lot left to learn and a lot of issues to sort out. Her Trait may have known all their strengths and weaknesses but it didn't locate him back when Grimmordials was still standing. Perhaps she could only detect so many at a time? Not to mention the sensitivity of her tendrils and how they connected to her sight could be useful. 

Slowly a plan began to form in the exhausted Mediators mind, assessing each individual bit of information as if it were separate tasks to complete. Hawkins gave a tentative smile as Mantis yelled out just as he was half satisfied with the best makeshift plan he could come up with. He'd need everyone involved if it was going to work. Most importantly, he'd need the help of a grimoire expert.

"Hack? How much do you know about Trait?" Hawkins said, turning to his old mentor while he worked on the finishing touches of the second barrier.

The Sand Wraith was looking considerably better since the last time Hawkins had seen him. His jaw had been realigned, his fangs no longer embedded into his mouth and his broken arm had healed nicely thanks to Thea's efforts. But Hawkins could see the tremble in Hack's claws, the slowly healing scars left by his own torture and the way his eyes shifted towards every unnatural sound.

"What kind of question is that, boyo? Of course I know about Trait! You wouldn't survive here if ya didn't." Hack said grumpily, his tone turning hostile towards the stupidly worded question.

The lizardman stopped to face him, arms folded as his claws clicked impatiently against the ground, favouring his good leg instead of his cursed left one. Hawkins took a deep breath, attempting to settle his Trait which was still on edge without guidance from his Agar. 

"That's not what I mean. I'm talking about how complex they are. Triads, Trait Cores, Dual Traits, heck even combining Traits with or without a grimoire. All of it takes years to study and we're trying to beat a walking thesaurus who can detect all that after locating it just once? There's got to be something we can use that she doesn't know!" Hawkins said, throwing his hands up in the air.

Hack looked at him as if he had gone completely mad, shrugging his shoulders up in the air. He had no idea what Hawkins had just rapidly explained but thankfully there was someone who was interested in his ramblings. Rin slunk around the corner, expertly avoiding the Sand Wraith's tail stuck steadfast in the ground as she rejoined the conversation as best she could. They were all trying to help keep an eye on the sleeping Scale Shrieker despite the Enforcers initial intentions to slay Odi in cold blood. Had they not attacked her, Cricket would not have woken her up and brutally mangled her wings. Given time, she could have easily flown them all out of here even after some convincing.

"I don't think you understand, Hawkins. Cricket can detect Trait but only in its simplest of forms. Other than her own, your Trait is the most complex thing she's seen. It's why she's so interested in it." Rin said, attempting to clarify her young friends methods for the Mediator.

Hawkins eyes went wide, the possibilities rushing through his head ever clearer with just that one bit of added context. The threads of smoke began to combine and drift into nonsensical shapes as his Trait reacted to his mental processing, his hands moving alongside it to help him piece together what he could. Clutching his head, Hawkins let out a bark of laughter much like a mad scientist during a eureka moment.

"You mean she...she doesn't know? Oh Laia, we might have a chance if I ...Odi! Odi!"

The mad Mediator rushed round the back of the barricade, half managing to catch himself from falling over her tail. Odi let out a tired grumble of annoyance before settling back to sleep. Hawkins shook her awake as gently as he could, his arms wrapped around her in a joyous hug, attempting to avoid her grievous wound. Odi's eyes flickered open as Hawkins grinned and began his tangent again much to the surprise of the weakened Scale Shrieker.

"Hawky...what?" She began, groggily sitting up only to be bombarded with another otherworldly worded question.

"Do you know about the Seven Principles of Grimmholds Guide to Traited and their Properties?" Hawkins asked as slowly as he could.

"What?" 

The dragon took a few minutes to process, Hawkins staying deathly silent. He still clung to her neck, resting against her dulling scales only to see Odi's mind slowly clearing from her rest.

"Of course, it's basic theory. Why wouldn't I ...oh. Oh I see. That's not a bad idea..." Odi said quietly, mulling things over as she gave a tremendous yawn.

Hawkins leapt off her, dusting himself down as best he could before suggesting the next part of his plan. He knew Odi was a master intellect far beyond his capabilities. If he could just get her on the same wavelength and manage to motivate her then maybe, maybe things would work out for the better.

"If we can teach them ourselves, would it be possible to stop not only a Tarragon but a Bewitcher class too?"

Odi's eyes brighten for a moment only for her expression to fall. Her scales crookedly slotted together, making her wince as she shuffled along her aching side, trying to get into more of a comfortable position with her damaged wings.

"I don't know, Hawkins. I'm really tired. I don't remember much about it." She said solemnly, attempting to convince him otherwise.

Hawkins knelt down, lowering a gentle hand on her snout, careful not to brush against her eyes as he supported her as best he could. He knew she was in a lot of pain. His heart ached to see such a beautiful dragon and wonderful person being tormented like that. They had only known each other for a short time but Hawkins felt he had known her for years. They had been through a lot together, fought with and beside each other yet the thought of not seeing Odi's mischievous smile or hearing her cunning wordplay tear down any hope at an argument was too much to even think about.

"Then I'll help you. We'll have them use their Traits the best way we can explain it so even a Sand Wraith can understand it." Hawkins said, smiling as if such a possibility could ever occur.

Odi smiled the first genuine smile she had all morning, chuckling under her breath until that sudden bout of laughter became a strangled cough which burnt her throat and sent out spurts of blackened blood. Anyone who was anyone knew that wasn't a good sign. Hawkins breath hitched in his throat as he propped up Odi's jaw as best he could, trying to help her breathe a little better but it was no good.

"Oi! That's it, boyo! Odi shouldn't spend her last day teaching these layabouts how to use Trait they barely have!" Hack roared out, slamming his tail into the ground.

The precision of the shockwave sent Hawkins sprawling away from Odi in an instant, away from the suffering Scale Shrieker and sending all hope of his plan even being attempted down the drain. The Sand Wraith snarled angrily, his eyes full of worry as he hobbled over towards his companion, cursed leg be damned.

He was beside her at once, coaxing her gently to lift her head as he pulled away the jagged rocks and dust with his claws and waited patiently until her hacking coughs subsided into mere splutters. Hack swept the blood away into the earth with his free hand, smiling wanly at Odi as she settled back down into the newly tilled earth only to rear her head upwards again.

"No. He's right, Hack. I should be doing exactly that, teaching like I used to." Odi said weakly, attempting to get up by using her front legs.

Hack scrambled to reach her as Odi's muffled screams of pain were clamped down by her own angry snarls. The Sand Wraith watched guiltily beside her, allowing the Scale Shrieker to plant her tail into the ground much like he had done many a time and put one foot in front of the other.

Odi's loud, laboured breaths were the only sound they could hear against the sudden morning silence as the sunrise crept into view. The Shadow Traited who hated light and large spaces, craned her neck upwards and greeted the new day with a wicked grin on her face.

"I may not be able to fight but I still have enough knowledge to fill an army of grimoires. You want to beat this spoilt brat at her own game? Then she should try using her Trait the way it's meant to be used!" Odi said, slamming her foot on the ground before the rest of her body followed.

The two Firestep wolves lingering close to the admirable dragon took up the chant and slammed their paws on the ground in response to Odi's rousing warcry. Soon Hack and Hawkins found themselves doing the same with their feet thundering together in a unified, wordless shout of rebellion. Rin was the first to join, clapping her hands together with a fiery spray of passion and fury while Mantis rolled her eyes and stamped her foot once just to make her Agar, Thea flit around in glee. No more hiding. No more division between Traited. If they wanted to survive, they'd have to think and work as one.

"Alright, alright, peabrains. Nothing like a crazy Traited to get the ideas going. Least we can do is listen to these Seven Participles and see if we can make something of them to save our sorry hides." Mantis said lazily, half going along with another crazy plan.

"Principles." Hawkins recorrected but Mantis ignored him, folding her arms and kept one eye on the battlefield behind them.

Odi gently settled into position, half lying against the barricade, half sitting upright while trying to put as little weight on her wings as possible. Eventually after the Scale Shriekers fourth grimace, Hack sighed and decided to allow her to do as she wished, creating two long, thin pillars to allow her to rest her back against. Odi let out a large sigh, sliding backwards a little before giving Hack a grateful nudge which almost sent him toppling to the ground.

Hawkins laughed as Hack swatted Odi gently with his tail, hiding a tentative smile before settling back into his familiar disgruntled frown. Hack brought his fist together with his palm, clenching his claws over the lower section of his knuckles as four perfectly cubed seats rose up to attention as if they had been there all along. 

"We discussing this idea of yours boyo or not?" He said at last, sprouting a smile towards the fledgling Mediator.

One by one the rest of the Mediators and the Enforcers took their seats, Hack and Hawkins sitting across from each other as Mantis plonked herself sullenly onto the nearest seat, facing sideways from the rest but towards the entrance where Cricket's trail had loomed over them. It seems the Air Traited was taking her job as lookout seriously.

"I think Odi should start. She gathered us together after all." Hawkins said, gesturing towards the embarrassed dragon.

The Scale Shrieker gave a shy smile, nodding her head in agreement before closing her eyes to gather what little strength she had to help process the situation they were now in. Mantis gaze flickered from her Agar lounging on her shoulder to the slowly rousing Cull who lay propped up next to Rin's chair, flickering embers of Trait emerging from her fingertips in an attempt to awaken him.

Hawkins peered at Odi, the atmosphere becoming denser as the sunlight began to stream through the tops of the Axis' buildings both demolished and intact. The sky glittered like a thousand stars, the rim of the Divide slowly shimmering a morning greeting but no one felt the fatigue amidst the tense stance of the Shadow Traited. This was the worst time for Odi to use her Trait but that would not deter her.

The dragon's expression was solemn, immovable as Axis' mourning shadows began to seep off the destruction and into the new day. Hawkins felt the air ripple in a quiet breeze of encouragement as the shadows trickled towards the Scale Shrieker from the cracks in the rubble, the lonely segments of the sun's shade against the barricade and gathered them together just like she had done with the people in front of her. Odi's voice began as a quiet hum, before echoing around the silent, stony clearing, her Trait following her every command.

"Trust."

Shadows intertwined into a long winding rope, forever tightening together with each strand. Hawkins marvelled at Odi's degree of control, gasping in awe as the shadows twisted to reform with every word the dragon spoke.

"Knowledge."

The rope melded together into a vast, swirling vortex of endless movement and change. It knew exactly where it was going and what was headed regardless of what obstructed its path.

"Versatility."

The vortex became solidified like a staircase, strong and secure while winding its way around an invisible pillar leading up to who knows where.

 "Strength." 

The staircase split in two, spinning to form vice like jaws just like a demon's maw, tempting and powerful with deadly consequences for those who could not control its output.

"Understanding."

The jaws became row after row of books and scrolls, confusing only for those who didn't dare to read and devour their contents. It could only be achieved if you jumped into the confusion head first and acquired what you could from the masses of crushing knowledge below.

"Realism."

The scrolls unravel at a rapid pace, a vast river suddenly blocked by a dam of books which topple into the vast expanse of nothingness.

 "Capability."

The dam broke under the weight of the river of knowledge, becoming a large sea of possibility, combining together again with the vortex as a whirlpool of versatility, strength and trust in the numerous directions it could flow on and on, never ending.

"These are the Seven Principles of Trait." Odi said at last, the shadows emerging as seven individual pillars before seeping back into her own shadow.

The group sat mesmerised by the display of skill, the exhausted Scale Shrieker opened her eyes and seemed much more cheerful and at peace with herself. Hawkins surrounding were eerily quiet, not even the sounds of distant explosions could be heard. He gently pulled out his grimoire and tugged on the end of it, attempting to realign the hundreds of smoke strings invisibly connected to it. No sign of movement yet. He didn't know whether that was good or not.

"The simplest way to put it is: "Anything that can happen, will happen and anything that can't is down to your own self mentality." Odi said, her voice happily breaking his worried thoughts as he tried to listen to her explanations.

Hawkins smiled, grateful for the Scale Shriekers way of thinking. It had been a long time ago when he saw his father use his Trait for the very first time. He was steady, strong, resourceful but most of all he was creative. He was Hawkins very first encounter with how the Seven Principles had been embodied by a Traited and he had unfortunately been the last. Hack had done his best but his cursed leg and the insecurities that came with it tied him down to the new way of teaching about Trait. That didn't mean the grouchy Sand Wraith didn't try.

Nowadays, Traited were taught that strength is the only way to improve which causes a great imbalance for those with more complex Traits like Rin or Cricket. Hawkins didn't need to look any further than the people around him to see the proof of how societies ways of teaching had affected them all. 

It may have been quicker to focus on just producing Trait instead of developing their skills through learning and expanding their possibilities, but not everyone fitted into the same stoic structure. A lazy teacher meant an ignorant student and Hawkins had seen how far that had gotten with every day as a Mediator. More and more recruits were turned away each day and more and more thugs and bandits were added to the gangs ranks or turned Truant right in front of him. 

Things had to change.

Mantis broke through his train of thought with a bout of callous laughter. She was doubled over, her eyes streaming as she struggled to say the words that cut through the young Mediators heart.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Odi winced, Hack yelled and Hawkins put his head in his hands. It seemed like they would be much harder to convince than he originally thought.