"Wow. You sure are gutsy!" Angelica exclaimed as she walked side by side with Clara.

The sun shone down, and the brisk breeze blew another day. Clara groaned as she shielded her eyes from the sun as she walked. Her red hair was braided back nicely, but was also disheveled from the wind a bit. Cage found that kind of cute. He couldn't help smile slightly as he watched the two new found friends chatting ahead of the group.

Angelica had pep in her step that was brought on by hearing Clara tell her exactly what had happened the past day in The Extent Tavern. Kneeing that man where the sun doesn't shine was added to the list of things Clara's done and didn't regret. He deserved what was coming to him.

"I mean. . . I suppose it wasn't that big of a deal." Clara laughed and looked back over her shoulder at Cage.

In a weird way, Clara wanted his approval. She wanted his praise, but she knew she didn't need it to feel accomplished.

Cage smiled and unclenched his fists when he noticed Clara glance back at him. He was fuming while overhearing what the dark haired man had said in the tavern. Jealousy looked good on him.

"I wanted to stay a bit longer, I must confess. I know that time is against us, but I wanted to see Cage once he had enough alcohol in his system for the lot of us." Kai brushed a strand of his black hair out of his face and tucked it behind his ear.

"You've seen me drunk. You know how I act." Cage growled out, embarrassed.

"How does he act Kai? Does he start fights and break things more than he usually does?" Angelica turned and walked backwards, her hands on her hips.

"Wait. . . That night? at the ceremony, you were drunk? I thought you were just acting out." Kai looked surprised, and everyone else stayed quiet as the brothers spoke.

"Don't bring that night up. Ever again." Cage tried to silence his brother, but Kai was now intrigued.

"So, when-" Kai started but Cage interrupted.

"Don't you dare." Cage groaned.

"Oh, I dare." Kai shot back.

"If one more word comes out of your mouth, I swear to the goddess I will show you no mercy." Everyone came to a stop, they turned and all stood in silence.

"When Cage's father-" Kai started, his arms crossed over his lean, yet muscular torso.

"Last warning." Cage could feel his inner wolf come to the surface. He felt so upset at his brother, that he didn't notice Clara sidle up to him and place her hand on his arm. 'Relax' she mouthed to Cage silently as she stood by him.

"When Cage's father married my mother, there was a gigantic celebration after the wedding. Cage got so upset that night, that it took three grown adult wolves to stop him from destroying everything in his path. I just assumed he was acting out. Even as a teenager he sure was tempered. " Kai said seriously.

Cage focused on Clara, his pupil dilating in blinding anger. She removed her hand from his forearm gently and gave him a reassuring nod.

"If you're going to tell the story, at least tell the whole thing." Cage took a deep breath and continued. "That night, even after you had gotten what you wanted, you decided to rub it in my face by destroying my stuff. Stuff you knew meant a lot to me. You started it, and you know it. You awoke the beast." Cage spat.

"Wait. I'm confused, Kai got what exactly? And what beast did he awaken?" Clara chimed in.

"He made me angry, so yes, I did destroy and ruin everything that night. He awoke the beast in me!" Cage explained.

"Oh, you'll answer that question, but you won't answer the first question. You would hate to bring up the reason why you dislike-" Kai paused and looked up ahead of the group, suddenly falling silent.

"Do you guys hear that?" Clara said quickly and shushed everyone.

Clara could hear a rather loud rustling up ahead, but she couldn't see where the noise was coming from as the earth swooped down suddenly, making it seem that she was standing on a steep hill. Everyone listened and heard the same noise she did, they all walked toward it and stopped when they saw a wide bridge.

The wooden bridge was large and hard to miss, but everyone in the group surely did miss it. It stretched many feet and provided a safe- or what looked to be a safe way to walk across to the other side of the rather deep crater, in the ground that ran for miles.

The crater in the ground separated the earth and looked dangerous from a distance, but as Clara walked closer to it, she realized it wasn't as big as it looked. If you were to get a running start, you could most likely run and jump to the other side.

"See? You two bickering brothers always distract us from our focus! We need to get back to the situation at hand." Angelica stuck out her tongue at Kai and Cage. She ran ahead of the group and slowed her steps just as she stepped onto the old wooden bridge. The wood panel beneath her feet made a quiet noise.

"Angelica- Wait up!" Clara called to Angelica, but it was too late.

Angelica took a few more steps and she let out a girly scream when one of the large wooden boards  beneath her feet faltered, and completely collapsed. Her thin body slipped through, and she would have fallen into the crater beneath the bridge if she hadn't grabbed on to the side of the rickety railing in time.

Clara ran over to her friend and leaned over to pull her up by the arm. She grabbed hold of Angelica's wrist and pulled her to safety.

Clara pulled Angelica up and embraced her, arms wide open. Tears streamed down Angelica's face as she cried into Clara's shoulder.

This girl was sensitive. But that was one of Angelica's defining qualities. It was what made her who she is. A pinch of sassiness, a pinch of good ol' self-centeredness, and more than a pinch of tears and vulnerability.

"Next time you might think twice about going ahead of the group." Clara made Angelica chuckle, her tears subsiding.

"Are you both okay?" Cage asked worriedly as himself and the rest of the company caught up to the two girls on the bridge.

"Yes. We're fine." Clara looked up at Cage, who now stood on the ground just before the bridge.

Cage's eyes widened, and so did Orion's as they glanced away from Clara and fixed their gaze's on something behind her. On something they weren't expecting to see.

Clara noticed the sudden change in atmosphere and she turned around, Angelica still in her embrace.

Letting go of Angelica, Clara quickly pushed her behind her back, shielding her from being put in harms way.

Something gripped onto the bridge's railing just up ahead of Clara. A
wrinkled, calloused hand gripped on and hoisted a rather pudgy body over the railing. The head of the creature was in proportion to its body, and it's eyes were a dark brown color.

With dark green skin and hair brighter than its body, the creature didn't seem very intimidating. Although it's expression was one of pure annoyance and anger, it didn't seem like it was going to rip Clara's head off... Which made her feel a bit better about the situation. Nonetheless, the creatures body was almost as tall as Clara, making it seem human like.

"Hair as red as night, you walk upon this bridge in the light. You awake me from my precious slumber beneath your feet, and yet you are surprised that we meet." The creature's voice was deep and unnerving. His head tilted curiously as he eyed Clara.

Clara couldn't bring herself to speak. She stood, silent.

"Choose your words carefully, for you may not be able to subdue me. I play the game of wits and rhymes for more than crime and your dime." The creature opened its mouth and spoke in rhymes again, this time earning a look of confusion from Clara.

"What it is?" She whispered out of the side of her mouth quietly.

"It's a troll." Kai answered.

"You just had to run ahead, didn't you Angelica?" Clara's tone darkened in anger and fear.

"I'm sorry." Angelica whispered, a few tears leaving her eyes once more.

"Sorry isn't going to keep us alive! What do I do?!" Clara whisper yelled.

"Talk to it." Callum insisted.

Clara took a deep breath. Here goes' nothing.

"I-I am sorry that we have awoken you from your slumber. I do not want any trouble." Clara stuttered.

The troll paused, his face scrunching up as he experienced an emotion Clara didn't know how to read. Frustration? Disappointment?

"To pass, you must play my game of wits and rhymes. For you do not have time to waste. The manner in which you see, is a matter of haste."  The troll wasn't buying the casualties. He wanted Clara to play along in his little game.

"What are the rules?" Clara asked.

"You must place what you are willing to give up in the hands of luck." The troll answered.

"What does that mean?" Angelica asked quietly.

"He wants me to wager something. . . I think." Clara shrugged nervously and thought about what she could give up.

Clara glanced down to her boots, and stuck her hands in her pockets to feel around. She gripped her mothers locket in her hand and narrowed her eyes. She wasn't going to give that up. Glancing down once more, she watched as her black cloak blew back behind her in the afternoon wind, revealing her dagger belted at her side. The trolls beady eyes locked on the shiny silver blade.

"Trolls like shiny things." Kai mentioned.

"Well, why don't you give me something of yours that's shiny?!" Clara growled at Kai.

"I'll wager my sword. I think it's shiny enough." Cage began unfastening his belt but stopped when he heard the troll speak.

"A dagger of beauty and humility, shows courage and ability. Wager your blade and I shall wager my life." The troll bowed, and Clara eyed him skeptically. He knew something she didn't, Clara was sure of it.

"And if I do not wager my blade?" Clara raised a brow, her hand gently resting at her side.

"My lady in black and brown, I shall make it worth your while, and bestow upon you a beautiful crown." The troll insisted.

Out of nowhere, the troll lifted its droopy arm and closed it's eyes. Clara watched as the dagger at her side slid out of its sheath and floated in the air in front of her. As she watched it float, an image flashed in her mind.

The image in her mind was painted clear as day, as vivid as if it was happening before her. She stood in a dark room, the floor a cold stone that was etched in black and white engravings. The dagger floated and formed into a thin silver crown with a red gem in the center of it, the stone gave off a feeling of uneasiness. The feeling of something as sudden and dark as death itself. The image flashed for a moment, and was suddenly replaced with another image that wasn't as clear as the first.

The second vision was the same, except for the shape of the dagger. The dagger had shifted and formed into a long, slender key. The red stone was placed in the center of the key, and Clara could feel it call to her.

Clara exhaled when they vision finally subsided. She was blinded by the beauty of the crown and key, she didn't realize what she said before it was too late.

"I will wager my dagger." She said.