Condensation

"Yes," said Cadenza, grimacing.

Herate looked over. "Roasted Starbursts? Really?" "Yes, and they're amazing! You have to try one, please?" asked Daolan, grinning. "Well, I suppose if you say so." Herate smiled even bigger, if that was possible. "Where are they?" "If you don't have some, I can run down to the store or something to get them."

"I don't know. How am I supposed to feel?"

Chorale covered the scratch as much as she could with one hand, then punched Concerto in the gut. It did absolutely nothing. Well, actually it made him even more angry, so it didn't do nothing, reflected Chorale as she shuffled backward away from Concerto, who loomed angrily over her.

Instead, they have to wear skirts, for the best agents are all female.

Chorale banged her head on the ground and winced, rubbing it. Then she tried a different tactic: she ran to help the others. Concerto was surprised, but easily caught up to her and blocked her. "Nope. Not that either." Chorale kicked at him and he caught it, shoving it back down as he smiled with feral glee and raked his claws down her leg.

Cadenza stirs, and her face contorts before her eyes open warily. Once she sees the newcomers, her eyes snap open and she tries to sit up. "Who are you?"

Herate and Daolan, who have been raking the leaves using a rake they found in the shed(and taking turns laughing at each other), tromp in, their cheeks rosy and giant smiles on their faces. They are still laughing as they come through the front door, and then Daolan says something indecipherable and it sets them off. Aria peeks her head down the stairs. "Hey, guys! It's me, and I brought two friends of mine! Some of you might know I, but none of you know Allegra! Guys, this is Allegra, my friend from back home. I've been trying to convince her that she should come work at Mishmash Inn, but she hasn't decided yet."

"ReForging is not the same as Forging. That sounds good, is there something Daolan can do?" "Actually, can I help you, Herate?" Daolan asked. Herate sighed, but you can see that she's actually pleased. "I suppose. Where do you want us to go first, Fadran?"

"How can we help?"

Chorale swept her feet around, trying to trip Concerto again, but he was ready for that. He hopped over it and shoved Chorale down again.

Herate walks in, followed closely by a man with her same coloring, but a kind face and a strong chin. "Would you like some help, Fadran?"

"Well, I would say just glue it back in, but I ship Queedran, so obviously I'm really smart. You should just give him another way to speak! You know, like those dogs in Up?"

Concerto sped up to Chorale, who had been charging at him. He levelled his fists and punched her in the gut, then she collapsed again. She tried to talk, but couldn't draw enough breath and put her head down, still gasping. Concerto, satisfied that Chorale couldn't do much for the moment, sped over to the brash red-eyed one and pulled the bag away. "Uh-uh-uh!" he said in a sing-song voice, then sped back to Chorale, who was getting to her feet. He tripped her and chuckled as she fell face-first to the ground.

*To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take up arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them--'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to--To die, to sleep--to sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub. For when we have shuffled off this mortal coil in that sleep of death what dreams may come must give us pause. There's the respect that makes calamity of so long of life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor's wrongs, the proud man's contumely, the pangs of despised love, the delay of law, the insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit of th' unworthy takes, when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but for the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to those we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pitch and moment, with this regard their currents turn awry, and lose the name of action. Soft you now, the fair Ophelia... That was all from memory. Wow, I didn't think I could do it. Then again, I did just barely reread Hamlet and I studied that speech especially. I mean, if you want we'll just quote Shakespeare, Truthless! I'd love to do it with you.

Concerto charged at Chorale, his speed startling even when you had just seen and experienced it. Chorale barely had time to step out of the way before he zoomed past her, and that was because she had anticipated it. Concerto slid to a stop and charged back the other way. Chorale didn't dodge out of the way fast enough and he clipped her, sending her to the ground. She rubbed her shoulder, that had hurt. Then she charged at Concerto, who easily stepped out of the way of her punch. By now, Chorale was growing worried about how she could fight him, but she knew he had to get tired eventually.

I and Aria were still yelling at each other, but it had kind of settled into the background. "Blue team's the BEST!" "No, red team! Blue team is a hunk of crem compared to red team!" "Well, then red team is made of a bunch of slontzes!" Neither of them could understand what the other person was actually saying, but they were having fun, with smiles from ear to ear.

Cadenza's eyes close and her breathing deepens.

"Um, northwest of the cave."

Chorale searched for something she could use as a weapon, but she couldn't see anything. She leapt toward Kade, but a hand, moving with blurring speed, caught her collar and left her hanging in the air. It was Concerto. He examined her, shaking his head slightly. "Leaving so soon, little sister? That's a shame." Raising his voice a little, he called to Kade. "Kade, we'll talk about this later. For now, I'll help you clean up this mess." Then he twisted Chorale's arm sharply and dropped her to the ground. "Stay there," he said in a condescending voice. Chorale glared up at him, rubbing her arm, then reached out her leg and tripped him as he walked by. He ran a couple of steps to recover, then turned back to her with a dark expression on his face. "Do I need to do something worse?" Chorale, holding eye contact, stood up and raised her fists. The message was clear: She would fight until she couldn't any more.

"Okay, I'm going to be all right. But I'm just so tired. Can I go to sleep?" Cadenza asks plaintively.

Yeah, please don't do that.