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The walk through the woods was anything but pleasant. The airship's engine was destroyed, the soldiers were upset, the humans were upset, and crows flew above them eerily. Harper shuddered as memories of the witch came flooding back. One of the crows cawed loudly and he flinched, nearly stomping down on someone else's feet. His friends began to talk and the boy turned to look at Ace, "wait, you knew someone who was a murderer?" For a moment, he thought it was just a story, but then he remembered, it was [i]Ace[/i].

Back at Siren Lake, Ace had taught Jasper and Harper a thing about breaking and entering, and for a moment he stared at her, wondering what sort of life she lived back on earth. Ace was secretive when it came to her life before Nowhere, and he made it a point to ask her about her other adventures when he had the chance. "Ace is right," he didn't think the hooded figures would poison them, but then again, he didn't think Hakuren would die before him either. He gave both Toby and Ran a worried glance, then turned back to face Inadi. "Maybe we can get some answers out of them," he gave his friend a smile and recalled their promise to make sure everyone got home, Harper would have said more but he paused when Est mentioned turning at a tree.

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"Don't slap them all, I want to get my hands one of them too," Japhet grumbled angrily beneath his breath. The last thing he wanted to do was babysit humans in the darkside. This place was dangerous and if some monster jumped out of nowhere, he doubted they'd be able to protect everyone. This was where witches lived too, right? He felt a shiver run down his spine, "we need to make sure they face the wrath of Breeze as well, that'll teach 'em to mess with state of the art tech." He raised his head and stared at what everyone else was staring at. The nobody arched an eyebrow in question, "Est,that has got to be the ugliest tree I've ever see—HOLD ME AND NEVER LET ME GO!" There was loud thwap and Japhet practically leaped into his fellow soldier's arms.

Harper gave Leila a reassuring smile, but as soon as Japhet yelled he reached for a sword that he no longer had.

There was no monster, no witch, just a strange nobody that had ducked behind Ran and a paler than usual Leila. He let out a relieved sigh and nearly sank to his knees, really, his frayed nerves couldn't take much more of this.

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"Oh Japhet, look how the mighty have fallen!" Riley swung an arm around Jasper's neck, grinning from ear to ear at the poor Mechanic.

The mechanic was wrapped around Est like a blanket, his face several shades of red. He glared at the girl then gave Breeze an awkward chuckle, "please do not mention this to anyone in my platoon. I'll buy all your wares, I swear, just not a word...not a damned word." He walked back, put on a straight face (it was still as red as an apple) then turned to look at Nympha with a glare. Riley was still snickering and his hands clenched into fists.

"If you are [i]evil[/i] then this is our lucky day," this was her fault! "We're part of the army and evil people get arrested!"

Nympha let out a shrill shriek, "NO! I didn't do anything!" Japhet took a step towards her and she ducked behind Toby and Leila, wrapping an arm around each of their necks. "Stand back! These are my hostages!" She wasn't dangerous at all and her choke hold felt more like a hug. She was shaking in her own shoes and Harper's expression shifted from one of worry to one of pity. "Hostages!" Nympha hissed.

Riley shook her head then turned to look at Jasper, "well, this is really, different."

Japhet wanted to slam his head into a rock, "Est, Breeze, who is this fool?" He pointed his flashlight at her face and she instantly let go of Toby and Leila. "Either you leave us in peace or I will FOR CELERY'S SAKE ARREST YOUR SORRY BUTT!" This was the last straw! He'd had enough! 

"I'll curse you all!" She was shouting angrily, "I saw a turtle dragon not too far from here! AND I'LL SUMMON IT!"

Harper walked forward, making his way past the fuming Japhet. "We can ask her for directions," he felt sorry for the Nobody and he didn't want to see much more of this. "She might know where the hooded figures live," he approached the nobody but she leaped to her feet, yelling about how much of a powerful witch she was. 

Riley rolled her eyes, "Harper, she's obviously crazy. We should just keep walking, right, gramps?"

"Turtle dragon!" She yelled as she threw both her hands forward.

"Uh, yeah, no." Riley looked at Est, ignoring the Nobodies yells. She was yelling turtle dragon repeatedly, each word louder in volume than the last. "So we turn at that tree, right, Est? It looks kind of like the tree on the map, so we might be on the right track. What do you think, Jasper..."

The ground beneath their feet shook and somewhere deep within the forest was a low guttural growl.

Nympha darted straight into Breeze, "I told you, the turtle dragon is coming." The ground shook again.

Harper turned to look at Est with wide eyes, "do turtle dragons actually exist?" 

Another growl echoed through the forest and Riley looked at Leila, "no way..."

"I thought those things were extinct?" Japhet was fishing for his pistol, but what could a pistol do against a turtle dragon? Was it even a turtle dragon? "You, human with the spear," he was yelling at Inadi, "I want you to take the lead! Est, left flank! Breeze, take the right, I'll watch everyone's backs."

This was really happening, Riley bit down on her lip then forced a smile, "ready to tame another dragon, Leila?"

"RUN! RUN!" Nympha was yelling, and soon Japhet was joining in.

"You heard the crazy witch, run!" He waited for everyone to start moving, the growls grew louder and he ran too. The mechanic didn't know what they were running from, but he wouldn't be sticking around to find out.