[b]	“You’ve failed to check your surroundings, boy."
[/b]
	Yelping in surprise, Ghent nearly choked on a sip of milkshake when Drust snuck up on him. Before he might turn, he felt the blade on his back. 
	To the relief of both teenagers, the madman sheathed his katana rather than drive his point home. Again, Ghent had failed to meet Drust's impossible expectations. 
	"My guard [i]was[/i] up!" Glaring through the darkness, Ghent faced their guardian and came dangerously close to mouthing off further. This could have gotten bad fast, but he shut his trap as Elayra had previously advised. If Drust became angry again, Ghent risked being attacked. Worse than that, he feared their hamburgers being squashed in combat. Drust had all the cards.
	Mentally counting back from ten, Ghent stilled his tongue. Getting into a disagreement with Drust wasn't a good idea. Not now, not ever. Rather than pick a fight, he bit the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to agree. 
	"I'll have to keep better aware so this does not happen a second time." This bothered Ghent more than it should have. Taking criticism was not something he readily accepted, [i]especially[/i] when it came to Drust.
	Grumbling underneath his breath, Ghent stalked past him to get indoors. Hopefully the princess was in better spirits.
	"Hey Ella. Miss me?" Ghent greeted her as if nothing had happened. If at all possible, he wanted to get on her good side. At least [i]she [/i]hadn't jumped out to scare him half to death.
	Underneath the display of tools, there was an empty shelf nailed to the wall. Using it as a table, Ghent set his half finished milkshake down, relieved that his first 'mission' was complete. 
	"Man, this hideout [i]bites.[/i]" He pulled the cups from the bags, both full and remarkably undisturbed by his journey. "After you guys get a taste of Earth food, you're gonna wish you were world jumpers for the sake of chocolate shakes alone." 
	Removing his $20 backpack from his shoulders, Ghent retrieved the burgers and fries, each separated by the takeout bags they'd been packed in. 
	"Any more of those shadow cats show up while I was away?"