Letting out a little groan as he lays back again his pillows, the tight bandages limiting his movements a bit Seishu looks up at the doctor gives him a thumbs up. “Good job Doc, now if only there was a way to send some for your more timid people in here so I could get some negative energy to go with this primitive healing, I might actually have a chance.” 

His little jab makes Crios's heckles rise but just as he's about to snap back a faint giggle draws the attention of both adults in the room. Rue lay still for a few seconds before giving up on pretending to sleep and sitting up. Glancing at the covers he looks up at Seishu with a wide grin. “Thanks!” he says happily before turning to the doctor. “Don't worry Mister Crios, he's just picking on you to get a response.” Hiding a yawn behind his hands he talks through it. “Since he can't feed off me anymore he's just trying to make you mad for a snack.” Turning his gaze on to Seishu he drops his hand with a grin. “Right Mister?” 

Rolling his eyes Seishu turns to the doctor and gives him a nod. “While it's great that you're so efficient, if I can't get some negative energy once in a while I'm not going to recover.” With that he looks back over at Rue and raps him on the head lightly. The Dream Minion scoots back off the bed, an exaggerated look of false hurt on his face. “And you need to not tell anyone else about that or I'll never get to eat.”

Just then a chime begins going off overhead and Seishu rolls his eyes as the happiness in the boy spikes. With a sigh Crios packs up his things before turning to Seishu, catching his attention. [i]'I can't really blame him for just being himself, but I'm not letting him off the hook for that comment earlier'[/i] “Well, my efficiency is going to have to do for now seeing as I'll be taking over as your primary.” He states, his voice cool. “I won't be subjecting my workers to your onerous presence for some time, as long as I can avoid it, so you'll just have to get use to someone who won't submit to you underhanded tactics.” He lets his words settle in for a moment, a second chime going on overhead. Then one of his rare little smiles passes across his face and he snaps his tail as he turns and leaves the room. He can't help chuckling to himself as he crosses his arms on the way back to his office to drop the supplies off before doing his rounds. [i]'When he's doped up, he isn't too bad. I just hope he consents to the meds even after he stops being is so much pain'[/i]

As he walks off Rue giggles and flutters around the room. Seishu rolls his eyes and watches for a bit. [i]'I guess I should have expected this. I mean, I doubt the fear of me, event hat vague far away stuff I'm feeling, is going to fade the longer I'm here'[/i] Looking over to the door he smirks, [i]'Starting with the higher ups. That guy was definitely having a bit of fun with me at the end. I guess I can also expect to be surrounded with those least likely to try and kill me on sight too'[/i] His thoughts turn a bit dark as he thinks about Enasi and his lack of control over the creatures in his realm. [i]'All it would take at this point is a fairly strong minion with a grudge, and there's not much I could do. Anything that can walk through my aura of negativity could conceivably kill me without much effort'[/i] Just then the door opens and a cheerful voice makes Seishu cringe. [i]'Speaking of things to worry about, he's way to happy. . . .'[/i]

Rue flies down with a sequel to sit at the edge of the bed and reaches out for his plate. “Yum! Looks really tasty this year! Cho really knows his stuff!” He cries making sure to temper his happiness so close to Seishu. Said guardian reaches out for his plate and settles it carefully on his lap. Offhandedly between bites Rue adds, “Oh, and Mister Seishu was being all worried about something before you came in, could feel all the negative coming off of him.”

Seishu stares at the back of the little minion's head as he speaks before turning his attention to Enasi. He's silent for a few seconds, ignoring the man he's staring at while he gathers his thoughts. [i]'I can at least try to say this right. It's not like pissing him off or upsetting him will help me, or the balance for that matter. We just got him feeling right again, I don't need to go making a second Nightmare Realm'[/i] Coughing slightly he fixes the other guardian with a serious look. “Listen, don't take offense to this, because Little Bite isn't entirely wrong about me worrying, but my worry is well founded.” Making sure Enasi's listening, he goes on. “Even in my weakened state, I can feel a lot of negative emotions around here, especially since most are directed directly at me. A lot of your dreams and minions have it in for me, and no amount of puppy dog eyes are going to change their minds unless you seek them out personally and get their word. And event then, as I've seen personally now, you don't exactly control them all well enough o ensure one of them won't try and take me out for the sake of a fallen comrade or for 'The good of the dream realm' or some fool stuff like that.”

Keeping his tone even he glances at Rue. The little minion looks a little uneasy but doesn't make any sign that he disagrees. “I'm not asking you to do anything hard or inconvenient for you guys,” He says, looking back to Enasi. “But if you could, maybe, I d'know, seal the room against anyone who doesn't have the okay to come see me? I know I can do stuff like that, but I don't suppose you have any practice at it. I mean, at this point, Hops would have no problem coming in here and taking me out if he had a mind to. Not that he does, he seems to listen fairly well I suppose. Point being, he's a dream, and even he could get to me without much effort, saying nothing for your minions. . .” His voice trails off and he prays silently that he wasn't too mean.

____*____

Gin paces back and forth in the empty throne room. Having sent out all of his underlings so they can't see his irritation Gin lets out a growl and glances at the back of his hand where the very faint outline of his new office still sits, barely a ghost of an image. With a roar he throws himself on the the throne and sinks down, looking very much like a pouting child. “This is just so stupid. I should have complete control by now. Things are not going the way I planned, and that just pisses me off!” Muttering loudly to himself he doesn't notice a nightmare pause just outside the door to listen. “I mean, c'mon, he's in the dream realm, even if he managed to find a place to recover, his authority should be fading by the second! It's not like he has any resources over there. All that goodie-goodie must be wreaking havoc on him.” Holding his hand up again a look of sick pleasure crosses his face. “I hope it hurts like hell you weakling.” he hisses at the mark before fading into thoughts of how the positive energies must be torturing the former lord of the Nightmare Realm. It never even crosses his mind that the being in the dream realm may actually be helping Seishu.

_*_*_*_*_

Kaila holds up a hand, calling for a halt. The command goes on down the line and the entire group goes silent. Overhead several giant flying insects pass over, and upon their backs are a mixture of nightmares and minions. Switching his signal the party shifts into the shadows beneath the trees to wait for the hunting party to move on. Kaila curses his luck as one of the bugs wheels around for another pass. [i]'It is getting harder and harder to move tot he next camp sight. They've stepped up patrols in the past hour and now even the safe zones are that safe'[/i] It has been less than two days since the coup began, but Kaila had the wherewithal to take charge right away and use his unit to work out maps and routs where the resistance could operate easier. He'd even sent his newest recruit back to the palace with the betrayers with orders to gather information and send it to them safely. [i]'He was new, but I have no doubt he is loyal to us. He kinda reminds me of me when I was his age. He really loves Lord Seishu'[/i] Finally the insect flies away and the group moves on quietly. 

In less than an hour they emerge for the woods into a fairly marshy area. The marsh is almost a perfect circle and surrounded by thickly growing trees. He orders the camp set up along the perimeter and moves further into the area. He moves past a few geysers issuing a kind of dark steam that looks almost like smoke, but smells like alga and other wet plants. [i]'Not the most pleasant smell, but the steam should mask out camp fires. We'll be able to cook some food tonight and have a hot meal. It will do us some good'[/i] He casts a sad eye around at the nightmares and minions making short work of the set-up and moving right into building campfires. He can almost sense the relaxation making it's way through the tense party as the first flickering flames come to life. His gaze falls to his second in command and with a wave he sends him off to help cook and enjoy a hot meal.

He moves to the middle of the marsh, standing on a lone large flat stone overlooking a fair sized patch of open water. Slowly the surface moves, a few bubbles causing splashing noises as the breach the surface, until at last the water splits. A large flat moss and alga covered surface rises slowly from the murky depths. A few nightmares give sounds of alarm but are quickly put at ease by those who recognize the creature. With a head the size of a kiddy pool the beast doesn’t life it very far before sifting his gaze up to the man standing on the stone. It's dark watery black eyes sitting flat atop his head shift back and forth and he blinks. “Sorry to intrude Myralyn, but this is the safest place I could think of. This is your realm and none enter without you know it. You are one of our most powerful nightmares, and I know how much it meant to you when Lord Seishu rescued you and made this place just for you.” 

Kaila speaks softly, the beast's hearing before very good even above water. He waves a hand around to indicate the rest of the camp. “We will stay only as long as we are welcome or until we need to move on for another reason. Until then, I pray you will suffer our presence, and should the need arise, I pray you will stand with us against the foul perversion that Gin has started.” 

Myralyn stares up at Kaila for several long seconds before nodding softly. “I will guard you as you rest.” His voice is low, reaching across the entire expanse of the marsh to reach the ears of all who are camped about it's edges. “May this all end quickly so I can go back to peaceful existence.” With that he sinks down beneath the surface. Less then a foot down beneath the surface of the water, all of the dense vegetation that makes up the false land stretching here and there across the top of the water ends and he swims freely in the 15 foot deep murky water. The water helps sounds of the gathered land dwellers reverberate around the area, letting Myralyn keep track of things perfectly. Shaped like a giant salamander with spikes ridges running parallel down his back to his long whip like tail, Myralyn swims much like a shark with his head weaving back and forth as he makes his way to the bottom of the marsh waters. His webbed feet are tipped by small but sharp hook like claws which dig into his favorite resting log as he comes to rest at the bottom.

Kaila lets out a sigh and gives the now empty pool a slight bow before returning back across the moss and roots. His second hands him a stick with cooked something or other on it. He takes it gratefully without question and bite into it. Aside from dreams and minions the realm is chocked full of edible plants and little creatures the Nightmare Guardian let loose to feed the more feral nightmares. [i]'He also put some larger ones here for those of us who just like to hunt. I wonder how long they will last now that he's gone. . . .'[/i] Kaila sinks into his darker thoughts, ignoring those around him as he presses a hand over the flower tucked away safely in his shirt and eats his meal silently. [i]'Get well soon Lord Seishu. . . .'[/i]