At Skobeloff's words, Garrock pauses mid-step and turns his head towards the trickster, fixing him with a scowl. He opens his mouth to say something, maybe to sling another insult, maybe simply to defend himself... then pauses. His expression fades back into exhaustion as he reconsiders his words and he gives a loud sigh. [color=FADA5E]"I'm sorry,"[/color] he says after a long pause. [color=FADA5E]"But you don't understand how frustrating this is for me, wanting to help my own Housemates and being told I can't, as if I can't be trusted to do this task by myself. As if I'm [i]weak[/i], as if I'm [i]not enough[/i]..."[/color] Beneath his frustration, Skobeloff detects a hint of hurt in Garrock's eyes. Not just any hurt, either, but an old hurt he has been hanging onto for a long, long time. He shakes his head. [color=FADA5E]"I know your lot don't want me around either, you know. Is that why you're taking me to the stronghold?"[/color] He gives Skobeloff a searching look. [color=FADA5E]"When you were in that cave, did you all draw straws to see who was going to be the one to escort [i]mean old Garrock[/i] back to the stronghold so he can stop slowing everyone down?"[/color]

[hr]

Once the arguing had died down and the Darkness withdrew its hold on Fellwing's heart, the group had a much easier time navigating the swamp. Stargaze's knowledge of the terrain, Fellwing's vision and Kyte scouting overhead allowed them to make their way to the spot the Seer had envisioned. The ground becomes firmer under foot and the group has to start treading carefully to avoid the mess of thorny vines that seem to entangle all the trees and bushes in the area. It occurs to the drakes that it was probably a good idea that Garrock hadn't accompanied them as there is no way the bearded dragon would have been able to make it through this area.

As the group attempts to locate the captured dragons within this mess, Fellwing - and only Fellwing - suddenly hears a familiar voice. [color=5F8575]"Fellwing... over here... Fellwing..."[/color] it beckons from somewhere further back. Fellwing recognizes it as the voice of Endora, an elder dragon from Kebros and a fellow seer who had helped in the past with interpreting her visions. Given that she is quite old, blind and not known for traveling far from Kebros' many strongholds, it does strike Fellwing as very, very odd to hear her mentor's voice on this strange island.

But it does sound so, [i]so[/i] much like her. What will the group do?