[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BjtZNtv.png[/img][/center]
[color=ed1c24]Location[/color]: Underground complex, Stritzel's Estate, Western Kindeance.
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Veronica could hear Cedar's words echoing off the halls down towards her, as she sprinted back into the barracks. If she actually had blood flowing through her veins, it would have been metaphorically boiling, as her expression darkened further. [color=ed1c24][i]Those fools...[/i][/color] Her teeth clenched tightly, as she metal compass in one of her pouches suddenly came to life, Jazdia's voice ringing into the area.

Veronica's pace slowed, as she was forced to readjust her grip on Widernia back to being one-armed to pull out the communication device with her other hand. [color=ed1c24]"[i]Move,[/i]"[/color] she snapped without prevarication. Biting back a snarl, Veronica didn't even acknowledge Varya's words and didn't have the [i]time[/i] to address Solomon's, as she stepped around the blue elf, shouldering him aside none too gently with undead strength if need be.

Jazdia's words of success were a cold comfort, as Veronica swallowed the bitter shame of a mission in tatters, even with all the advantages on their side. To have their success sabotaged by their own team members? She could think of little more humiliating. As she stepped into the hall leading up to the mansion, she activated the device and grit out, [color=ed1c24]"I wish I could say the same. Cedar is free, but he and his sisters have gone rogue. They're aiming to aid the larger bear we spotted before. [i]That[/i] bear -it turns out- is no prisoner. He's an utter monster of a fighter and an ally of Stritzel to boot. We could barely do anything but make him [i]angrier[/i], and Cedar is planning to heal away our progress!"[/color] That last bit escaped her in nothing less than an openly infuriated hiss.

There was a delay before Jazdia asked with an astonished tone. [i]"A bear fighter? It all makes sense now. But heal away the progress...? Where the hell is that stupid bear now?"[/i] But the vampire was too occupied to immediately respond.

Not for the first time, having already lost sight of Cedar again, Veronica considered dropping Widernia to better help her catch up... and leave her unburdened for what she might need to do. Instead, for the moment, she bellowed up the stairs, certain Cedar would hear her no matter how far ahead he was due to the acoustics, [color=ed1c24]"[i]Cedar[/i], get the [i]hell[/i] away from that bear! Stritzel is a traitor, and he is her ally! Aiding them is [i]treason against the crown[/i]! If you do this, [i]I[/i]-!"[/color] She paused, struggling to contain her fury and regret at the position she was being put in. [color=ed1c24]"Whatever you [i]think[/i] you're doing, it's not worth it!"[/color]