"Where are they now?" Sentenza panted as he leaned over on his knees.

Uh... Death scratched the top of his head while he droned on. You know, I can't really tell. Close enough to jump to at least.

They had made it into another hallway, with its perfect edges and eleven-sided polygons filled with light. They had run down the hallway, but they had stopped for a short rest to reassess everything now that the entrance was out of sight.

Suddenly, Trizel burst through and came to a stop just before he crashed into Bakade.

"I lost him," He gasped. Trizel's right arm had a single claw mark running down his forearm. It was so shallow, only a few drops managed to force their way to the surface.

"Hhhhhoowwww?" Bakade asked as she lifted up Trizel's arm and inspected the fresh wound.

"It was rough fighting along the ledge, but eventually it just stopped." He explained.

"Stopped?" asked Sentenza as he breathed slowly through his nose. "For no reason?"

Trizel shook his head. "I do not think it was there to kill any of us. It seemed more like it was testing me the whole time. Never truly committing to an attack, but still prodding at me here and there."

Sentenza scratched his neck. "Bad news then."

"Yep," agreed Trizel. "Seems like it was just a scout."

"Um, what's so bad about that exactly?" Og'drimun asked as he flitted around anxiously.

"They're checking for a good location," Lulu said before anyone else could answer. "Scoping out how easily it'll be for the rest of their group to set up shop."

"Huh?" Og'drimun questioned.

"Tttthheeeeyyy'rrreee jjjuuussstttt gggaaattthhheeeerrriiiinnngggg iiiinnnfffooorrrmmmaaatttiiiooonnn. Nnnnnooootttt ttttrrryyyyiiiinnnggg ttttoooo aaaacccctttuuuuaaallllyyyy fffiiiggghhhtttt." Bakade added.

"Well, isn't that good then?" Og'drimun asked. "I mean, if they don't want to fight, that sounds just fine with me."

"Except that isn't all it is," Sentenza explained. "If that thing was just a scout, it implies it's the fastest or best tracker. Not that it is a good fighter at all. Sure, scouts tend to be able to hold their own, but they'll hardly be the biggest hitters."

"Too true," added Trizel. "The biggest weapons would be too slow, but if it is just testing us, then it wants information."

"Mmmhhmmm," nodded Bakade. "Sssshhhooowwwwssss cccaaauuutttiiiooonnnn. Aaaaa ddddaaannngggeeerrroooouuusss ttttrrraaaiiittt."

"Not much we can do about that but press on." Sentenza declared.

"Fine, but how are the others? Did Ted and Narissa make it?" Trizel asked. "Any word on that darn chicken?"

"Was just asking about that before you came upon us," Sentenza said. "Go on Death, this is your time to answer." Sentenza pulled out a fresh cigarillo and set it in his mouth as he lit it. A look of relief washed over his scarred face as he took a small puff of the stick.

"Tttthhhaaaaatttt wwwwiiiilllll jjjjuuusssttt mmmaaakkkkeee rrruuunnnnnniiinnngggg hhhaaarrrdddeeeerrr yyyooouuu kkkknnnooowwww," Bakade pointed out.

"Oh, leave an old man to his vices," Sentenza replied as he shut his eyes.

"Iiiiitttt'ssss ppprrroooobbbbaaaabbbllllyyyy wwwhhhhyyy yyyyooouuuu'rrrreeee ttthhhheeee ooonnnnlllyyy ooonnnneee wwwhhhhoooo iiiissss wwwwiiiinnnddddeeedddd aaattt aaaalllll."

"Could I hear what's going on with Ted and Narissa before you start a fight?" Trizel sighed.

"Don't mind me. I'm not fighting over anything," Sentenza said as he lifted his hands up. "I'm actually the innocent one for once."

The flames in Bakade's eye sockets rolled around as she tilted her head slightly back and to the side. "Sssssuuurrreeeee," she said. "Yyyooouuuu'rrrreee ssssoooo iiiinnnnnooocccceeeennnttt."

"In regard to this? Yes, I am." Sentenza smirked. "I'm just an old man that wants to enjoy himself in peace."

Bakade put her hand on her bandaged hand on her hip, and her other hand rubbed the bone just above her eye sockets as she sighed.

"Perhaps this can be done later." Trizel said before Bakade could utter a word. "Now, Death. If you would relay your report."

Sure man, sure. Death held a fist in front of his mouth and made a noise as if he was clearing his throat. Right, so I checked in on Ted and Narissa, right? Well, they were both alright. Uh, after I told them about the attack, or scout, or whatever we're calling it now. Well, after I explained that, they started to move a bit faster along. They made it to a weird hallway a good couple minutes before you guys jumped into this one? So, I figure they've got a good head start on that thing.

"Was it chasing them at all?" Trizel asked.

Not that I could tell?

"What about Nugget? Could you find her anywhere?"

Death scratched the top of his skull while he shook his head. That's a little weird, man. See, I can tell she's around and can even jump to her. Or at least it feels like I can.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Sentenza interrupted.

It's...man, how can I describe it. It's like I'm making my way to her, but there's this...no not that. uh...Right! It's like she's in this big ball, and when I try to get to her, I hit the outside of the ball, and sort of get thrown back. Death explained. So, I can start heading to her, but then I end up right back where I was before.

"Interesting," Sentenza added as he scratched his neck.

"Still nothing on Sid?" Trizel asked.

Death simply shook his head.

"What about the one-eyed scout? Can you jump to them?" Trizel asked.

Uh...do you want me to try that? Death asked.

"Iiiiitttt'sss ttttttooooooo rrriiiissskkkkyyy," Bakade said as she shook her head.

"Yeah, what if he's waiting with some magic restraints for you to pop up?" Og'drimun asked. "We'd have no way to check on you."

"It might be worth it," Trizel mused.

"A risky play, but is it any better to just wait for them to show their hand?" Sentenza added.

I mean, I'm sure I'd be alright. Just the one eye thing kinda creeped me out a bit. Death admitted. Like he had to turn most of his head to focus that on anything different. Death wrapped his arms around himself. It gives me shivers just thinking about it.

"Of course, something like that is what would bother you about this," Trizel sighed.

"Then I say we try it." Sentenza put forth.

Trizel looked over at Death and then slowly nodded. "I agree," he said.

"I don't." scoffed Og'drimun. "This is a crazy magical place. Offering up my bro on a silver platter is a terrible idea."

"IIIIIIII ddddoooonnn'tttt lllliiiikkkkeee iiiitttt." added Bakade. "Iiiiitttt'ssss ttttooooooo rrriiiiissskkkyyy wwwiiittthhh sssoooommeeettthhhiiinnggg sssmmmaaarrrttt eeennnooouuuggghhh tttoooo ttteeessstttt ttthhheeeiiiirrr pppprrreeeeyyyy."

Lulu rubbed her chin. "Hmm, it is risky, but..." a smile spread along her face. "You never won anything without playing with a bit of risk, right? And with us already split up four ways, why don't we initiate this move ourselves? I say yes. Death should go for it, just to see if he can at least."

"That's three to two. Death, you feel strongly about this one way or another?" Sentenza asked.

Death shrugged. Guy just creeps me out, but a tie is boring, so I guess I'll go along with it. Wish me luck bros.

And just like that, Death was gone. Right after he disappeared, the entire place around them began to shake.

"Nnnnooottt aaaggggaaiiiinnn," groaned Bakade.