The Varis City infirmary was a large building with multiple floors and several rooms, each filled to the brim with soldiers recovering from wounds inflicted during the war. The small group of ARO members jumped onto the small medical bed, rudely awakening an injured Blayvaar. He groaned as he gripped his freshly bandaged side. Sitting up gingerly, and after his initial grumpiness, he found himself excited to see his visitors.

“Glad to see some pretty faces. The only company I’ve had was a nurse and my neighbor’s ugly mug.”

Everyone looked to see that Rith was on the bed next to Blayvaar. Rith put down the book he was reading, puckered his lips, and blew Blayvaar a teasing kiss, “You know you can’t get enough of me!”

Blayvaar chuckled and turned back to his friends, “I’m ready to get back out there. Being laid up in this bed is driving me crazy!”

Lear gave a sour look, “This yikahti wished he had been laid up in a bed and not in a cold forest, bleeding out.”

“Some guys have all the luck, eh Lear?” joked Blayvaar.

Essie moved to Blayvaar’s wounded side and gently undid the bandage to inspect the healing wound, “Pretty good stitching. That must have been a pretty, big slash.”

“It was a big sword,” added Blayvaar, widening his arms to show how big the sword actually was, perhaps indulging a bit.

“Blistercloth is too small for that one, but the stitches seemed to be doing fine, your wound will heal just in time.”

Blayvaar arched an eyebrow inquisitively, “Just in time for what?”

Rulan spoke in a low voice so that only trained ears could hear, “Elucard wants to strike the Black Rabbits as soon as we get back.”

“The compound?” gasped Blayvaar.

“It’s time we finished them while they can’t recruit,” Timber growled.

Blayvaar flashed a smile, “Then let’s end it!”

***

Wiccer stood in the dank and dimly lit prison cell. Shadows danced around the cell from the torches that hung on the walls. He jeered through the bars at an unmasked Inle who sat alone in his cell. His healing arm was still wrapped in a bandage and resting in a wool sling.

“You will finally hang for the crimes you have committed,” sneered Wiccer. He glared with venom across his face.

Inle turned to look up at the former White Cloak, “I will hang, but it’s because I killed your brother. Isn’t it? You seek vengeance. It was never about justice. The whole reason why you became a Red Rabbit was to kill me,” He ended with a nasty smile.

Wiccer grabbed the bars in anger, “Do not play your mind games with me, Rabbit!” he howled. His face flushed with rage. He first planned to approach Inle to find some closure, but he thought he’d have more control over his emotions. He seemed to underestimate Inle’s cunning. He seemed to always underestimate the Black Rabbits, a mistake that had constantly haunted him.

Inle ran to the bars and placed his face as close to Wiccer’s as the bars would allow. He chomped his teeth with a crude smile that made Wiccer back up, “You play mind games with yourself, dear friend. A game you already lost when you buried your brother.”

Wiccer fumed as he opened the cell and entered. He savagely backhanded Inle against the wall and thrust out his hand to choke the Rabbit. Wiccer tightened his grip as Inle gasped for any air that he could.

“I will end your pathetic life here and now!” Wiccer shouted.

Inle’s eyes cracked red as he let Wiccer squeeze his throat, “I-It f-feels good to give into your e-emotions? D-Doesn’t it?” Inle croaked.

Wiccer’s eyes widened and he released his grip. Inle collapsed coughing and sucking in air. He lifted his chin to look up. Although his face was always a light gray complexion, he was slightly paler now. His neck began to bruise with a bluish-purplish color. Inle smiled a maddened smile, “Finish it Cloak! Take your vengeance! Avenge him! Avenge your brother, Cloak!”

Wiccer looked at his trembling hands and stepped backwards. He shook his head whispering to himself, “No, I mustn’t be blinded by my hatred. This isn’t what Avren wanted.”

Inle snatched Wiccer’s wrist and pulled it to his neck, “Finish it!”

Wiccer pulled his hand away and swiftly left the cell after locking it back up. Inle laughed loudly as Wiccer made his exit.

“See you around, Wiccer!”