And we had another one of Mianite's crypts, like that. It was easy, to easy. If a God took the time to take bits of the earths essence and hide it away, why wouldn't he add traps or some last precaution. As soon as we found them they were ours.

And then the figure that Sonja had talked about. The idea gave me chills because I understood. I felt some sort of unworldly presence too. It reminded me of something I couldn't grab. Right stuck somewhere, or not somewhere. Not anywhere.

"What's perplexing you this time?"

"Do you say words like that because you want to feel smart or because you like to make other people feel dumb?" I asked.

Andor walked onto the patio. He seemed incredibly bright and happy today, which meant he would be extra witty and optimistic and have a comeback to everything I would say. It was frustrating when he did things like that, but not in a boring way. In a good way.

"It's a habit?" He shrugged, leaning his arm against the rail. He took his normal place, staring with wonder at the sea in front of us. Listening intently to nature and how it just stood. I think he loved it so much because nature always knew what is was made to do, even if someone tried to change it.

"Did your dad stay up at night conjugating verbs with you?" I glanced up at his face, really so I could have an excuse to count all of the colors in his blue eyes.

He smirked, which was rare for him. He would smirk when he knew I was being hilarious but he would never admit it. "I learned how to insult people without them really knowing. At meetings most of the time." And then his face grew a little more serious and he tried to focus harder

I wrapped my arm around his waist because my arm couldn't get any taller than that. "I knew you weren't all that nice before you met me."

Andor didn't answer to my comment. "The ambassadors for the Mianite Empire are idiots," he mumbled.

I continued to stare up at him. He watched the birds and the waves, probably trying to calm down. I never understood people who could just calm down. I usually needed to punch a wall or a face.

I started to remember last time we had stood on this patio. What we had talked about. I could barely just remember, but my mind forced the fleeing memory back for just one moment. I needed to remember this.

"What about dreams?" I asked, trying to keep my voice peaceful.

Andor immediately stopped watching the waves and birds. His attention went from nature to me. "What?"

"My dreams? You said I had been having dreams?!" I paused to try to calm myself down again, but all I was able to do was push my anxiety down enough that I could talk feebly. "The ones I can't remember," I mumbled out.

He didn't answer. His face just softened, and he stared at me with a mix of confusion and being horrified. And then he grabbed my hand and held it like he was going to say something important, but the words didn't come out of his mouth.

"What do I say?" I asked. Maybe then I could figure something out. Put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"You don't - um," he stammered, squeezing my hand. "You don't really say anything. You just kind wake up-" he paused again, now tapping his other hand on the railing. "Your usually crying or screaming. I think they're just night terrors-"

"Get me to say something," I interrupted.

"What," Andor asked in shock. He was now squeezing my hand so tight that I thought it might fall off.

My attention was still on the mission. Figuring out what I was forgetting. "I want you to make me tell you."

Andor didn't say anything, but I knew every little part of him was saying no. The last thing he wanted to do was force me to say no.

"Please?" I begged. I hadn't left my gaze from his eyes, and I couldn't move. Half I was to stubborn to leave until he said yes, and half I felt so guilty for making him do this.

He started to shake his head. "I couldn't do that to you-"

"I need to know," I spoke sternly, trying to focus on every word. Do that thing normal people do to sound confident.

I think Andor realized that it would be easier to just say yes, and a bit of him was just going to say yes so I would drop it and not actually force me to tell him. The other parts of him, though, were to honest to trick me. Even for my own good. Not anymore at least.

He didn't say yes, but he kissed my cheek and still looked sad and horrified at the same time. I had anxiety pulsing through me too, so I understood.

"It's probably not anything," he said, reassuring him more than me.

And maybe it wasn't anything. Maybe I just had night terrors. Wouldn't have surprised me for all the violence I had seen through my life. It was the most logical solution. Maybe I was trying to make an adventure out of nothing.

Or maybe that's what it wanted me to think.

"Sonja, Sonja, Sonja, Sonja-"

"WHAT?!"

I always catch them at a bad time.

Sonja and Tucker had got this tiny little two floor oak cottage to live in. It staged perched on top of a little hill, close to where Tom's tree had been. They built this bridge so you could cross a creek that divided it and Steve's farm. From the top floor you could see the rubble of the kingdom, and the sea beyond that. Flowers say around the house, and Sonja made sure there were flowers in pots everywhere around the house. There place was so quaint, and it always made me smile when I was around.

I don't know why it didn't make Sonja smile.

She had dark bags under her eyes, and her face had paled. Her tiredness was really what was making her cranky. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorway, trying her best not to glare at me.

"I have exciting news," I answered, only fearing for my life a little.

Sonja sighed. Not in a mean way, just in a exasperated way. "Yes?" She asked.

I wanted to make a pun at the time because this adventure was an exciting one. I mean this adventure was so exciting that I made a list full of puns in my journal and it filled a whole page.

I decided that I rather have my life at the moment, and just told her two words. "Third crypt."

Really third crypt meant final crypt.

Sonja realized that and her eyes widened. "Oh, right, yeah." She started to nod her head excitedly, and I think she was just pretending to be excited for my sake. I couldn't tell anymore. "I'll - uh - I'll get Tucker."

I gave a sorta shabby half smile because I really had to go tell Tom now. He would be the most difficult to get ready this time because he started to slowly realize that the only thing we ever get to steal is a magical item. What Tom really wanted to take from Mianite was something valuable.

"Okay," and I started to walk off.

Sonja opened her mouth, like she had a question to ask. Her face became brighter when she had the interest peaked, but before I could stop to ask her what's wrong she shut the door behind her.

I got to Tom's house faster than expected. He didn't have the door locked, which is dangerous. Without thinking about it I just kinda went in, and at any other moment that would have been more dangerous then Tom leaving his door unlocked.

This time he was just sitting at his kitchen table. There wasn't a plate in front of him. No silverware or food, or not even anything go read. He just stared at the wood table like he was counting all the different colors of brown.

"Uh Tom?" I knocked on the wall so I wouldn't have to enter this strange kitchen of death.

No answer.

I knocked again. "Tom?"

I realized then that I could hear snoring, and he had fallen asleep. No explanation, no prop for his head, but all of the excitement from the two days had made him pass out.

I became less scared of Tom's creepy kitchen when I saw that he was just sleeping, and I went over to the table.

I stood over him. "Tom!" I snapped. Still nothing.

I decided that I needed to take bigger action, and I hit him over the head.

"Ow," he immediately snapped up, almost taking the table with him. His eyes opened and he held his heart like he was going to have an attack. "What the fuck dude-"

"Crypt," I spoke slowly, "final."

His complexion went back to the normal arrogant calm that we all hate, and he leaned back on his chair. Crossing his arms he said confidently. "Oh I know."

"What?"

"Dianite told me," he said with a lot more confidence then the normal person would have. Dianite frequently visits. The gods there were a lot friendlier than in Mianite.

I think Tom noticed my strange look because he mumbled. "He bothers me a lot."

"Yeah," I murmured back. Dianite bothered me a lot too.

Tom clapped, standing up quickly. "Let's get on then," he said hastily. "What's the first step." He didn't even put on a clean shirt or whip the drool off of his face. He just started walking out the door, grabbing his daggers behind him.

"Well I mean," I shrugged. "We need to meet all at the castle, so-" I paused. Tom shit the door behind him, without locking it. Something was going to enter and mark its territory. "You go get Hope and I'll go get Wag."

"Okay," Tom turned to stare at me. "What about supplies-"

"-a lot," I interrupted.

Tom squinted at me, probably doubting that we needed extra supplies. To be fair I do shove him on a lot of wild goose chases just so he's out of our way. I be fair I used to do the same thing to Hope. Sometimes I even do the same thing to Tucker.

"Really?" Tom asked suspiciously.

"Yes," I answered, trying to make my words stick because what I said next I definitely meant. "We are going far."

Tom squinted even more, but not in a untrusting way. In a I'm extremely curious now way. Before he could ask what was going on, I elaborated in the only way I could without having to explain things twice.

"Very far."

When Jordan said we were going far - excuse me - very far, I thought that he had over exaggerated a little bit. You know Ianite's have a dramatic flare. That's how they talk people into working together. No big deal, I got it. Jordan was a little to excited for an adventure that wouldn't take that long.

It did.

It took that long.

We had to walk 30 miles to this stupid sand city that had to be around 100 plus degrees day and night. For what? Some stupid crypt that held the essence of air. I didn't need the essence of air. I wouldn't even get to steal treasure from Mianite! And why you ask didn't Thomas have the time to steal the billions of gold doubloons that were in this cave. BECAUSE THERE WAS A BLOODY DRAGON THATS WHY!!

Let me start from the beginning, okay?

We had walked a fairly far distance. The walk there wasn't too difficult. Really the parts that were supposed to be relaxing were the most stressful.

The paths were cleared far out to this camp sight. Most people walked this trail to get to the city. We were heading to Mianite's city, the one he stole from Dianite. Urulu they called it. The place used to be full of lush fields even thought the soil was sand because they had a genius irrigation system. Then Mianite swooped in and now the city is a pulp f what it used to be. The city had been filled with the smog of Mianite's factories and plants could barely grow there. The are was heavy with deadly chemicals as they said, and a cloud always engulfed the once beautiful city.

The city used to book bigger than our kingdom. The one that's ruble now. Urulu was Ruxomar's New York City. The shining star. Now it was a dull paper towel.

Anyways, we set up camp in the normal clearing. Jordan had difficulties trying to pitch a tent, so Sonja the survivalist had to help. Tucker just whined about bugs. Wag stayed awkwardly quiet around Martha, who was still pissed at him may I add.

The only ones that were being normally helpful was Andor and Hope. They pitched a tent without help, and actually set a fire without stealing Sonja's lighter. Hope knew exactly what to do and Andor was patient enough to deal with her barking orders.

Me? I stayed in my rightful place. Watching over and cheering my team on. I am a motivator. There was no need for me to leave my important post and do ground work. They needed me on top, watching.

I could constantly feel Dianite's presence, and Ianite teleported to us whenever she wanted.

The only one that didn't join was Steve, and I couldn't figure out why.

The tents were set and most of them had broken legs or a beat up canvas. I remember back to that joke that the old priest made about us being survivalists. He would think differently if he saw us trying to set up this campsite.

"It's not our fault were not used to these necessities, okay," Tucker complained. His and Sonja's tent had a rip on the top, and I could only blame Tucker. "We usually just put a blanket on the ground and build a fire so you don't freeze to death."

Tucker made excuses, but he was right. We could always find a way to work with the bare necessities and we got so used to bare necessities that now that we had necessities it was havoc.

"This will be a lot safer at nightfall," Martha answered. She made sure her voice was booming. When Wag feels awkward with the situation he's in he keeps quiet. Martha does the exact opposite. Her hand motions somehow got crazier, and any enemy could have heard us from a mile away with her here.

"You have to hide from humans now. Not nature. Get used to it." She spoke frankly.

I glared at her for a moment then looked back at the campsite, mildly upset. No shit we have to watch for people. We wouldn't be in this situation if your brother hadn't gone insane and we could have landed in a perfectly normal kingdom with a normally preppy prince.

The forest was calm. In Ruxomar they had one type of forest, and they had every tree in it. Palm trees would grow around Christmas trees. Maple trees would grow around aspen and birch. Vines intwined with pine branches. The stream that was only a few feet away from camp had moss and Lilly pads floating peacefully, except for the few cracks that the water stream broke.

The wind broke from the trees before it could push us, and the rain would be covered my the huge leaves above us. The trees surrounding us had big maple leaves on them, about as big as my head. The shaded everything nicely but also laid little specks of sunlight on the green grass.

Little birds chirped and I could hear a woodpecker trying to find food in the distance. All the noises were far enough that they would echo through the wilderness and wouldn't be so loud that they would brake your concentration.

I realized then how much I missed Mianite. Our jungle. My home. The way everything would fall into place there. It was dangerous at home, but it was free. We were free to be insane and go one adventures. We had us and whatever allies we needed.

A scream broke threw the forest, and I even became alarmed. See it wasn't just some random citizen screaming, it was Jordan. When Jordan screams we have a problem!

"THERES A DEAD BODY!" He shrieked. The blood running from his face. He looked absolutely mortified.

I remember thinking what was so horrifying about a dead body. We saw dead bodies all the time. We created dead bodies. Death disgusts Ianite's, it doesn't scare them. Nothing scares Ianite's.

Then I saw the body and realized I was horrifying.

It had sunken eyes, and it's chest had been scooped out only leaving the bottom of the skeleton and a few leftover tendons visible. The skin had wrinkled into grey. The worst part was the Mianite badge pinned on the old officers skin. Right in his forehead, and it had tore and tore into the fragile skin until the soldier couldn't hold it anymore. Now the skin on the dead body's forehead sagged, like a bad ear piercing.

His blue suit had been torn, like he got into a battle just before death. Maybe with Mianite our whoever took him out.

He smelled to. Like rancid cinnamon and salt. It was the most putrid thing in the world. Worse than a normal dead body. It reeked of sweat and decay.

"Well," Hope peered over the dead body. She stepped so close that her boots almost touched his lifeless arm. "Maybe we should move it," she shrugged.

I almost agreed, but I saw a movement. A beating, a pulsing. Up and down slowly. Up and down faster. The beating of an undead heart.

The corpse started to breath.

We all backed up. Most of us unarmed. We all had taken our jackets and coats off too because of the heat. We didn't have any type of armor or weapons. All I had when the attack started was my bare fists and a whole lot of praying to dear lord Dianite.

The body snapped up, almost like a lever. He peered at us, the sunken dead sockets of his eyes crinkling up. He focused on us, or as much as a dead body could focus.

He now looked in front of me. I held my fists in front of my chest, trying to block whatever blow would start the battle. The soldier didn't have a sword so we were on even grounds. Except he was undead and couldn't feel pain.

My blood raced through my veins, and the vigilante part of me started to kick in. Now I wanted to fight. Now I wanted to brake his brittle bones and end whatever curse he was under. I wanted a battle. I wanted war. The lack of patience I had didn't allow me to wait.

I threw a punch, and instead of hitting him I went right through him. The corpses flesh was so decayed that I was able to shove my arm through him like he was damn cake. I could feel the slime of the mucus in his body on my arm. I could feel the dead wait of reanimated tendons. Dead muscle squished around my fist, and I believe I almost hit bone.

"ACK!" I backed up in disgust, because even that was to gross for me. I pulled my arm as hard as I could but it wouldn't budge.

"HELP HELP HELP!" I screeched, continuing to try to pull my arm from the corpses chest. The jellied organs and puss stirred around in him as I tried to escape. "HELP HELP HELP-"

I twisted my arm, and I heard one of the brittle bones crack. I fell to the ground, trying to keep the decaying arm as far away from my face as I could.

My arm had maggots squirming across it, and brown blood and mucus stained my skin. Little bits of grey skin had did under my fingernails, and chunks of organ layered on my lower arm.

Then the smell did get worse. Now instead of cinnamon and old beef, I smelled acidity fruits and citrus. Oranges and lemons and limes and grapefruit-.

I puked into the stream.

I could hear Martha walk up to the corpse, who must have just still been standing there. He was breathing heavily, panting like a dog.

"He is reanimating dead soldiers," Martha spoke quietly, as if she was scared the forest would hear. "We killed all of his bloody soldiers at the Inertia, so he's reanimating the dead ones."

"He's going to run out of soldiers to reanimate," Andor spoke. He still stood behind. "A mortal doesn't last forever."

I got up, and my stomach was still turning. I shoved my arm into the stream, and sat there trying to ignore everything that was on my arm.