Suzie didn’t even finish her explanation of the casualties before Hiro was trying to walk past her. She threw her arm out and he ran into it full force, knocking the air out of his lungs with an audible ‘oof’.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Suzie snapped, trying to project strength even as worry and panic seeped into her tone.

Hiro clung to her arm that stopped him as he answered, “there are injured people! I need to heal them!”

Alphonse groaned as he sat up completely. He pushed his blonde rat’s nest back away from his face and glared sleepily at Hiro, “you won’t be of much use to these people, or anyone, if you keep doing this to yourself.”

“Please, Hiro.” Suzie shook him off her arm to grab him by both shoulders, “we need you to fight the Darkness tonight, so please, just go back to sleep.”

“I can-” Hiro started to protest.

“No, you can’t!” Suzie shouted, her head falling forward, and her fingers digging into the meat of his shoulders. “There are some things you cannot do. I am this team’s leader so listen to me and go back to sleep!”

Hiro tried to shake Suzie off and keep heading for the door, but she was far stronger than him and held him firmly in place.

Hiro grabbed Suzie’s wrists and with frustration and desperation, said, “there has to be something I can do.”

“Hiro, please...” Suzie’s grip tightened.

Alphonse had moved all the way to the edge of the bed by where they stood and reached out to grab Hiro’s forearm. Hiro looked down at him. “You’re a priest, you can say a prayer.” Alphonse tugged on his arm, pulling him back towards the bed. Suzie relinquished her hold, letting him crawl back onto the bed with a defeated expression. He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, presumably starting a silent prayer.

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After a soft knock, Eli poked his head in the door. With a grim look, he said, “Suzie, you should hear this.”

Suzie nodded, bottom lip between her teeth and arms hugging herself, stepping out of the room.

Lounging lazily on the bed next to Hiro, Alphonse tried to strain to hear what was being said in the other room but couldn’t make out the words. After a few minutes he gave up and cracked an eye open. Rolling his eyes he grabbed Hiro’s shoulder and forced him to lay down flat. “I’m sure your dads will listen to your prayer lying down.”

“But-” Hiro’s protest died in his throat as the bedroom door slammed open.

“Guys, I think Kelsi’s in danger!”

*

Suzie stepped into Eli’s living room. At his dining room table sat an adventurer in gleaming armor, with dark skin and tightly coiled dark hair that sat close to his head. A familiar face with the Heroes’ Rock Guild insignia on his breastplate. Suzie’s face pinched in anger and she marched over to him, grabbing the neck of his breastplate and yanking him off balance, “you’re part of Kyna’s team. Why the fuck are you here?”

The man held his hands up in surrender. “I’m here to warn you!”

Suzie let him go with a small shove. His armor clattered loudly as he landed back in the chair, grabbing the table to keep from falling over. Suzie crossed her arms over her chest, “what’s the warning?”

He fixed his armor as he answered, “Kyna wants to kill you and your team.”

“Yeah, I figured that after she stabbed me and fled the scene.” She gestured at the half-healed wound on her abdomen even though it was hidden by her clothes.

His eyes flicked down then back up to her face. “Also to warn you that your guild isn’t coming.”

“What?”

“Whitler’s dead.” Eli answered instead, standing behind one of his chairs with a white-knuckled grip on the back of it, glaring down at his rough wood table.

“Kyna has most of our team on her side. I suggest the four of you stick together. Or better yet clear out as soon as possible.”

A sinking feeling settled in Suzie’s gut and she immediately walked to the front door and threw it open. “Kelsi!” she shouted. But her team’s rogue did not appear. She scanned her surroundings, cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted again, “Kelsi!” When Kelsi still didn’t appear, Suzie’s sinking feeling turned into pure nauseous fear. She rushed back in to where the boys were resting, threw open the door, and cried out, “guys, I think Kelsi’s in danger!”