McGee cursed under his breath.

"This is why you don't pick up strays, Galligan."

Galligan grinned the way she did right before a firefight. McGee could see the adrenaline in the way she shifted weight from one foot to the other. With a moment to assess, McGee tried to calm his breathing before the lighting started back up. Their surroundings looked like an abandoned pagoda, or maybe it was once a small temple. The whirlwind of disaster made it hard to discern its previous use.

Two groups in front of him. One wore white and green. The other sported brown and red.

This felt like that time when McGee had walked to the liquor store when he was little for a pack of Doublemint and he saw the O'Neely's standing off against the O'Reily's. No one knew why the feud started, but no one seemed to care about stopping it either.

Their exchange of heated barbs only lasted so long until McGee was ultimately addressed.

"Whose side are you on, strangers?"

"Only fools would pick a losing side."

McGee blinked a few times and needed to adjust his sweaty hands on his rifle. The white-robed side was outnumbered 2 to 1. They saw their eyes ready to pounce Galligan before even worrying about their numbers. That only made his decision easier.

"We'll protect the girl."

Relief flooded the white-robed elder while his counterpart scowled.

"Perhaps I was the fool for wasting my breath. Kill them."

McGee was about to pull the trigger, but the tide of battle shifted and the white-robed faction moved to protect them. Half stood firm and held back the wave of enemies, including the elder. A strong-jawed man approached McGee and shouted over the din of battle.

"Thank you, strangers. But we must leave. Now! This way."

He and five others spaced out around them so as not to antagonize Galligan as they retreated down the mountain. Several attacks were thrown their way, but none reached them as they descended and ran headlong into the forest.

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"I apologize. I saw how strong your artifacts were, so I assumed you to be stronger cultivators."

That statement wasn't fair at all. They'd been running flat out through the thick forest for 25 minutes. The humid jungle climate stuck to McGee like stinky stocks.

"Bao Lee, we can't stay here. The Elder sacrificed himself so we could get away. We must bring Mei Hua back to the Grand Elder."

"Mei Hua doesn't want to go back!"

The little girl pouted from Galligan's shoulder. She had struggled the whole time as if her favorite candy was being taken away from her. The strong-jawed man named Bao Lee admonished the young girl in the most respectful way possible.

"Young Lady, you promised the Grand Elder to behave and stay close to him. Mortals and young ladies don't have any place in Sacred Realms."

Galligan stood to her full height and suddenly Bao Lee was looking up at a much taller woman.

"Excuse me, but could you explain where the living fuck we are and who the hell you are? I've had about up to here with this."

Galligan used a hand to gauge her anger level, but it was at the height of the squirming child's rear end. McGee was glad someone had the lung capacity to ask the most important question.

"Forgive my manners. I am Bao Lee and that child is Mei Hua. She's the granddaughter of our Sect's Grand Elder and she has the habit of getting into trouble."

"What an irresponsible grandfather."

Bao Lee and the others gobbled like turkeys at the slanderous words. It was Mei Hua who pounded Galligan's back with tiny fists.

"Don't talk bad about Gramps. Only I can do that!"

Those words brought Bao Lee back to his senses.

"You two... I don't know from where you hail, but please be careful with your words. Others would strike you down for saying such a thing."

[ Galligan: Can I punch this guy, McGee? ]

[ McGee: No! Why would you want to punch him? ]

[ Galligan: His jawline irritates me. Breaking it once should fix it. ]

[ McGee : He's being nice. Don't upset the angry martial artist when we're surrounded by his friends. ]

[ Galligan: Fine. But you're carrying the girl the rest of the way. ]

"What... I?"

McGee's horror showed in the real world as Galligan passed the unruly child to his shoulder. Mei Hua saw the opportunity to struggle free and began flopping around wildly. McGee wrangled her in like a fisherman trying to hold onto a wriggling tuna. Mei Hua oozed around, never quite falling to the ground, but never quite being caught either.

"This is highly inappropriate."

McGee noticed Bao Lee didn't offer to help. All the martial artists avoided eye contact.

"Bao. Lee? Whatever name you go by. How far to our rendezvous?"

The words seemed to confuse Bao Lee as if it was improperly translated. Galligan rotated her jaw as she chewed her words.

"How much farther?"

"At this pace. Maybe another 40 minutes."

McGee finished wrangling the child. She was being held by the ankle, as if she was Achilles about to be dipped in the River Styx. He glared at her.

Mei Hua sagged, blowing a raspberry.