Lets Go

“Altus” the dark elf said to Tzeitel as he handed over the speeders to Amit who carried him to the van. “I can assure you I mean no harm to you or your friends.” pulling a towel from his bag he wiped the sweat off his face.

That was exactly what someone who meant harm to her or her friends would say. Tzeitel watched Altus suspiciously and put herself between him and Nine.

Altus would pay her no mind as he pulled out a water skin to drink. Before pulling out some wine and taking a quick sip before putting it back.

Tzeitel could smell the alcohol in the wine, as briefly as it was there. Being a recovering alcoholic sucked. Tzeitel stiffened and her eyes darkened angrily.

Altus rolled his eyes before walking away from her to get some space. He was used to humans judging him which was why he preferred solitude. While he had planned to travel with that Klaire he was now second guessing his choice due to the growing party.

Walking over to a tree he leaned against it.

“Alcohol is prohibited here.” Klaire snarled at Atlus' and took the wine from him before he could protest or hide it. She quickly poured it out into a nearby trashcan. “I may not come from here but I'm not risking this city so you can get drunk!”

Nine looked at Tzeitel and the others before sighing. He went over to Atlus' and offered his hand in a friendly manner. “Excuse Tzeitel. She has some bad history with most men, so give it time.”

Hanging upside down from a branch, her top barely enough to keep her breasts from flashing everyone, Shira hissed at Nine.

“Shira, stop that. It's rude.” Nine said calmly.

Turning as she dropped down, Shira landed in a crouch and leaned on Atlus. “No harm! Mine now!” She hissed.

Nine rolled his eyes. “Good luck, man…”

Kimber just nibbled a snack as she watched everything and Umbral would help heal Riley.

Altus sighed but kept quiet about the wine deciding it wasn't worth the argument to explain that it had healing properties. “It's fine I'm used to people being suspicious of me comes with the territory of my race” he replied shaking the man's hand. As Shira leaned on him he began to blush. “Beg your pardon?” He asked the girl.

Riley continued to mutter in his sleep as his body began to shake.

Shira wrapped her arms around one of Atlus’ arms. “Mine now!”

Nine held back a laugh. “Like I said, good luck, man…once Shira chooses you, you’re stuck. She’s some forest creature that chooses a mate for life or something.”

Klaire watched the group and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I wish I was back home and this were just another nightmare…” She whispered as James gently touched her shoulder.

Kimber poked her head out the window after turning off the bright lights and looked toward Tzeitel. “You gonna get back in. We can all go to my place and talk about all this. I got the space for everyone!”

“She really does.” Umbral said with a kind smile as she checked all of Riley’s vitals.

Tzeitel was torn between anger and gratitude towards Klaire for dumping out the wine. It smelled like it would have tasted amazing and given a nice warm numbing sensation making reality less strong. Tzeitel had been sober for a very long time, she had not been sober for so long since she had her first drink at 19. It was still a struggle, especially when stressed. Tzeitel looked at the van. As big as it was, it was an enclosed space with a few guys she did not know well or trusted. She really wanted a drink. She glanced towards the trash can. The trash can smelled like besides wine it contained roadkill or something similarly nasty smelling. Probably why Klaire poured it in there. Tzeitel clenched her fists in frustration and headed back to the van.

Klaire stared at Tzeitel, silently proud of her as she and James returned to the van.

Nine looked at Tzeitel and gave her a loving smile. “I promise not to let anything bad happen to you, okay?” He told her.

“I should be taking care of you.” Tzeitel muttered, determined to be his mother even if he was older than her now. She reluctantly got back in the van.

“You’re younger than me now, so deal with it.” He retorted and stuck his tongue out at her playfully before getting into the van with her.

They just needed to wait and see if Atlus would join them now.