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He should have known he’d end up back in the dark. Darkness was what birthed him into this world, Darkness was what he ruled, and now Darkness was all he knew for certain.It was Darkness that he silently clung to as all around him roared a chorus of anger and fury. He could hardly hear anything over the outrage- the demands for his blood, the demands for his head. Had he not been focusing solely on the faint metallic clicks of the chains that now bound him, he figured there would be quite an array of execution options on display. But it was all nothing more than a rage fueled white noise as he was brought to his knees by massive hands.Krubera, he assumed. He would recognize this strength anywhere. Once they caught on to their queen’s treachery, most turned their back on the Dark Underlord. It would only make sense for some to choose to follow Trollmarket to their new home. Now they kept him practically on a metal leash as he “faced” the judgment of a quickly cobbled together tribunal- no doubt the previous had been torn apart by the cowardice of some, the betrayal of others, and the death of the rest in the midst of Gunmar’s attack.His blood boiled into a rage the instant his knees hit the cold ground. As the crowd continued to celebrate their foes’ defeat and demand he pay for his unspeakable crimes, all he could do in response to it was roar in defiance and struggle in his confines. The heavy chains would not give, nor would the Krubera keeping him on his knees, and after a sharp tug to his his chains’ lead connected to the shackle clamped tightly around his neck nigh almost choked him there was nothing he could do but give in and save his strength. The chains nor the Krubera would not stop him from speaking, however.“I will not cower before you or any other troll!” He spat, not expecting it to land at this tribunal’s feet but knowing his intent was clear.The voices around him grew louder in response to his words and action, echoing and mingling into a frantic outcry of vengeance and murder that even he could no longer endure. Without hesitation he tried to stand and demand the respect and fear he deserved. Like his previous roar, however, it would be short lived. Before he could utter any true threats to the crowd he could feel the arms of the Krubera and the tug on the chains force him back and then down to his lowered position.His teeth gnashed at the humiliation of this so called “trial.” To be blinded and now forced to kneel before Blinkous Galadrigal of all trolls, and whoever else took part of the new Tribunal, was nothing short of mockery. This was more an event for the citizens of Trollmarket to cry out their frustrations and furies at him more than it was deciding his fate.This was not how things were meant to happen. He was meant to stand triumphant in the Eternal Night. Gunmar promised victory.Now here he knelt: blind, restrained, and held back in chains and shackles like an animal- expected to accept defeat and throw himself to the mercy of his captors. His face remained hard as the voices of the Tribunal read him his charges. He would not give them that satisfaction.They could not kill him. Even if it was what the crowd wanted more than anything else, killing him now would make the act empty and hollow. His life had already been spared this long, and as bitter as the thought was to him to think about, for them it would be pointless to just decide to kill him now. It was likely they wouldn’t exile him either. Neither the crowd nor the Tribunal wanted to simply abandon him and forget about him. And without his sight he’d be forced to wander aimlessly without aid, left to fate to decide his bitter end, and potentially risk everything they fought so hard to protect.A growl rumbled in his chest as the options were discussed and his face tightened harder. They were all hypocrites and cowards. Every last one of them. Had the positions been reversed, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill them all. Yet there they bickered, unsure what they felt would be a “moral” and “right” punishment for the likes of him. He felt the eyes of the crowd on him. He wondered for a brief moment if eventually they would be unable to control themselves and make the decision for the Tribunal on their own. He quietly scoffed. It would be a more fitting death. Bloody. Cold. Heartless. An army of Trolls acting out as they were created to act. Not the soft stoned cowards they had become.They would not get the chance. Before long the tribunal had come to a decision, and the crowd was not pleased with the result. In fact their outcries from before broke into a riotous state. If he could see the events as his guards yanked him up to his feet and his chains pulled tight by the lead, he imagined more Krubera holding back the trolls that began to climb over their seats and drop through the gaps in attempts to reach him in the arena turned courtroom. A pity they wouldn’t get the chance to have their revenge. He would have liked to see them try.A shame, really.His shackles were replaced with heavier restraints- simple cuffs on his wrists became solid metal restraints his arms had to be forced into before being closed shut, and similar ones clamped onto his legs. He could hear the rattle of chains as he instinctively adjusted to the new sensations and ran a hand over one of the new shackles. From his Elbow to his wrists his arms were completely encased in restraints, most likely with chains attached. He heard the Krubera back away as a lighter figure stepped forward. One breath of air told him all he needed to know about this figure. The faint musk of a human den, the still present smell of human blood flowing in his veins under that fake stone skin, the growl under his breath trying to mimic his own intimidation tactics when he came close but the voice still clearly belonging to the same foolish boy that ventured into the Darklands alone.He had to have been the one relentlessly tugging at his chains’ lead during the so called trial. How easy it would be now to strike when the shackle around his neck was removed and he was no longer bound in their confines. But then again… without his sight he wouldn’t get far, especially if he was chained to the floor as he suspected. Even though he could easily lunge forward in this moment and tear the boy’s throat open with his teeth, he would wait. His time to strike would come eventually, but not now. He could feel the Trollhunter’s eyes locked on him, watching his every move, but still he would not strike- even when the shackle around his neck was taken and he was free to move his head any way he so wished for a time.Now was not the time,even as fury burned red hot in his chest.The previous Shackle would be replaced with a heavier one. And judging by the metallic clicks he had grown accustomed to hearing, it had connections to the shackles on his arms. The boy took a step back, he assumed, and figured his eyes were locked on what remained of his face, before the Trollhunter spoke.“Drop them.”He could hear the groans of Krubera, paired with the grinding of stone, before it was all replaced with the frantic metallic rattling of chains he had grown accustomed to hearing. Before he could even turn his head to try to shape the scene in his head, the shackles on his arms tightened and pulled his arms apart with painful efficiency. He choked out a gasp in reaction to the agony of it all, and in moments crumbled under the weight. In moments he was back down on his knees, tail slamming onto the ground as his only means to brace the pain. His torso felt like it was going to split in two, if not that, than surely at any moment his arms would soon rip off, but the action never came. His chest heaved as he tried catching his breath. Hunched over and heaving, he dared to let out one last comment of defiance.“Do you intend to tear me apart limb by limb, Fleshchild?”“No.” The boy’s voice was cold, and followed with trailing off footsteps. His captors were leaving. “I intend for you to stay put. For good.”He growled, pain subsiding but weight keeping him in his position for now. If he hadn’t lost his sight, if he hadn’t lost his grip on that rooftop…“Gunmar the Black,” the voice of Blinkous Galadrigal was unmistakable.Gunmar roared and pulled at his chains for only a moment before the heavy weights at the end of his restraints forced them back into their outstretched position. He heard the slam of a metal cage door, followed by the faint clink of keys locking it shut.The so called leader of Trollmarket did not waver in announcing the Dark Underlord’s fate: “you have been sentenced to a life time of imprisonment. You will find we have taken your every need into consideration, and have decided you are unworthy of the vast majority. May you live out the rest of your miserable existence here in bitter isolation.”The blinded Dark Underlord thrashed against his restraints as the footsteps of his captors receded to silence. He snarled and weighed his options as he tried to rise back to his feet. It was doable, but recalling the pain from earlier Gunmar knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it up for long. He groaned in frustration and returned back to the lower position, deciding sitting would be better for his strength for now. Who knew if they would keep him alive, or just expected him to waste away in this chamber he assumed they set up just for him. He would have to keep as much of his strength as he could muster if he was ever going to escape and get his revenge.He would escape, of course.Gunmar hummed to himself a moment, mind already at work. This was only a set back. He would achieve his goals one way or another. He saw now that it was foolish to look to magic to solve his problems. The Pale Lady was nothing but a failed cause at this point. A dead end Pawn that he was better off forgetting. Sooner or later he’d come up with the means to escape. But for now, as he sat alone in his prison chamber, Gunmar would take a moment to amuse his already active mind with thoughts of the fake Trollhunter’s throat crushed in his teeth.

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Who could say how many days and nights passed since his "trial." Gunmar assumed it had been a week or so- the drone of the far off market had it’s understandable fade in activity as most would adjourn to their homes for rest. If anything, he had come to measure time by the exchange of guards and the handfuls of Trollmarket residents that had no shame in coming to mock and belittle the Warlord. The kind that couldn't fear what beast they taunted while he was muzzled. Often he would be on the verge of the strain caused by the weights drifting him off into exhaustion when they would arrive.They would be first to die when he escaped, Gunmar decided.Gunmar was about to slip into that deeper dark, the bitter yet comforting embrace of unconsciousness, when the sound of approaching footsteps snapped him back to attention. He silently braced himself for the renewed mockery, perhaps even the guards he heard often mulling over if the Eclipse Blade was truly the only weapon that could kill him finally coming to test their theory, but neither came. Just a heavy, but lighter than most trolls, footstep that came with a muffled clang of metal. Fortunately that meant it was neither his so called "faithful" guard, nor the usual crowd come to view the Underlord like he was some sideshow beast. For a very brief moment, he wondered if it was in fact yet another of his army hunted down and brought here to be imprisoned with the others, but they wouldn't send someone like that down here alone.A tense silence began to form as he tried to hear when and where the next sound would come and where it was currently coming from, and reason with himself what it was or wasn't, when the gate to his prison chamber suddenly was unlocked and opened. His brows began to furrow, confusion setting in, but then that all too familiar scent floated in. The fleshchild in troll clothing. Gunmar growled through grit teeth as he rose to his feet, all the pieces falling into place. He refused to kneel, especially not before the boy. Unfortunately, the weights made standing for long almost unbearable, and soon he was crumbling back on the floor. Gunmar huffed angrily.“What a delight. The mighty Trollhunter come to grace me with his presence again at last. Finally here to finish me off, boy? Or perhaps boast your victory over me as others have?” “.....No.” Jim hesitated, unsure as he looked down at the plate of cat meat he had brought for Gunmar. He wasn’t really sure why he thought this would be a good idea. He didn’t have to show Gunmar kindness. He really didn’t. In fact he probably shouldn’t. Yet there he was. “It’s… been a while since you’ve eaten. And I thought….”What remained of Gunmar’s left eye widened for a moment before he laughed darkly. Jim’s grip tightened on the plate as he stiffened. How he used to fear that eye, now it’s milky white haze haunted him in a whole new way. Even on his knees, Gunmar still easily dwarfed him.“So it’s tribute he offers! Tell me, dear Trollhunter, how exactly do you expect me to eat it?”A rock formed in the Trollhunter’s stomach as Gunmar’s words set in. He hadn’t thought of that. Too late to back down now though, he reminded himself, as Jim simply sat the plate on the floor at his feet.“You’re smart. You can figure it out.” Jim took a few steps away and folded his arms, doing his best to not to show how uncomfortable he was. “you’re lucky I brought you anything at all.”“I survived for a thousand years in the Darklands, Fleshchild,” Gunmar sneered, leaning forward a bit to smell and then scoff at the offered plate of cat meat, “on nothing but what scraps the realm provided and a dying heartstone. I can survive a thousand more without your pity.”Jim’s ears pricked back as Gunmar paused. A sense of dread set back in as Gunmar’s “gaze” slowly came up to meet with the Trollhunter’s.“..... And just why have you brought me this? Hm? Would it not be simpler to leave me here to rot? I doubt anyone would judge you for it.”Jim thought hard about his answer. Why was he doing this? After a brief pause Gunmar simply snuffed, swatting the cat meat tray away with his tail, a hard glare from that blinded eye cemented on his face. He had his answer.“Go away, boy. Leave me to the isolation you so graciously let me live.”Jim felt his anger rising. He crouched down and picked up the meat scraps, fur bristling on his neck, setting them back onto the tray and then standing back up to leave.“Fine. Be that way, then. But I’m leaving the meat here whether you want me to or not,” Jim grumbled, turning his back to him and arms folded again. “Don’t like it? Then enjoy the smell of rotten cat meat. It's more than you deserve.”Jim didn’t look back as he left Gunmar’s prison chamber, but the instant he knew he was out of sight of everyone that could judge him he could not help but bring his hands up to his weary face and groan as he ran them down. Why did he think that conversation was going to turn out differently than it did? He was Gunmar the Black. The troll that had vowed an ocean of blood and the deaths of everyone Jim cared for! Leaving that dark place and rising back up the spiraled steps into the bright market didn’t bring as much comfort as he’d hoped it would, either. His right hand rose back up to his face and massaged his brow as he mulled over his thoughts.Sparing Gunmar… was the right decision. It had to be.Jim sighed and looked across the crowd of Market citizens. Life had returned to normal for pretty much everyone except for Jim, it seemed. There was still a brawl from time to time, the last few scattered Gumm-gumms on the surface not present during the Eternal Night to find, and minimal problems to be solved, but with Gunmar finally out of the way? Life seemed to have gone on without a hitch for everyone else as if their most hated and feared enemy wasn't right under their feet in the extensive prison chambers set for the Underlord and his army. Jim wasn't on high alert for an escape or anything, but a day hadn't gone by since finally finding a new home here that he hadn't thought about the risk. It was probably that fear that kept him stuck in his armor.Jim shook his head before his mind could wander around that decision. He should just head home and relax. Gunmar would still be in his prison chamber tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. Besides, if anyone could clear up his thoughts, it’d be Claire. Right now she felt like the perfect person to talk to.After a moment's pause of scanning the crowd to figure where the flow of people were going, Jim set off- heart leading him through back to the cozy den that felt so familiar but so different from the one back in Arcadia. When they first arrived, someone had suggested Blinkous take refuge in the New Jersey Heartstone as Vendel had done back in Arcadia, but he humbly declined."A librarian's life is incomplete without the comforts of his Library!" He would say.Looking over the quiet den he, Blinky, and Claire now called home, complete with Claire in PJ's reading on the nearby couch, Jim was rather grateful for that decision. Jim collapsed face first onto the couch before Claire even fully realized he was there. Claire laughed at the display, and casually pat his head.“hey there, big guy,” Jim couldn’t hep but purr as she ran her fingers through his mane, “any luck on getting the armor off?”“Nnnnnope.”“Rough day too?”“Yep.”Jim rolled over and closed his eyes with a defeated sigh, dropping his head in Claire's lap. What he'd give to be in comfortable clothes right now. He missed his blue hoodie so much. Claire tsked and brushed some of his fur out of his face.“Don’t worry, sooner or later the armor will come off. You’ll see.” Claire gave Jim’s forehead a quick kiss before returning to her reading- a spell book of sorts from the looks of it. “Although, if you want to hear about it, I’ve been researching a bit and might have a new lead.”Jim was quiet for a minute, words on the tip of his tongue. He knew he could be open with her about anything now of days, but man was it still hard from time to time. Then again... she wouldn't have come all the way with him to New Jersey Trollmarket, Gunmar in chains and constantly at an attacking distance for weeks on end, if she didn't trust his choice in the matter.“Maybe later....but uh... Claire?”Claire closed her book slightly, holding her place with one hand while he reached up and held the other.Jim's voice was quiet as he finally asked, “Do you think… I did the right thing? Sparing Gunmar?”“Oh Jim,” Claire’s face softened as she let his hand go and cupped his face, thumb brushing his cheek. “Of course. What’s brought this back up?”“I uh…” Jim licked his lips. Claire wouldn’t judge his choice, but saying it out loud was still hard to admit. “I went down to his Prison Chamber today. For whatever reason I figured that… you know. He hasn’t eaten since the Eternal Night and... I guess I thought that just maybe-””Jim’s voice faded off. He couldn’t bring himself to meet Claire’s eyes. His eyes simply drifted off to look around the library while Claire continued running her fingers through his mane. He sighed when her hand took his once more- a quiet show of support both of them knew well by now. Claire always knew what he was thinking now of days. Jim looked back up to face her and saw only understanding and compassion looking back at him, quietly hoping he'd go on.“Maybe I could somehow reach him, you know? I didn't think he'd welcome me with open arms or anything but...”Claire gently shook her head and smiled gently at him. “Always looking out for others..... Jim, sparing Gunmar then and trying to be kind to him now are hard choices to make, but they are the right ones. I don’t think he’ll ever accept it, but leaving him there all alone would be wrong- even if that’s technically what the Tribunal sentenced him to.”Jim slowly nodded and closed his eyes, weight momentarily lifted from his shoulders. She was right and, for a moment, the doubt was gone and it was only the two of them. No slowly rebuilding market to care about, no Dark Underlords lurking in the prisoners’ underbelly, just him and her. Claire smiled warmly and returned to her reading, still holding his hand and now gently humming. No matter what happened, they still had each other.“Hey Claire?”“Mhm?”“I love you.”“I love you, too."Jim's smile widened slightly before he opened and eye to peek back up at her, mischief in his eye. "Think later we can video call Toby and see how things are going in Arcadia?"Claire looked down, giving him an equally mischievous look. "You sure you don't want to call just to keep Blinky out of our hair for a while when AAARRRGGHH! inevitably asks if they can talk?"Laughter filled the library den. It wasn't much, but for them it was home. Jim sat up and leaned his head against Claire's, never once letting her hand go as he moved to sit by her. For now, it was just them. And honestly? Jim could live with that."So what was this lead you were talking about?"

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Three weeks… Six days… the day’s fourth change of the guard…That’s how long he’d been there.Gunmar growled to himself, restrained hands clenching into and unclenching from fists. Not a day closer to freedom. The cat meat now tormented him... so close, yet so far, so reviled, yet now a potential chance at survival. The boy was relentless. What did he possibly hope to gain? Allegiance? Freedom from guilt at what he’d done? Perhaps… a sick satisfaction as he tries to break the Underlord as the Underlord once tried to break him?Gunmar sat tall in his kneeling spot and raised his head high- tail swiping across his perimeter to knock away any new offerings. He closed his eye and breathed. Just breathe. He would not falter. He would not break. He-
Creaaaaaaaaaak...
A new sound. Gunmar's blind eye reopened as he listened closely. Hushed and worried voices. An overly confident scoff. Approaching footsteps and the scent of a troll he didn’t know.“Well, well, well… The terrifying and bloody Gunmar the Black! The Skullcrusher! Oooooo I’m so afraid! Not so tough now, are we? Nah I'd say not, not since the Trollhunter took your eyes.”Jim nervously drummed his fingers on the table. Things were finally quieting down, but he didn’t trust it. In the other room, he could hear Blinky having a relaxing chat with AAARRRGGHH!!!, in another, Claire slept peacefully. So thus the Trollhunter was left to his thoughts.All his offerings of a truce with Gunmar, all scorned without a second thought. What frustrated Jim the most, though, was wondering why it bothered him so much. Jim picked at his plate a moment longer before finally rising from his seat and throwing out what he didn’t finish. He ignored the slightly worrying sound of gnomes munching and chattering away in the bin in favor of checking on his blue mentor.Books lined the walls and tables even more so now that everyone had settled in. Blinky had taken care not to fully unpack until they were sure this was their stop. Jim smiled at the warm orange crystal lighting the room in the chandelier above as he entered the cozy scene. Blinky himself was reclined comfortably in a nearby pile of pillows and other cushy materials. His face glowed a bright blue as he continued his jovial and animated tale to the face on the phone he held.“-so, my old friend, that is why I told them the egg most certainly came before the dragon and-”“Hey Blinky?”Blinky quickly glanced up and smiled to Jim. “Ah! Master Jim, do come in. I was just telling Aarghaumont about our earlier escapade with Mervin. I may still have some tea if you would like to indulge yourself as well.”Blinky’s smile grew warmer while two of those four hands patted the comfy pile invitingly as Jim poured the offered tea. He calmly went to sit at Blinky’s side and waved to the happy green troll. Jim had to admit, he missed seeing AAARRRGGHH!!! in person, there was only so much contact you could have halfway across the country on such a small screen. Maybe he should upgrade his cell phone soon.“Jim!” AAARRRGGHH!!!’s excitement was infectious. Even as thoughts gnawed at Jim’s mind, he couldn’t help but share in the welcome pause.“Hey big guy! You keeping things under control there?”The mossy behemoth nodded. “Help Toby Fight Fire Cat other night. Then played Sushi Cat game. Beat Toby’s score!”Jim laughed. He could only Imagine what Toby’s reaction was. There it was. That pang of loneliness again. His smile faltered, and he was quick to hide it with the offered tea.AAARRRGGHH!!! however, wasn’t buying it for a second. His head tilted slightly in concern. “Jim Troll keep New market safe?”Jim was faking his joy now. “Oh yeah. Things have been going great here! Everyone is settling in just fine, and since the Eternal Night things have been…”It was then his voice faded. Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!! shared a look before Blinky gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Jim… Is everything alright?”The Trollhunter shrugged before taking a more ginger sip of his tea. “I mean… yeah? Gunmar is still in his prison cell, everyone is adapting to the new market, finding any rouges or gumm-gumm loyalists has been easier than I thought it would be...” the wall finally lowered by Jim reaching up and rubbing the tiredness from his brow. “everything should be going great but I can’t shake this feeling. I’m sure I did the right thing, but it doesn’t matter if I extend and Olive branch or a sword, Gunmar reacts the same.”Blinky nodded knowingly while AAARRRGGHH!!! spoke “Blinky... give Jim phone?”“ah! Yes of course.” The Conundrum troll gently passed over the device.“Jim listen to AAARRRGGHH!!! ok? Gunmar prideful. Gunmar...” The Krubera struggled to think of another good word. “Gunmar hateful. He will not forgive Jim. Only want revenge.”“I know that it’s just...” Jim sighed. “No… no you’re right. That doesn’t mean I should treat him badly though, does it?”Blinky’s eyes widened at Jim’s words while he awkwardly glanced away for a time. “Jim, you do realize you’re still speaking of Gunmar the Black, correct?”“Of course! But...” Jim was struggling for words now. “But I was the one who blinded him. And I...”Jim held his tongue. He couldn’t admit it. The thought still chilled him. The Krubera on the screen, however, seemed to understand.“Jim... wanted to Kill Gunmar…?”Jim flinched slightly at the coldness of that truth and deflated. He wanted to Kill. Gunmar had done horrific things, and Jim wanted to kill him for it. Every other death by his hands had been accidental or in defense, but with Gunmar…“Master Jim,” Blinky’s hand was on his shoulder again, “I admit, while I still do not understand your decision to spare the Bane of Trollkind, that decision was yours to make and you made it. And as I once agreed to follow you into the darkest pits of the Darklands, I will follow you now during this uncertain time.”Jim wiped a tear from his eye he hadn’t realized had formed and smiled weakly. AAARRRGGHH!!! waved his hand. “I follow too.”“Don’t know what we’re agreeing to, but count me in as well!” Toby’s voice could be heard off screen.Jim weakly chuckled and wiped at his face again before Blinky used those two arms to hold Jim close. After a moment he freed the boy from his sideways embrace and jovially patted his back. “There, now that we’re feeling better, perhaps you would like to join us in our nightly game?”“Tonight it Blinky spy! Like I spy but harder.”“Yes yes, well it’s only much more challenging when you can look in many directions at once, my friend! It would still be I spy if you could look about as I do!”Jim laughed and stood. “Sounds fun, but I think I’m going to take one last patrol before I get some rest. Thanks for the advice, you guys.”Blinky smiled and held the phone so both he and his miles away companion could both wave Jim off.“Fair enough. Good luck on your endeavors. Do remember, though, master Jim! Just as a wolf that has lost it’s head can still bite, so too does an unarmed Gumm-Gumm still have his teeth.”Jim smiled again, and quietly closed a curtain behind him to provide Blinky with extra privacy. His head now clear, Jim set off quietly into the market. His peace would not last. Jim knew something was wrong as soon as he neared the stairway. The krubera meant to be guarding Gunmar’s cell door were sitting nearby playing cards with other marketeers, and were quick to avoid Jim’s gaze when they realized he was approaching. He didn’t bother wasting time asking them what was going on.He practically flew down the stairs as he came across a small handful of trolls fearfully waiting at the cell door.“Rhodori! Come back! The Trollhunter is coming!”Jim made his way through the small group to see a troll in Gunmar’s cell. At this exact second, the troll apparently named Rhodori had the Underlord’s mane in a sharp twisted grip and was forcing the chained prisoner to look up at him.“I told you to look at me!”Gunmar’s face was hard and stern as he snarled. His tail swished irritably against the ground.“What’s the matter, Underlord? Too high and mighty to admit you’re a failure?”Gunmar hiked a foot up to maintain balance, and tried to shake his head from the Troll’s grip to no avail. In fact the troll just tugged harder, angling Gunmar’s head back further.“Won’t even eat the scraps we serve you!” The troll struck at Gunmar’s head with his free hand. It didn’t cause much damage but it set a clear message. “Do you know who I am? I’m the troll who you left alive after burning his family’s village to the ground!”Gunmar suddenly smirked. “I have done that to many villages. You’ll have to be more specific.”Rhodori snarled and raised his fist again.“Do remember, though, master Jim! Just as a wolf that has lost it’s head can still bite...”Jim’s face paled. He could see what the enraged Rhodori could not. Gunmar suddenly acting as if he’s in control often meant he was. He was smirking. He only had one leg down. The brief growl that came as he listened for Rhodori’s next move was dripping with confidence. Rhodori didn’t know Gunmar could stand. The Trollhunter quickly tore the keys off the wall and rushed to open the cell door. Time seemed to slow as the inevitable events came to pass.“so too does an unarmed Gumm-Gumm still have his teeth.”Jim was too late. He had managed to reach the pair and shove Rhodori slightly, and it would likely save his life, but it dd not stop the pouncing warlord from digging his fangs deep into the poor fool’s shoulder- a barbaric maneuver, and one brutal enough to draw blood instead of stone. Rhodori could do nothing but wail his remorse and agony as Gunmar proceeded to thrust his head violently to the side with a dark and wet growl- a vicious sign as he attempted to tear the bloody dripping chunk in his mouth off from the rest of the struggling and flailing troll.The Troll’s weak and frantic hits did nothing to free him from the Dark Underlord’s hungry jaws.Jim’s mind came back into focus as his stomach turned into sharp and twisted knots. It was not the first time he’d seen a troll bleed, but the smell, the unnatural color, it wasn’t right. Jim grabbed onto Gunmar’s horns and began to force his head back, other hand holding onto his jaw by the mouth. Was it dangerous to willingly place his hand there? Yes, but worth it to free the Troll who more than likely learned his lesson.Gunmar tried digging his teeth in harder in defiance, bringing a renewed stream of blood and screams, but even he could not hold on forever with as starved as he was. Rhodori fell onto his backside with a yelp, Jim shepherding him back to safety beyond Gunmar’s grasp. The Underlord meanwhile, had gone back down to his knees to lean forward and snap at the air, looking for the meat that was nearly his. His Blind eye was wide and blown with adrenaline as he laughed and snapped.Jim had seen many horrifying things in his time as Trollhunter. Many things that plagued his nightmares and that he wished over and over that he could someday forget. But this? Gunmar’s victorious and adrenaline filled laughter and smile, as he worshiped the suffering of the troll in Jim’s arms- now openly weeping and cowering against the Trollhunter as he tried desperately to hold his own loose torn fleshy shoulder chunk in place and protect the injury?This was the most terrifying thing Jim had seen in a long time.Jim helped the troll back to his feet and held him steady as Rhodori wailed and moaned. As soon as he was safe among his friends, the group quickly dispersed to take their humbled friend to a healer. Jim, meanwhile turned back towards the troll who had willingly begun licking the remaining blood from the floor.“What did you hope to gain from that? Respect? Glory?” Jim was steadily approaching, but dare not get too close to the troll currently in a blood craze. “Does it make you feel powerful causing so much pain?”“No.” Gunmar’s voice was firm and strong as he sat back and smiled.Blood coated and dripped from Gunmar’s maw like water, and he willingly lapped it up like a dying man. His tongue scraped across his lips in satisfaction like he wanted to savor every last drop. Jim felt a haunting familiarity in the gesture. After Gunmar closed his eye and released an eased sigh, the Dark Underlord grinned a horrifically bloody grin to the Trollhunter.The boy who took his sight. The boy who took his freedom. The boy who took his son.“It reminds me why I’m still alive.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The rooftop. How could he ever forget? The sting in his lungs from smoke and ash. The unending chants of the dark Army, cheering on their master for all to hear. Some of them had once been Jim’s friends.

Bile grew in Jim’s throat as he finally opened his eyes. Standing proudly across the rooftop, Decimaar drawn and face twisted in fury was the Dark Underlord himself. Just as before, the pair finally charged and crossed blades. Each movement immortalized in the trollhunter’s very bones.

But something was off. The sky was too dark. The smoke too choking.

And again, even as Jim overcame the Decimaar Blade and forced the warlord back, a sharp sting began gnawing at his thoughts.

Gunmar charged again. Time slowed. And then he saw it. Gunmar drenched in the blood of the innocent, golden eye blazing with hellfire, fangs sharp and lunging for his throat, no longer running across a field of Terracotta but the bones and stone of everyone he took from Jim.

Something snapped. The world became nothing but a red blur as Jim drew Eclipse from his back. He didn’t want justice. He didn’t want victory for the sake of everyone still living.

Jim wanted Gunmar dead.

There was a sharp glint of light as the two warriors crossed paths, and where the Trollhunter stood tall and unaffected, after a brief moment the Dark Underlord’s charge slowed to a halt, feared Decimaar blade falling from a shaky hand with a cold finalizing clang. Jim turned back to face him, just as Gunmar turned to reveal the fatal wound in his side. Inky black blood began to soak the museum roof as the king of the Gumm-Gumms realized the extent of his injury.

No magic. Gunmar fell to his knees, hands desperately covering the injury.

No glory. Jim held Eclipse high.

No Mercy. Gunmar looked up to the approaching Trollhunter, hauntingly familiar face of fear stretched across the Dark Underlord’s face. The fear and realization he was about to die.

Jim ignored his reflection in The Eclipse blade.

There was a sickening squelch of finality, and a spray of black against the red horizon
Jim’s head shot up from his pillow. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, sweat dripping down his face and eyes wide with fear and shock. Shaky hands reached up to his face. It took him a moment to know they were his own- and to know the sweat on his brow was sweat and not…
Breathe… just breathe… You’re ok… Breathe
Jim slowly looked around the dark room when he finally had the will to lower his hands away; the only sign anyone was awake in the dwell was the gentle lamp light peering through the tattered cloth Jim had scavenged to use as a partial door. Blinky was still up it seemed. Claire mused drowsily in her sleep as the motion of Jim getting up and untangling from the pile of blankets that clung to his armor slightly disturbed her rest, but was quick to drift back away to dreamland with a gentle stroke of her hair and a kiss to her cheek.She needed sleep more than he did anyway.Blinky looked up from his book. The newly crafted eyeglasses he’d made from salvaged baubles that rested loosely beneath his many eyes glinted in the gentle candlelight from a lantern placed safely on the table.“Master Jim? What are you doing up at this hour? Is everything alright?”
No. Everything isn’t alright.
Jim scratched his neck. “Uh… yeah. Just a bad dream. I’m going to...” He’d already finished his patrols. Handled small chores. He had no reason to go out. “I’m going to take a walk.”“Ah, I’d be happy to accompany you if-”“NO” The eyeglasses clattered to the floor at Jim’s upstart. Blinky’s six eyes now all focused on Jim in concern. Jim ran a hand through his mane. “I mean, No. I just… I need to be alone for a bit, ok?”Blinky slowly reached down to retrieve the bauble, two hands wiping off the dust while the other two held the book in place on the table. “If you insist… but you of course know if… well you know… if you need someone to talk to…?”Jim felt the cold sweat still prickling his neck slightly warm at the kind remark. He sighed, looking down to his armored feet, then back up to Blinky. What he wouldn’t give to wear his comforting Hoodie again…. “I’ll let you know. Promise I wont be gone long. Back even before market activity picks back up.”“Very well. Enjoy your… walk.”In Jim’s defense, a walk really was all he had planned to do. Just walk. Clear his head. Remind himself that what he saw isn’t what he actually did…When he finally looked up from his feet to see where those same feet had taken him, he found himself standing directly outside the Healer’s den. Part of him thought it would be good to just turn on his heel and go back home. Leave this idea with the other thoughts. But that’s not what he did. “Oh! Hello, Trollhunter. What brings you to our sanctuary? And so close to morning, too”Jim shrugged, so used to how the group of healers spoke. “I was in the area and...”Should he say it? Jim held his tongue a moment. Maybe it really was better to not know. But then again, wondering may be even more torturous.“I was wondering if I could check on Rhodori.”The Healer’s eyes widened a moment before she looked through her notes. “ah yes… Rhodori. Fortunately for you, visiting hours just began. Right this way, please.”Jim followed calmly after. Sage, Myrrh, Chamomile, Lavender.. so many relaxing and familiar smells graced his senses as they walked. It reminded him of home. Of Mom.“Here we are!”Jim looked back to the short healer as she chirped. “Take all the time you need, Trollhunter, but I’ll be back in a few minutes to clean his wound and replace his bandages.”“Thank you” Jim smiled as he gently placed a hand on the door. “I just need to ask him some things, then I’ll be out of your way.”“Thank you, Trollhunter.” The healer beamed. She turned on her heel to go back to her herbs. “If you hadn’t sent him here the moment you did, we might have lost him to infection or blood loss.”Jim winced at the reminder of blood, and hesitated as he looked up to the door. Well, no going back now. With a sigh to steady his hand and resolve, he swung open the door quietly. “uh… hello?” Jim poked his head into the door and peered into the room. It was simple enough. Comfortable, but not cluttered so the healers could still work. A humbling room.Rhodori himself was laying peacefully in a makeshift bed. His ear flicked to attention before the troll gave Jim a passive glance. This was a different troll from the one Jim saw in that cage. His face was sullen. Empty. He slowly looked back away as Jim quietly entered.“Here to ridicule me, too, Trollhunter?”“Not really,” Jim pulled up a stool. “Just wanted to talk.”Rhodori huffed, choosing to stare at the ceiling to ignore the Trollhunter’s gaze. Jim nervously drummed his fingers against his knee. The tension in the air was thick.“So uh… where’s your friends?”“Got rid of them.”That made Jim pause. Rhodori’s emerald eye glanced over to the hunter, then back away before he let out a heavy breath.“Turns out they weren’t good for me. Soon as they knew I wasn’t dying, they left me here. Had a lot of time to think about it. Didn’t help that the next time they visited, they laughed at me before even bothering to ask when I would be back on my feet.”Rhodori sighed and closed his eyes.“They weren’t really my friends.”Jim listened quietly, tongue tied and lost in his own thoughts all the while. “Were they the ones who told you to go into Gunmar’s chamber? Like some kind of dare?”“practically.” Rhodori finally gave Jim something to work with, turning his head so Jim could read his face. “I’ve been so angry all these years… when I suggested the idea, they didn’t stop me. Even pooled together the money I used to bribe the guards.”The troll reached up to his injured shoulder and rubbed the bandages with a bitter look. Jim mulled over his words carefully.“so why did you, then? Why go after Gunmar?”Rhodori slowly looked back up at Jim. Guilt and shame highlighted his features until he looked away.“He… took everything from me. My friends, my family, my home, everything.”Jim felt a lump in his throat. Rhodori mournfully sighed.“I just… I vowed if I ever got the chance, I would make him pay. Make him hurt for all the years I hurt because of him. I should have known I’d be no match for him, even blinded and chained… he’s a monster.”Jim sat back slightly and sighed. “If it’s any consolation… I know how you felt.”The troll looked back over to Jim quickly. “You do?”“Yeah,” Jim scratched the back of his head and glanced away. “It's a long story. Sure you don't want to hear it right now in your state. So… don’t just lay here and feel sorry for yourself all day and night, okay? Heal, of course, but… you know. Don’t do anything dumber than what you’ve already done.”Rhodori laughed slightly, before wincing. He sunk his head a bit deeper into his pillow with a calm look before it faded to one more serious. “Trollhunter…?”Jim looked back over to the troll.“When I’m healed… do you think… I could train with you?”Jim’s eyes widened and he leaned forward slightly. “You… want me to train you?”“Yes.. I...” Rhodori seemed to be at a loss for words before he finally spoke again. “All this time I thought I was strong. Or at least, strong enough to get by. I was certainly the strongest among my so called friends, at any rate. But now I know I was wrong.”Rhodori gently reached out with his uninjured arm and sat it on Jim’s knee. “I want to be strong the right way. The honorable way. Like you.”once again, Jim was tongue tied.“Wow… I…” Jim gently chuckled. He hadn’t expected this to be how this went. After a moment to get his thoughts together, Jim looked back up at the hopeful warrior. “Tell you what, let that shoulder heal first, and we’ll see what we can do.”A wave of relief splashed across Rhodori’s face. He weakly smiled and patted the Trollhunter’s knee. “it’s a promise.”Jim rested peacefully once he had wandered safely back home. He got maybe another hour or two of rest before a Papa Skull based alarm blared in his ear, and the Gorgon that was Claire without her hair clipped back pushed the two of them out of the bed. Blinky did not ask of the events of Jim’s “walk,” and of that Jim was Grateful, but he seemed pleased to find Jim had returned of calm and sound mind. Things were again peaceful.“you know, AAARRRGGHH!!! and I used to take the occasional walk back in Arcadia.”“Oh?” Jim glanced over his shoulder while he chopped. More Cat meat. Hopefully this time to satiate the newly roused Warlord.“Indeed!” Blinky smiled from his book and pile of pillows. “a night away from the hustle and bustle is good for one’s spirit, I always say.”“Bet you two needed it sometimes.” There was no reason to cut the meat too precise, but the action soothed Jim’s thoughts.“Everyone deserves a break, from time to time.”“You got me, there.” Jim laughed. He held up a strip. “Want a piece? Almost done chopping.”“That’s alright, cat never did agree with me like it did my brother.” Blinky flipped a page in his book. Two eyes glanced back up to Jim. “I still don’t quite understand why you cater to that fiend as you do.”Jim shrugged, placing the last of the meat on the tray. “Me neither, if I’m honest. But hey, keeps him quiet doesn’t it?”Blinky stared blankly. Jim put on his best ‘believe me’ smile. A moment passed before Blinky shrugged and all six eyes returned to his book.“fair point. Just be careful, Master Jim.”Jim relaxed his shoulders and nodded, picking up the tray. “I always am.” Out the library, left at Bagdwella’s shop, past the pub, under the arch, down the stairs. Jim had it nigh almost memorized by now. He nodded respectfully to the saluting guards as he entered the stairway. Sooner this was over with sooner he could leave, but the figure looking into Gunmar’s prison chamber brought Jim to a halt.“Merlin?”“Ah, Trollhunter. There you are.” Merlin paid Jim only a passing glance before directing all his thoughts to the villain just beyond the gate. “I must admit, this has all been very amusing. But tell me: when exactly do you intend to dispose of him?”Jim shuffled in his spot at the inquiry. “I…”Merlin didn’t seem to notice his discomfort. “after all, we couldn’t possibly intend to keep him alive, now could we? We owe him no comforts.”Jim glanced down at the tray of meat. He really didn’t owe Gunmar anything. He very easily could walk in that chamber now, cut one of those weights, and let the other weight drag Gunmar to his demise. Fade into nothingness and black.Jim’s grip tightened on the tray. No. That’s not who he was. Their rules. Not His. He looked back up to the wizard. “Don’t plan on it.”Merlin’s face hardened slightly as he glanced over. An unamused brow arched over his eye. “Come again?”Jim stepped forward. “I said...”Jim stood face to face with Merlin.“I’m not going to Kill Gunmar.”Merlin lightly tapped Jim’s chest with the gemstone of his staff, pushing to make the boy step back. “Yes yes, as you’ve told everyone. But you don’t have to lie to me.”“I’m not lying.” Jim felt the fur on his neck rising, followed by a faint sting in the back of his mind. “Gunmar is not to be executed.”“Still foolish as ever, aren’t we, boy?” Merlin’s face was hard. “Do you really suppose he’s going to stay content? Thankful that he’s left to rot when there’s a world to conquer just above him?”“You said it yourself!” Jim was back in Merlin’s face, now spitting fire with confidence. “You didn’t come here to stop Gunmar. All you wanted was to stop Morgana.”Merlin seemed to flinch at Jim’s outburst, before he straightened and spoke right back with all the authority he could muster. “You don’t see the big picture, do you? Someone worse than Morgana could arrive at any time! Sparing Gunmar-”“-WAS. MY. CHOICE.” Jim snarled and put his forehead as close to Merlin’s as he could with the Wizard trying to keep distance. “Not yours, not Trollmarket’s, mine. Your amulet chose me, and I chose to spare him.”Merlin’s eyes were wide as he gaped. Jim calmly took a step back, eyes locked on the wizard, and reached for the keys to Gunmar’s chamber. The wizard watched silently as Jim entered without a word, placed the tray coldly before Gunmar, and exited again silently. With the gate locked, Jim once again turned to be eye to eye with Merlin.“Gunmar isn’t going anywhere. Got it?”Jim turned and stalked away before the Wizard could find the words to speak. He left him there, jaw hanging and thoughts buzzing. The Wizard took a breath to reclaim his senses, and let out a heavy sigh as he ran a hand against his beard.To Merlin’s disgust, a wicked laugh bellowed out of Gunmar's chamber. Merlin turned and watched Gunmar lean forward, sniffing the tray. He angrily sruck his staff against the floor, Gunmar did not flinch or stray from his search. Gunmar smirked and snapped up the bloodiest scrap he could find, then swiped the rest away with a swing of his tail as he always did.“Do you find something amusing, Skullcrusher?”Gunmar chewed smugly, like an alligator scarfing down their kill, then swallowed with a chuckle. “How does it feel, Wizard?”Merlin narrowed his eyes. Gunmar smirked. That cold white eye looked straight through Merlin more now than it ever did when he could still see him with it.“Knowing the boy trusts me more than he trusts you?”The wizard glared, and Gunmar laughed again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Bright and dark. Black and white. I am the shepherd of the night. Fast and slow. Rise and sink. Blind, yet every month, I blink.”

Gunmar laughed and folded his arms. “Do you dare try to fool me with my own riddles, boy? The answer is Klokaran: The Moon.”

Bular chuckled and took his place at his father’s side, taking a similar proud stance as they overlooked their forces gathering resources among the burning wreckage.

It had been a successful raid of a fleshling settlement. Risky, knowing it very well may incur the wrath of the vengeful man-king, but if they allow one human settlement within their woods they would have to allow them all. There was no place for man to reside in the troll wood’s shade.

Gunmar took a deep breath of the smoky air. Ash and blood and fire. He missed it.

“Forgive me for hoping you’d forgotten, father. It has been some time since you’ve used that one.” There was an edge of sarcasm in the prince’s voice.

The Gumm-Gumm king smirked and turned his mighty head to look at his son. In the shade of night, the flames made his features fiercer. He felt a swell of pride in his chest. Bular the Butcher, a title recently bestowed upon him by the terrified fleshlings, would grow to be a great leader. Perhaps even greater than his father.

Those eyes that were just as burning hot as the flames glanced over and met his gaze. Bular immediately turned his attention towards him.

“What?”

Gunmar let out an amused scoff and returned his focus to the progress below. Bular did not relent, moving closer to Gunmar’s front so he would still be in his father’s sight.

“What’s so funny?”

“You’ll have to do better than that to trick me, Bular.”

Immediately Bular punched his father’s shoulder in a shove, and Gunmar could not help but again laugh. Perhaps Bular the Bullish was a more fitting name.

Bular folded his arms and glared. “Fine. Then why don’t you tell me a new riddle, if you’re so wise.”

Gunmar shrugged, unfazed by his annoyed son’s look. “Very well: At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?”

Bular boldly opened his mouth to answer immediately, only to shut it a moment later after a pause. His brows furrowed in thought as he glanced away. Gunmar turned his head back to him and waited.

“Give up?”

“Never.” Bular regardless changed his posture, going from one of confidence to deep concentration as a hand rose to his head to stroke his chin.
 
Gunmar smirked and looked back forward; his tail swished behind him in amused satisfaction. Judging by the frustrated turn Bular’s breath was taking, he would demand the answer in three... two...

Bular stomped a foot on the ground. “Tell me.”

It was then that Gunmar spotted Gnasha waving him down to the wreckage. A scout stood nervously beside them. Gunmar gave Bular a look as The Butcher as well recognized the call to leave before they were spotted. Bular looked back up to him, the look ‘don’t you dare’ clear on his face.

Gunmar let out one final chuckle as he turned to descend from the ridge in which they stood.

“Perhaps another time, my son.”

He heard Bular’s footsteps hot on his trail behind him, paired with the familiar metallic shing of his swords being drawn.

“Tell me right now father or SO HELP ME-“

...

It was then that the clattering of metal drew the Underlord from his memory filled slumber and back into darkness. Gunmar snarled under his breath, but listened intently nevertheless. The racket outside his cage was similar and yet different.
The hurried metallic steps of the fleshchild and his mate. His tail twitched in irritation.“Are you sure of what you saw, Claire?”
“Absolutely. Controlled Thralls don’t have personalized helms, Jim.”

Gunmar’s interest was piqued. Only his generals were granted custom armor. He hummed quietly while the boy in fake troll hide growled.

“Of all nights for this...”
“ Jim ,” the girl’s voice was forceful, “breathe. Focus. We’ll figure this out.”
Gunmar waited as he heard the boy’s rushed breath slowly calm.

“Okay. Okay I’m good. What else did you see?”

“They had Swords. Lots of them.”

Gunmar’s head shot up. The Warblade. The Underlord’s tail swished behind him. One of his Unthralled Elite was near. And where the one strode, his equal The Frostmane would be close by.

“Aright. Go get Blinky.”

Gunmar heard the thrum of dark magic as a portal was cast. He had to admit, the girl had grown quite skilled in wielding a staff, even if it was not the famed Skathe-Hrûn.

“On it.”

Gunmar listened again as the boy continued with his plan. “Cool. I’ll go to the arena. I was supposed to train Rhodori today. He might be able to help.”
Gunmar held back a laugh. The boy didn’t really expect to bring that fool along to fight against his elite? The Dark Underlord hummed in thought as he slowly rose to his feet. Perhaps the boy would assign this troll to guard his cage... Eh? Why not give him the chance to finish what he started.
Gunmar smiled at the vivid memory, even if it had been months since it occurred. He felt the eyes of the Trollhunter on him as he held his head high.

“Jim?”

“.... nothing. Come on let’s go.”

“Now master Jim, while I agree it’s all well and good to teach our youth the way of the future... did we really have to bring him?”

Jim looked over his shoulder. Behind them, Rhodori happily walked alongside Claire and quietly conversed. That injury was still tender, but the bandages had been taken off. The young troll had also taken a liking to using spears as his weapon of choice, and so naturally he had begun to gravitate toward the staff wielding Claire.
Jim faintly smiled, then looked back to Blinky beside him. The canal state park was perfect to sneak through undetected, but Blinky was right in being nervous. Safe as it was, the facts were when it came down to it there was always risk that it attracted dangerous company. Nevertheless it made sense to Jim to let the warrior come along.
“Come on, Blinky. He’s been making great progress in his training and recovery.” Jim patted his shoulder. “Besides, I’ve already had to reschedule our training sessions three times because of Trollhunter duties, I gotta make it up to him somehow. Why not a patrol?”
“A reasonable request, Jim, but not when there potentially are Gumm-Gumms about. ” Blinky had leaned in closer to discreetly whisper the secret of the patrol, Jim gently pushed him back to a reasonable distance. “That wound of his is still relatively fresh. Any skilled warrior will not hesitate to strike at it!”
“And that’s why he’s staying out of it unless it’s clear he’s needed in the fight.” Jim chuckled. “After all, we hear these reports from frightened marketers all the time. It’s usually just some wildlife they mistake for a goblin or some big Boulder that in the dark looks like a-“

The small party of four froze at the sound of a twig snap. All stood at attention while they listened quietly. Jim slowly unsheathed The Eclipse Blade. Calmly the order of players shifted, with Jim in the lead and Claire close behind, followed by Blinky and Rhodori in the rear.

Slowly they approached the nearby stream, and Jim carefully moved aside a bush to get a clearer view. All were tense as Jim overlooked the area.

Jim’s eyes scanned the open clearing, even overlooking the other side of the stream, before calmly looking back.

“Ok, pretty sure we’re cl-“

Suddenly something burst from the underbrush and through the party. Immediately Blinky jumped back, shouting of goblins in the woods and swinging his staff in defense. Jim and Claire were quickly to his sides, calming the troll down as Claire pointed to the rabbit quickly hopping across the stream to the other side.

“Blinky! Blinky, it’s alright! Look see? Just a rabbit on a right run.” Claire gently patted the troll’s arm.
“By Deya’s Grace! What... what vile trickery!”
Rhodori slowly walked through the brush out to the stream, watching the rabbit quietly, as Jim and Claire eased the tense leader’s nerves. This was just a simple patrol and yet... why would a rabbit be running that fast if not...

Rhodori turned back to the trio and his face paled. Jim looked over and saw Rhodori’s eyes locked on something just beyond them.

He didn’t have time to ask what was wrong before The young troll threw his spear with a barked “Look out!”

Jim grabbed both Claire and Blinky and dragged the three of them to the forest floor as the weapon flew overhead. A furious roar bellowed as the spear dug into something. Jim watched a large shadow stretch over them in the moonlight as Rhodori’s ears pricked back.

Rhodori quickly stumbled back as a large figure jumped over the trio, one arm ripping the spear from their shoulder and the other with a gumm-gumm sword raised to strike. Jim quickly scrambled to his feet. Just as he again summoned Eclipse, Rhodori suddenly fell into a shadow portal formed beneath his feet- mere moments before the blade fell on him.

“Don’t worry,” Claire fixed her stance and cast another portal a safe distance away in which the confused troll fell out of on his back, “I got him!”

The gumm-gumm turned to face the trio as Blinky finally caught his senses and rose to his feet. While their face was unseen, a thick black mane flared out from the helm, along with a set of equally dark black horns that jutted out from openings where the metallic horns would have sat of this had been a Kruberan soldier. Their bright neon green eyes narrowed as they drew the second blade from across their back and twirled both in hand to regain a sense of control. Blinky gasped, recognizing the stance of the tailless soldier like he would a nightmare.
“ Ruejen the Warblade! ” Blinky took a defensive stance amongst Jim and Claire. “But that can’t be, you were trapped in the Darklands!”
“You really think The Underlord wouldn’t have brought his generals out of the Darklands in his escape?” The troll bellowed in return.

There was an accent there. Likely Scottish or Irish in origin. If Toby were around he probably would have commented on it. But there would be no time, as the apparent general did not hesitate to charge forward. Jim raced toward him in response, his own sword raised in a mirrored fashion to Ruejen.

Ruejen laughed as the two’s weapons collided, as he parried Jim’s move with ease. Those green eyes gave him a smug glance as the Trollhunter stumbled past him as he swiftly redirected Jim’s force. “A valiant effort, boy, but you’re fighting with a blade master not some shoddy show pony!”

A swift kick to Jim’s torso and he would be tossed aside from the force, crashing into Blinky while Claire weaved through the scene to retrieve Rhodori’s spear. Ruejen would be upon her next as she ducked beneath a swinging blade and slid across the dirt. As she reached the younger troll’s weapon, Claire ultimately would have to use it to stop the troll’s swords.

“Ooooh you brought a fleshling with you,” those green eyes curled in wicked amusement, “wonder what it’ll take to break it.”

Claire glared up at the troll, remaining strong as the spear threatened to break under the force of the gumm-gumm’s strike. Just as the wood began to crack Jim would be back on the scene. Ruejen glanced over his right shoulder just as Jim swung down with his sword. In one turn the troll swung forward his left sword and deflected the maneuver. Claire tossed the spear in Rhodori’s direction and jumped to her feet.

As Ruejen was caught between the two warriors, Blinky quickly made his way to the down warrior with spear in hand. He crouched down and began to gently pat the troll on the face. “Come along now, young one! On your feet!”

After a moment of no response, Blinky sighed and proceeded to strike Rhodori with a harsh slap. Immediately the troll groaned and rushed to sit up.

As Blinky pulled the taller troll to his feet, the attention of both trolls would catch sight of both Jim and Claire being thrown off their feet by a well timed leg sweep. As Ruejen chuckled and advanced on the momentarily dazed couple, Blinky quickly grabbed Rhodori by the arm.

“Can’t believe I’m saying this to you of all trolls, youngling, but onward to battle!”

Rhodori nodded and quickly took aim with his spear while Blinky gathered some nearby stones. Just as Ruejen had raised his swords to strike down both Trollhunter and companion, Jim being one to defensively curl over Claire to protect her, the previously mentioned spear would collide with Ruejen’s hand- knocking the sword from his grip as the metal carved across his palm. The general snarled and backed up, cradling his injury as the blade toppled to the ground. He looked up and glared as he saw Rhodori and Blinky in fast approach.

“Get away from them!” Rhodori snarled, throwing the ammunition given to him by Blinky who followed closely behind.

“Yes, you brute! Why don’t you come back when you have even odds?”

Ruejen glared as he held up his good arm in defense from the coming onslaught. The rocks clattered against his armor, but it was a particularly large one that struck his helm that drew the warrior a step further back. A safe distance back from Ruejen, Jim and Claire rolled out of the way towards the again accidentally discarded spear.

Ruejen, meanwhile, swung at the hail of stones, furious at the mild immaturity of the tactic and distraction. “Ack! You Feckin-! Stop that you bloody-“

Upon realizing his targets were escaping back to Rhodori and Blinky, the Warblade swung the sword in his good hand after them.

When he narrowly missed the duo by a hair the General roared and turned to the woods, “THAT DOES IT! FROSTMANE!”

Almost immediately, an icy blast shot out from the darkness, freezing the quartet’s feet in place. The stone in Blinky’s hand clattered to the forest floor as he let out a shocked gasp. His six eyes then stared in disbelief at the fog that plumed out. Rhodori struggled to keep his balance, arms windmilling before finding a position to halfheartedly stay up, while Jim reached out to help Claire keep steady . Blinky’s heart skipped a beat in terror as realization set in.
Ruejen said Generals . A Plural tense. And now they knew what that meant.
There was a chilling silence as Ruejen went to retrieve his sword and the quartet patrol gave each other uneasy glances.

“Blinky?” Jim looked over to his mentor as Ruejen began to circle the group. “What did he mean by-“

“Consider it evening the odds.” The group tensed at the sound of a second voice.

After a moment the owner of the voice, another Gumm-Gumm, emerged from the shadows. This one was taller and leaner than Ruejen, with a white, slightly iridescent and better maintained mane coming out from the back of the helm, and the helm again altered to accommodate for a unique horn structure. This one also had a long slate grey tail, with fur the same white color of their mane on the end.

Said tail was holding a parloc spear. It curled around the spear in delight as the troll used their tail to tap it against the ground and Ruejen came to their side. As if the spear demanded it, the ice slowly began to rise up the heroes’ legs. Pale mint green eyes curled in delight as they gazed upon the Trollhunter.
“Look at you. The Trollhunter. Merlin’s righteous warrior .” They held their left hand out toward Jim as if presenting him, before it went to their chest and they tilted their head slightly with a smug head nod. “You know, the fact you think you can exist without the war... absolutely adorable, I must say.”“ Kethiro the Frostmane, ” Blinky let out a shiver from the increasing cold, honestly feeling like nothing but a mere pool of exposition in this fight so far. “Should have known you would also be out, if your colleague Ruejen was.”
“Obviously. You really think he could make it out here on his own?” Kethiro laughed. “Naturally he could, but there’s always strength in numbers. Besides, I’m the far better tracker out of the two of us.”

Claire gave Jim a nervous glance while Kethiro raised a claw.

“Going to give you one chance for us to finish this civilly: tell us where The Underlord is, and I promise your deaths will be painless. Resist and well, my friend Ruejen will have a lot easier time finishing you off with frozen targets.”
Blinky barked out a cold but confident laugh. “you mean you don’t know? ”
Jim meanwhile, had noticed the layer of frost slowly beginning to form on the two trolls on their side. The chill was affecting them differently than Jim and Claire. Jim then glanced over to Claire who had also noticed the situation. He made a subtle nod to the stream. Claire couldn’t help but be confused until she could sneak a look, then quietly nodded.

“We know you’re keeping him hidden, along with many more of our forces. Tell us now and I won’t gut this little friend of yours like a-” Ruejen, who was pointing a sword at Rhodori, was quickly hushed by Kethiro who reached out to lower the blade.

“Now hang on, let’s all keep our heads, if you please.”

Jim looked directly at Rhodori at that remark. By now a clear frost was starting to spread across the warrior’s face. The gathering cold had begun to also make that scar upon his shoulder tighten. The troll whimpered in pain but still looked to his mentor and shook his head in silent plea to Jim to not talk.

Jim quietly cast away Eclipse and straightened his stance best he could. “If I tell you, will you let us go?”

“I’m not usually the one to strike deals,” Kethiro shrugged “but let’s just say you’ll all be in safe hands if you do.”

“Not good enough,” Jim stood tall, even if he too was now beginning to feel the frost creeping across his stone skin. If he’d learned anything standing up to Gunmar everyday, he was silently thankful it was this. “You’ll kill us before you’ll ever get us to talk if you keep going this way. I need your word, or you’ll never find him or the rest of the army.”

Ruejen growled, still bleeding hand gripping his sword tightly. “My blood is starting to Chill, Frostmane. I prefer it boiling.”

Kethiro’s eyes narrowed, then ever so subtly glanced at the spreading frost across Jim’s face. With another tilt of his head, he drew his spear back. Immediately the frost thawed faces and both Blinky and Rhodori, who had seized up from the cold, gasped for breath.

“There. Fair enough for you?”

Jim changed his stance best he could with his legs frozen up to his knees, shielding Claire from the generals’ shared view. Blinky tried to subtly glance her way, and caught an ever so brief look of her shadow magic again activating. What were they up to?

“Fine. He’s in Trollmarket.” Jim folded his arms. “In his own special prison cell.”

Kethiro and Ruejen gave each other a look before Ruejen looked back and barked, “we already know that!”

“Hang on, I told you what you asked me for.” Jim pointed at the white maned soldier who had begun to glare. “I tell you where Gunmar is, and you let us go. A deal’s a deal, isn’t it?”

Ruejen’s feathered mane flared and bristled as he again drew another of his swords. “Why you tricky little-“

Kethiro raised his hand again. “Ah ah, that was what I agreed to.”

Blinky could feel the sweat begin to bead on his brow. Strange. Who knew stress could make you sweat in quickly dropping temperatures. Ruejen turned and stared down Kethiro in furious disbelief. The Warblade’s gaze quickly turned back and forth between the trio and his companion.

Kethiro hummed and looked down at his claws in thought before his eyes crescented in smug delight once more. In one swift movement Kethiro swung his spear, ice encasing the patrol’s legs shattering. Rhodori, who had been caught mid step, finally lost his balance. Jim caught him before he could trip, and suddenly Kethiro took his spear in hand and twirled it.

“Now, I also said you would be in safe hands if you told me what I asked for, didn’t I? Ruejen-“

Ruejen returned his focus to Kethiro. Kethiro’s helm began to subtly frost, and a plume of fog expelled itself from the chilling metal.

“Shall we escort them home?”
Just as Ruejen laughed and broke into a charge, Jim quickly ducked and pushed himself and Rhodori into Blinky, shoving the three of them out of the way as Claire sent a blast of shadow magic towards the soldiers. Kethiro snarled and tried to send out another bolt of his ice magic, but to no avail. Immediately the duo fell into a shadow portal, and with a mocking twirl of her own Claire aimed her new staff upon the stream. The portal opened up above the water, and sent the pair falling out and crashing into it.
Kethiro’s half dispensed ice spell finally finished its course in the mayhem, and as the two soldiers rose from the waters with clawed hands outstretched to try and grab the sorceress as she stood triumphantly at the stream’s edge, the pair would quickly be frozen in place.

Rhodori fell out of Jim’s arms and collapsed to his knees, exhaling a heavy breath of relief. Calmly Jim kneeled down and placed a hand on the trembling troll’s shoulder.

“Hey, you ok?”

Rhodori looked back up to Jim and, after a shaky breath, gave a weak smile and nod. “Y-yeah... yeah I’m ok. That was...”

“Not what you were expecting to happen tonight, huh?” Jim chuckled.

“Not at all.”

Blinky folded his top set of arms and placed the lower set upon his hips as he looked up at the frozen soldiers. “Well, I don’t know about you three but I think I’ve had enough fun patrolling for one evening.”

Claire leaned forward, propping herself up with her hands on her thighs and nodded. “Agreed. But what are we going to do about them?”

Jim helped Rhodori back to his feet and the four stood before the temporary statues.

“Indeed, I doubt that nasty ice magic business of Kethiro’s will last forever. But we cannot leave them here to thaw and track us back to Trollmarket.” Blinky stroked his chin in thought. “Claire, you don’t suppose you could... portal back and return with some chains?”

Claire glanced down to her staff. Already this one was beginning to crumble from the dark magic eating away at it. It was risky, as well. Though Morgana couldn’t track her with these temporary staffs, any moment she passed through that gate she couldn’t help but sense the danger of it. It was easy sending others through, but after she was trapped there...

Jim’s hand on her shoulder broke that train of thought. “Hey. We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Claire shuddered, trying to fight her own fears. After a moment of clearly fighting with himself as well, Rhodori stepped forward. “You can send me through. After all, not like my life can be more threatened tonight than it already has been.”
Jim warmly smiled.

To say Gunmar had been waiting patiently would have been an understatement if not a blatant lie. By now, his tail had begun to impatiently thrash back and forth. Every off beat sound would have the Underlord’s full attention, and then fury when it brought him no desired result. No screams of terror, no cries of anguish of a surviving patrol mourning their beloved Trollhunter, nothing.

The not knowing due to his lost eyesight frustrated him more than his imprisonment ever could. He would eventually, however, get exactly what he asked for. Just not in the way he expected.

The sharp rattling of chains and the strained growls of Kruberan trolls reached his senses, and immediately the Underlord’s head shot up to attention. He had heard many of his forces dragged pst his cell to their own chamber, he knew this sound well. What he knew even better was the furious roars and snarls of his lieutenants.
The realization they too, two of his most trusted elite, were defeated, and were now being dragged to the underbelly to join with the rest of Gunmar’s army, struck the Underlord like a knife to the throat. And yet... even now he refused to falter.
“When We get out of here not one of you is going to survive, you hear me? Not one of you!”

Gunmar growled harshly as he tried to force himself to his feet. He hated how the weights never grew lighter or heavier as the days passed.

There was a fierce snarl of Kethiro.

He had to stand. He would not let them think him broken.

“Stop struggling! Bruta, help me with the freezing one’s chains.”

He would not show weakness.

“When the Underlord frees us you’re all going to pay! I’d sleep with one eye open from now on you-“ the voice was cut off with a choking gag.

Gunmar snarled as very fiber of his being cried out, but finally he stood. His chest heaved against the weight as it strained his breath. His mane had grown longer and more uncontainable, his wrists had been rubbed raw in places where the metal forcibly chipped away black stone to reveal the blue opalescence underneath. All this and more made the Underlord very different from whence the day ever so briefly became night, but the troll himself had not changed, and so he stood.

He heard the chains grow nearer, and held his head high. By now, judging by the choked but forceful breaths, they would pass him soon.

He heard the chains quickly rattle, and the Krubera trolls set to bring these trolls to the lower chamber shout and roar. He heard clawed hands grab onto the bars of his prison cell door. Judging by the further off choking snarls of Ruejen, he suspected it was Kethiro who held so tightly to his prison bars.

“Thats enough out of you,” Gunmar recognized that voice as the voice of one of his many guards. “Hands off and in your place, filth.”

There was a sharp crack, and the sounds of a figure falling to the ground. Gunmar roared, and he heard the Krubera roar back.

“And I don’t want to hear a word out of you, either!”

Gunmar snarled, and dared pull at his restraints. As he heard the sounds of chains fading, and the approaching sound of despicably familiar metal footsteps, Gunmar would hear another sharp crack and a pain shoot from his shoulder down his arm.

He let out an agonized roar, and collapsed completely to the ground, forced face first on the unforgiving stone as one arm felt as if it was being restrained far harsher than the other. He realized what went wrong with horror. It was dislocated. He very truly may be torn apart.

Through his own agony as he tried to sit up to prevent his loss of limb, he had not heard the cage door open or the rushing footsteps until he felt many hands upon him. For the first time in his life, as events began to unravel out of his control, the Underlord felt panic overtake his heart. He immediately began snapping at everything near his furious maw as a more bestial nature set in. Blood filled the air as his fangs grazed many but could not keep their grip.
“Hold him still!”
Another crack as his arm was forcibly snapped back into place and another howl of agony, and Gunmar’s teeth finally met their mark. He bit down hard on the wrist in his mouth, and he thrashed more forcefully than he ever had before as the hands were again upon him and forcing the flesh from his maw. Blood coated the air and Gunmar had been drawn into another blood fueled craze, when one of those hands grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed it harshly onto the ground.

“I thought I said I didn’t want to hear a word out of you!”

Stone crumbled, Gunmar wheezed, and then to top it off he could smell his own blood mixing with that of the injured troll’s blood this time. Several trolls were holding him in place on the floor. The metallic footsteps hurried into the chamber. Gunmar could hear the wretched Eclipse Blade be summoned.

“Back away from him.” The fleshling’s voice was firm. “Now.”

“Apologies, Trollhunter.” The same guard. “He went into a frenzy and dislocated his arm. We had to act.”
“And your action is done. Now get off him and take him to the healers for that wrist.”
Gunmar gasped for air once he finally felt the weight off his chest return to the one he had grown accustomed to. Slowly he sat up, face stoic and harsh, coated in the blood of the Krubera and the blood he realized was now coming from his own damaged sinuses.

Soon it was only him and the boy. He could hear him trying to come up with words to say, but falling short as his mouth continued to close with a sigh. He could not stop his own faint trembling, it was not often he came so close to death. Gunmar growled one final time as his head hung slightly forward, refusing to let the boy see his shaken state for long.

“Do not pity me, boy. Not now, not ever, not when you blinded me on that rooftop.”

A silence hung heavy in the air, until he heard the boy finally retreat out of the chamber without a word. Slowly Gunmar popped his neck, searching for any relief from the weights. He didn’t speak for some time. The only sound he heard was the gentle drip of his bloody injury taking its course. The bitter truth had finally set in for the Underlord.

Gunmar was alone.

Alone in his chamber, alone without the guards at the gate, alone with his thoughts, alone in the darkness. He shuddered, and his head hung heavily forward.
“The Stars, Bular.” Gunmar took in a shallow and heavy breath, as blood mixed with the thin trail of salty tears that fell from that cold, dead, blinded eye. “The answer was The Stars .”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"He's doing it again."The voice was hushed, barely a whisper. Certainly not heard over the sharp scraping of horn against stone. It did not stop Gunmar's actions. Instead, he straightened his sat on knees stance on the ground, leaning his head back forward to feebly drag the ends the ends of his horns across the uncaring floor."Just let him," said another voice.
scrape
"But what if he's..."
The stone faintly crackled as it gave way to his strength.
"He's not, okay? Haven't you noticed how quiet he's been lately?"Gunmar paused, and so did the voices. He sat straight now, shaking head, mane, and neck best as he could, to gauge how unruly he had gotten by weight alone. With a quiet, dissatisfied growl, he leaned back forward and continued. This time, his back strained slightly, as he began scraping across the ground with renewed force. He would have results this time, even at the cost of his reserved will."But isn't a quiet Gunmar more concerning than a loud one? I think I preferred when he was swearing our long and painful deaths at his hand. For someone known for his bloodshed, he's also well known for his cunning. This doesn't rest well with me."
scrape
"he is known for his cunning... but-"
Scrape. This one was dragged on long enough he swore he heard it crawl down their spines.
Gunmar raised his head to check again, then returned to his scraping when he was still not satisfied. It was better, but not enough. Besides. The feeling of grinding the world around him to dust reminded him he was present in that world. Even though his world was now a dark sea of nothingness, he could feel the metal digging into his wrists, he could still faintly taste the dried blood on his lips no guard has dared try to wash off, he could hear those two fools discussing his behavior outside. He was here. He was alive. He was...The silence could have been cut through with a knife. Gunmar could feel the anxious trolls eyes on him, but he did not feel like haunting this guard's nightmares today. With a chuff and a pause to crack his neck, Gunmar proceeded to drag his other horn against the ground now."I-If he keeps this up for much longer....I'm telling Jagga. He was the one brave enough to grab the beast and slam his head into the ground after he bit my wrist. Either him or the Trollhunter. Someone who will believe me, unlike you.""Be my guest," replied the unconvinced tone, "they will tell you the exact same thing I did.""So that's why they're in separate chambers?"Jim glanced down to the troll holding the ladder steady and nodded. "Yep. Gunmar still has those trolls under his thrall, so keeping them at a distance and Gunmar unaware of just where they are makes it much harder for him to tap into their wills. It also keeps those not under his control but still loyal to him, like that charming pair of generals you helped us catch, out of reach to receive orders from him too."The Trollhunter reached far to the right for a dark purple book. Rhodori calmly adjusted the ladder's position and rolled it closer for the book to be within Jim's reach."But what about when we traveled here to New Jersey? We had Gunmar and all his Thralled forces together. Why didn't Gunmar attack us then when we were all vulnerable?"Jim blew the dust off of the cover, taking a moment to lean back and rest against the ladder so he could examine the contents of the book. "Wish I knew, big guy. If I had to guess, though, I'd say he was in some level of Shock. I don't think any of us, especially not Gunmar, expected things to go the way they did.""And... we're helping him now because...?"Jim paused, looking back down at Rhodori. The Curious apprentice was giving him a serious, but still innocent in his painfully over aware of the word and it's horrors but starting to believe there's more to it, look. Jim couldn't keep that gaze long, breaking eye contact and looking back into the text. There had to be something Dictatious had written about the Gumm-Gumms before being trapped with them in the Darklands and switching teams. The dangers of his forces, survival tactics, something."Becauuuuse..." Jim sighed and closed the book, tossing it down for Rhodori to add to their small but growing pile. "Because it's the right thing to do. No matter what he's done, Gunmar was blinded by me. I won't leave him helpless."Rhodori's face was hard to read when Jim casually glanced down to check his reaction. It sat somewhere between judgement and understanding, with Judgement winning overall, but eventually it softened as the warrior sighed and locked his gaze upon his hands holding the ladder steady. He shuffled to the side, moving the ladder somewhat briskly and putting another book in Jim's reach. "If you say so, Trollhunter. I will not challenge your jugement."Jim took a moment to balance himself and then looked back down at his apprentice. "Hey..."Rhodori looked back up, and Jim did his best to warmly smile. "You don't have to agree with me. Considering how you and I met, I wouldn't blame you at all if you thought he didn't deserve to be given any mercy. But, If you were in my position- if you fought against any troll, not necessarily Gunmar, and blinded him by accident- would you have slain him even if he could no longer fight back?"Rhodori glanced away, looking slightly ashamed. "I would not."Jim's smile was more genuine now, heart touched by how far this one troll had already changed from the arrogant youth he was. It was funny, he kinda reminded Jim of Steve back home. For a second he wondered how that buttface was doing."but, had the tables been turned..." Rhodori returned his gaze back up to Jim, "I know Gunmar would not have given you that same amount of respect, Trollhunter.""Oh absolutely. No doubt about that, Rhodori." Jim grabbed one last Tome and slid down the ladder. He gently tapped the troll on his good shoulder with the book and smirked. "But with any luck, he wont ever get that opportunity."Jim slung his arm over Rhodori's shoulders and gently guided the two of them over to the small pile of books. "Now then, we're going to be doing a bit of reading for your training today, and then you'll practice some hand techniques with Claire at the arena. Sound good?""A bit of reading? I can't help but wonder what your point of comparison is if this is a bit of reading!"Jim laughed and drew back his arm enough to give Rhodori's good shoulder a firm pat. "trust me. Compared to what Blinky used to make me read, this is a light read. Be thankful Merlin didn't turn me into a Conundrum troll or this pile would be the whole Library instead!""Fine, fine, fine," Rhodori seemed to slightly pout as he picked up a book and sat in the nearest chair. After a moment of clearly only pretending to read and not gaining any wisdom, he peeked up from the top of the book. "Buuuut when will I be allowed to patrol with you again."Jim slid into a chair of his own, picking up one of many volumes of A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore, which Volume he wasn't certain, and chuckled. He then smirked at Rhodori, and replied, "Let's start with teaching you how to keep your polearm in your hands, and then we'll see."His shoulder still hurt. But of course it did. Gunmar growled deep in his chest, curling tail defensively around himself a moment before swishing back behind him to show his distaste.
Six Months. Two weeks. Seven days. Eight hours. The Guard would be changing soon, and in that change they would be taking food to his forces who were not Thralled.
He paused in his calculation. How long had it... ah yes.
Three weeks after his remaining two generals had been captured.
Gunmar took a deep breath and contemplated. His horns were groomed, as far as he could tell at least, he no longer had to "endure" the fool's so called friends coming to mock him after what they saw him do to him, Jagga (a troll Gunmar had learned to despise when he had his guard shift) would be in the next rotation, but he was also likely due a visit from The Fleshchild.As much as people claim their lives are a constant whirlwind, Gunmar learned long ago that the only thing that changes are the patterns- and even with one such as he lurking just underfoot, this new Trollmarket had easily fallen into the same bloated and content patterns they had back in Arcadia. It was following these patterns, and muttering riddles to no one but himself, that had kept him sane in this mind breaking isolation. He heard the Anxious voice from before."Oh, it's about time! That brute spent our entire shift dragging his horns into the floor.""What? Nervous about his grooming habits now?" Gunmar swallowed down the bile in his throat upon simply hearing Jagga's voice."That's what I tried telling him," The unconvinced voice scoffed and spat."Just get out of here, you two. He knows better than to cause any more trouble for the time being."Gunmar sat in silence a moment, listening to the fading footsteps, until he knew he and Jagga were alone."Your name is Jagga, is it not?""I'm not talking to you, prisoner."Gunmar snorted and glared at the darkness, then with a heavy thump of his tail continued, "Surely you can humor me for a moment. It would be better than allowing me to go mad and resort to bellowing my thoughts."The silence hung a moment, and finally a heavy sigh. "what.""I take it that you are a Krubera?""Why does it matter?""I suppose you could say I'm..." Gunmar twitched his tail in contemplation. "trying to put a face to the name. Keeping my mind sharp.""If it will shut you up... Yes. I'm Kruberan.""one of Usurna's?""Regrettably."Gunmar smirked at the bile in the voice. it would seem they had a bit of a history, and had a shared hatred of one another. "Ah. Unhappy in that choice, are you? Then I expect you are the kind to hold a grudge. Blue eyes?""Naturally. What was that about holding Grudge-""Blue eyes, bitter, takes great pleasure in having power over others. Many scars?""now hold on-""Answer the question, Jagga." Gunmar grinned, tail swishing and flexing his claws. He was starting to shape a figure in his mind. He wanted to remember it. So he could hunt it down and destroy it himself.Jagga had a more forceful tone to his voice. "You answer mine, first. Why are you suddenly analyzing me?"Gunmar hummed a moment, tilting his head slightly. "Exactly as I said. Keeping my mind sharp.""Well stop using me as your subject."Gunmar frowned, but as he opened his mouth to speak he heard the familiar metallic footsteps. Jagga let out a faint huff of relief. "There you are, Hunter. Let him chew your ear off for a while instead of mine.""...What?"Gunmar hissed, mild amusement fading. His tail thrashed behind him in a grumpy sweep, as the gate slowly opened and closed. He could feel Jim's confused stare as his steps towards him slowed.The place was somehow both better and worse than Jim expected. Gunmar growled again once Jim was in scenting range, face curved in a snarl. Jim sat the tray of meat down, looking over the scene of deep scrapes in the stone, and Gunmar still covered in blood and grime."I was just getting to know my jailor, boy."Jim dared to take a step closer to Gunmar, and watched as the troll grimaced and leaned back."What in the darkest pits is that."Jim sighed, pulling out the salve he managed to get from the healers. "it's supposed to help. Your shoulder, I mean."He watched as Gunmar's face went from confusion to disbelief. His mane flared. "I would rather have been dragged to my demise-""yeah well, that didn't happen now did it? Now do you want your shoulder to keep hurting or not?"Gunmar glared and with a huff he pulled himself to his feet, heavy chains rattling like an alarm. "I will have your hand before it even comes close to touching my hide."Jim rolled his eyes, taking full advantage of the fact Gunmar could not see him do it. He was sure he would hear the exasperated sigh as he summoned one of the small hip daggers of his armor and quietly scooped some of the salve with it. "You know, would it kill you to let me help you? Even just a little?"Gunmar turned his head slightly, trying to decipher what Jim was doing as he started to walk towards Gunmar's back."It's not like I'm doing this to feel better about myself, after all.""Do you intend to play mind games on me now, Fleshchild?" Gunmar was turning his head towards Jim, but it was clear he had not yet realized where Jim was."not really, why? Do you like those?""A warrior must be prepared for anything. Your mind must always be as sharp as your blade, or you will have no idea how to wield it."Jim hummed, standing far enough back Gunmar was looking back and forth trying to pinpoint where he was, and far enough back he could not smell the salve as Jim slathered it on his hand."that explains why you enjoy breaking people, huh. Let's you play mind games. Guess Dictatious ran out of things to ask in twenty questions after a few centuries?"Gunmar growled, "looking" under his arm behind him at Jim now that he figured where Jim was. "Do not say that traitor's name in my presence.""Fine fine." Gunmar's head swung the other way to where Jim now stood, having silently crept closer on the other side. Maybe if he disoriented the guy... "Let me ask you this, though: Why is it you let that guy come through with you from the Darklands instead of some of your stronger warriors?"Gunmar was silent and Jim couldn't help but feel smug. Not every battle was one of blade and courage. Sometimes, all you had to do waaaaassssss... Jim crept closer towards the Dark Underlord as he searched through his thoughts. When Gunmar took a breath and realized just how close Jim was, the Trollhunter quickly slapped on the salve and spread it as far as he could before those teeth could grab hold of him- hopping back as quickly as he hopped in. Blinky had once told Jim that certain species of trolls had a Flehmen response,  but he had never expected Gunmar to be one of those trolls. But as Jim carefully took a step back, he watched as Gunmar seemed to be gagging any time he turned his head towards that shoulder."I will..." Gunmar paused multiple times to hiss through his teeth and make that face again, "have your... head... for this!!!"Jim put his hands on his hips. "Not today you wont. I wouldn't recommend trying to lick that off either, by the way, unless you want that smell to get worse."It was almost enough to make him laugh, had he not been over aware of just who he was talking to. Jim's smile faded as Gunmar slumped back down to his knees in defeat, craning his head away like a adolescent who didn't want to eat their greens. He sighed and took a step closer. Pity overtook him a moment. "Look, it'll dry in a few minutes. Just try and leave it where it is and the smell will go away. I hear camphor is just as good for Trolls as it is for Humans."That blind eye began to stare into him again as Gunmar slowly craned his head back to Jim. ".... You want my gratitude, don't you, boy?"Jim stiffened. "Of course not.""Ah. Trying to silence your guilt for a time, then." Gunmar suddenly smirked. "I think you would enjoy speaking to Jagga when he's not busy guarding my cell."Jim scoffed and shook his head. Of course. He shouldn't have expected anything different from him, even if his pain seemed to be slightly soothed. Jim quietly turned to head back to the gate. Gunmar chuckled darkly."Your silence says more than your voice ever could, Fleshchild."Jim was contemplative as he walked back to the gate and locked it as usual. After a moment, he looked to the heavily scarred Krubera currently standing guard close by. The troll looked back, and Jim crossed his arms. Jagga, he was pretty sure the guy's name was. The same one who had cracked Gunmar's face into the stone three weeks ago."Hey," Jim started, "has he been acting like this... often?""not until recently. Some of the others are getting tense over it but he wont fool me, Trollhunter. You have my word on that.""Well, if he starts acting any... stranger... let me know."Jagga folded his arms proudly and nodded. Jim then turned to leave but stopped, going instead down towards the other prison chamber. He had questions and knew just who to ask.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Now, now. Hold still, Ruejen. You’ve had a terrible bit of matting in your mane for weeks and it’s been driving me crazy. If we must be locked in here together the least you could do is sit still and let me fix it.”Jim chuffed quietly as he descended the steps deeper into the dungeon. He could hear the unhappy grumbles and growls of Gunmar’s forces, the rattle of chains and the creaks of metal growing more audible as he neared the chamber hidden deep in the pits. He blinked wearily as the dim pillars of light hit his eyes, and folded his arms as he gazed upon the dozens of cages full of a handful of Gumm-Gumms each. They hung above a pitch black cavern, the bottom so far deep the bottom could not be seen even with the faint light that filled the room.His eyes scanned the crowd, looking for the pair he could hear softly bickering. It was then of course as the more easily upset troll snarled and snapped at his cellmate that Jim saw them. Ruejen was  crouched and glaring at nothing while Kethiro perched behind him- running his talons through the other’s black and shaggy mane in a sort of grooming ritual. Among them sat a stoic and still member of the Lost- a troll with no known name or those to remember them, eyes glowing blue with the connection to the Decimaar blade that even now Gunmar refused to break. A matted tuft of fur had just been torn from the troll’s mane and fallen through the bars of the cage that the weapons master immediately turned on his equal with a furious roar.“If ye don’ stop pluckin’ and tearin’ like tha’ it’ll be yer hed, Kethiro!” Ruejen snapped, gripping the other troll by the neck and pressing him against the bars of their cage. The cage swung ominously, ever a constant reminder of what would happen if one trapped inside struggled too much and caused the chain to break. Jim watched warily, wondering if the pair would send themselves to their death before the possibility of him having to decide their fates ever arose. Even from this distance, though, Jim could see those freezing mint green eyes flicker towards him and lock on. Kethiro hissed and forced Ruejen’s hands off of his throat, clearing his throat after and carefully strolling to the other side as his tail flicked irritably.“Darklands forbid I try to make you look decent for once…” He grumbled, eyes remaining locked on Jim.In the meanwhile, Jim was crossing over to the broad wall of levers and hooks that held the cages aloft, eyes following the cage that held the two generals to know which chain was connected where. He didn’t say a word as he pulled the lever, the cage descending from it’s high perch and down to the bridge built out over the pit. The Trollhunter could feel that piercing gaze on his back the whole time, and his hand faltered a moment on the lever. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was a good idea, but now that he started it would be even worse to change his mind now. The chain halted with a loud clang that echoed through the chamber and down into the pit, and Jim finally turned his head to look back.Kethiro was leaning against the bars, arms hanging casual and languidly between the metal barrier as he leaned his head against the metal. It was by this point the brooding and frustrated Ruejen noticed the Trollhunter as well, stepping to stand beside Kethiro with bristling mane and a snarl that would make any other natural predator run for their life. Nevertheless, Jim stepped forward, crossing onto the bridge before wisely stopping a bit away that the more limber troll couldn’t possibly reach him should he somehow manage to slip his whole arm through the bars of their cage.“Well, well. The hero graces us with his presence once more. Can’t say I’m happy to see you, boy, after our little game in the park,” the eloquent troll drawled, tsking quietly as his pale green eyes narrowed. “But it seems you have something you want to say.. or perhaps to ask?”Jim frowned, not enjoying being read so easily and Kethiro chuckled. He folded his arms, leaning back against the bars while Ruejen snarled.“Why should we tell yew anythin’, ya half blooded meat sack?” The more abrasive warrior snarled, gripping the bars hard enough to crunch them in his hands but not break. Despite the force of his brute strength, they were reinforced in a way that made bending nearly impossible. “After all, second I can get my hands on ya again-”Ruejen’s own tirade cut off as Jim held up a boody chunk of steak in his hands. Without hesitation, the weapon master’s eyes widened and he shoved his cellmate aside to shoot his muscular arm through the bars. Jim took a step back, keeping his offered bribe just beyond the reach of the ravenous beast in the cage, unfazed even as the thick claws of Ruejen swung at him in attempts to snatch the prize from him (despite how internally he was caught off guard and unnerved if not mentally screaming.) Ruejen snarled once more for a moment, before finally going limp with a tired underbited snarl and sliding down the bars of the cage to sit as it was clear his plan wasn’t working.“Tell me what I want to know, and it’s yours. Deal?” Jim said firmly, his eyes flickering from Ruejen to Kethiro who was rubbing his cheek where he had been shoved. Despite his more seemingly relaxed reaction, Jim could see Kethiro’s eyes locked on the morsel too.Yet another thing Jim had learned while watching Gunmar, was knowing most Gumm-gumms were far easier to talk with around a feeding time. It would soon be time for the army to be fed, and there was little doubt in his mind that the offer of something more than the usual cat meat they provided would be just tempting enough to sway even the most loyal. Kethiro scoffed, glancing away as if trying to seem uninterested with an idle swish of his tail. But try as the frost wielding troll might, he couldn’t resist the offer either- ear flicking irritably while his icy gaze drifted back to the meat as a drop of blood dripped off of it.“Ugh. Deal,” the cold troll finally sighed, turning back towards Jim and leaning back against the bars with an annoyed look in his half lidded gaze- mouth pressed in a thin grimace. “What is it you want to know, then?”“Gunmar isn’t acting like himself. Well, not like any version of himself I know,” Jim began, keeping the meat in sight to keep the trolls’ interest, “I tried looking through the books written by Dicta-”“We don’t talk about tha’ snivelling coward,” Ruejen interrupted with another snarl, acid green eyes tearing away from the meat and locked on Jim, “Nae’ for any price.”“Oh I’m not here to talk about him,” Jim reassured, wiggling the meat a little in his hand to turn the more easily angered troll back to the promised reward if he cooperates. “I just need to know if he wrote anything about the G- about your people- before the darklands.”“Anything written before the Darklands is painfully outdated,” Kethiro finally spoke up, rolling his eyes slightly as he hooked one leg behind the other as if leaning against his Parloc spear on the cage bars, “not to mention disgustingly untrue. One of his records says we ate our young if we found out they were too sickly to survive. If that were the actual case my father would have taken one look at my white mane and had me for breakfast- but that’s neither here nor there.”“Focus-” Jim interjected, holding the meat a little closer before moving back again as Ruejen again futilely swiped towards it.“Fine! Fine. A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore volume 364." Kethiro answered, gripping the bars himself as the offered reward was becoming harder to refuse. "Though I doubt any copies still exist outside of the darklands. After all, Gnasha saw to it most were burned or torn apart for their blatant lies, and the rest that vile human King destroyed after he used them to learn how to hunt us.”“Gnasha? Human King?” Jim blinked, not expecting Kethiro’s answer. His eyes widened as things fell into place in his mind. He began leaning in slightly as he asked in a hushed whisper, “You don’t mean King Arth-”Ruejen made another swipe at Jim then as Kethiro narrowed his eyes and hissed, the half troll letting out a yelp at the sudden outburst. He nearly dropped the meat, but remained firm as it was the only bargaining chip he had at the moment.“Don’t you dare say his name,” Kethiro growled, tail flicking irritably behind him. “If there is a single name more hated among our kind than the name of Orlagk the Oppressor, it is his.”“I- fine. Fair enough. You’ve been surprisingly reasonable so far, so I’ll take the hint.” Jim replied, taking a moment to calm his racing heart. He cleared his throat, stepping back in place. “Tell me about Gnasha, then.”“Our fellow general, who else?” Ruejen scoffed, acid eyes rolling. “And yew call yaself ’Trollhunter’... the whelp donnae even know our names.”“There are others?” Jim stepped closer, holding the meat front and center close enough the two beasts could smell it. This information would be important and he knew it. “Tell me their names.”“Only one aside from us, now of days,” Kethiro drawled, glancing casually at his claws like one would check their fingernails. “You saw to the death of Gunmar’s son, then the other was… eugh. Domesticated by your cowardly dwoza-folk.”“Bular and… and AAARRRGGHH!!!?”“Bingo.” Kethiro sighed, cold breath pluming out as it always did. “All that remains are our Dark Lord’s most loyal, now.”“So Gnasha… he-”“They,” Ruejen growled, mane bristling as if Jim had just said an insult. “They still live.”Jim took a step back, realizing how close he had started leaning towards the beasts who definitely wanted him dead and would take any opportunity. He cleared his throat, having more questions now than answers, but a deal was a deal. With a sigh, Jim tossed the meat over the gap into the trolls’ cage. Immediately the pair both lunged for it, snarling and hissing fiercely at each other as they fought over their portion. Jim’s eyes locked a moment with the third party sitting eerily still among them, the mindless thrall as stoic and unfazed as ever. A shudder ran down his spine, feeling as if Gunmar’s eyes were on his despite knowing better, and turned to take his leave.As he slowly ascended back up, he paused as he once more passed Gunmar’s cell. Jagga, who remained firmly at his post, raised an eyebrow, and Jim simply sighed. The troll within was still snarling and angry over the medicine smeared on his shoulder, and there was no point lingering here any longer. But even as he returned to the above levels of Trollmarket, Jim’s mind was a blur of thoughts and questions. He said nothing beyond typical greetings as he returned to the den, seeing Blinky sitting beside Rhodori and guiding him through one of the books.“Back from that dreadful pit, I see!” Blinky smiled as he looked up and gestured to the open seat next to Rhodori. “Come, Master Jim. I was just regaling Rhodori of our battle against Angor Rot in the Floridian Swamps.”“Uh, sure.” Jim mumbled, eyes scanning over the books in the library once more as he approached. “You wouldn’t happen to know where volume 364 of Dictatious’ books are, do you?”“That dreadful tome?” Blinky’s six eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he looked back up. “I very well got rid of that the first chance I was able. It was nothing but wild assumptions and hearsay of a coward too scared to actually study the subjects he was writing about!”Jim swung his head over towards Blinky, his heart dropping in his stomach. It couldn’t be- he wouldn’t- “That wasn’t one of the books you-”“Burned?” Blinky answered, adjusting his glasses. “Most definitely. Especially once we had come home and I had learned of my brother’s turncoat trickery! It was the first of many.”Jim ran his hands down his face, letting out a tired groan as he took his seat beside Rhodori. The apprentice gave Jim a curious look and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Blinky. “Why in the pits would you even want to read it? Or any of these books you’ve gathered for Rhodori’s study session today?”Jim crossed his arms, eyes falling shut a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts to answer. An idea crossed his mind, though, and he looked back over to Blinky.“Do you think it’s busy in Arcadia right now?”“Well let’s see…" Blinky began, counting on his many fingers to calculate, "if it’s approximately eight thirty here… it should be five thirty there and-”Jim didn’t give Blinky time to say anymore, sitting up quickly with a brisk “good.” He grabbed his phone on the counter and began texting Toby, before pausing to look back at the two bewildered Trolls. “Oh right. Uh. Rhodori, when you’re done here, meet Claire in the arena. I’m sure she has something set up for you both to train today. Thanks, Blinky.”Rhodori and Blinky watched quietly as Jim quickly left the library into another room. A brief silence hung between them before the young troll looked back to his elder.“So he made a new song by… slapping his chest?”“Yes. One of Tobias’ "finest" moments” Blinky grumbled, wishing not to relive that part of the story.Jim pulled the curtains back over his resting area, trying to nestle comfortably in the pile of blankets and pillows he and Claire used as a bed. He waited as the video call rang quietly in the silent room, burdened by the knowledge he now had. After a short ding, the screen came to life and there stood Toby, holding the phone in his hand as he and AAARRRGGHH!!! strolled through the forest of Arcadia, the shadows protecting the large guardian from the setting sun.“Sup, Jimbo! You seemed in a rush to talk to us today,” Toby smiled, holding the phone up for AAARRRGGHH!!! to see him and greet him as well. “Say hi, big guy!”“Hai Jiiiim,” The larger troll growled with a wave and a smile, and Toby pulled the screen back to him.Jim smiled, seeing Toby still wearing the bronze armor and with the warhammer slung over his shoulder. No matter what changed certain things stayed the same. It was comforting even with everything weighing on his mind.“Hey, I actually have a question for you AAARRRGGHH!!!. Do you by any chance remember someone named ‘Gnasha?” Jim paused as he saw immediate recognition fall on the troll’s face even as he was in the background. “I’m looking into some things that are happening here, and just learned that name.”“Gnasha’? Sounds like a bad guy from that ranger show we used to watch-” Toby chuckled, before noticing the stoic look on his companion’s face.“Learned from Generals, didn’t you?” The mossy troll asked, and Jim nodded. AAARRRGGHH!!! sighed, like his haunted past had risen back up to haunt him again, and looked towards the phone. “Gnasha is Danger. Fought before. At Kilahead.”Jim sat up a little, more focused now on what he was hearing. “And you won… right?”AAARRRGGHH!!! Looked away towards the horizon, a deep rumble in his chest as he and Toby walked. The look on his face didn’t seem so sure.“Was protecting Blinky. Won fight, but didn’t kill. They strong. Stronger than many. I could have killed… should have…” He hummed again, a look of regret crossing his face as he clearly seemed to be remembering that day. “I break their arm. Tore off like Ruejen tail. Thought they not survive without.”Jim and Toby both stared in silence for a moment, Jim swallowing dryly as he licked his lips. This Gnasha, if they were still alive, was going to be trouble- and if the other generals were telling him the truth, they were very much alive somewhere. But at least they had the comfort of never having to deal with such a gumm-gumm yet. It was likely they were still in the darklands, or somewhere far out of the Underlord’s influential reach.“You showed them mercy…” Jim's voice trailed off, recalling the last talk he had with AAARRRGGHH!!! about such things.“Why generals mention them?”Jim looked back up at the phone screen, seeing the thoughtful troll looking back at him. He shrugged, glancing away a moment with a soft chuckle. “Truthfully? I was bribing them for information about the Gumm-Gumms, aaaand I didn’t make it very far.”“Well, that jerk Dick-tatious is still sneaking around here. We could always pay him a visit if you want, Jimbo.” Toby offered with an encouraging thumbs up.“You know, that might not be a bad idea. See if he has any editions of his Troll Lore books from after he wound up in the Darklands. It might shed some light on things I’m wondering about. I should probably go check on Rhodori and Blinky, though. Thanks for the help, guys.”“Anytime, best buddy.”The screen went dark then, Jim taking a deep breath and finally allowing the tension in his shoulders to relax after a very long and difficult day. Things were rough, right now, but it was moments like this that reminded him of why he and his friends were a team. He wasn’t doing this alone.“Wha’ are yew up to over there, Kethiro?” the deep voice of Ruejen snarled.The weapon master licked his chops, savoring the last traces of flavor on his lips from their meal. He turned his focus to the blood still on his paw from the “treat” the fleshchild had given them, licking at the blood like a animal would to groom. Kethiro, however, was hunched in the corner, seemingly picking at his fangs with his claws. Ruejen chuffed, his irritation rising once again as he was ignored.“Oy, I asked yew-”“-if you would please allow me a moment’s peace, my dear Ruejen, you would see.” The other snapped back, his tail flicking back and forth irritably.Ruejen’s eyes widened as Kethiro spat out some gristle before tsking softly, seeing his comrade still had a mouthful of the cat meat still in his possession.“Ya still have food?!” The warrior snarled, immediately stalking over to his kin and trying to snatch it from him. “Give it here! I need it more than yew if ya ain't eatin it!”Kethiro swiftly smacked the hothead in the jaw, causing Ruejen to no doubt bite his own tongue, and the troll snarled and drew back. As Ruejen rubbed the sore spot, Kethiro carefully hooked the bit of cat meat to a thin thread that had begun to separate from his kilt’s stitching. He smirked, looking out through the bars to the nearby guards before landing on the cage filled to the brim with red and white goblins- far more loyal and purebred stock compared to their green kin. His icy gaze watched the Kruberan guards set the cage levers back to their standard positions, and then leave without another word. He chuckled softly, dangling the thread out the side of the cage and slowly lowering it down.“Wha’ now…” Ruejen whispered, catching on to the fact Kethiro was up to something. “Yew can’t possible be-”“Fishing, my brutish friend. I am merely fishing.” Kethiro chuckled, his tail lashing again, eyes narrowed and focused on his task.As the meat descended, he halted it’s journey, tugging on the thin but sturdy thread to jostle the line until he heard a curious chitter from below. Both Kethiro and Ruejen’s eyes watched, waiting for one of those long spindly arms to dare reach out through the barrier after the bait.“Tam,” Kethiro cooed, chuckling as he heard another soft breathy sniff echo below. “Tam et Hwot... Chakka chak”The goblin cage shuddered, swinging slightly as it was clear he had a handful of them eyeing the bait now.“It’s yours… just reach out and take it.”Patience was a virtue in this moment, as after a little more wiggling of the meat they finally had what they sought. A pale white arm slipped through the bars reaching out for the lure, and Kethiro smirked. He raised the bait slightly, hearing the little monster snarl as it slipped just out of reach, and Kethiro knew he already had the goblin snared. With a fraction more taunting, the Goblin lost patience and wriggled it’s way free through the bars. It lunged out after the meat, and as soon as it latched on Kethiro swiftly pulled up the string. Before the Golbin could gobble up the meat and let go, the generals hoisted it up into their cage. It panicked, ready to fight for freedom, before Kethiro stroked the little beast’s head.Confused, the goblin opened it’s pale red eyes and looked up at the two generals, letting out a small shriek of fright and bracing itself for a painful death. That death did not come however, as Kethiro chuckled once more.“You’re a very brave soul,” He purred, petting the goblin again, “Or perhaps too hungry to care about the risk of death. Either way, you’re the kind of goblin I’m looking for. Consider yourself a Fragwa from now on, my little vermin,"The goblin soaked in the praise, forgetting it was ensnared in the hands of Gunmar’s generals for a moment, before Kethiro tightened his grip and brought the goblin’s focus back to him.“You know where to go, yes?” He snarled, and the smile immediately returned as the goblin nervously nodded. “Perfect.”Kethiro rose to his feet, slipping the goblin back through the bars and setting it atop their own cage. It peeked back over the top, looking back to the generals for direction.“Gunmar Wava Hidhena,” Kethiro snarled, and the Goblin nodded, moving to the large chain to begin scaling up it.With that, Kethiro sat back down on his haunches, smirking smugly at Ruejen. The Weapon master simply scoffed, returning his focus back to the blood on his paw and licking it clean.