“They’ve been working out who’s who. Shin’s quiet, Teacher overreached and some of his mercs from Cheit are rebelling, doing their own thing. Apparently, Bitter Pill isn’t leading the thinkers from the Point,” Disjoint said.

Love Lost typed in the air.

“Follow you, follow you, into the rage…”

Nailbiter’s fingers extended into points, perilously close to Sidepiece’s throat.

The scene remained utterly still for a few seconds.

The phone started up its ringtone again. “Follow you, Foll—”

The points of Nailbiter’s fingers touched skin. Sidepiece set her phone to vibrate.

“Yeah,” Disjoint said, looking at his phone. “That’s their best guess. Pill is the face, or a partner in leadership.”

Sidepiece looked at the phone to see what the guess was.

Love Lost (is the muthafuckin baws):
BLUESTOCKING

Love Lost nodded. She drew to a stop, then looked around.

“Trouble?” Disjoint asked.

“No, not trouble,” Nailbiter said.

Love Lost pressed a claw to the fanged mouth that was molded to her lower face, covering nose, mouth, and cheeks. A single finger to mime ‘silence’. Her other claw went up in a ‘stop’ position.

The group was quiet and still as Love Lost extended a claw point skyward. Love Lost tilted her head.

The hand came down, pointing, then motioned again, quick.

Hurry, was the intent.

The group hurried. Sidepiece’s legs hurt from all the walking, especially the uneven walking through the forest, their shortcut to avoid being seen as they made their way to their vantage point at the edge of the mall parking lot.

“New security measures. Extending her sensory ranges, and feeling out for tech. It takes a minute,” Nailbiter hissed.

They entered the hideout. Love Lost activated the door’s locks, both mechanical and mundane.

“Breakthrough knows you won’t deal with them, so they asked the Undersiders to. Undersiders know March is prepared for them, so they’re asking Breakthrough to alleviate the pressure.”

Love Lost typed at the air. Sidepiece couldn’t look at her phone, as she was busy taking off her winter clothes.

Love Lost (is the muthafuckin baws):
WHAT ARE THE UNDERSIDERS GOING TO SAY TO ME?

“Nothing useful, since we know what they’re doing and who they’re working with,” Sidepiece quipped.

Love Lost shrugged slightly, her head moving in acknowledgement of that simple truth. Even distant friends of the Fallen kid were off limits for alliances.

“They’re supposed to tell you that Cradle is dangerous, he wants to kill you and take your power, and—”

Love Lost moved her hand.

“I know. They said it before. They’ll be more insistent, try deals. They said the worst-case scenario is that Cradle allies with March and then takes you out of commission. Second worst-case scenario is you ally with March, Tattletale seemed pretty sure you wouldn’t go after Cradle.”