Divine Lives - 3rd Life and Empires Crossover

Trust No One

They are all talking thoughtfully when Scott sees someone step onto the ledge at the top of the valley. The figure's ears are unhuman-like and a thick tail sways behind his body. An ax swings back and forth in his hand. He carries a shield in the other, a red design painted on its wood.

"What do you want, Ren?" calls Scott, silence falls on those around him. Ren holds up one hand, as if to stop the group in the valley from advancing as the Red Army becomes visible behind their leader. Martyn is directly to his right, Pearl notes that he seems much more in his element now.

"Peace, my friend. For now." he says darkly, and Scott finds it quite difficult to stop from rolling his eyes. "We wish to know, if you know, why things have started off differently."

"We haven't the slightest idea, now get out of here," commands Scott. Ren smirks which causes Joel to tense up with anger. Grian grabs his arm in case he tries something but he doesn't. Casually, Ren looks around at the group, taking in each one of them until he sees Pearl.

"Who's she?"

"Our friend."

"How'd she get here?" Ren is left with a glare and no answer.

"Leave!" calls Jimmy from beside Scott. Tango and Impulse look at each other from the ledge; then all of them look to Ren who makes no attempt to move.

"Mysterious," says the dog.

"They did this," Martyn tells his leader, nodding at the people in the valley. "I watched them, they started this session." Ren's ears lift slightly as he looks back down at Scott, eyes wide.

"Oh?"

"We did not!"

"Right." He says, sarcasm barely concealed in his tone. "I also can't help but notice you've got those things on your backs."

Joel yanks his wrist free of Grian's grasp. His monstrous wings unravel, going up and then coming down so he catapults up to the cliff. Grian calls for him as Scar cheers. BigB, Tango, Etho, and Impulse step back, frightened, as Skizz draws his sword and Martyn holds a protective hand out in front of Ren who doesn't even flinch. Joel hovers right in front of him.

"You guys need to go."

"You're on the wrong side of this battle, Smallish."

"You burned down my house."

"Collateral damage," says Ren with a careless shrug. Joel shoves him backwards and lands on the ledge in front of him. Martyn tries to step between them but he gets shot a very threatening glare.

"This is your last warning." Ren throws his hands up, the ax dangling loosely in his grip.

"Alright, we're going." the Red King turns and gives a signal to his minions. They follow it, some less reluctantly than others. Disappearing back into the trees, Joel knows they are heading towards the people of the Crastle. He jumps off the cliff and glides down into the valley. When he lands, Scar holds out a fist; he bumps it.

"That was awesome, man!" he says excitedly. "You looked so intimidating."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Joel, that was so ridiculously stupid of you," comments Grian and Scott laughs. Joel only shrugs.

"They burned down my house."

"You burned down my wall, Joel. You don't see me approaching you like that," Scott says, narrowing his eyes.

"You're different then they are."

"I sure hope so."

Pearl wanders up to the group again, having previously been watching at a distance. She observed the people of Dogwarts with great curiosity. Maybe if she had met them differently she would have liked them, but something about them now gets under her skin.