Into the Shadows of Arcadia

Airheads and Turning Blue 1

In the Hero's forge, Claire standing in the center as her frustration builds. As the Shadow staff continued to ignore her commands, she glared at the staff and let out a harsh grunt.

"Ugh! Why won't the shadow staff make a portal?"

Claire asked, her tone showing clear signs that she was having a hard time. Draal steps over, placing his large hand on the staff to stop Claire from swinging it.

"Slow down young one. You must learn to empower the staff itself. Focus! Imbue it with your will. The stronger the emotions, the greater-"

He is then cut off by grunts coming from another part of the room. Toby swung his fists into Aaarrrgghh's palm, ranting as he did so. Blinded by his jealousy, he hadn't noticed the tiny flinches Aaarrrgghh made.

"I don't get it. Claire just joined the team, and she gets to handle the super-sweet, megamatic portal staff?"

Toby said, venom dripping in his voice as he continued to throw punches. However, as he ranted, he had hit Aaarrrgghh with more force than necessary, causing Aaarrrgghh to wince and pull hi s hand back, resulting in Toby to swing another punch but missed and landed on his face. Aaarrrgghh attempts to comfort, sending a low growl in concern. Toby wasn't even dazed, he lifted his head from the floor and slammed his fist against it.

"Pfft! I've been on Jim's side since day one and what do I get?"

Toby says dramatically, rolling his eyes in annoyance. The screen then switches to Claire and Draal, Claire swinging the staff as Draal continues to help her.

"Careful now."

"Mmm...Got me, Wingman."

"Aw, buddy!"

"The Shadow Staff is a weapon of great-Whoa!... power."

"Why won't this thing work?"

Claire yelled in frustration swinging it around again and a tiny portal opened. 

"She did it!"

"No way! How did she do that?"

"Whoa! I made a portal! Did you see that? I made a portal!"

"Yeah, if we need to teleport an olive or a baby mouse."

"What did you just say?"

"I said you have an awesome staff and you totally deserve it. Even though you lost the Killstone."

"Excuse me, Mr. God King, you were the one in charge of getting the stone and you blew it!"

She shouts and places her hands on her hips as Draal wanders off. Her finger prodded his large stomach. Draal stepped beside Aaargghh, glancing up at the larger troll.

"Uh, should we stop them?"

"Uh...nah. This is the Forge. Let them spar."

"And if Jim were here-"

"But Jim's not here. You know where he is? Sick at home! Because the trolldude has done something to him because of us not paying close enough attention to him."

At Jims house he is departing on if he should call Blinky. He has been able to hide some of his changes when he is switching back and forth. But the fever is getting worse. His mom is to the point where she is debating if she needs to take him to the hospital. He has noticed that when a wave comes more things appear. His now fully formed Horns have scratched into his bed post. He has spots of stone skin all over his torso. His spells are becoming less frequent but there lasting longer.