Finally a place to truly rest, Borislav watches his companions bathe and wash their armor after the countless battles they've fought through. He casually strolls to the river and pulled off his leather boots; feeling the fresh, cool breeze passing through his naked toes. He removed his wicker hat and lays it upon the green grass, then proceeds to dunk his head within the river, wetting his dark brown hair and wawshing off the dried blood and dirt from his dark-skinned face. He felt refreshed, purified by the river's clean waters. Boris removes his poncho, shoulderpads and his leather vest to give his lungs enough space to breathe, then set them aside. He sank his bare feet into the cold water and laid his back against the soft greenery, looking up at the cloud-filled sky.

A bird from his hat fluttered to him and landed on his forehead, tweeting him about Lissette. His eyes turned to Liss and, with his surprise, saw her kissing the archangel, Marcus, passionately. Lissette, the one person he found and took under his wing, has already discovered a suitor for her. Of course he would've respected this decision, but to him it felt so sudden. Why is she with him? Does she care for Boris anymore? Has she grown out of it and wished to pursue her own agenda? What has he done to turn her away from him? Does she even like him anymore? A million questions poured in his mind like a storm, his heart's starting to ache for every second he sees her with Marcus. He closed his eyes and turned away from the couple, giving a deep, unfortunate sigh. He felt like he missed his chance. Liss is the only one that seems to understand him, why has she forsaken him for another?

Thinking about this has made him depressed, thus he pulled the wicker hat from the earth and slid it over his face, only seeing the darkness within his headwear. His arms spread out as he's busy sulking under his hat. The birds in his wicker hat fly out only to rest upon his body, so did other random birds who decided to swoop in and cover him.

As the thought of Liss and Marcus still fresh in his mind, he concentrated on his home, Worborrow. He peered into the darkness and saw images of his loved ones; his 15-year old sister, Tuulikki Callisto Ignas, and his childhood friend, Themba Ulowayemisi. He felt so close to home, he wondered what he'll do after all this is over and done with, but what if it's all too late? What if Worborrow's in shambles like Falarog or Aunorgard? What if Themba and the others were killed by the lycans before they make it in time? What then? He doesn't want to be left alone as his companions celebrate with friends and family while he's left by his lonesome with nobody to cheer with, or home to go back to.

Tears are forming in his eyes as the pessimism of his future has only made his depression worse. Boris felt his heart ache even more, like it's ripping itself apart from such negative emotions.

Marcus held Liss, knowing what it was like to not feel welcomed. "I'm sure they don't mean it Liss. Jessica and Gabriel are so caught up with each other they hardly recognize what anyone else is doing, and Boris seems so caught up with his birds. I don't understand why they don't see you the way I do, Lisette. You're perfect." Marcus smiled as he held the demon priestess' hands and smiled into her arms. "We can stay out here a little while longer, just the two of us. I'm sure the gang will come and get us once they're ready to hit the road."

Marcus placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "I've been alive for so long that I've stopped counting the years. It wasn't until I came to earth that I felt my body begin to age again and actually start to develop human emotions. For the longest time, Liss, I wanted nothing more than to be able to experience everything that you just helped me to feel. It was incredible, and I thank you for that." Marcus' heart began to feel heavy again. He was unsure of what Liss meant by not being the one she would see herself with. Marcus leaned over against Liss and held her. He just wanted her to know that he would be there for her no matter what, and words weren't needed if she felt like staying quiet. He added one last thing, "Liss, not even angels are perfect."

Feeling Liss lace her fingers with his and her eyes swelling, Marcus replied softly, "I have noticed you growing, and I have noticed the way you started calling me Marcus. You're beginning to sound a lot more like me, and I think that's terrific." Marcus thought about what she said about him showing her things she had never known of before, and that made him want to show her more of what he knew about, and he wanted her to teach him what she knew. Marcus laid back on the shore and brought Liss with with him so she could lay her delicate head on his stern chest. Holding onto her, Marcus answered, "I no longer want to be an angel of war. I have grown weary from fighting all my life, and have always loved it more down here than my own home. I love Earth. After the war I have plans of working to invest in some land on the outskirts of a small town. I enjoy interacting with humans sometimes but I'd much rather be left to my own devices on a farm out on the hillside. I want a wife and kids like most men want, and I want to spoil them and make them happy. That is my goal after finishing this is all said and done. What about you? What is going to become of the wise, beautiful Liss after this"?

Desmond fell back on his butt as Ghan kicked him down.

"You're really better than me at this." Desmond commented.

Ghan taps his his metal arm.

"But how? You're me. I've never had training until now." Desmond sighed and gave up. He accepted gravity's embrace and fell onto the soft cool soil. Ghan then stood watch.

The stitcher looked around. Septimius and Boris were basically in the same position, bodies flat on the ground with their hats over their faces. Otael was floating on the river with Fluffy, Gabriel and Jessica were together while Marcus and Lissette were nowhere to be seen. Ravin too. Ahriman was trying to converse with Adric.

He breathed in. Everyone was either tired or trying to get along with the others.

And I'm part of the tired ones. Desmond thought. He shut his eyes. I need to fix up the sword later. He murmured before finally drifting off to a nap.

The daylight slowly turned away, transforming into a cool and starry night. The full moon rose above the treetops, shining it's beneficial light onto the group beside the river. The others began to leave the comfort of the waters, gathering up to decide their next move. Jessica and Gabriel stayed behind, too infatuated with one another to truly care for planning.

"I think we should get going now," Marcus said, purposefully loud enough for Gabriel and Jessica to hear, "This is our best time to do so."

Jessica nodded and began to dress herself in her armor once more, Gabriel as well.

Marcus turned to speak once more, but then he heard movement within the treetops. His ears perked up, and he quickly turned to the trees. "Did anyone else hear that?"

"I think s-" Boris was cut off by an earth-shaking caw, and a blur of speed coming down to the group. Jessica and Gabriel were vulnerable, and Marcus had only just processed what was going on.

"Oh shit, everybody duck down!"

It was as if everything happened in slow motion. Everybody within the group ducked for cover as the blurring bird beast made it's first arc to try and grab one of the heroes. It missed the first time, however as it came around for a second try, Lissete was too slow. Both talons of the gargantuan beast wrapped around her arms tightly, and before she could grab anything or anyone she was lifted into the air. She screamed loudly as she was taken into the night sky, "MARCUS!"

[SPOILER=] [/SPOILER]

His eyes widened, and in that moment Boris tried to hit the beast with a flock of birds. However, it was too late. The gigantic beast took Lisette into the night sky, in the direction of Worborrow.

Desmond bolted upright from the scream to duck which was, in hindsight, stupid of him.

Ghan quickly pushed him down until the bird passed. The stitcher watched as Lissette was spirited away and Marcus' enraged face. He inched his fingers towards his sword and looked to Ghan. "You ready?"

Tap.

Desmond nodded and stood up. "Come on guys! We've got to move! Lissettes in trouble!" He strapped the Goggles of Revealing onto his eyes and inverted the darkness to light. Clear as day. "There! It heading for Worborrow!"

Marcus had put his armor back on and was all suited up and ready to head to Worborrow. Everything had gone to plan and the team was feeling nice and relaxed. Marcus had even found something he thought he might never find, so to him his day could not have gone any better. But it would appear everything comes with a price to pay. A gigantic bird had flown in and caught the team by surprise. Before anyone realized what was happening, the bird was making it's way west towards Worborrow. Marcus didn't know that the bird was heading to Worborrow. He didn't care. It was as if the Creator himself sent this bird out of spite for Marcus' defiance. Angels had watched the two as the might arch angel held and kissed the demon priestess. Word certainly would have made it's way around the heavens. Fearing the worst, Marcus turned to the group and with a dark tone backing his voice he said, "Head to Worborrow, Liss and I will meet you all there." Again, he didn't know the bird was going to Worborrow, or why it grabbed Liss, he was determined to save her and meet back up with the group afterwards.

Marcus unlatched his armor and took his shirt off once more. With a loud scream he arched his back as his mighty angelic wings burst from his back in a blast of bright gold sparkles. Unsheathing his sword, he gripped it tightly and muttered a phrase in a language no one around him could understand. He was speaking in the tongue of angels. His crystal blue eyes quickly turned gold, and just as quickly the gold burned away in a fiery red glow. As his eyes burned red, so did his sword. Marcus' sword had begun to heat up until it shined white, before bursting into flames. Marcus took a few mighty steps in the direction of the bird before his wings rocketed back launching his body through the air towards the bird. His launch left the group blinded in a flash of white light as if lightning had struck before them. The ground under his feet erupted from the force and left a slight crater in the ground from his take off. The shockwave from the blast pushed the group back and a massive quaking sound ripped through the air to strike fear in the hearts of any creatures around.

If he couldn't save Liss from the bird before it got to his destination, he would bring death to anything standing in his way until he finds her. If he couldn't save her, he would avenge her.

As soon as she finished placing her armor back, she heard something comming to them at high speeds, Marcus could warn everyone to get down in time.

Just when she thought that everyone was safe, she heard a familiar scream... one that she wished to never hear... "Lissette!!!!" Jessica yelled, quite frustrated of not being able to see the enemy or where was it heading to. Marcus was the first to move, in his voice she could tell that he was very worried and used hus wings to chase the huge bird... it even sounded familiar to how she felt when Gabriel was about to get killed by the vampire queen, did he feel the same for Lissette?.

Ignoring this question for the moment, Jessica followed the others in a sprint with no hesitation, running as fast as she can to get to Worborrow ASAP. "Don't worry Liss.... just hang on, we all will come to save you" She thought to herself as she withdrew her sword and holded it next to her as she kept running.

Boris tried to take down the giant raven, but had failed. Seeing Marcus launching himself to retrieve Lissette, he decided to follow along.

"Marcus, wait! I'm coming, too!" He sprinted as fast as he could while he whistled a tune to manipulate a random bird. A falcon swooped in front and, with great haste, he maximized the feathered beast and hopped onto its back. Boris soared to aid Marcus in rescuing Lissette and stop the raven in its tracks.

He flew next to Marcus, who's still soaring, and told them his plan.

"Marcus, if anything happens to Liss, catch her! I'm going to try taming the raven."

He wet his lips and whistled an unfamiliar tune to calm the raven while trying to communicate it.

Hear me, raven. Free your prisoner and we promise not to harm you. Don't do anything brash.

He soared closer to the bird beast and stayed by its side.

As Marcus shot up into the air, he could clearly see that the bird had already made it a large distance away from the group. The bird did not look back at the angelic being, only holding Lisette within it's grasp as tightly as it could. It was now cradling her entire body in it's one, gargantuan talon. As Boris grew closer to the beast, it let out one ear-shattering caw, before pushing forward at blurring speeds. This caused the falcon that Boris was atop of to move erratically, cawing and diving down into the forests. The city of Worborrow was becoming apparent on the horizon.

The falcon Boris is on was losing altitude, they're diving down into the dark woods at a rapid speed. With haste, he urged the birds below him to push the falcon back up to the sky. A crowd of avians rushed to his aid and pushed the mighty bird back to its level. The falcon has to flap its wings violently at first to regain altitude before it could fly smoothly again.

"That was mighty close." Boris whispered in relief, but he saw the crow already flown miles away from him. He was shocked on how the raven resisted his manipulation. This wasn't looking good for him or Marcus as the beast is nearing the town of Worborrow. He's nearly home, but why there? Is it possible that the raven already has a master? If so, then it must be one of the lycans, the Alpha Prime of the werewolf pack no doubt. Boris urged the falcon to soar faster in hopes of catching up to it.

"Hang in there, Liss. Bobo's coming for you."