It's been a while, but I wanted it to be ready. No chapter art this time though for the time being, no one seemed to like it. Here's a link to the Homepage and Table of Contents. Hope you enjoy! Ciao! [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/250709661?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url] Shift was still in the middle of examining the brand-new hole in his attire as the wind from the jumpships above blew dust and grass around him. He let the fabric fall, grumbling about the state it was in. Ralph and Toaster transmatted down as Shift dusted himself off. Ralph and Toaster approached. Ralph strutted up to Shift, rubbing his hands together in pleasure. Shift braced for what came next. "So, a little bird told us that the Fallen are still hanging around." Ralph said in his British accent, taking his knife out and posed as if to start picking at his fingernails with it. "...Yes" Shift said slowly. He hated it when Ralph intentionally dragged this out. "Which means the Fallen won," Ralph continued while he put his knife away. "And the Cabal? Well..." He trailed off as he looked pointedly at Shift. Shift didn’t respond as he stared at him. Ralph, content despite having received no answer, extended his hand and gestured with his fingers in a "Gimme" motion. Shift sighed and reached into his coat. He pulled out a freeze dried PBJ. He hesitated for a moment, then dejectedly groaned as he placed it in Ralph's hand. "Ah, that’s an ace." Ralph gloated, placing his knife back in its sheath. He held the sandwich up, sniffing it. He pocketed it as Toaster looked over his shoulder to see Shift. "So. Fallen in the cave?" Toaster inquired. "Yes Toaster!" Shift said, exasperated. "That's why you guys are here!" "Oh. So, we get to have fun?" Toaster said hopefully. "Yes!" Shift said daintily. "And we're going to have a wonderful tea party with our good friend Baron Dill-Weed!" He finished angrily. "That doesn't sound like fun to me..." Toaster said deflated. "...Tea party...?" Ralph said slowly. "For the love-! Agh! Just shut up and follow." Shift moaned. They followed Shift as they stepped down the path. A large building stood between them and the forest like a wall as if to say “keep out”. The area surrounding was littered with ancient debris and rusted vehicles. Everything was overgrown, from the stringy vines that crawled to the highest point of the building to the tangled bushes at the bottom. After a brief search, the Fireteam climbed into an entrance through a balcony above by using a truck to boost them. Inside, entire rooms were occupied by plants like an out of control green house, trapping moisture and metal. As the group passed one of the tiny ecosystems, Toaster spotted a bird's nest. He tried to get the other’s attention as the mother fed the excited chicks, but they were already struggling through a collapsed doorway. Toaster jogged over to catch up. “Come on Toaster.” Ralph called. Toaster, in his hurry, tried to dive through the slim opening. He grinded to a halt as the foliage caught him. He wiggled about, pushing and shoving as he tried to free himself. Ralph, still walking, looked behind himself to see why Toaster was still lagging behind. “Toast...er...” Ralph’s voice died off as he saw the entangled Titan. Toaster grunted and gasped as he strained against his captor. “Uh-I, uuuh...” “Really?” Ralph managed. “What’s taking you so long?” Shift demanded as he rounded the corner. “Oh.” He said as he saw their friend. “Nnngh...!” Toaster moaned, his eyes began to open wide with panic. “Oh boy. Ralph!” Shift said as he quickly grabbed hold of Toaster. “Yep!” Ralph said as he jumped to help. They grabbed him and after a moment, yanked him out. Toaster fell flat, smacking into the ground. Toaster panted, face pale. Ralph patted him on the back to calm him down. Toaster puffed for a few moments, color returning to his face. “You ok mate?” Ralph asked. Toaster nodded. “I’m fine too.” Shift’s muffled voice said from beneath Toaster. “Oh. Sorry.” Toaster said as he stood up. As he did, Shift gasped and clutched his chest. “Toaster, try and be a little more careful, huh?” Shift asked. ______________________________________________________________________________ The team had exited the building and were currently staring into the forest. More accurately, the fog surrounding the forest, since the only trees they could see were only black tips reaching out of the thick moisture like a possessed, marshmallow pin cushion. “Are you sure you want to go in there?” Ralph asked. “I really don’t…” “But… Fallen, and boom.” Toaster pleaded. “You’d get so scared you’d bolt, tail tucked between your heels faster than I can say “boo” Toaster.” Ralph countered. “Don’t forget the holo-screen.” Shift reminded them. “That. Also, that.” Toaster agreed Ralph sighed loudly. “Ugh. Fine.” “Well, we can always bolt it out of here if we run into trouble Ralph.” Shift said. “And exercise? No thank you. I already do that whenever you want me to do something.” Ralph said. They began to walk across the road. As they approached, the fog seemed to part like a curtain, revealing a cave. The black entryway gaped like a hungry mouth, trying to swallow them. How the cave got there in the middle of the road, the spooked Guardians didn’t know. They nearly turned back at the mere sight of it, but their desire to waste hours watching TV overpowered their unease. Further and further in, the darkness was thick and suffocating. They could barely see without the help of their Ghosts. The lights shined deep into the cave as they cautiously walked further in. “Movement on my scanners up ahead. Probably the Fallen.” Lima told Shift. “Wait, before you told me that there were definitely Fallen. Now it’s “probably”? What’s up with that?” Shift asked her. “Did-did Ralph bribe you…?” He prodded. Lima clammed up. “MY SANDWICH!” He began, pouncing at Ralph, who yelped in surprise. “Hey, what’s that?” Toaster asked. He pointed into the drop off below. Shift and Ralph stopped short as they grappled. The team cast their eyes across the cavern. As they all peeked in, several sets of blue eyes looked back, then vanished with a warbled noise. Dregs began to appear from the entrance across the cave. "They can turn invisible?" Ralph began to complain. "But that means we'll actually have look for them..." "Not to mention that small army that just came in," Shift added. "we'll have to get past them too." "Aw crud." Ralph said. "So how do we do tha-" A loud blast interrupted Ralph and a rocket flew past him. The blast shook the room, the explosion launched bodies and bits of stalagmite. The group of Dregs proved spineless, scattering away in fear, leaving materials behind. The other invisible fallen started to follow, barking orders and getting the remaining Dregs to gather the materials that the others dropped. "Did I get em?.” Toaster asked, flat on his back and rocket launcher still smoking in his clumsy grip. "That works." Shift said with a shrug and climbed out from behind their cover. He pulled out a shotgun as another Fallen jumped him. The resulting conflict ended with the Eliksni flying fifteen feet backwards from the blast, crunching against the wall. The others looked warily at Shift. "Cookie delivery!" Shift said, looking in their direction. They skittered away before he finished his sentence. Shift let out the breath he was holding, thankful that they hadn’t called his bluff. He put the empty weapon away. He turned, looking up at Toaster and Ralph, who had barely moved. He threw his hands lazily up in a “come on” motion. "I would've come down to help." Ralph said. "But that would've required me to move." "What? No cheer-leading either?" Shift said as he shook invisible pom-poms. "That would require me to shout, not to mention embarrass myself, which is your specialty." Ralph replied. "I would've thrown off a firework show!" Toaster offered. "You've never even seen fireworks Toaster." Shift said. "Still would've lit fireworks." Toaster said, half under his breath. "Hey lazies!" Ralph said dropping down. "Ever heard of moving? Come on let's go!" Shift and Toaster watched him go. “I don’t get it.” Shift said. “Toaster?” He asked. Toaster shrugged as he followed in the direction Ralph went. Shift stood still for a moment. “Yeah. Yeah that about sums it up.” Shift said before he too stepped off after them. ______________________________________________________________________________ [b]Continued in the Comments[/b]