[b]Seth raised an eyebrow as Lance suddenly felt something toppled him, pushing him onto the grass, fur and feathers swarming him. But rather than crush him, it felt almost comforting and relaxing...[/b] [b]Then, it rolled over... It was... Bear sized... It was... Alphonse? The large creature had sense Lance's unhappiness and had taken it upon itself to comfort him.[/b]

[i] Lance grunted as the giant owl Griffin toppled him over and landed on him, looking up into the adorable face and laughing. He couldn't help himself. Even shadowy master swordsmen were endeared by adorable animals. Even if they weighted five hundred pounds. Lance reached up and scratched Alphonse behind the ears.[/i] "Thanks Al. I appreciate it buddy."

[b]The large creature purred happily, slowly shrinking to normal size... He wasn't part of Lana's imagination... And so he had a single seal of his own... One to change size.[/b] [i]"I'm sorry, Mister... I didn't realize Anthony was back..."[/i] [i]"Anthony is around?"[/i] [i]"If he caused you any harm..."[/i] [i]"Wait... He's back?!"[/i] [i]"I thought he had left..."[/i] [i]"Stop! How is Anthony back?!"[/i] [b]Lana looked down at Seth and held his cheek, sadness in her eyes.[/b] [i]"He's in your head..."[/i] [i]"Oh..."[/i] [b]Lana eventually got up and blinked, Seth suddenly turning to a pile of dust as she pushed him away.[/b]

"I'm sorry Lana." [i] Lance said quietly as he stood up and brushed himself off. He didn't even know what he was apologizing for..he just felt like he needed to.[/i]

[i]"You've done nothing wrong... If anything I should be the one apologizing... You should have never have met him..."[/i] [b]Lana sighed and kneeled back onto the ground, Alphonse trotting over and resting next to her, paw prodding her small legs.[/b] [i]"And now Seth is... Hosting dark stuff... And... I just need to find Mister Damien..."[/i]

"What do you need Damien for?" [i] Lance questioned, leaning his back against the semi-charred tree. His body ached after his ordeal with Anthony, even though there were no physical wounds. [/i]

[i]"He knows how to handle this stuff... He's smart..."[/i] [b]The long fabric ears of her hood almost seemed to droop... But Damien was so often I his own little world or doing his own thing, that catching him at a good time would be... Difficult.[/b] [i]"I don't know anymore... It's all... So difficult..."[/i] [b]Lana curled up into a ball, knees to her chest, head to her knees. And as she did so... She withdrew... She was no different than Belle in her fears and struggles...[/b] [b]And then... A single spark, her cloth wrappings slowly scattering as Lana turned into a swarm of origami balloons, light blue flames inside each one as they scattered into the wind.[/b] [b]Alphonse made some sort of bird like noise before flying upwards, following the balloons, trying not to loose track of his friend...[/b]