The air is sweet and crisp, with none of the camp odors that Alptraum and Tulani recently experienced, and there are no buzzing insects or other annoyances that would normally be attracted to such a spread of food: cheeses, wines, breads, fruits and hot and cold meats as well. There's even a pitcher of water with cubes of ice in it, casting a bright spot on the checkered picnic blanket.

"The bad thing about these sort of dreams," Alptraum says as an aside to Tulani as he gathers his bearings, "Is that the food tastes great while you're here, but then you wake up hungry. And it's doubly not fair to me, since I can't really eat this stuff outside of a dream. But, we're here, so we may as well enjoy it. I just wonder where the nagging shoulder dragon … I mean, Kaira is. This has to be her doing." He grins.

Tulani does a small double take as she finds herself quite removed from whatever small dream she might have been having moments ago. Turning to Alptraum the Sphynx replies, "Ah, well, no loss, better here than the dream I was having anyway. Yes, where could that dragon be?"

"Bad dream? Ah, yes, you did actually eat some of that stew. I'm so sorry," the Eeee says, then winks. He starts walking towards the checkered blanket.

"Up here," the voice of Kaira intones, from where the dragon is lounging on one of the tree branches above. "Where else would I be? It's a tree that grows golden apples. It's traditional."

"It's traditional for a dragon to be in a tree of golden apples? How does that work?" Alptraum asks as he looks upward.

The dragoness pauses, then says, "Alright, maybe it's only traditional in a few places. I'm not familiar with all of the myths of Sinai yet, after all, just the ones Vorgulremik picked up. And speaking of which, you are remembering to keep the dagger and the Sword of Nala separated, right?"

"Well, seeing as I have one and Alptraum has the other I would certainly hope they're separated. We're not attached at the hip you know," Tulani replies coolly as she walks over to stand under the tree.

"Alright, just keep it in mind though," the dragon warns, and dangles an apple down to Tulani. "As long as they don't actually touch it should be okay, while the Light is in sword form. Other than that, how are things going? The Light leaks enough magic to allow this little get-together, but not enough for me to know what's going on."

"Quite true. It would be very uncomfortable if my hip was attached to hers. Why, just coordinating our legs to not trip over each other would be such a chore," Alptraum says as he settles down on the blanket. He picks up an ice cube between two claws and inspects it, then says, "Oh, things are going towards Draco County it looks like. Which brings me to a question I feel I must ask you … if you're willing to answer, that is. It may strain the very depths and reaches of your knowledge and wisdom."

"Draco County?" Kaira asks, her tail hanging down now and swishing like a pendulum. "Alright, you can ask me your question. I'm up to it!"

The Sphynx takes the apple offered to her and rolls it around in her hand, chuckling at Alptraum's comment about being attached. "Yes, an extra set of legs would be quite a chore." Tulani murmurs, leaning against the tree to listen to the bat's question.

"Is there really such a thing as magic cheese? They're going to make us smear cheese on our chests before we walk through an upcoming forest," Alptraum says as he rolls his head a bit to the side to look up at the dragon. "Personally, I think they're pulling our wings."

Kaira stares down at Alptraum for a moment. "Magic cheese? Cheese? Are you certain they said it was cheese?"

"It sure sounded like cheese to me," Tulani says and tries taking a bite out of the apple in her hand.

"Yes, and apparently magic cheese is not for eating," Alptraum notes and with a flick of his hands, motions to Tulani when she confirms the story.

The apple is pretty sweet, but not overly so: pleasant to the palate.

"Well," the dragon opines. "I suppose it's possible. Magic food isn't common, but I've heard of cases. And you have Chaos Mages. It sounds like a Chaos Mage sort of thing; cheese that makes your hair turn green or something. No offense to your girlfriend, Alptraum."

"If you ask me, I think they've all been in the wilderness too long. They've gone a little soft in the head, so to speak," Alptraum says with a shrug. He fishes around in one of the fruit baskets until he finds a couple grapes and promptly sticks one on the end of each of his fangs. "Good thing we're still sane or I'd be worried," he notes, the grapes bobbing up and down in time with his muzzle.

"Mmmm, yes, sane," Kaira notes, nodding her head. "Do you remember everything that transpired down in the Well of Souls, when you were… ah… talking to the Light?" she asks both of her guests.

The Sphynx takes a few more bites out of the golden apple and almost dream chokes on a bit at the sight of Alptraum with fruit stuck on his fangs, but manages to nod in the dragon's direction.

"Yes, I do. I got to see what the alternate me looks like. Rather creepy," the Eeee notes. And with a quick lick of his tongue, downs one of the grapes from his fangs. "Not sure I could show you, but I can try if you like."

"I'm more interested in the current version of yourself," the dragon notes. "Did you gain any insights into your 'family' connection?"

"Yes, I did. It all comes out of some of the rituals that occurred a bit back," Alptraum notes, pausing to scarf the other grape. "To try and sum it up, the beliefs which were amplified by the ritual made the legend more real and solid, so to speak. Thankfully not an intelligent real or I'd be in trouble. It then attached itself to the person living who closest matched the stories. That person was me."

"So you aren't the reincarnation of the son of the Babelite goddess of death, then?" Kaira asks, looking a bit relieved.

Finally sitting herself down, Tulani grins and says, "Who? Alp? He's far too harmless for that."

"As much as anyone can be, I suppose," Alptraum says with a shrug. "What the ritual helped form is attached to me, but thankfully has no driving personality behind it."

"Hmmm," the dragon rumbles. "Well, I guess I don't have to kill you later then, but this opens up the possibility of your ability to transfer spirits being only temporary."

"Harmless, me? Why, I resent that. I'll have you know I struck quite the terror in the hearts of the guards on the sky islands when I unleashed that horde of yiffles onto them," Alptraum says and waves a cheese stick at Tulani.

"Well, I'll help as long as I can," Alptraum tells Kaira. "Unless of course you have a way to not make it temporary."

"That's a bit beyond what I'm capable of," the dragon admits. "You'll just have to try harder to release more of the captives before you or your attached spirit die. Aside from that crazy sorceress, you haven't even tried to kill anyone else yet with the dagger."

Tulani just laughs at the bat and quips, "Ah yes, I can just imagine the stories they tell their children! Be good or the fearsome Alptraum will come and get you!" She mimics baring fangs before breaking down in giggles. "Complete with cheese-stick!"

"And that's evil magic cheese stick, to you," Alptraum says and then sticks his tongue out at Tulani. "Which special hair greening action."

"Well, I think as long as I'm alive, it'll remain alive. So, hopefully I'll live a long time, eh?" Alptraum remarks and lies back on the blanket so he can look at the static sky. "As for killing people, I can hardly go around stabbing innocents! What we need is another evil horde of poodles to attack, or something. I also intend to use it on that Necromancer. Now that, as evil as it sounds, I will enjoy."

Tulani flops back in the grass and frowns up at the dragon in the tree before wondering aloud, with a touch of grim satisfaction at the thought, "Yes, I wonder how big of an explosion that Dack will make… "

"Only you aren't going back to deal with the Dack, you're going to Draco County," Kaira points out. "And why exactly are you going to Draco County? Who is with you and carrying magic cheese?"

Tulani says, "The people we're currently camped with have the magic cheese apparently."

"I have to transport a bottle of dead Draco soldier souls to Draco County. It was a deal I had to make with the boatman to get across the swamp. No choice, really. They could have always gone back after Dack without me, but they decided to come to Draco County too," Alptraum explains. "Draco is the strongest power in this region. Mostly Eeee, lead by a supposed vampire named Countess Draco who has magic power. I seem to remember she wears a dragon skull for a helmet. At least, I think that's what the poodle vampires told us."

"Fascinating," Kaira says, without a hint of sarcasm. "So you're going to try and convince the Countess to loan you an army?"

Tulani tilts her head to look at Alptraum. "You know, an army would be quite useful," she says with a joking grin.

"I've considered it," Alptraum says and looks over at Tulani, "But there's a problem, I think. The Countess' power only extends to her county and no further. I think the old castle is outside her county. Can't hurt to ask, though. I imagine the answer will be no. Look at us, do we look like a respectable group? We're what, a group of weird Eeee, a Sphynx, and an old crotchety wolf. We're more like one of those bad jokes about people walking into a bar… " He grins slightly.

"Well, what about those other crazy bat women you found?" Kaira asks. "They seem ideal for throwing against a wall until they're piled high enough to walk over it."

"I do hope Countess Draco knows what that torc is," Alptraum remarks with a sigh. "It's going to drive me crazy until I know what its purpose is." He then pauses and considers the question, "Them? Well, if we can even find them again I suppose they would be a possibility. I'd feel guilty getting them killed, though."

Tulani suddenly pipes up, "Crazy bat women? Other than the ones you brought with you? You never did explain how they were crazy… other than not letting you wear clothes."

"Yes, yes, guilt is a terrible burden, and all that, but you'll be dead in under a century anyway so it shouldn't bother you for very long," the dragon says. "The torc with the dragon heads facing each other is what you're talking about? Did you figure out what the other jewelry is good for?"

"No, we haven't," Alptraum answers. The bat then frowns and sits up to look at Kaira. "Gee, thanks Kaira," he says flatly, "That's a lovely thing to say to someone who considered you a friend."

Alptraum then shakes his head and explains to Tulani, "Well, they were the sanest of the crazy ones, really. Raised to be shock-warriors of Babel. I tried to nudge them into the direction of being monster hunters as that would be a useful outlet for their aggressions."

"I just don't think she understands from anything other than her own point of view. Dragons live a lot longer, don't they… " Tulani comments about Kaira, looking over at Alptraum, though she is frowning herself.

Tulani nods slowly as Alptraum explains a bit about the group of 'crazy' Eeee he had encountered. "Hmm, interesting. Well, better that than just random destruction."

"Exactly. I figured I may as well try to make the best use of their talents. It's better than just slaughtering them," Alptraum remarks. He pours himself a glass of water and takes a drink, then says with a nod towards Kaira, "As for her, well. Living longer or not, it's not the best policy to insult the person you're wanting to help you. If I had known that would have been the attitude towards me, I would have left the dagger in the necromancer prison before we left." He frowns again and takes another drink.

"Insult?" Kaira asks, looking thoughtful. "Sorry, I didn't realize I'd insulted you. It's just that mortals really don't live long enough to truly suffer from guilt. But that's neither here nor there. Did Nala tell you anything useful about the Shadow?"

"That it's alive and not at the same time. It's some sort of contained/imprisoned shadow dragon that was trapped in order to be a tool for the rulers of the Necropolis eons ago," Alptraum says after a bit of thought. "She wasn't sure if there is any way to destroy it."

Tulani says, "Just because we don't live that long doesn't mean you should belittle part of our existence. Our life's short enough as it is, think of yourself as lucky to have to luxury to exist and develop over such a substantial period of time."

Kaira blinks at Tulani. "Me? I'm just a very complicated spell, Tulani. I'm not alive in any sense, and once my purpose is met I'll just vanish. Now, about the Shadow, if there's no way to destroy it, but there is a way to control it, then perhaps that is what Dagh really wanted and not the Light at all. That is, if Dagh really did manipulate events to bring you to the Tomb of the Necromancer King in the first place."

Tulani just stares at the dragon. "You're still in a way alive you know. And you've still existed far longer than any of us."

"Intelligence is a form of life, and you are most certainly intelligent, if not a physical manifestation." the Sphynx continues.

"Except that only the descendants of the woman who originally imprisoned it could really control it. And that is only because that woman would possess her descendents and basically live again," Alptraum notes. "Since you're a reflection of a dragon, have any idea who might be in that thing?"

"Well… fine, I'm alive in the sense that a bound spirit might be alive, but it's still not the same level of 'alive' as a flesh and blood being," the dragon admits. "As for shadow dragons… hmm. I've only heard of them existing in the realms of Faerie. Fey creatures are… well… fey. Just ask a unicorn. So then, maybe there isn't a vast conspiracy by a dark god to bring about certain events. Or, he just has a deal with Amena regarding use of the Shadow. Or, on the third claw… the Shadow has nothing at all to do with anything regarding the supposed resurrection of Dagh, and it's all about the sarcophagus. Does that help any?"

"Not really," Alptraum admits, "I considered those possibilities. It's at this point I think we just have to deal with Dack as best we can and hope we'll uncover the reason along the way. I remember the woman servant of Dack saying he wanted to use it to help bring about his resurrection, so maybe the sarcophagus has some sort of power than can break a seal as much as create one? Of course, if it breaks a seal, what's inside might get out and that would be bad."

The Sphynx just looks a bit confused with the different possibilities being suggested and closes her eyes. "Anything that ends in the use of the Shadow or the sarcophagus seems to end in bad, Alptraum," she interjects.

"Yes, a Shadow dragon is still a dragon, and dragons are amoral, evil creatures that covet treasure and eat people," Kaira says, nodding. "And a dark sorcerer-god is probably bad too, but probably not in a general, indiscriminate way."

"Well, yes," Alptraum says with a nod to Tulani. He then has to ask Kaira, "Do you like eating people?"

"No stomach, body, or any of that, remember?" Kaira asks. "As for my original… probably not, but that isn't to say it wasn't tempting. I mean, look at children. You have to learn not to be selfish and amoral, right?"

"You make it very hard to try and make it feel like you're part of our little group, you know," Alptraum notes with a sigh.

"Wait, you mean Arkold fits in but I don't?" Kaira asks, actually sounding a bit miffed. "And there's nothing wrong with being amoral and selfish for a dragon. The good ones just know how to use that to the greater benefit of the universe as a whole."

Rolling her eyes Tulani comments quietly, "I don't think she means it was tempting to eat children… but to look at them as an example of having to learn… there are quite a few adults who fit the bill for that too."

"Luckily, Tulani knows how to be an altruistic, responsible adult," Kaira says. "Which is why I'm sure she'll let me borrow the Light of Nala once I figure out what it's actually good for."

Just as the Sphynx starts closing her eyes again she cracks one open to peer at the dragon, "Oh really now? Well, you certainly know about strategic use of flattery… and why would I trust you that far? That would depend on what exactly you are plotting to do with it."

"Well, that is if we're even together as a group for that long," Alptraum points out. "After this issue with Dack and such is settled, we may end up parting ways for all I know."

Tulani frowns a bit at Alptraum, "Well, if we do part ways I'll certainly miss you, you're a fun bat to hang around with… umm… no pun intended."

"Well, my goals haven't changed any, Tulani," Kaira says, raising a claw. "I need to release the souls that Vorgulremik captured. The best way to do that is to pump them into a living, sapient being until they pop – excuse the metaphor. The Light would certainly help to keep a person alive despite that spiritual pressure, thus allowing a lot of souls to be packed in before the body eventually disintegrates."

"Well, what's going to happen when your ship needs you back?" Alptraum asks Tulani. "I'm not saying I want to leave or anything, just figuring we all have paths in life we may have to walk separately." The bat then blinks and looks to Kaira, asking, "Wouldn't being that close also resurrect old, scaly, and perverse?"

"Well, that's something I have to keep looking into," Kaira admits. "But the Light also offers the possibility of reanimating the dead to use as conduits. You wouldn't have any problem killing something that's already dead, would you Alptraum? Even if, technically, it wasn't dead anymore at the time you started killing it."

"That's a vaguely disturbing idea," Alptraum says and then shrugs. "How does it reanimate the dead, anyway? Boost the residual spirit?"

Tulani also looks curious at the suggestion, watching Kaira with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, the Light seems to be pure life energy," Kaira surmises. "So, if you used it soon enough on a dead person, it might reanimate the body and bond it with a spirit of the deceased. It wouldn't really be 'alive' alive, but it would be alive enough for our purposes. Like a not-undead zombie."

"I suppose that could be useful and is a little less disturbing than killing random people. Though, uh, what might it do to what's bonded to me?" Alptraum inquires, brow arched.

"Hmm, well, I suppose if you were killed, and Tulani used the light to bring you back, then the Barsunala spirit would be fused with your own spirit to create a monster of sorts," Kaira muses, looking thoughtful. "No idea how long it would survive though. Spirits animating a living body are inherently unstable once the original soul is gone."

"Well, then I'd be better off not dying," Alptraum says with a smirk.

The Sylvanian Sphynx looks slightly queasy at all the talk of not-dead undead, and monster souls.

"It would be very inconvenient for me if you did die, Alptraum," Kaira remarks. "Perhaps I should devote some time to finding a way around that. Unless you wouldn't mind becoming a true vampire and living off of illiaster?"

"Don't even think that. I'm fine with being a host for the spirit which is bonded to me since it's allowed me to help people and it doesn't try to control me. But becoming a real vampire, er, no thank you. Better to be a half-monster than a full monster," Alptraum says drolly.

"It does bring up something else though," Kaira says, draping her head down to look at Tulani. "You've been carrying the Light around for a little while now, Tulani. Have you been feeling any different? Noticing any old scars vanishing or any unexpected tissue regeneration?"

" Well… Not that I can really tell. My wing doesn't hurt but it's been healing well… " the Sphynx begins, and at the mention of scars looks in her shirt at the burn scar she received when they had fought Vorgulremik… nope, still there, and still shaped vaguely dragon-like. "Nope, still got the old scars, and the new one. But then, standing right next to the fountain of light didn't have too much of an effect on its own."

"Maybe you have to stab someone with the sword for any healing effect to take place," Kaira suggests, grinning. "So let me know what happens if you poke anyone with it, okay?"

"Don't poke me," Alptraum says very quickly. "Poke Arkold. He's old, right?"

"He can use the healing right?" Tulani quips in response.

"After all that food he ate tonight? Certainly. Plus, it would spare us from him getting the winds," Alptraum counters with a grin.

"And see about testing it with Mave's magic too," the dragon adds. "If it can boost Inala-magic, that could be useful as well. Weird, but useful."

"Heh. Mave. She's plotting again. She had her hopes dashed in the tomb, but is back to trying to figure out how to best use us to her advantage," Alptraum says with a laugh.

Tulani wrinkles her nose in a slightly disturbed manner at the mention of boosting Inala magic. "Yeah, if anything, most definitely weird." the Sphynx glances at Alptraum. "I'm sure she'd like to make you into her advantage."

"Dragon-slaying demigods usually do get high poll numbers when it comes to politics," Kaira notes.

"Oh, I know she's trying to figure out how to make use of me," Alptraum says with a shrug. "I'll try to keep her somewhat under control. We'll see. She's probably trying to work out how to control me."

"And of course we know that will be futile," Kaira claims.

"Somehow I think she'll have quite a bit of trouble with that… after all, Kaira already has first dibs." Tulai quips with a toothy grin.

Alptraum crosses his arms. "No one controls me," he insists.

The dragon nods in agreement with the Sphynx.

"Pff. Kaira can't control me either," the Eeee claims.

"Of course not," Kaira says, reassuringly. "Even if the Barsunala part of him is used to being pushed around by bossy females, namely the Babelite Goddesses. But Alptraum hasn't shown any signs of being manipulated by the opposite sex, now has he?"

Tulani snrks loudly.

Alptraum glares at Tulani. "Just what do you mean by that snort, hmm? Don't make me get the cheese stick… " he threatens.

"Oh no the dreaded cheese stick!" Tulani says, giggling madly.

"I have to wonder if he had much luck with dating before the spirit got attached to him also," Kaira speculates, grinning along with Tulani.

Alptraum looks skyward and asks, "Why do I put up with this? My dating life is none of your business!"

"Just saying that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac… err… inaladesiac," Kaira notes. "Old dragon proverb. Mostly dragon, anyway. Universal truth, at the very least."

"Then explain Arkold," Alptraum counters. "Hah!"

Tulani just can't seem to stop laughing at this point, rolling a bit in the grass.

"Arkold is more a variation. Power corrupts, so the corrupt might seem powerful," Kaira points out. "Not that I know anything about corruption, mind you. I don't corrupt people. Not so you'd notice."

"I should have given you to Roogi," Alptraum grumbles.

"And Tulani is even more uncorrupting," Kaira claims. "She didn't offer to share the apple I gave her with you. That's heavy symbolism there, mind you. Dragons giving apples to young women mean they're to share them with their man, thus pulling him into the whole… well, these are just dream apples, so maybe it doesn't matter. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Don't ask me what a cigar is."

Tulani blinks and narrows her eyes, poking the dragon lightly on the nose, "You little sneak. Well, if it's just a dream I suppose it's not so bad… "

"Still, valuable advice: never share an apple, a pomegranate, chewing gum or a chocolate malted milkshake with someone you do not have absolute faith in," the dragon intones.

Alptraum can't help but start laughing at that. "You haven't figured out that I'm not her man?" he says after managing to stifle the laugh. "And why would I ask you what a cigar is? I know what a cigar is. And, I can get my own apple, thank you very much!" And to prove it, he gets up and tries to go grab an apple.

The Eeee's hand passes right through one of the apples.

"Oh, ha ha," Alptraum remarks. "You're funny."

"It's a dream, and symbolism rules in dreams," Kaira says, by way of pleading innocence. "Draconic symbolism, in this case. That means you can't pluck the golden apple unless you either defeat the guardian dragon or have a pretty girl offer you one she's already bitten, thus leading to the downfall of this or that and you having to help her move."

"Or, you could win a beauty contest and be awarded the apple, but that never turns out well in the end, trust me," the dragon adds.

Alptraum pops his knuckles and heads towards Kaira. "Right, one defeated guardian dragon coming up," he says with fangy grin. He then stops and asks, "Wait, what, win a beauty contest?"

Tulani blinks when Alptraum's hand passes through an apple… before starting to laugh again, "Heeheeeheeee! A b-beauty contest?"

"Don't even think about it, I've seen you in a priestess' robes," Kaira notes. "You'd never pull off a dress."

The Eeee glowers. "Who said I would put on a dress?" he practically growls.

"You can't win a beauty contest without appearing in a gown," Kaira notes. "And, sometimes, a swimsuit or posing with a bowl of fruit for some reason. Unless you're the judge, but then they usually get into the most trouble."

"You can't have a contest of fashionable attire that doesn't involve gowns?" Alptraum inquires, then blinks. "What the heck am I saying?"

Kaira waves a claw, and says, "Hmm, let me put it into a story. I have this golden apple. It's the nicest golden apple ever. The Seven Sisters each covet the apple, and squabble over who deserves to have it. So, they decide to let the Barsunala decide. I give him the apple, and the goddesses have a contest to see who is the most beautiful or deserving. The Barsunala ends up giving the apple to Inala – I mean, really, is there another choice? In return, Inala causes the most beautiful Eeee woman in the world to fall in love with the Barsunala as a reward."

"Frankly, if I had to preside over that contest, I'd run screaming," Alptraum says quite honestly.

"Of course, she's a princess, and already married or else betrothed and this throws a squibbit into the whole thing. She runs off to the Barsunala, and her miffed husband sends an army after her, and lots of heroes and gods throw in their two shekels, and in the end some great city is burned to the ground and the girl throws herself off of a cliff in sacrifice to Sunala or something like that. Happens all the time."

Wiping her eyes as she finally stops laughing Tulani comments, "I'd run too, as fast as my legs or wings could carry me. I'd do it without the screaming though."

"What, you'd run off and leave me holding the apple?" the dragon accuses. "What sort of friend would do that? Honestly!"

Alptraum rubs his temples. "You make my head hurt," he admits. And Alptraum then looks at Kaira and notes, "The one who you keep saying has a short, mortal, life. It may be short, but we value it all the more. Plus, you could eat the apple and claim to have never seen it. Problem solved."

The Sphynx grins widely, plucking another apple from the tree and spinning it on the tips of her fingers. "Or… the judge could just fly off with the apple and keep it to him/herself."

"You don't just eat an apple that fine," Kaira says, looking indignant. "It's not mythic enough. You have a lot to learn about being a demigod, Alptraum, even if only a temporary one. And you could be a little nicer to me too. I mean I've helped you kill Vorgulremik and given you all sorts of good advice and information and all I've ever asked is that you kill a few people if it's not too much of an inconvenience and you begrudge me even that."

Alptraum goes and puts his arm around the dragon's shoulders. "I have been incredibly nice to you," the Eeee asserts, "I haven't brought Arkold in, have I? He would be trying to grab your tail."

Eventually, Tulani sits back down against the tree, setting the new apple in her lap.

Kaira's tail curls in close to her body at the suggestion. "Well… you aren't as bad as the elves, I'll give you that. Always complaining. Never mind that I can snuff out Vorgulremik's soul and all of them along with it whenever I want. No, they still have to nag nag nag. Oooo, the Fir Bolg are making faces at us, they should be left behind. Oooo, why do the Drow get to run around free. Oooo, why can't we just take over that bat's mind. On and on and on… "

Tulani yawns faintly… before saying, "For supposedly immortal souls, they sure sound impatient… You'd figure, heck, what would another few years or so be to them in the scheme of things… "

"See? We actually like to visit you just to visit you. Remember, we even played that weird miniature golf game with yo … hey way a minute! What's this about taking over the bat's mind?" Alptraum asks and gives Kaira a look. "I do hope you were just kidding. In fact, I think I'll just happily believe you were kidding. Time for more cheese sticks. Yes. At least hear they won't make me projectile vomit. It's hard to be very suave when you're barfing in the bushes… "

"Immortals like to be in charge," Kaira explains. "They aren't team players. Not like you guys. And if you get the chance, can you steal some of the magic cheese? I've got this recipe for a magic omelet that makes you grow an extra head that I've been really curious to try out."