Neither Cub or I speak as we run to the old home. He leads us over the buildings and rooftops, just ahead, as we race on. I don't even realise we're at the right place until I'm inside.

'The transceiver's in here.' Explains Cub. 'I'll grab some other stuff.'

I start searching through Scar's room. Drawers, floor, under the bed, where I find something else instead.

A cowboy hat.

A memory rises in mind. Scar telling me about the recipe. How he and Cub swapped... This must be what he gave. I pull it from under the bed, dusting it off, and spot the transceiver next to it. I quickly turn it on.

'Hello?'

'Grian-' Chokes back Jimmy. 'Grian you found it.'

'Yeah. What happened?'

'Tango's dead- Impulse is going to the Crastle for war...'

'War?!'

'Yes, I don't have time... Me and Scott had to run... they send guards after us... But... Meet us at the Crastle. We can join in with what you're doing.'

'Wait, wait, wait... Has Impulse left yet?'

'Y...yeah.'

Panic fills me. We can't stop Ren if Impulse does it first. And if they all catch on to what we're doing...'

'CUB!' I run from the room. He appears, a bag of what looks like gunpowder in hand.

'Bad news. Impulse is going to the Crastle. Now.'

'Now?!'

'Yes!'

'We can't get over to them fast enough on foot...'

And then I remember something. From ages ago. Something Ren told me.

'We need someone who can fly, Grian. We need wings.'

'Wings?'

'We thought you could be the first test.'

'I have an idea.'

I run into my own room, Cub close behind, finding the right floorboard, opening it as I explain.

'You know how I said, right when we met, that I had an alter ego?' I heave a large white rucksack from the hole, unzipping it, and pulling out the wingsuit and mask. 'Meet Poultryman.'

He blinks at me.

'Wings. Ren... Tested the idea of wings. Back when I was helping before. It was abandoned after the vault quest when I ran. Because I took the only working model.'

'I remember. Ren wanted to test it on Scar but... I said if he did I'd help Impulse win...' He sees me struggling to get it on. 'Here. Let me help.'

He does. There are too many straps to fit on, too much to get right, but when it is on it's light, comfortable, despite the size of the wings folded inside it. I take deep breath, donning the chicken mask.

'Let's go.'

'What's the plan?'

'I fly over now. Cause a distraction. Take some of the gunpowder with me. Blow stuff up. Meet with Jimmy and Scott. And then you come in when you arrive and take out Impulse.'

'What if the wings don't work?'

'I plummet to my death.' A pause.

'No.'

'Cub, I'm doing it. I'm sure it works... I tested it a lot.'

'Grian..'

I snatch the gunpowder and matches from Cub's hand.

'Meet you there.'

'Grian, stop...' I ignore, running from the room and back into Scar's. 'Grian, don't do it. Please. You can't...'

'See you on the other side.'

I fall.

Pull the cords.

And...

I stop in midair as the wings spring out and start gliding, swerving around buildings towards where the Crastle sits. I see Impulse's forces... I'm never going to get far enough at this rate. I need some force...some way of acceleration.

My eyes go to the bag of gunpowder, and I smile, grabbing a bunch, throw it behind me, and light a match. Explosion, and I'm shot forwards. I try again, but grab a little less. The Crastle is getting nearer and nearer until...

I skid onto the roof, pausing for a second, getting my bearings... There. The central tower.

Ren. Cleo. Joe. Iskall. BigB.

All around their square table.

I wait until Ren sees me, standing suddenly. A bark for Iskall to get me. I draw a handful of gunpowder and drop it. Light a match and...

Explosion. I catch a scream as glass shards attack the court members.

'GET HIM!' Iskall runs at me. I dodge out the way, throwing gunpowder at my feet, jumping, and taking to the air with the explosion. I circle, grinning down at the group as they gather, and then disappear out of sight.

'GRIAN WHERE ARE YOU?' Jimmy yells through the transceiver.

'Flying over the Crastle... Where are you?' I reply calmly.

'Me and Scott found- You're FLYING?!'

'Yeah. Where are you?'

'Uhh... left side of the crastle.' I glide over, spotting Jimmy and landing next to him. The wings close up.

'Hey, Tim. You alright?'

'We found Bdubs!' Scott runs over. 'He knows Cub! They were working together with... With Martyn!'

'Martyn?! He's dead!'

'I'm not.' He appears, dressed in a simple green t-shirt with a strange swirling symbol on it. 'Long story short, I faked my death so Bdubs had an excuse to get out. Meanwhile, Cleo's been spreading gunpowder around the Crastle for us. Cub's been out of action since Etho's death, but he's been spying for us. And now Jevin's taken over... Does this make sense?'

'Cleo's- part of it?'

'Yeah. We wanted to get you involved too but... You were always training, or hiding away.'

'Impulse is coming.'

'REN!'

'Correction: Impulse is here. What does this do to our plan?'

'It's lit.' Before we can do anything else, Bdubs bursts into view. 'Let's go.'

There's no time for questions or answers as I hurtle after the others. I catch sight of Ren and the court standing at the entrance to the Crastle. Upon sight of us, Cleo slips away to join.

'It's done?'

'All done.'

'How long?'

'We don't know. But the further away we are, the better the view.' We keep running.

Gunshot.

I hit the ground with a scream as guards run over, bleeding. Iskall. I scramble to my feet, tearing off the wing suit and punch. A miss. We keep fighting, him always stronger, better. I try to be faster, but I've got the TNT too.

Explosion.

It almost blows me off my feet. I twist around to see the Crastle fall in on itself, burning and smoking. Ren slowly turns to face it.

'You're in trouble.' Iskall snarls. I can't fight him any more as I'm dragged away, helpless. No one helps me. They're too far gone.

I'm dumped somewhere between Ren and Impulse, catching a glance up. A figure stands on a nearby rooftop, bow in hand. Cub.

'Grian.'

'King- King Ren.' I look up at him. 'It's been a blast.' His eyes narrow at the joke.

'You did this.'

'No.'

He walks over, dangerous. I lunge for him, held back. He doesn't react.

'Your plan failed, Grian. We're just back where we began. And you're going to die. And Mumbo's death will end up being for nothing. Scar's death will be for NOTHING!'

'YOU'RE NOTHING!' I shout back, ignoring the tears down my face.

'I never cared about him. He was weak. Scared.' Ren steps closer. 'Easily hurt. He meant nothing to me.'

'Then why did you try to hurt him?'

'Because I wanted to.'

I don't realise I kick my self free of Iskall's grip. I don't realise there's a knife in my hand. I don't hear anything over the blood in my ears as I stab Ren again and again and again until he's dead.

I barely hear someone yell my name.

I barely realise what's happened.

I barely notice the arrow until it shoots

straight

through

my

neck.

:)