Phoenix Phire

Nix woke slowly; the feel of a wet nose pressed against the side of his face pulled him from a deep sleep. "If you're licking my face again, Del, I'm going to slow roast you over... " The Inferno Leader stopped talking when he opened one eye. "Oh, hey Morti."

"Hey, Nix." Morti huffed softly, making Nix's hair stand on end.

Nix turned on his side, his eyes straying to the open tent flap. "Need something?"

"I want to fly. Everyone else gets to fly." Morti's big black nose filled his entire line of sight.

"You're too fat to fly, Morti." Nix pushed the cub's nose away and sat up. "Didn't we talk about waking me up before 1000 hours?"

"Yep. It's 1130. I asked Semmi to make sure."

Nix's sigh was filled with discontent as he stretched in place before heading toward the exit. "Where is everyone?"

"At the beach. I think you're in trouble again, Nix." Morti exited the tent after him and matched his stride.

"Me? I never get in trouble." The duo walked toward the beach with Nix leaning against the Titan cub as they walked.

"You can put one of those camo things on my helmet and make a bird shape."

"Bears don't fly, Morti. It's common knowledge."

"Turtles don't fly either."

"Good point. How about I look into it?" Nix stopped at the edge of the sand and scanned the beach. Most of the Inferno Officers were sitting in a large group near the end of the surf.

"Thanks, Nix. I want a small bird. The smallest one you can find."

Nix stopped and turned toward the cub. "Tired of being bigger than everyone?"

"Dunno. I've always been the biggest."

Nix scratched the cub's ears with both hands. "If it's important to you, then I will definitely do it."

"Thanks, Nix. You're my best friend."

Nix chuckled and pushed the cub's big head away. "Don't forget it."

"I won't."

Nix approached the group; no one was using their bone form. "Did I miss anything?"

Semmi got up without speaking, accompanied by Jun Li, Nezbit, and Fajii.

Nix took a seat next to Pon. "What's going on, old man?"

Pon didn't even try to keep the large grin off of his face. "Stepped in it this time, Punk."

Wind chuckled from the other side of the Fire Mage. "Agreed. Although for the record, I don't disapprove."

"The hell are you two jokers talking about?" Nix glanced at the others sitting nearby. Sasi was the only female who hadn't left when he joined the group. "Those guys mad at me, Sasi?"

Sasi nodded and pointed to the beach's far side where Sharl and Ronnie were talking with Bali.

"I don't get it." Nix waved at the sisters. "They're mad at Sharl and Ronnie?

[Whisper: Gideon to Nix] I'm trying to decide if you are dense or just oblivious.

[Whisper: Nix to Gideon] If given a choice, I'll pick oblivious.

Nix shrugged slightly and stood up. "This is a waste of my time. Going to find something to do."

/Inferno: Semmi: We're going to have an officer's meeting.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Aren't you staying for the meeting, Nix?

Nix was halfway to his crafting area when he sensed the footsteps behind him. Fajii caught up with him and matched his step. "Talking to me today?"

Fajii gripped his hand in hers and squeezed gently. "Sorry, I was trying to figure out why they were upset. Human women are difficult to understand."

Nix laughed at her statement. "I have no reply for that."

"Want me to tell you what's going on?"

Nix stopped at his crafting table and took a seat. "Not really." He removed a pair of bracers from his inventory and slipped them on. "I missed these guys."

Fajii stared at the bracers for a moment. "Those are the Arch Wing bracers?"

Nix nodded. "Brought them back with me yesterday."

"Those were the 5th item? So there's no way you could have..."

Nix brought up his hud and started studying the Turncoat Burrough. "No way I could what?"

Fajii's face showed her confusion. "They think you brought back swimsuits for Sharl and Ronnie."

Nix laughed at the statement. "That's dumb. I have six items to bring back, and I'm going to waste two slots on swimsuits? Do they think we're on vacation here?"

"They didn't have those swimsuits before. I think they assumed that you brought them."

"Did Sharl and Ronnie say I brought them back?"

Fajii shook her head. "No one asked them."

"I summoned Shae last night so we could discuss the Trifecta; she left again almost immediately." Nix leaned back in his chair, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face. "Going to get some mileage out of this one."

/Inferno: Nix: Hey Ronnie. Where'd you get those spiffy swimsuits?

/Inferno: Ronnie: Shae brought them back for us last night!

Fajii leaned closer and kissed the side of Nix's face. "They should have known better. What was the sixth item?"

Nix held up the last item, his wide grin showing all of his teeth. "Like it?"

Fajii glanced between the item and Nix. "Um... It's very nice, Nix."

"Gonna fly around some. We'll talk later." Nix stood up and summoned Chupa. "She also brought back some black hands. Hahaha. Shits kinda funny."

Nix disappeared in the swirling darkness as the Shadow Raven rose effortlessly into the air; it banked into the wind and continued to climb as it headed out toward the ocean.

"Head north, Chupa. Want to get a look at the Turncoat Burrough." The Deceit Burrough to Turncoat's transition saw the terrain switch from snow-covered foothills to a wide expanse of ice fields. According to Alphie, a large section of the Burrough had once been an inland fresh-water lake. The Burrough itself bordered the SW section of the Keep.

********Authors Note******

A map of the last five Burroughs and the Keep can be viewed on Discord. There is also a map of the Bone Fortress. I'll try and post it here.

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The Fog of War was still in effect, so Nix could only make out terrain features. The rules would change once they claimed Turncoat. Although it was bordered to the North by the Tempest Burrough, only Zed could be attacked next. These rules would force Inferno to move counterclockwise around the Keep as they claimed each of the last five Burroughs. Only then could they assault the fortress.

[Whisper: Gideon to Nix] I can't decide if I'm an idiot or too hasty.

[Whisper: Nix to Gideon] Pick one.

[Whisper: Gideon to Nix] Both. Accept my apology?

[Whisper: Nix to Gideon] Sure.

/Inferno: Nix: Who's guarding the last Deceit prisoner?

/Inferno: Jiggs: That would be me. Going to relieve me?

/Inferno: Nix: Wack him. I'm going in.

The Undead Faction has claimed the Deceit Burrough.

Nix checked his hud for any messages before taking note of the faction numbers. A moment later, he turned off guild notifications and slipped off his [Thine Enemy] ring as Chupa approached the enemy camp at a steep dive

[Bone Fortress, 1210 hours Ice Faction: 3,018 Undead: 1801]

Wooded Barricades were built in staggered circles around a log fort that housed a modest-sized camp. The familiar Trifecta flag flew overhead. The Shadow Raven purposefully slowed when they passed over, giving Nix enough time to toss out his last reserve of Teardrops. Before they completed the pass, Nix kicked free of his mount's saddle and bailed out.

Somewhere before impacting the ground twenty meters later, the Lich King's Emerald Fury aura lit up. An instant later, his bone feet punched deep holes into the ground as both snow and ice fled from his path in a high-pitched hiss of escaping steam.

Nix scanned the immediate area before bringing in his reinforcements.

[Summons: Morti]

[Summons: Tor, Cal, Shadai]

Morti has joined Resolute.

Tor has joined Resolute.

Cal has joined Resolute.

Shadai has joined Resolute.

All four of his summoned companions appeared in bone form. The giant Bone Bear stood on his hind legs before dropping to all fours with a thud that shook the ground.

/Resolute: Morti: We're in a fort?

/Resolute: Nix: Yes. No more Mr. Nice Bear, Morti.

/Resolute: Morti: Okay.

/Resolute: Cal: Do we have any backup?

/Resolute: Nix: You're the backup.

The group stood in the SW corner of the fort, just inside of the sharpened log barriers. A thick haze of smoke blanketed the area, the din of shouting and the slamming of doors seemed oddly quiet following the explosions that had taken place a few seconds earlier.

/Resolute: Nix: Large building straight ahead. Let's break it.

[Hellfire: Emerald Fury][Firestorm: Emerald Fury]

Two massive storms collided inside the wood structure as Hellfire rained head-sized balls of flames downward, the ground beneath them was set ablaze by Firestone. Within seconds, the stout wood structure was engulfed in flames.

An instant later the Bone Bear crashed into the side of the burning structure. Both paws slammed into the weakened wall causing it to collapse inward. Morti continued forward, using his body to widen the hole as his deafening roar filled the air.

[Ground Pounder]

All enemies within 25 meters must attack.

Six men that had been heading for the exit, turned suddenly and rushed the Inferno group. Their own eyes wide with fear as they were forced to run through the flames to face the Bone Bear.

A half dozen strands of emerald fire shot outward and wrapped around the two nearest fighters. Both looked to be heavy armor types, so instead of engaging, Nix slammed them down onto the burning floor several times before casting them aside. A huge paw swept the other four aside when they rushed in, the Bone bear reared back on his hind legs and stomped downward.

An instant later, the burning floor exploded upward, sending burning embers in all directions as a figure stood calmly amidst an aura of black flame.

/Resolute: Morti: Hey...

/Resolute: Nix: Yep. It's a salamander.