#baronyofthesilverwolf

As they pull up to the quarry, the headlights sweep across a bewildering scene. David stands at the edge of the clearing in the center of the quarry, scratching his head in dismay, his silhouette outlined against the dim light of the waning crescent moon. Before him, several much shorter forms are clustered, their shapes indistinct in the shadows. The faint light casts long, eerie shadows, making it difficult to discern exactly what or who they are.

But it's the voices that catch their attention—youngish voices, high-pitched and filled with urgency. Teenagers, it sounds like, calling out for help. The sound carries on the night air echoing off the stone walls of the quarry.

"Th'fuck?"

Art strains to see from the backseat!

"Oh snot" She opens the doors and looks out

Thistle hops out from the car.

As they get closer, the details of the scene emerge. The figures, now identifiable as 20-somethings, appear shorter because they are sunk up to their knees in solid stone. They yelp and struggle to free themselves.

Citrine swoops down, chiming with excitement as she notices colorful packaging spilling from one of their dropped bags—fireworks, some still intact. The smell of alcohol lingers in the air, and empty beer cans are scattered about, glinting in the dim light.

As the headlights sweep over the scene, David looks up, momentarily shielding his eyes with one large hand. When he recognizes the approaching vehicle, he raises his hand in a gesture of greeting. The beams of light reveal clear relief etched into his features.

"Hokay. We can solve this." She pulls up her hood, seeing if there are any extinguishable light sources.

Gwen winces and musses her hair to make it harder to identify her, then steps out

Only the car, lights still streaming over the scene, and Citrine, who casts a tiny amount of light.

And turns off the car lights if she notices Thistle wanting that

The kids (though they are in their 20's, they are dressed like college kids, or perhaps college drop outs - were squinting, blinded in the light - now starting to change their cries.

"Hey! Help! We're stuck!"

A nod at Gwen. Thistle can see just fine in the dark. "I'll grab the fireworks, you help pull them out once we're clear? David can probably help make it look... um... believable?"

Gwen nods "Say 'got em' when you do" And readies

"This fucker just stood and watches as we walked into this mud!" One guy yells, slurring a bit.

David looks to Gwen, "I did not know what to do."

"Stupid quarry - must be flooded!" A female squeaks plaintively.

"hey, that's MINE!" snaps the third kid, as Thistle gathers up their bags - she can smell the acrid scent of gunpowder in the air, fresh.

A rumble shakes the ground, and Number 3 sinks a good foot further down, his complaints changing to a shriek of fear.

"It's okay," She tells David, and grabs number 3 to pull him a foot and a half up

(Pause, please roll before that action)

"You want these goin' off while you're trapped? Nudniks!"

Thistle wobbles but catches herself!

Gwen stumbles as the ground rolls under her feet, but she catches herself on one knee instead of face planting. However, from her spot down here, she can see that the kids are not actually in mud, but they seem to be in solid stone! It's a good thing she didn't try to pull that kid out!

David immediately holds out a hand to steady her, and murmurs, "Should I loosen the earth's grip?"

A little ways away, there is also a "Whoooaaaaaaa- SPLOOSH" As Art stumbles at the tremor and falls into the pit lake.

"Yes, unless you can use it to lift them up safely... " Then she hears the SPLOOSH "Oh no"

"Oy."

BLUBL - "I'm okay!" He calls, somehow SOUNDING soggy.

She hauls the fireworks over to the lake.

Art is hauling himself out, dripping, drenched.

David's large hand effortlessly lifts two of the soaked and sputtering youths, holding them up as if they weigh nothing. His deep voice carries a mix of authority and disappointment as he addresses them..

"I tolerated your revelry while you merely indulged in your drinks and carefree antics. But when you started hurling those small explosives into the water, I couldn't ignore it any longer. It wasn't just reckless—it was dangerous." David rumbles, even as the two dangle.

Art, meanwhile, drips his way out of the lake, shivering a bit but trying to keep his composure..

Citrine chimes softly, laughing, the only light now coming from her tiny, glowing form as she hovers near the group.

Thistle plunges the bags of UNLIT fireworks into the water, soaking them so they are rendered useless.

Citrine suddenly chimes in rapid protestations!

THE FUN!

SHE RUINS IT!

The third, the one that Gwen was trying to help, flounders in the mud, cussing up a storm.

"You idiots were doing WHAT with the fireworks?" Gwen snaps and shakes the one she had a grip on even as she lifts him up

"Citrine, we can play with sparklers at home." In a low voice.

Number Three squeaks! "Everyone does it!" He grabs at her arm, and goggles when he feels her solid muscle. "Throw a few m-80s or cherries in the lake, it makes a kickass splash!"

She can smell the cheap booze on his breath, it's not pleasant.

"See how many fish float!" He adds!

David rumbles ominously.

"Fishing with explosives is illegal with a fine of up to 500 dollars. And I KNOW A cop!"

She dumps the sodden bags on the shore after dousing each in turn. "You okay Art?"

He looks like another soggy bag, his hair hanging dripping in his eyes. "I'm okay, but watch those rocks, they're slick..." He sounds sheepish.

"Let us go!" The girl squeals. "We're DONE, this place is a bore anyways!"

"A cop?" Kid 1 pales, visible even in the dim. "Geez we don't want trouble. It's just fun! Everyone does it!"

"I wouldn't use the word 'bore' when you could up being drilled into the ground" She warns "And don't do it HERE. It's unstable" Close to the truth

Citrine lands on Thistle's shoulder, still pouting a bit.

"OKay, we're out of here! Just let me go, you damn weirdos!"

David looks to Gwen, a question in his gaze. He holds the two so that they face away from their group.

"Any of them actually sober enough to drive?"

"Good question" A frown and she smells the breath of one

The girl speaks up, "I'll drive Bobby's truck. Just let me down!" She smells a bit like stale pot, but no booze.

And she looks at David, and shakes her head,and mouths 'killing them would draw more attention'

David, after watching to see Gwen release one, takes a few long strides towards where their truck is parked, and drops them on the ground, ungently. They thud, and scramble away.

The girl mutters as soon as she's out of reach "Weird add roided out body builder - let's GO guys, this place is clearly no longer cool."

The drunk one suggests, "C'mon, we can go to mom's trailer and shoot bottle rockets off the porch." Apparently he forgot that he lost his bag.

Thistle shrugs and tosses the ruined fireworks into the back of the truck.

Gwen looks at the liescance plate