The sun was starting to rise, Ven noted. Had that much time passed already? He needed to get moving. Ven pushed himself up with some effort, then started to move. Taking one step after another, moving through whatever pain he had, he headed for Archie’s. And what pain he had. To put it into perspective, it would be easier to ask what didn’t hurt. A gash across his leg, singed or burnt skin in several places, his eyes stinging and sensitive, bruises all over, and probably a cracked rib. Those were just what he knew about too.

In short, he was not comfortable, but he was alive. And not only alive, he was ALIVE! Oh yeah he felt terrible physically, but he couldn’t claim that he wasn’t satisfied. Action, adventure, high stakes, barely escaping with his life, he probably had enough adrenaline pumping through him to last a normal person a lifetime.

Which meant two weeks Ven time, give or take.

Ven paused for a second, checking if anyone was around before opening is satchel. Inside it, wrapped in cloth, was the dagger that he was hired to steal. Good, he still had it. Small mercies. If he lost it now…

Well he didn’t want to think about it. He had it, and that was all that mattered.

So step after step, Ven moved, slowly and carefully. Hours went by, and by the time he got near Archie’s, people were already up and about their day.

'Just a few more steps', Ven thought to himself. He was almost there. Archie’s shop. Good old shop. Run down, and musty, with lots of blue in his window… Wait what?

Ven did a double take,blinking a few times, not trusting his eyes. He blinked a few times, so his eyes could focus better on what was in front of him.

Ven blinked again, confirming what he saw, then asked, “Blue-bell?”