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Chapter Text

I see Howard laying there, lifeless. What have I done? Oh man.. what happened? I look down at my suit clad hand, holding the sorcerer's ball and drop it, horrified. My feet run for my best friend's side, hot tears starting to well in the corners of my eyes. As I'm trying to blink away the previously mentioned tears, I sink to my knees beside Howard, looking for some sign of life. "No, no no no, come on Howard, this can't be it." I reach for his hand, when-

"Randy-" I hear him croak weakly. My hands move to clutch his shoulders instead of his hand,

"I'm here buddy" I barely hear myself squeak those words out, my head feels too fuzzy right now, everything's swimming. I feel my brow furrow, and I try to shake myself out of this funk. "I'm here." I say a second time, but this time I can't tell if it's more for me or for him. He looks so bad. I cringe, "I'm so sorry buddy" I try to keep my voice as steady as possible, I don't think I've ever felt anxiety this overwhelming.

"Randy.." He says again, his voice is so hoarse and my eyes widen in horror when I see him... cough up blood.. oh.. no.. nonono

"What is it buddy?" I manage, and my voice can't hold steady anymore. It can't. It feels as if ice water is flowing through my veins right now. Even the slightest movement takes so much effort, as if I'm pushing through some sort of invisible and painful barrier. My hands hurt, when did they start hurting? Either way it's nothing compared to the pit in my stomach, like I'm on the drop tower at whoopee's but without the fun of literally any of it.

"I.. I don't think I'm.." Howard pushes those words out, I can tell it's difficult. I swallow the lump in my throat,

"Howard.. don't.. "

"No.. Randy.. listen.." He heaves a big, shaky breath, his lungs wheezing. I feel hot tears prick at my eyes again, I hate this so much.

"Howard you're too bruce to go out like this c'mon.." I hear Howard let out a tired chuckle,

"Ha.. Randy.." His voice is barely a whisper now. I close my eyes and move to put my head in his shoulder, "Randy..."

"Randy!!"

Huh? what was that? That was my best friend's voice but.. too energetic..

"Randy! C'mon, classes are changing."

What?

Someone shoves at my arm, I jolt and suddenly I'm in the science classroom, looking up at Howard, who was just waking me. So it was a nightmare. My heart is still racing, that pit is still in my stomach and being woken up like that freaked me out. So I take a sec to find my chill, and once I do I stand and start grabbing my books and pencils and all. " Randy you alright Buddy? You look kinda... bad." I roll my eyes,

"Gee, thanks pal, really helps." The ginger crosses his arms and furrows his brows beside me,

"I'm just asking to be a good friend, sheesh." He speaks with a certain sass, but what's new. My hand moves to the back of my neck, where I rub it.

"Listen ah, it was just.. another one of, y'know.. those nightmares.." I shrug and look away. Howard is alright, so logically, I shouldn't still be thinking about it. I know I was asleep and couldn't control it, but still. That means it's floating around in my noggin without me knowing, and that's super not the cheese if you ask me. I almost miss Howard's concerned look. Almost.. and I kinda wish I did. Howard thinks, then speaks up. Something he's much better at then i am- thinking before you speak.

"I got the new Grave Puncher. You wanna play it together tonight?"

I feel myself soften a bit, and I can't help the warm grin that breaks out on my face. "You know it buddy."

+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+×+

The rest of the day goes by in a blur for me. For most of the day nothing feels real, luckily it's our first day of grade ten, and the teachers are feeling nice I guess, so we aren't doing much. I try to pay attention to Howard when he talks to me, but the way I'm hearing him talk is as if I had a space helmet over my head. It's hard to understand people with one of those on. We're walking to our last period class, and Howard's telling me about.. something. I really am trying to pay attention but my brain is just straight up refusing to zoom back in to the real world. So here I remain, in doodle land. That is until Howard stops, and puts his hand on my arm. The look he gives me is so genuinely caring and concerned, that and his touch are what help to reel me back in, just a bit.

"Cunningham," His voice sounds so far away.. He takes a deep breath, then pulls me aside in the hallway to chat with me as privately as possible. He looks around, "Listen, I'm here. I'm okay. I didn't die. I know it doesn't scrub the memory of it from your brain, definitely doesn't scrub it from mine. " he chuckles, if a bit bitterly. I take a few deep breaths. He's okay. He is okay. He's here, in front of me. Alive and well, if a bit scarred. But then again, so am I. I keep reminding myself that everything is okay and I feel the fog in brain start to lift a bit. I finally find the brain power to speak,

"I know, I know you're okay. Tried telling myself that when I woke up from that nightmare, but you know how thick the ole' noggin can be, heh heh" I joke weakly. Howard shoots me a small smile, and I feel my chest squeeze. I really couldn't ask for a more Bruce best friend. A bit caught up in the moment I go in to hug him, and because we have hugged plenty before he just returns it no questions asked. I linger for a sec soaking in the comfort of the hug before pulling back. I can feel a weak smile tug at my lips, "Thanks, Howard. I guess I just needed to hear that reminder from your mouth hole. I am still feeling a bit loopy, but much better than earlier. Now let's get this last class over with so we can get our game on!" I see Howard smile with more energy than earlier,

"Nice! Cunningham's back!" I can't help the shoobtastic grin that splays across my face as we do our handshake.

We drag ourselves through our last class and mosey on over to Howard's as soon as the bell rings. Definitely feeling alot better than earlier, but I'll still probably be feeling a little off for the rest of the day. I'm just grateful there hasn't been any Mcfist bots yet today, I don't think I could handle any. Me feeling off means I'll probably lose to Howard alot more than usual too, especially because this is a new grave puncher. I'll never admit this to the shoob, but I don't really care about losing. When it's to him specifically, anyway. My brain zones back in and Howard is holding my hand? What? I pull it away, confused. "Why were you holding my hand?" I mutter, tone suspicious.

"Because you weren't watching where you were going? You almost walked into a moving car. Twice." He points out, one brow furrowed and the other raised. He waggles a finger at me, "I am NOT letting my best friend walk into traffic, Cunningham. Not on my watch." I chuckle, making the 'calm down' motion with my hands, which had since both been freed from Howard's grip.

"Okay, okay. Sorry." I say, giving off a jokingly defensive done. This next sentence, I want to sound serious, though. "Seriously, though. I'm sorry I've just had a lot on my mind today." Howard gives me an impatient look,

"Yeah, no CHEESE Cunningham. Let's just go." He says in a huff. I know he's not really mad, and I smile gently, my insides warming. "

Thanks for looking out for me, buddy." I say, my tone matching the gentleness of my smile. I see my best friend look back at me, dropping the pouty look to smile a gentle smile in return. He reaches his hand back toward me, and I grab it without hesitation. A silent oath to one another, we'll always have each-other's backs.

We spend most of the night gaming, our eyes glued to the screen. Next thing I know, Howard pauses the screen randomly. What gives?

"Hey man what gives?" I voice aloud, Howard's looking down at the floor solemnly. "Howard?" I tentatively put my hand on his shoulder, "Buddy?" Said ginger heaves a deep sigh.

"Listen Cunningham, I didn't want to tell you this earlier because you were well.. you know... and I took so long to bring it up now cause I was having such a good time gaming with my best bro but.." he groans in dismay and anxiety fills me. My concern kinda just takes over my face. What's going on? Is he gonna tell me he's moving to another state or something? "I just gotta get it over with. I'm going a way for a week. Next week. I'll be back the week after though! Heheh" he smiles and chuckles nervously. Oh. Well that's not as bad as I thought it was gonna be.

"What the cheese, Howard! I thought you were gonna tell me you were moving to another state or something wonk like that!" Howard actually laughs, not nervously.

"Oh..man yeah.. I really.. I really had you going there.. didn't I?" He manages between fits of hardy laughter, his face red. I blink slowly and my brows knit.

"Not. Bruce. Man." I state as seriously as possible. "Not. Bruce." Howard rolls his eyes playfully,

"Oh come ON Cunningham, it wasn't THAT bad. I really am going away for a week though. Family vacation or something." I grab Howard's shirt with one hand and put my other to my forehead.

"B-But! What will I do for a whole week without my best bro.." I grab his shirt with the hand that was on my forehead and make puppy eyes at him, my bottom lip wobbling.

"I know" the ginger before me begins exasperatedly, "I know it'll be hard without your super Bruce, super handsome, super smart best friend, but!" He pauses dramatically before continuing, "I have faith in you, Randy Cunningham. You can survive without me." Neither of us can hold it in anymore and we both explode with laughter. My ribs hurt, and I'm wiping tears from my eyes and it's at that point that I start trying to breathe. Once I calm down enough to get a sentence out, I say;

"Howie, baby, I will miss you, you know that right?" Howard smiles and snorts,

"I will too Cunningham."

Chapter Text

I spent the rest of the week and weekend with Howard, obviously. But now, it's monday. And the week ahead of me is a week I've been dreading for a long time. (Since monday last week when Howard told me.) This week shouldn't be too too brutal though, Since all I have left to deal with in terms of Ninja business are Viceroy's robots. And we all know how well those work.

I snort to myself at that thought.

In terms of student business? Well..  The teachers handed out homework in both my morning classes. At least it's only like a page of each. But stiiillll.

Lunch finally comes around. Despite it being lunch,  there is a frown that has set itself up on my face and refuses to leave. The day is just.. so boring.. without Howard. Our usual table comes into my vision, and I sit there on my lonesome, as expected. Not much has changed in Howard's popularity status since last year, let alone mine. I'm doing my absolute best to mind my business, when I sense the one and only Bash Johnson and his posse of clowns walk up to me. Great.

"Hey! Where's that lil ginger fella you're always with?" They watch me shrug, though I AM a bit suprised he chose to bring that up.

"On vacation." I state simply, my voice carefully flat. Why bother looking at them? They don't deserve the time of day. Just gonna keep picking at my stroganoff.

" Ha! Shoob! So you're on your own till he gets back?" Suprised he had the brain power to figure that out. Well..Bash is just full of surprises today, isnt he?

"Yea I guess.." I trail off, finally looking up at him out of pure curiosity if anything, and as I do he grins and knocks me out of my chair. Luckily (or unluckily ) the schnasty beef stroganoff doesn't get knocked over with me, so at least it isnt all over everything, and there are no showers to be taken. Buuut that also means I still have to eat it. "Ughhhh" Groans rise from my mouth and I start to pick myself up off the floor, dusting myself. That kinda hurt.. definitely gonna have bruises later.
"Good one, Bash." My tone is as unimpressed as possible.

A bruce zing is about to be added to that when horrified screaming starts up from down the hall. A robot? Are you kidding me? There weren't ANY last week and now that Howard isnt here they start showing up? Of COURSE. I facepalm, groaning out my annoyance. Then, I run for the bathrooms so I can ninja out.

"Hey! Where do you think you're goin'? Shoob!" I roll my eyes,

"I've got places to be, Bash." I state impatiently.

I duck into the bathroom when I'm sure nobody is around, pull on my ninja mask and dart out once the the black and red ribbons finish doing their thing. I follow the source of the screams and terror chaos, happening on a-

What the juice? Stank'd Flute Girl??

There is a pit beginning to form in my stomach. This ... isn't good. Can't be good. I swallow the lump in my throat and whip out my sword, approaching her carefully.

"Uh, heyyy! Flute Girl! Wanna tell me what's going on? Hmmm?" The monster that was Flute girl looks at me, narrowing her eyes and releasing a guttural growl that found it's way into my bones. My body shivers. Often, I feel as if I'm being hunted. This is seriously next level, though. "Ninja sprint outta the school!" I announce, and do just that. She definitely looks like she's gonna charge me, at least if she does it outside it's less damage to the school. The school steps are under my feet,  when a huge, clawed hand wraps itself around me. Next thing I know I'm flying across the parking lot and my landing pad is Slimovitz' car. Classic, but also, ouch.

My eyes peel open after the impact, everything is spinning and everything hurts. Doing my best to shake myself out of it, I stand back up, sporting a fighting stance and noting that the pain from that throw was alot worse than it'd usually be. Huh. That's probably an important realization, but figuring out how to destank this girl is the first thing on my list right now. "Ninja chain-nado!" I take out my chain sickle, looping it as I run circles around her, so as to immobilize the stank'd girl. I step back once I'm done to observe the currently chained up Flute Girl. Usually when she gets upset it's something to do with Stevens. "Gotta find Stevens gotta find Stevens" I mutter to myself as I take off.

I find him hiding in the band room. Flute Girl has since (obviously) freed herself from the chains. I gotta get this story as quick as I can. "Stevens!" I exclaim.

He toots a questioning trombone note and raises a brow.

I grab his shoulders, "YA GOTTA COOL IT WITH THE TOM CATTING!" He gives me a few more trombone notes and what I gather from them is that he hadn't done anything to upset her. Somehow, I don't believe that. "Just apologize to her, Stevens!" Over this. This whole situation. Speaking of, guess who comes crashing through the wall?

Yeah. My hands take Stevens by his shoulders and he is then shoved towards the rampaging teen monster girl. Stevens takes off his hat, bowing in front of her before giving what I would rate as a 4/10 Trombone solo.

Flute Girl, however, continues her rampage, throwing chairs, tearing up books and finally,  running towards me. She's really set on destroying me, huh. That feels important. As she gets closer, my eyes widen and I bolt back outside. A pounding resonates from inside my ribcage. What could she hold most dear? Her band hat? Princess Tootie?

First though, Stevens' trombone gets sliced up. That worked once right? When it doesn't work I stop running from her, and the wind whips past my head as a flip over her is pulled off by the Ninja himself, (me) and her band hat is ninja sliced midair. No stank comes from it, so while she's trying swat me as if I were a fly, I manage to grab princess tootie. Slice that. Still no stank! What the juice is going on here? This situation CLEARLY calls for the nomicon, cause I can't figure what the cheese is going on right now. This is all sorts of wonk. My feet move away from her quickly, eyes searching around for a safe spot. In the distance, closer to the forest there is an alcove where it looks hidden enough that I'd be safe to shloomp in for a bit. It means the school will be left in chaos for a lil, but I NEED the help.

"Smokebomb!" One such item is thrown onto the ground by me as I shout that. Immediately, under the cover of the red smoke, my feet start moving as fast as they can to the alcove I spied earlier. Using my ninja senses, I zone in on Flute Girl to get an idea on her general area. Her growls and shrieks aren't closing distance, so she hasn't caught on yet to me taking off, at least.

The alcove gets closer and closer, I just gotta keep pushing I'm almost there. With those words of encouragement to myself, I heave a deep breath then pick up speed. I clutch the scarf that is flapping behind me, I wrap it around an upcoming tree and use the momentum to slingshot myself in the direction of the alcove. I fly through the air for a bit before sticking the landing onto the rocky ledge/cave thing I was aiming for. Boom! Haha, if only Howard was here to see how BRUCE I just was. Okay, gotta focus. My hand reaches for the book currently being held in my suit. Once I feel it in my grasp I pull it out, "Okay, nomicon, maybe you can tell me what the juice is going on-"

"-ARUH"

The Nomicon's aged and inky pages sprawl themselves before me, and I see the first ninja. Alarm bells ring themselves in my ears, the only time I see him is when something BIG is about to happen. The nomicon keeps me floating through it's pages and in the meantime a tension is slowly building itself up in my body. Stress? Anxiety? Worry? All of the above? Probably all of the above. Finally the nomicon drops me (not gently, why would it put me down in gently, right?) in front of the suit clad guy I'd been floating to.

"Greetings again, Ninja 199"

His vibes are so serious I never know what to say around this guy, I mean, c'mon! He's not exactly approachable. I settle for a nod and an awkward wave that I definitely did not mean to make awkward. I'm tryna go for confident here.

"Ninja, you have defeated the sorcerer, but your greatest battle draws near. This evil funk you a trying to combat is not the workings of the sorcerer, but the sorceress." My eyes widen when her name leaves his mouth. For what feels like the thousandth since school started, a pit forms itself in my stomach. Remember that thing I said? About the First Ninja and big stuff happening and yadda yadda? Well.. there it is. I'm so shoobed.

"First Ninja, how do I destank the possessed students then? Starting to panic a bit over here." First Ninja shrugs in response.

"How am I supposed to know? All I know is this; her magic works differently than the sorcerer's. It takes hold in more powerful ways."

"How is that helpful?" I bring my finger to my chin and tap it, " 's mostly just concerning" I mutter. "Also, what do you MEAN 'how am I supposed to know,' YOU'VE FOUGHT HER BEFORE!"

First Ninja groans and shakes his head, "More powerful magic must be stopped at its source."

As he says that there is a pull on my body that tells me my time in the nomicon is coming to it's close for now. My conciousness does it's best to keep a hold on the book, I still have so many questions! "W-wait! What does that mean!?"

First ninja just looks down and shakes his head again. SERIOUSLY? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT? Just as that thought runs through my head the frustration causes my conciousness to slip, and the nomicon pushes me out. My body wakes with a start, and immediately I move to put the ancient book away. "More powerful magic must be stopped at it's source," I repeat to myself what the First Ninja had told me, "Okay," my feet move closer to the edge of the alcove, so I can check out what the Flute Girl situation is. She noticed, and she's on her way.

"Okay. I can figure this out."

Chapter Text

Lucky for me, Flute Girl noticing that I smoke bombed into the forest, brings her away from the school. I flip off the ledge I'm on, landing in the forest and continuing my path away from the school. My ninja senses pick up how far she is from me, but in the process they also pickup a familiar smell.

Rancid bologne and old man's breath.

My eyes go wide as the realization that she's nearby dawns on me. I sniff again, maybe, if I'm lucky I'll find her today. End this here, and now. Wandering through the forest, following the trail of the putrid scent, I weave through the trees and the attacks Flute Girl is throwing at me. Up ahead there's a HUGE tree, and I'm thinkin I can maybe throw Flute Girl off my trail if I can time this right. When my body is close enough to the tree, my hand wraps around my scarf and I use it to grapple a branch on the it. I keep on running till I'm just past the tree. Then, I use my scarf to pull myself out from in front of flute monster girl, and flip onto the branch  I'd grappled before. I pull it off with a perfect score!!

Or at least I would have if the monster hadnt went for me with her claws at the last minute. She got my side, man! So now, instead of enjoying my small victory at outsmarting her, I'm kinda just hanging out on the branch like it's my bed. My eyes move to my hands, which are currently putting pressure on the gash in my side. It stings, and it feels like my skin there is too hot. This is gonna be bad, I'm shoobed. Slowly, I take my hands off the wound to see how bad it really is, and when I realize that there's no pooling blood, and that my hands aren't totally covered, my shoulders relax and a breath of relief leaves my mouth. It honkin hurts!! But at least it's not super deep. I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the pain as I push myself back onto my feet, and try to shake it off.

You've been through worse, Cunningham. You got this.

Saying that helps me steel myself, and makes it easier to go through with what I'm still planning. Flute girl is still rampaging in the forest below me, now confused and letting out angry roars. This is bad, really bad, and I need to fight the sorceress asap before she or any other monsters destroy the whole town. I keep following the scent but in the tree tops, still trying to push the pain in my side to the back of my mind. As I get closer to the smells origin, there's a whispering in the back of my mind that grows louder as the scent grows stronger. At first, it sounds mumbled and garbled, but then I start making out words.

"Will not be..."

"..won't survive..."

"..avenge him.."

That voice definitely belongs to the sorceress... but what the juice is she saying?? I'm only catching snippets, and it's super confusing. I keep going, when;

"I feel you coming, ninja."

The sudden clarity of that voice in my mind sends a shiver down my spine and stops me dead in my tracks. My fists clench at my sides.

"WHERE ARE YOU, COWARD!" My voice carries through the forest as I yell uneasily. My stomach is doing flips right now. There's a pause, then a haunting giggle.

"Ohhh, you REALLY think I would tell you that?"

I shake myself out of my stupor, and try to settle my rising heart rate. I gotta keep it moving, gotta keep a clear mind if I'm gonna find her. I keep following the scent. "I'm gonna find you." I state it like a fact, because it IS. The sorceress cackles in my mind again. I HAVE to find her. In front of me, there's a sturdy looking branch, but it's a bit far. I crouch on the branch to get the power needed to make the jump, but when I do that it bends the skin around my gash so that it opens again, and BOY does it sting. Ugh! It had just stopped bleeding too! My hands move to my side, trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding again.

The feeling of my hands on the gash makes it sting ten times worse, and my hands start shaking uncontrollably. Suddenly the smell of the sorceress gets SUPER strong. My heart skips a beat and my head whips around. Maybe I can find her before she finds me. I dont see her anywhere, so I lift my hand a bit. The blood caked on my hand is sticky now, so when I move my hand to check it's sticky and stringy. The visual of that is enough to make me shiver a bit and cringe. Now there's  sticky blood all over my hands, but at least it's stopped bleeding again.

The smell is more or less burning my nostrils at this point, and I am stressin. I try to wipe  off as much blood as possible on the front of my suit,

"COME ON OUT, SORCERESS!"

I try again, watching the ground below me for any movement. Or at least I was until spindly hands sprawl across my back and push. Hard. The tumble from the branch to the ground isn't short, and I hit the ground hard. Feels more like the ground hit me, if I'm being honest.

The sorceress is currently just chilling on the branch I was just on. Hmph. "HEY! That was my branch!" The sorceress cackles but doesn't respond, choosing instead to come at me with her blue stank. Yeah, not on my watch. I push through the pain yet again. Everything hurts, but I NEED to get moving. So, I jump up, and manage to dodge it at the last second. I immediately take out two ninja rings, and throw them at her. Unexpectedly, stanked flute girl breaks through the trees and comes at me. I kiss my teeth, frustrated with myself. Should have been paying attention to that. Ah, well no point on dwelling on that now. One of the trees in front of me has a long vine, and an idea takes root in my brain. I run for it, looking for the start of the vine, and once I find it I cut it as close to the base as I can. I loop it in my hands, making a lasso and jump from tree to tree in a circle. Flute girl dizzies herself trying to keep her eyes on me, and I use the opportunity to throw the lasso'd vine around her. I wrap it a couple times around her, still on the trees and once the vine is tight enough, I push off the tree and use the momentum and gforce to wrap the remainder around her body, disabling her temporarily.

I cheer to myself in victory, when I'm hit in my side by a ray of evil funk. As I'm put to the ground again, my only thought is that I'm an absolute shoob for forgetting the sorceress is there. She's cackling but it sounds distant, and my vision is out of focus. I feel myself stand again, though I feel as if I'm detached from my body's actions. I look down at my hands, vision still unfocused and there's chain sickles within them. I don't remember taking them out, but okay. My body runs forward and throws the chain sickles so that the wrap around the sorcereress. Sweet cheese, I actually caught her! I get close to her, driving my fists into her face a few times, before taking out my sword. I move to stab her in the gut, the anger and frustration from this encounter fueling me. She rolls, away at the last second. She dodges my sword, but not quick enough because I still manage to get her in the side. I'm met with a sprawling satisfaction at returning to her the same wound her stank'd monster had given me. I move to her again, putting my fist up to her face. This time, I don't hit her. I do get ready to extend the knuckles spikes of my suit into her throat, when she breaks free of the chain lunging at me with her claws. I feel her claws hit my shoulder, hissing at the stinging feeling it leaves behind. She cackles again, though she is noticeably in bad shape.

"You've grown in strength, ninja. I must go, you've taken quite a bit out of me, suprisingly. But I WILL be back, mark my words. She turns to leave, and my heart rate rises as panic feels me. I NEED to beat her NOW or Flute girl-

"Hey ninja, are you gonna get me outta here?" My head searches for the source of the voice, pure confusion filling me because Flute girl is there, destanked and okay other than being stuck in and currently trying to untangle herself from the jumble of vines.

"But-" my voice begins in confusion, turning my head back to where the sorceress had just been. She's gone. I punch the tree beside me, yelling in frustration. I quiet down and take a few moments to just breathe.

"Ninja!" Flute girl's impatient voice pierces through the relative silence. I roll my eyes, beginning to walk in her direction.

"Yeah, yeah! I'm coming!" I call back, annoyed.

~~~

I set Flute Girl free, brought her back to school despite the shape I'm in, demasked somewhere private then rushed home.

Now? I'm holed up in my room. I throw the ninja suit back on, focusing on using the healing abilities to heal the gash in my side and the cuts on my shoulder like I've done tons of times. Except this time it doesn't work. This definitely isn't good, and there are so many unanswered questions that I NEED to figure out. It feels like a race against the clock, if I'm being honest. But right now, I'm tired, and in pain. I just want to go to sleep. I peek into the hallway, making sure my parents aren't around before making a break to the bathroom.

I end up taking a shower, and once I'm clean and dry, I fish out some wrap bandages from the cabinet. It's really annoying, that the healing didn't work honestly, but the most I can do now is damage control. I need to figure out why it didn't work, but that's definitely an issue for tomorrow. I finished wrapping up my injuries as best I can, before throwing on some pajamas and making a break back to my room. The ladder to my bed feels a million meters long today. I finally make it to the top and collapse on the mattress. My head hits the pillow, and almost immediately I feel the tendrils of sleep creeping into my mind. I let them take me, I'm more than ready for this day to be over.