Alden was up and running within minutes of waking up. Energy pulsed through his blood, vibrating like a purring engine demanding to be let loose. He showered and put on a fresh set of clothes, setting aside his mud-spotted and soaked set from the night before along with the sheets he'd been laying on. He'd have to ask Rika about getting those cleaned. Alden felt he'd be spending a much longer time in Rallsburg than he'd originally expected.

A few minutes later, he was out the door and onto the walkway connecting the apartments. Alden nearly bowled over a mousy girl standing at the railing with blue-and-brown hair, who squeaked indignantly but nonsensically at him. He shouted an apology over his shoulder while he burst through the door into Rika's apartment, eager to get started with the day. A moment too late he considered that she might not appreciate him barging in—as reflected in her expression.

Rika was standing on the balcony overlooking the drop off into the forest behind the apartments, hanging up her clothes from the previous day to dry on a line. She was clothed, but Alden still felt like he'd stumbled all over her privacy.

"Dude, knock," Rika snapped. She hung up her shirt, still glaring at him. Her intricate tattoos seemed to glare at him too, between the harsh lettering on her shoulder and the thorny entwined roses on her arm.

"Sorry," Alden mumbled, his eyes falling to the floor.

"Whatever. What's up?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to do some more before we head out today," Alden said, feeling awkward.

"If you keep staring at the floor I'm gonna start feeling bad." Rika slid the balcony door closed, eyeing him with an amused look. "As fun as that sounds, I'm thinking we should save our energy for the actual elaborate heist, eh?"

"What, then?"

"Breakfast?" Rika said. "Dan's actually has good doughnuts, for a diner. Friend of his bakes them every morning and sells them at the counter." She looked over his shoulder and barked out a "Hey, you!" The girl who Alden had nearly knocked over the front railing made an odd 'hmm' noise. She'd been watching them through the open front door with interest. "You got something to say?"

The girl cocked her head to one side, looking confused.

"Why are you just standing there staring?" Rika asked, taking a step toward her. The girl pulled her hood up tight and started walking down the apartment row, disappearing into one of the doors near the end. Rika shrugged. "Bizarre."

"Maybe you scared her," Alden suggested.

"Me? What could possibly be scary about moi?" Rika asked.

"Well you're strong, you've got some huge tattoos, and you look like you're ready for a fight all the time. And you shoot lightning from your eyes."

"I do not."

"Ever tried?"

"Actually—" Rika started but her phone buzzed, interrupting her thought. "It's Viper, wants us to meet at the bar. Says something's up." She looped her bag around her waist tightly. "Let's go."

"So what do your tattoos mean?" Alden asked while they strolled down the street toward Dan's diner.

"Ask me again sometime," Rika muttered.

"The bird is really pretty. And the flowers too…" Alden continued, fishing for a topic. Before he could land something interesting, Rika interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh, shit."

She pulled Alden into a gap between the buildings and off the street.

"Huh?"

"Look!" Rika hissed, leaning out.

Alden craned his neck to see around the corner above her. Down the street was a huge burly man with a beard thick as a bear's fur, towering over a small robed girl. As her robe fluttered back in the wind, Alden recognized the telltale silver-grey hair of Cinza. She was flanked by two other robed figures, one of whom had dark red curls poking out.

"What are they doing?"

"It doesn't matter. It can't be good," Rika muttered.

"Shouldn't you call someone?" Alden asked tentatively.

Rika shook her head. "Getting the police involved would only make this worse. The less scrutiny on Cinza's group, the better. No one wants magic out in the world, not yet. She's just gotta deflect him. Whatever the stupid lumberjack wants, just give it to him and move on."

"You and your folk burned my land," the burly man growled, and despite being a block away Alden could make out his voice clearly.

"Mr. Harrison, I'm sorry for the damage to your property, but my people were not involved," Cinza replied in her usual airy fashion.

"Save it. We all know what you're up to now. Summon up your fire and let's have it out."

"I will not fight you, Mr. Harrison," Cinza replied, taking a step back. Her partners, however, seemed to have missed the message, as their robes ruffled and arms raised. A puff of flame flickered into being above one hand. The red-haired girl summoned a few shiny rocks out of her sleeve, levitating them threateningly above her palm. Robert took a step back automatically, his eyes locked on the fire.

"He doesn't look surprised," Alden breathed, not daring to raise his voice above a whisper.

"No shit," Rika answered just as quietly. "Something's happened." She pulled out her phone. "I'm calling Rachel."

A brief burst of police siren rendered Rika's call irrelevant. The sheriff's cruiser rolled up next to Robert. From the front seats burst Rachel herself, with the sheriff in tow. Rika froze, her hand hovering just above her erstwhile friend's name on her phone.

"Robert, desist!" Jackie called.

"These bastards burned down a huge chunk of forest!" Robert shouted back. "We agreed to look the other way, but that was before!"

"Do you have proof?" Rachel asked, walking calmly between the massive Robert and diminutive Cinza.

Between them, the willowy Rachel looked like the perfect middle ground, except that she was still the tallest in the group. Alden admired her bravery, even as the tiny flame in Cinza's lieutenant's hand puffed larger. Rachel shot him a fierce look. To Alden's surprise, the flame puffed out, while the stones floating above the red-haired girl's hand fell to her palm.

"Thank you."

Robert didn't let up, and though he wasn't shouting anymore, his voice still carried across the street. "I know they were out in those woods not two nights ago, right before the fires started. I saw their lights through the trees."

"So was I," Rachel answered, still perfectly calm. "They finished their business and went to their homes as usual. They only use light. It generates no heat or flame. Whatever fires were started, they weren't by Cinza's people."

"Look, I'm tolerating you 'awakened'," Robert practically spat the word. "because Jackie vouches for you, but don't think I don't know better. You've got something going on with Rhistler."

"What the fuck is going on?" whispered Rika. "What the hell happened yesterday?"

Alden just shook his head. He wanted to hear more.

"I've heard about your friend, Rachel," said Robert.

Rika stiffened next to Alden. For a moment, he worried he might have to restrain her from blitzing the group. The tension in the air was thick enough already. Alden didn't believe the situation would survive Rika hurling herself into the fray.

"Those bodies had electrical burns. If you're trying to pull a cover-up with the mayor, we'll find out. I might agree to helping protect your whole little community, but that doesn't mean we have to keep murderers safe."

"She wanted me to leave…" Rika breathed. Alden glanced at her, and for the first time saw an ounce of real fear in Rika's eyes. It was chilling.

Rachel shook her head. "I won't protect anyone from the full authority of the law. The law, Mr. Harrison. We still live in a civilized country, where the innocent are protected with due process. If she is convicted, then you will have my full support."

"Convicted by who?" Robert shot back. "How are we supposed to hold court with your kind?"

"We'll figure that out when we find her," Jackie snapped. "Now back down, Bob. That girl's not done anything yet, and I don't allow citizens' arrests in my town."

For a moment, Alden thought a fight might actually break out in the middle of the street, but Robert merely grunted in frustration and anger before stomping down the street with clenched fists. Rachel gave a terse nod to Cinza before seating herself back into the passenger seat of the police cruiser. The sheriff crossed the gap to exchange a few quiet words with the robed girl before rejoining Rachel, and the cruiser sped off, while Cinza's trio proceeded down the block to Dan's diner. Suddenly—as suddenly as they'd come upon the encounter—the street was utterly deserted.

Rika slid down the side of the wall to the concrete, her head in her hands. Alden double checked to make sure no one was watching them, but Rika didn't seem to notice. Her voice came out in a pained whisper.

"What the fuck am I supposed to do now?"