The walls to the former Elf gourmet coffee shop rumbled under heavy synths. A line of ravers waited outside the establishment while others were burning stuff, and breaking glass. The corporate beans logo had been spray painted over with calls to anarchy and graffiti of the all hottest bands with the scene kids. Inside the Death Drag Piercers were performing their latest set under blinding crystal strobes lights. Edward strutted behind the former frappe bar in his underwear, drunk, and blitzed. The rest of the band played in clothing and makeup fitting the band name while the harem of every gender, both living and dead danced.

“I’ve got nothing to say, because I'm a royal pain in the ass. A spoiled ruler came to burn the town with a frown, raise the dead so you dance” he mumbled into his shoe that had been thrown over the standing microphone while gazing into the crowd.

Durner took over stomping on a box to fuzz up his lead guitar, while chanting gang vocals to fill the mix. Edward continued to slap his bass with his picking hook playing nothing but the same 1/8th notes repeated on. Eventually the band let off the gas leaving only Roger swinging on his drums made from human skin.

“You guys know real well that we aren’t usually a fan of wrapping things around here” said Edward winking at the fans.

“But on the other hand we do love rap music so give it up for our very special guest Drill_Mold” he finished.

Cap began playing samples of industrial drills with his keys, as the lights went dark as turntables began to scratch.

“Check it out Joe, Ha!” another sample began before skipping to another language further on.

Durner laughed.

“Freestyle a good beat to ride on gents” instructed Drill_Mold to the band.

He wore a slain cult leader's bloody robes, and signature jeweled hockey mask. The beat slowed to a zombie crawl before the DJ chopped and screwed in some saxophones.

Roger picked up on the cymbals, while Cap started mixing in distorted demon cowbells.

“Came her to play with my freaks, two dead bitches around my arms, and two more in my trunk, take a walk with me living free on the edges of society, I stay real because there's only one life so why not try a little of everything, light the fuse, and blow em all. Just follow the golden rule to always treat your momma like the Queen” free-styled Drill_Mold before he was really screwing his Terp pressed vinyls on the turn table.

Edward began to miss bass notes as he remembered the ransom letter that had gone unanswered. The song was soon finished, and the crowd clamored for an encore. As they raged the King was nowhere to be seen backstage. Edward had thrown on the nearest clothes he could find that were merch from the band and very sticky. Having slicked out the back door he climbed onto his magma cycle in an alley. Quickly roaring over a dead street under full moons. Soon he was barreling down the highway with Elf city towering behind in the skyline. His long black hair blowing in the winds on route to the Killin Woods. His hand revved the engine up to maximum overdrive on the open road with his hook freely dangling at the side.

Meanwhile far away the swamps air sat still, and so did the big rig full of Jungle Juice.

“We are stuck here,” said Mule climbing outside.

“You stay with me so I know I’m not about to be dumped in a bog” cried the Queen.

She double checked her crossbows bolt was still in place, and the passenger door behind her was locked shut.

“Shut the driver door before some kind of creature sneaks in under the bucket seat” she said.

“Jed I need you out here to work a shovel” yelled Mule.

“Lady, we aren't going to just run off into a dark swamp and leave you here with our precious cargo, so stay in here, stay safe, and we will dig the truck out in one piece” said Jed.

He left without any respect for the Queen’s ability to slay. Jed’s feet splashed into a thin layer of water before the mud sucked them in just like the truck tires.

“Here you go buddy time to start digging” said Mule approaching with a shovel in his mouth.

Jed grabbed it in the dim light made by the headlights casting behind. Water and mud began to fling away from the front most tire. He worked away making no visible progress at unsticking the truck. Unsatisfied with this strategy he stuck the shovel into the mud, and put his body weight onto it.

“Mule I think we need to come up with something else here, how about we try putting some of the dead wood around us under the wheels as leverage, I also think it’s time to cut off my race car like the tumor it has become in working to kill us” said Jed before running out of breath.

A floating light approached from the rear. The donkey revealed itself carrying the crystal light in his mouth before setting it on the ground in order to speak.

“Alright, your stonesaw is still in the car, we are going to need it to cut some sticks” said Mule.

“Yeah it is unless our traveling companion threw it out, in that case we will be screwed” said Jed.

He labored through the mud past 18 wheels. Mule picked up his light and followed easily due to his weight being balanced on four hooves.

“Here we are,” said Jed, pulling out his stonesaw.

The device was powered by electro crystals that rotated a belt of razor sharp cutting crystals. This was a deadly, but very loud combination.

“Ok now we need to find our victim wood” said Jed looking off into the fog filled swamp waters.

“You can't kill what's already dead” observed Mule pointing to the hulking shadow of a waterlogged oak.

Jed wadded into the murky waters slowly feeling his way through lifting his saw overhead. He rationalized that If a predator was lurking underneath his fancy armor would hopefully be enough to stop teeth. The water was a pitch black void, and the sediment he was kicking up was more rancid than any skunk. Bubbles, and splashes of what was probably Jed was the only sounds nearby. Finally crossing to the other side he pulled himself onto a giant mound of soggy moss where the tree sat. He had chosen this one because it was closest to being in the center of the headlights. Now he realized that he needed to cut at certain angles to avoid becoming blinded and making a fetal mistake.

"Alright here goes nothing" said Jed to assure himself before he began yanking up and down on the devices pull chord.

The saw came alive spitting sparks into the water, moss, and onto Jed's metal armored legs. He quickly made his first incision into the tree. He cut in 90 degrees, pulled the saw out, and then completed cutting an acute angle into the wood that he knocked out. Now he would cut from the other side so as not to crush their ride. Jed gave mule the thumbs up. A guttural growling grew louder and louder until it had filled the swamp overpowering the sound of everything. The sound of a predatory animal that made even the most hardened man freeze, get goosebumps, and sent the hairs of anyone who heard it up in the air.