Princess in Peril

The sky had turned a deep midnight blue, Pepper could've practically sliced the tension lingering in the air as he stood shaking so hard as Kasper paced back and forth in the run down cabin he had brought them to. As he looked upon the Kasper, Pepper thought he closer to a boy, he couldn't have been more than 18. Still, the experience or lack thereof seemed to mask by the force of sheer frustration emitting from him, as if reaching a conclusion he saw Kas stop his pacing and spin towards him.

"Alright I think I've decided" started Kas, "We need a plan." Nodding his head with a slight smile as if his words hadn't replicated the obvious it was all Pepper could do not to roll his eyes to the Heavens. "What the hell were you doing this whole time then, you've kept me here for hours" moaned Pepper. Kasper tilted his head quizzically as if confused, "Oh you could've left whenever, besides isn't it obvious? Unless you're hiding some kind of laser beam in your backside we're going to need more than us to drown the Ferryman." At this the sprinkling remains of color Pepper retained in his face finally drained. "What the hell is a laser beam?" "Details, details, not important." Kas retorted as he was flattening his pack on the ground as a makeshift pillow before laying his head facing Pepper. "You said The Pack is based in a dungeon down south of here right?" "W-w-well yes but its a week at least by foot I wouldn't say close" Pepper managed as his nervousness grew realizing his future might have just been cut down a lot shorter. Turning away from Pepper, a few minutes had passed and Kas seemed to have fallen asleep until he quietly, as if a whisper said "I'm not worried about that we still need to find some recruits and train up, I don't know about you but I just starting using weapons recently and this isn't Solo level up time I'll need help." At the admittance of the lack of experience Pepper started to ease down the fear as he realized besides the ice glare and physicality his earlier thought of Kas being an untested boy seemed to be close to the mark, his eyes wandered to Kas then the door. He could envision it, being a battle tested earth user, albeit weak, luckily this shitty cabin had dirt floors. He could make a dozen small rocks quietly rise and shoot out towards the unsuspecting boy. Then he'd be clear to lose himself in the night, embracing the earth as he ran it would hide his footsteps, that much at least he was sure he could accomplish. Unable to halt the grin spreading as he peered at the door as his plan was becoming more and more realistic by the second he failed to notice, but by the devil he felt it. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he slowly turned his head back towards Kas, carefully as to not have his life come to an abrupt halt. Kasper stood, sword drawn pressed against Pepper's neck, his earlier laid back attitude completely evaporated. He stood with that trademarked iced glare that could freeze magma, or at least Pepper would later swear to those at the bars he'd visit. "Get some sleep Princess, you'll need it. You'll need that energy for tomorrow so I wouldn't try anything funny, there's no Mario to save you here." "A-a-aye aye captain" whispered Pepper, wincing as the sword at his neck vanished with such speed he didn't even see it as the man holding it was heading back to his makeshift pallet muttering something about pineapples and stupid sponges. Pepper slowly laid down in his corner, farthest away from the door, all pretenses about escaping having vanished form thought he lay in the dirt with just one thought greeting him. "Who the fuck is Mario?"