Cliff Mason
Jasper?
When did you--

Coral, horrified, runs from Cliff.



  Cliff Mason
Jasper! Jasper!!



Coral stops to catch her breath in the clearing outside. Cliff follows behind, holding out his arm in a gesture of reassurance. Around them are the corpses of the Aveans Cliff has felled.

Coral
* Please-- don't--

  Cliff Mason
I'm not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.

Coral
* What is this...? What... what is happening?
* Who... who was she?

  Cliff Mason
...I don't know.
One of them.

Coral
* You don't know??

  Cliff Mason
It doesn't matter, okay!
Listen to me. There's more going on here than you understand--

Coral
* I KNOW WHAT A FUCKING MURDER LOOKS LIKE, CLIFF!!

  Cliff Mason
I did this for you!

Coral
* I DON'T REMEMBER ASKING!!!

Coral steps away. She's crying, she's shuddering with rage.

Coral
* Jesus fucking Christ.
* What the hell, man. What the hell...

  Cliff Mason
I did what I had to do.

Coral
* Just-- shut up.
* If I hear another dollar shop cliché out of you, I swear to fucking God--

Snap. An avean steps on a twig.



Coral and Cliff turn to stare at an Avean Grunt who is currently trying to leave.





Cliff charges up and aims his laser pistol.

Coral
* NO!


Coral pushes his hand out of the way. He shoots wide, and the Grunt gets away.

Coral
* HE'S RUNNING AWAY YOU FUCKING SOCIOPATH!!





Coral gestures for Cliff to halt in place and walks away from him, toward the woods.

  Cliff Mason
Jasper?
What the hell do you think you're doing?

Coral
* I'm going to fucking talk to him.
* Like a normal person.

  Cliff Mason
You can't-- Jasper, you have no idea--!

Coral
* STAY. HERE.
* I am fixing this myself.













Lum says:
Spiderforest comic of the week, round five.
This week's theme is "Trials and Triumphs".

Perseverance, determination, trial and error, even luck. All of these are hallmarks of things we face in life, things that make our triumphs even sweeter.

Autumn Wing and the Crown of Fire
Autumn Wing and the Crown of Fire - Autumn Wing and the Crown of Fire is about a kind half-angel kid on a grand quest through cruel lands to forge his own halo, proving his worth as an angel and hero. To achieve this, he must win the magical flame of a Sacred Beast.

Court of Roses
Court of Roses - Court of Roses is about a ragtag troupe of bards hired to solve a murder mystery!
[Court of Roses Webtoon Mirror]

Teague Fagan
Teague Fagan - Teague Fagan - is about a sea serpent mysteriously exiled to land in human form, while mermaids ruthlessly hunt him down.