The Preserve, Friday Morning

[rebelseekspizza]

The trees rustled.

The tremble came, made it a few feet, then passed into the undergrowth. A few rabbits scattered. The birds kept singing.

The long-toothed giant slugs that were spreading quickly across the rest of the island - they didn't touch the preserve. And they certainly didn't touch this glade.

The air shimmered. A portal opened.

And people fell out.

[[ for Team Good! also, the slugs spreading across the island are now hostile. ]]

Comments

[ruinedartifact]

Jenkins stepped through with the grace of someone who had, once upon a time, been well used to travel by magical portal. He brushed at his -- already filthy, but what could you do -- suit and adjusted his grip on his gun.

"Well then," he said, to no one in particular. "I suppose we ought to save the world."

[gettingoldernow]

"Again?" Peter asked him wryly. He know he'd saved his own at least a couple times over, and he was sure Jenkins could say the same.

[ruinedartifact]

"As futile as it may seem," Jenkins said. "Saving the world is a quest neverending."

[gettingoldernow]

"Never ends as long as we do." He gave Jenkins a somewhat grim smile. He might not be immortal himself anymore, but these days he couldn't say he envied anyone who was.

[ruinedartifact]

Immortality tended to . . . do things to a person, especially one with no lasting ties to the rest of the world.

And Jenkins had lost all of his ties a long time ago.

"I could end it for you any time you like, Peter," he said. Not with any kindness or coldness, just matter-of-fact. "Without even wasting a bullet."

[gettingoldernow]

"Thanks," Peter said, nodding. "Not while I can still help, though. If I get to be a danger, I'm sure I can trust you to take care of it."

Jenkins was probably one of the few who could.

[angsty_beard]

"Or avenge it," Steve said a little wryly.

[ruinedartifact]

"Yes, yes," Jenkins said, waving the hand not holding his gun. "Whichever verb you prefer."

[angsty_beard]

Steve shrugged. "Kind of attached to that one."

[ruinedartifact]

"Then by all means," said Jenkins. "Avenge."