Cori wanted proof that I'd written some AA - unlike her and her lack of writing whilst in Hawaii, but really, who cam blame her - so who was I not to oblige? Just to show you guys that I am indeed working on it. Inspiration to put myself through the paces and write again came from bloodmony. Who drew me the most adorable My Little Pony Arion parody that had me squeeing with glee!

**

The game was changing. He could smell it in the beginnings of the storm. The warm tropical rains pelted at his form, sluicing down his torso and drenching the thin material of his white shirt. He supposed ever cloud had a silver lining; he smirked bitterly, no matter how dark. Never had he seen so much of the world as he had in the past week. He had never expected to have to leave Amity, let alone experience a tropical rainstorm. Even if said rainstorm was the brazen product of a fellow Midian’s attempt to draw him out into the open.

If so – Phantom shifted slightly to prevent a knob of bark from digging painfully into the small of his back – why was he being kept waiting? The warlord after him had already issued his challenge. Unless he was being waited on to succumb to a trap.

His brow furrowed as he ignored the large, marble sized droplets pelting him, and concentrated on tracking the movements of other high level ghosts in the area. Vortex was in the vicinity, that much Phantom knew that he could sure of. But there was another presence – so faint that Phantom was almost sure that he had imagined it – skirting at the edge of his senses, just out of reach. He grunted as the branch on which he was perched on creaked slightly. He wasn’t sure if it was going to hold much longer in this weather. In these dark times, the simple luxury of a place to roost was more than he could ask for, most days.

There was just so much that Phantom didn’t know. Too much, especially when there was more than just his own existence at stake. It seemed that everywhere he turned, he would find no solace. With the substantial bounty on his head, the entirety of his kin wanted him dead. There would be no going back, now. Even when he factored Sam out of the equation. Sam, whose brethren similarly wanted him dead. But he was still alive. And for now, that was all that mattered. He had to take each day as it came, each moment as it unfolded before him. He knew enough for that.

Just like he knew at this very moment who was after him; that much was evident. He had sat across the other warlord in Pariah’s war chambers too many times to mistake the stench of his presence. No one else, save the Ghost King himself, would be capable of such control over the weather. And Pariah Dark certainly wouldn’t be wasting his time gauging his strength against Phantom’s own like his challenger was currently doing.

“Come out and face me,” Phantom bared his teeth into a roar, his challenge reaching the thundering heavens.

**

How was it? Have I lost the AA writing bug? I'd give you guys more, but if I did you'd practically have seen all of that particular chapter. And then it'll be no fun for you when I actually get round to posting!