The Ranger led the way out the door, taking the familiar path through the trees, then across the clearing, toward the main gate. He walked as fast as he could go, but found it difficult. His body was weak from the poisoning, but only slightly. He was strong enough to move, and would be sprinting, if he wasn't struggling with every step to keep his eyes open. It was a permanent state of falling asleep. That heavy, warm, comfortable, limp feeling that comes just as one is passing into slumber, only now, he couldn't shake it off. No matter how afraid he felt in the face of attack, no matter how much he moved around. Nothing helped. At the time he left his cabin, it had been roughly fifteen minutes since he consumed the herb that stopped the pain, and placed him under the weight of sleep. He was having a hard time knowing for sure, but he judged the time it took to walk back to town took them a half hour. This meant he had another fifteen minutes to struggle. Such a short period of time... but it felt so long. He heard a commotion off to the south and headed that way, finding a milling group of people shouting at a couple soldiers.<br/><br/>This infuriated him. They were trying to save lives, and the people were rebelling against them for it.<br/><br/>"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" he roared, panting heavily as he leaned against a wall. He rubbed at his eyes, then continued speaking, aware that his words were slurred, and he probably looked like death warmed over, "These men are here to help you, and you fight them? Your safety and peace depend on them. They serve you every day, ESPECIALLY today... and this is your response?! We are doing our best to keep this city safe. Please... bear with us, and return to your homes. Your food and water will be returned to you as soon as it is safe. If you have accessed the wells today, please dump out the water you carried. It is not fit for consumption."<br/><br/>He lost track of his thoughts for a moment, and sighed. He was so tired. Without realizing it, he faltered in his grip on consciousness and began to nod off again. As he was leaning against the wall already, he sagged, and would have fallen, if Crowley had not shown up at that moment. The barrel chested man stooped, pulled the limp, lean figure of his boss over his shoulder and stood.<br/><br/>His voice boomed over the clearing, "You heard the man! Go! This is what we've drilled for! Normal procedures for emergency drill. Keep your children away from the food and water."<br/><br/>Without another word, Crowley turned to the boy, saluting with respect, before saying, "Sir. The wells and graneries have all been sealed off. Pockets of resistance like this one are being handled... but I think we were too late. I'm seeing strange behavior popping up all over the place. The people. They... well... come and see."<br/><br/>He led the young boy through the streets, carrying the limp, snoring ranger over his shoulder as he went. At the town center, there was a fountain. Groups of old men, soldiers, children, women, of all ages, were playing and giggling in the sacred fountain. Off at the other end of the square, a pare of burly plowmen, still filthy from their work in the field, sprinted past with a raucous show of giggles. Even crowley himself was fighting a smile, visibly struggling to remain where he was. It was clear he wanted to run in and join the others in their games.