<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #008040"><div style="text-align: center;">Tessa</div></span></span></span><br/><br/><br/>"We don't even know what a brogerfoot is." The crowd was growing around them, and Tessa was trying to explain that David hadn't meant to insult everyone, but everyone was talking over them. Then it was out of hand and werewolves were attacking them. "Please no! We didn't mean anything by it." Then David was touching her. "Huh?" She blinked. Everything was dead silent and frozen. The buzzing that had been constant just under her skin seemed to be calmer even. She had no idea what that meant. "I think..." Tessa started to tell David. "I think time is frozen. Did you do that?" She looked at him startled. Did he have magic? Is that what she had been experiencing? The caretaker hadn't said anything about them having magical powers. Was this just because of where they were, or - Tessa didn't finish the thought. David's face aged in front of her. He was ancient looking, and then he started to scream.<br/><br/>The werewolves were still attacking though. The two of them had moved, and now the creatures had adjusted to where they stood. Tessa had to protect David. He couldn't do anything. Tessa drew the sword, that she had nearly forgotten was there.<br/><br/>"Please. We are just trying to get away from the war. My brother didn't mean anything by what he said. Our dialects are different." She tried, but one of the wolves was at her throat. Tessa had no skill with the sword, and that was clear very quickly. "Why me?" She cried as the claws of the creature dug into her arm. "GET OFF!" Tessa cried out. The buzzing sensation just under her skin exploded out, and the creature was shaking. He fell to the ground after a second unconscious. Though still breathing, which Tessa was thankful for.<br/><br/>The other creatures paused steps away from Tessa. "We are just trying to get to Krackmora castle. Please, just let us go." Tessa looked at David, he looked younger, but she couldn't be certain about that. If he was de-aging, it was at a much slower rate than he had aged.<br/><br/>"What is going on here?" A deep voice cut in, and the creatures that had been stepping closer froze again and turned to the voice.<br/><br/>"These kids called us brogerfoots." The first person snapped. "We ain't brogerfoots." They added as if worried the newcomer might think they were brogerfoots.<br/><br/>"It wasn't intended. I told you we have different dialects. We aren't locals." That was one way to put it.<br/><br/>The newcomer stepped into view. They were tall and slender, but extremely muscular. It was clear the newcomer was a male guard.<br/><br/>"Heard you say you are trying to Krackmora castle." The guard asked.<br/><br/>"Uh, yeah. A friend of a friend lives there." That wasn't necessarily a lie. "I'm trying to see if they can get us a job..." Tessa trailed off. Where would they be trying to get a job? What kind of job would they even be looking for?<br/><br/>The guard was nodding though. "Disband." He shouted, and the crowd that had formed around them backed off. Tessa resisted a deep sigh of relief.