Lisa sighed. “Ok Gids, I know there’s something you’re not telling me. After last year and the whole you should technically be dead thing, I’m willing to give you the time and space you need to figure it out. But when you’re ready to stop BSing me, I’m here to listen.” The Witch bluntly stated and Gideon blinked in shock.
                              
“Me too. We love you, killer or not, so whatever it is you’re trying to keep us safe from we’re going to face with you. Just let us know when you’re ready.” Xavier grumbled out.
                              
And here Gideon had thought she was being so clever. She just stared at her two best friends for a moment and then bolted into the woods at a dead sprint, trying to leave behind the emotions that suddenly mobbed her. “Gideon!” Lisa shouted after the fleeing Fury.
                              
But Gideon didn’t stop, couldn’t face the moment that was trying to break through her emotional barrier as she ran. It was better for everyone right now if she just focused on the movement of muscles bunching and straining as she pelted around trees, over fallen logs and only stopped when she reached the shores of the now very cold lake. It was beyond stupid for her to pelt off into the trees like she had, especially since there was something stalking her, and yet a lifetime of training hadn’t been enough to suppress the instinct to flee.
                              
When rustling was heard a few seconds later, Gideon turned to face it with a snarl, almost glad to have something to fight. But Virgil crashed through the underbrush into the open, looking almost as startled to see Gideon ready to throw down. Despite the obvious threat in her bared teeth and hunched body, Virgil just walked right up to Gideon and hugged her. It made Gideon stiffen up conflicted between the emotions that skirted around her head. “Whatever it is Gideon, you’re not facing it alone. You can lie to me, manipulate me, and keep me in the dark. Anything you want. Just let me face it with you.” He pulled out of the hug just enough to kiss her on the scarred cheek.
                              
“I can’t properly explain it all yet. Despite the obvious I’m not sure how. So just, let me figure it out a bit more. It’s a pretty huge thing.” Gideon finally spoke, annoyed with herself for the strange outburst.
                              
“No rush. Just don’t die before you can tell me about it. I’m not a necromancer but I can find a good one and bind your ghostly ass to me so you can’t escape.” Virgil warned.
                              
“How romantic.” Gideon’s wry tone matched the Loki’s laugh.
                              
He stepped out of the hug but held her face, gentle on the raw skin. “I don’t care what it is Gideon. Nothing’s chasing me away. Lisa and Xavier are back there, waiting for you to tell them what you need them to do. I know Furies have this whole ‘an individual is an army’ mentality, but you get the best of both worlds. You’re a force to be reckoned with on your own, and you have some allies willing to throw down with you.”
                              
“Thanks. So now that I’ve covered all of bases of being an emotional basket case, let’s go to work.” Gideon stepped out of his grip and headed back into the woods. Despite her nearly blind flight a few short moments ago; there was very little sign of her passage in the woods. “How the crap did you know where I was?”
                              
“You can block me out, so the space around you feels like dead air. I get ran in the direction that was screaming at me that there was nothing there.” Virgil admitted with a quirked smile.
                              
Gideon let silence fall between them again as they heard the others working in the woods. Gideon came across Lisa first and surprised both the Witch and the Loki watching by hugging her friend. Normally the Fury avoided general contact because her zap was always active, but right now she had no problem holding it at bay. “I’m sorry.” Gideon’s apology seemed to surprise her friend almost as much as the affection did.
                              
“You’ve got instincts I don’t ever want to understand. Means that sometimes I have to take what you do on faith. And you’ve earned that Gids, hell last year you nearly died for all of us here at the Camp. It buys you a little leeway. But not too much. I’ll still smack you if I think you’re being an ass.” The witch replied as she hugged Gideon back.
                              
“I’m missing out on all the action.” Xavier grumbled as he walked into the area, then just hugged around both Witch and Fury. “Two ladies, one me, I was born lucky.”
                              
“I thought you liked dudes.” Virgil grinned from the sidelines.
                              
“I chose men as my sexual partners. I was built to be polysexual by design though. So if you want to come join the loving, I’m all for it.” The Golem teased, making Gideon laugh.
                              
“My bad ass reputation will be ruined if anyone else sees this. Let’s get back to work. We have traps to set and teenagers to terrorize.” The Fury was suddenly uncomfortable, realizing that whatever was stalking could be watching at this very moment.
                              
“And a Great Escape to plan.” Lisa added in.
                              
“Monsters to tame.” Xavier threw in with a wink.
                              
“And schemes to scheme.” Virgil lamely added on.
                              
“Schemes to scheme? Don’t quit your day job.” Gideon teased.
                              
“My day job is looking after trouble makers like you.” Virgil pointed out.
                              
“Maybe you should quit then, she’s gonna give you gray hairs.” Xavier teased.
                              
“Alright alright. Enough, I get it. I’m trouble. Now this trouble says we have to get work done, so let’s go!” Gideon playfully shoved her friends along. So they were on her side and aware that she was keeping things from them. But they trusted her anyways. Now she just had to make sure not to abuse that trust. And trick whatever monster was hunting her into thinking that she wasn’t aware that it was still there.