Born of a Broken Man/Synopsis

## Born of a Broken Man

At the bottom of the stairs leading down to the basement of the devourers' mansion, the White Wolves of Jaeger's pack lie broken and and likely dead in puddles of blood. Jaeger himself is nearly dead, naked from his latest shapeshifting. The badly battered Corkindale is struggling to get his rats back to his body through the onslaught of blue energy being emitted by the magic circle that is arcing around the room, the ravening bolts scattering the rats even as they try to return. The kids are also caught up in the web of energy, contorting with pain as the bolts dance along their bodies. Sean strains to reach Joe, trying to save his friend. The blue energy has started burning away the ropes holding Joe above the magic circle, which now glows a soft blue to match the light emanating from his eyes and mouth. The three witches dance around the circle, waving their crescent blades about, celebrating their victory over Ralabast.

The witches continue striking at Joe, drawing more of his blood and chanting. Sean protests this treatment, fighting against the energy surrounding him. Corkindale finally gets enough of himself together to stand with his rats still striving to join with him. Looking back over her shoulder with her eyes full of the stolen energy, Diana chides Jaeger, telling him he simply doesn't know when he's beaten. Waving a tanto taken from one of his dead Wolves, Jaeger growls that that power is not hers, and no human should have it. Something in the way he says that causes Corkindale deep concern. Pulling back his arm, Jaeger declares that no human will, and he throws his knife with all his might and skill. The tanto flies straight and true without tumbling, but it's not aimed at one of the witches. Ellie cries a warning and reaches out too late to stop the knife on its way to its intended target, Joe. In the mean time, Sean has managed to reach Joe and grabs for him just when the last of the ropes burn away, causing Sean to lunge forward. The knife that was intended for Joe strikes Sean in the back instead. Diana looks on, dumbfounded by this turn of events. With Joe free of the ropes and now lying on the floor, the power stolen through the binding dissipates. The spell is broken and the binding fades when Joe makes contact with the circle, or perhaps it was Sean's human blood falling on the circle that does the trick.

Distressed by this sudden setback, Diana reacts with frustration. Cersei tells her they can't stop, and Ellie assures them both they won't. Sensing the opportunity to strike while the witches are off-balance, Corkindale urges everyone to attack. Even Sienna gets into the act, transforming into her squirrel form and calling out to Joe. The grievously injured Jaeger leans against a wall, struggling to stay on his feet after calling on hidden reserves in his bid to kill Joe. Still on the floor and grimacing with pain, Fletcher says they need to get Joe away from the witches. Already on her feet, Charlotte declares they need to beat them bloody and bury them deep, scooping up her skateboard from the floor. Accepting a hand up from Phoebe, Paulo marvels that he doesn't feel afraid anymore. She tells him to enjoy it while it last, because it looks like the bitches are about to double down.

Sean goes to one knee beside the unconscious Joe, worried by all the blood on the floor beneath Joe, his own blood pooling on the floor beside him. Corkindale's rats attack Cersei, calling out that he's got the crone, referring to the Triple Goddess worshipped by the witches. Cersei calls him a rude little rat. Finding the strength, Jaeger goes after Diana again to continue with the fight from upstairs, arguing that he is not weak. Diana debates that, responding that he's certainly annoying. Charlotte comments that leaves little Miss Teen Spirit for them. The teens have Ellie surrounded, though she doesn't appear to feel threatened by them.

As the festivities get started, Joe regains consciousness, his eyes now only reflecting the blue from the circle. Seeing Joe is awake, Sean comments that he doesn't need both kidneys, causing Joe to react worriedly for his friend. Sean welcomes him back, then reports that things aren't going so great.

Outside of the circle, Corkindale has initial success against Cersei until, claiming she knows exactly what to do to rats, she employs a whirlwind maneuver that not only slices up all the rats in reach, but some of her own hair as well. Jaeger has Diana by the throat and tells her if she dies she won't be coming back. Diana returns the favor by getting her blade to his throat, emphasizing the 'if'. Ellie holds off the teens with their makeshift weapons, telling them they won't take anything from her. Charlotte complains she doesn't even know who Ellie is. Her face smeared with blood, Ellie assures Charlotte she will.

Sean has collapsed, and Joe is holding him in his lap. Sean moans they weren't strong enough. Trying to deny what's happening, Joe claims it wasn't supposed to be like this. Sean reiterates they weren’t strong enough … but Joe is. Sean becomes silent and unresponsive with his eyes half open. Joe calls to him, thinking his friend has died in his arms. He gently lays Sean down, denying that this could happen. Joe has a series of flashbacks of events with each of his friends, new and old. The last memory is Fletcher telling Joe not to forget his friends, because they won't.

Joe rises to his feet and roars out a denial, only it's with Ralabast's voice. His face starts to change and a blue light flares deep in his eyes. Ellie whips her head around, terrified by the implications of the roar. Cersei pauses in her attempt to exterminate the rat infestation in the basement to look up, way up. Diana stops trying to kill the now smiling Jaeger long enough to look up with fear on her face at who has appeared in the basement. Sean's apparent death has done what they feared most.

Ralabast has been awakened.