"You have to understand, princess." Glitch shrugged as he backed away from them, into the circle of fey. "This is for your own safety. We cannot allow you to fall into the false kings hands, or hell win and everything will be lost. We have to keep you hidden, and safe. Nothing else matters now. Please, come quietly. You know theres too many of us to fight. Even the Winter prince cannot defeat this many."

"Really?" called a new voice, somewhere behind and above them all. "Well, if thats the case, why dont we level the field a bit?"

She looks towards where the voice was heard.

Silhouetted against the moon, with his arms crossed and his red hair tousled by the wind, a familiar face grinned down at them, shaking his head.

"You," Puck said, locking eyes with Claire, "are extremely difficult to track down, princess. Good thing Grimalkin came and found me. As usual, it looks like I have to rescue you and ice-boy from something. Again. This is starting to become a habit."

Ash rolled his eyes, though his attention didnt leave the fey surrounding them. "Stop yapping and get down here, Goodfellow."

"Goodfellow?" Glitch stared at Puck nervously. "Robin Goodfellow?"

"Oh, look at that, hes heard of me. My fame grows." Puck snorted and leaped off the roof. In midair, he became a giant black raven, who swooped toward them with a raucous cry before dropping into the circle as Puck in an explosion of feathers. "Ta-daaaaaaaaaa."

The rebels backed off a step, though Glitch held his ground. "Theres still only three of you," he said firmly. "Not enough to fight us all. Princess, please, we only want to protect you. This doesnt have to end in violence."

"How is fighting me protecting me? As if I'd go with you in the first place." She says looking around, "When you bring so many people just to deal with one person, it doesn't look to good." She mutters, looking back at Glitch with a shrug.

"Besides," Puck said, grinning his evil grin, "who says I came alone?"

"You did," called another Puck from the rooftop he just left. Glitchs eyes bugged as the second Puck grinned down at him.

"No, he didnt," said a third Puck from the opposite roof.

"Well, Im sure they know what he meant," said yet another Puck, sitting atop a street lamp. "In any case, here we are."

"This is a trick," Glitch muttered, as the rebels shot nervous glances at the three Pucks, who waved back cheerfully. "Those arent real bodies. Youre screwing with our heads."

Puck snickered. "Well, if thats what you think, youre welcome to try something."

"It wont end well for you, either way," Ash broke in. "Even if you manage to beat us, well make sure to decimate your little band of rebels before we fall. Count on it."

She just picks at the ground with her sword, "Can we get this over with? I wanna go back inside." She mumbles.

"That," Glitch said, narrowing his eyes, "is exactly what Im afraid of." But he turned and signaled his forces to back off, and the Iron fey melted into the shadows again. "Well be watching you, princess," he warned, before he, too, turned and disappeared into the night

She watches them go before turning on Puck. "Where were you? I thought you werent supposed to follow us, I'm so confused!"

Puck was staring at her, lopsided smirk firmly in place. Tall and gangly, he looked the same as always, eager for trouble, forever ready with a sarcastic quip or witty comeback. But there was a flicker of pain in his eyes, a glint of anger he couldnt quite conceal. "Hey, princess."

Ash slipped his arms around Claire's waist from behind, drawing her close. His glare was aimed at Puck over her head, a silent, protective gesture that spoke louder than any words. Puck ignored him, gazing solely at Claire.

"It's obvious, isnt it?" Puck replied, sounding a bit sharper than normal. "After you and ice-boy got yourselves exiled, I was worried that the Iron fey were still looking for you. So I came to find out. Good thing I did, too. So, who is this newest Iron fey you made mad? Glitch, was it? Machinas first lieutenant--you sure know how to pick em, princess."

She chuckles, looking up at him to gage his expression.