Raven watched the boy for a moment as the bars separated then growled in frustration. He padded over and lifted the boy onto his back, keeping him out of the mist.

As Cooper rose out of the murk, the mist clung to his body. He was already half-suffocated; that was how effective the mist was. His lips moved slightly, and his fingers twitched, but he didn't wake.

(idk what you want me to do... )

(I have no idea what to do next...)

(how about something with the guy that brought them there?)

(like... have Avery suddenly decide to keep them in worse conditions? :0)

(sure)

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash. Once the trio got used to the sudden brightness, they would notice that they were in a giant marble-sided hall. In the middle stood a familiar guy.

"I've decided I should keep you in, ah, better quarters," Avery said, with a wave of his hand.

Ruby glared at the guy and slowly stood up, Raven kept Cooper on his back but growled.

Cooper stirred.

Avery nodded. "Ah, Cooper. He is slowly regaining strength within these walls. The earth is informing him of his situation. I hear the dirt speak," he added, cupping a hand to his ear.

Ruby glared at the man angrily. "Why are you doing this to us?"

Avery looked at him. "I already told you. You people are a distraction to Jay's development as a leader. Okay? I need a replacement leader, Cooper declined, so Jay's the one for it. Jay needs to learn some sort of responsibility, not how to guard his crush from being taken over by other boys. Alright?!"

Ruby glared at him angrily. "Shouldn't that be Jay's decision?"

Avery raised his eyebrows. "Why of course he agreed to it! I asked him when he woke up." The red-eyed guy crossed his arms and frowned. "The thing is, I'm dy-- I mean, I'm running out of time on Earth. Jay's like a rescue at the last minute." He sighed. "When I became a leader, I was told to give up on all other responsibilities. I was pressured to put my dog down, but I was hell-bent against killing my girlfriend. So I erased all memories of her and me from her brain." He pursed his lips. "Such is life. As for Jay, he needs to give up on you, Ruby, and everyone else. Otherwise the Elements run around unleashed and the world basically falls into chaos. You see, Elementals are the most powerful and dangerous of all magicians, so most people don't really want a bunch of ADHD Elementals running around making potholes and whatnot. Maybe you do, but I don't," he added.

Ruby continued to glare at him. "He agreed to having us erased from his memories?"

Avery frowned. "No. He agreed to keeping you in this dungeon!"

Ruby glared at him angrily. "Well, it doesn't matter what he agreed to now does it? This is a crime. I want out."

Avery crossed his arms. "Not a crime, and you're not having out. Hey, maybe I'll let him come see you sometime later, after his primary training. How would you like that?"

Cooper rolled over, his fingers handling the marble below him. He drowsily opened his eyes, but his brain was much too muddled and confused to understand what was going on around him.

Ruby went over to Cooper, and helped him up, holding him. "You can tell him to forget it."

Cooper squinted upwards. "We're underground..." he mumbled.

Completely ignoring Cooper, Avery continued: "You're clever, girl. Forgetting is just the point. You understand what's going on now?"