LPN Deep Dives: HOSAB / Episode 17: Andrew and Dice and Clay

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 17: Andrew and Dice and Clay
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Date: September 30, 2025

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City continues Natalie and Jackie’s hilarious and in-depth breakdown of Sarah J. Maas's "House of Sky and Breath" (HOSAB), focusing on the action-packed chapters surrounding the Under King, the reveal of Danika's paternity, and a major combat scene featuring Bryce and Hunt. The hosts weave plot analysis, character insights, shipping debates, and plenty of off-the-wall humor as they dissect what is essentially the novel’s beefiest action-lore intersection yet (plus more Crescent City thirst, of course).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cosplay Antics & Character Personas

Timestamps: 01:52–07:12

• Natalie and Jackie playfully embody the Harpy and Under King, riffing about lipstick stains and bringing (fake) knives to the studio.
• Discussion of millennial hair trauma, bangs-as-Botox, and the existential crisis that comes with hairstyle choices.
  • "I'm not like the other girls. I've got bang. And I'm not talking about that kind of bang." — Natalie (04:22)
• Lighthearted debate about which Crescent City crew members are truly ‘hot’ vs. just powerful, and what the Triari would rate on Earth/ Midgard attractiveness scales.

2. Food, Carbs, and Gwyneth Paltrow Headcanons

Timestamps: 06:20–07:10

• Imagining the Under King as Gwyneth Paltrow, who naturally detests fast food except for “the occasional carb.”
  • "Who needs to hear it out there? You can eat carbs. It's fine." — Jackie (07:00)
• “Triari = hot PR professionals” and crossing that over into Crescent City’s PR-fueled meritocracy.

3. Sexuality & Skeleton Logistics

Timestamps: 08:13–10:07

• The famous “would you have sex with a skeleton?” debate leads to playful theorizing on Crescent City’s ghoulish underworld, skeleton bone-strap-ons, and the Under King's dating preferences.
  • "Would you even have sex with... would it be a bone? He’d just take another bone!” — Jackie (08:33)

4. Plot Recap: Bryce & Hunt Versus the Under King

Timestamps: 10:07–11:16, 27:20–31:06

• Recaps the main immediate threat: Bryce and Hunt about to be eaten (or “have their energy slurped”) by the Under King after asking too many nosy questions.
• Bryce’s and Hunt’s trust and teamwork highlighted in their reaction to danger; hosts call out the scene’s Scooby Doo/slapstick energy.
  • "This feels more like a training montage than anything to me. It’s like a first level boss." — Jackie (34:59)

5. Rune, Ithan, and Cormac Navigate a Dread Wolf–Filled City

Timestamps: 11:17–17:06, 18:20–23:12

• The other POV thread follows Rune, Cormac, and Ithan as they attempt to secretly deliver a message from Agent Day.
• The group observes the Dread Wolves’ uniforms displaying kill tallies — “gold stars” for murder.
  • "It’s funny to think about, like, every time you kill somebody, you get one gold star.” — Natalie (15:21)
• Cormac’s warning about complacency under military occupation echoes real-world themes.

6. Major Lore Bomb: Danika’s Father Revealed

Timestamps: 22:39–25:01

• Mordoc, the terrifying Dread Wolf, is revealed as Danika’s father.
  • "Because he’s Danika’s father." — Natalie (22:56)
  • "What, what, what, what, what?! And you’re just dropping this" — Jackie (23:12)
• Discussion pivots to Sabine’s possible values and motivations, and how Danika emerged as a decent person despite tough parentage.

7. Bryce & Hunt’s Boss Battle: The Shepherd

Timestamps: 27:20–38:27

• The “Shepherd” is introduced — a giant demonic dog summoned to force souls through the gate.
• The dog splits into three—cue hosts’ “Andrew, Dice and Clay” quips.
  • "And, what is certainly an ode to the mythological dog Cerberus, the dog splits into three. I assume Andrew, Dice, and Clay." — Jackie (36:46)
• Scenes are referenced as more thematic/atmospheric than genuinely threatening, with the hosts reveling in the book's humor.

8. Rune's Crew Nearly Exposed—More Teleportation Tension

Timestamps: 41:40–47:09

• Rune, Cormac, and Ithan nearly get sniffed out by Mordoc, whose bloodhound abilities heighten the danger.
  • "Her bloodhound skills come from her father, which is not good news for three people trying to hide from him in this moment." — Jackie (43:38)
• Stealth and teamwork save the day — just barely.

9. Bar Bonding & Unlikely Alliances

Timestamps: 47:52–56:45

• Rune and Ethan decompress (and set up an alibi) over a mid-day whiskey at a pub, discussing friendship, grief, and potential brotherhood.
  • "I'm getting a very big brother vibe from Ruhn in this moment." — Jackie (55:15)
• Arrival of the Hind and Harpy (frenemies or foes?) at the bar — cliffhanger!
  • "Mind if I join you?" Her voice was lovely, fair and cool. Yet no light shone in her amber eyes." — Natalie (56:15)

10. Bryce & Hunt: Lightning, Lore, & Love

Timestamps: 63:10–72:27

• As the Reapers try to take Bryce’s first light, she and Hunt are pushed to their limits.
• Hunt, in a moment of pure desperation/love, unleashes a massive lightning attack through Bryce’s star sword, echoing the sculpture in the ballet house lobby — a pivotal 'power duo' moment.
  • “Bryce, who'd gotten to her feet anyway and planned to go down swinging. Bryce, his mate.” — Jackie (70:05)
  • "He lightning her sword. Oh, we didn't even know they could do it.” — Jackie (71:54)
• Ends with speculation: have their powers just combined… or is this risky AF?

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Loyalty:
  • “You shouldn’t need to have loyalty if you’re being a decent person, then you shouldn’t have to request loyalty. You just have it naturally.” — Jackie (19:27)
• On Dread Wolves:
  • “The wolf shifters were exactly as Ruhn had expected. Cold eyed and harsh faced. Above their pristine gray uniforms, a black and white patch of a wolf's skull and crossbones…The seven golden stars of the Asteri shone on a red patch above their hearts.” — Natalie (14:15, reading from the novel)
• On Cerberus/Shepherd:
  • "What is certainly an ode to the mythological dog Cerberus. The dog splits into three. I assume Andrew, Dice and Clay." — Jackie (36:53)
• On Trauma & Teamwork:
  • “For Hunt, there was only Bryce, bleeding and hurt…Bryce, his mate.” — Jackie (70:05, reading)
• On SJM’s Style:
  • “She’s great with the mic drops. She’s great with the small bosses. But, yeah, this definitely seems like a more...I don’t want to say silly situation, but it is.” — Natalie (35:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Cosplay banter/Harpy & Under King | 01:52–07:12 | | Under King as Gwyneth Paltrow | 06:41–07:10 | | Skeleton sex & bone jokes | 08:13–10:07 | | Plot recap: Bryce, Hunt & Under King | 10:07–11:16, 27:20–31:06 | | Dread Wolf city patrol & gold stars | 14:15–18:20 | | Mordoc revealed as Danika's father | 22:39–25:01 | | Shepherd fight & Cerberus jokes | 27:20–38:27 | | Rune/Ethan bonding in the pub | 47:52–56:45 | | Hind & Harpy's surprise bar arrival | 56:05–63:01 | | Climax: Lightning + Star Sword combo | 70:05–71:54 |

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains the core LPN Deep Dives flavor: irreverent, explicit, and joyfully nerdy — blending sharp Crescent City analysis with plenty of asides, meta commentary, cosplay confessions, and unfiltered friendship energy. Natalie and Jackie’s loyal listeners will find plenty of inside jokes, as well as robust (albeit curses-filled) SJM worldbuilding analysis.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

You’ll come out of this recap knowing:

• Key plot and lore turns from these HOSAB chapters (Danika’s parentage, Shepherd battle, the boys’ city danger, Hind/Harpy cliffhanger).
• Natalie & Jackie’s unique character takes, including playful debates on attractiveness, loyalty, trauma, and the complexities of found family.
• The crucial, potentially game-changing act of Hunt channeling his powers through Bryce’s sword, setting the stage for major consequences in coming chapters.
• Classic LPN Deep Dives banter — sometimes dirty, always on point, and never missing a moment to riff on the Crescent City universe.

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Next Assignment

Read up to Chapter 35 for next week!

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[End of summary.]

Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

I won't let my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis symptoms define me.

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[Natalie Jean]

Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra Value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5 only at McDonald's for a limited time. Prices and participation welcome to Crescent City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do like the concept of the harpy hooking up with the River Queen's daughter. I don't know how they met, but I feel like it would be a good time. That's why you have green still around your mouth.

[Natalie Jean]

Still around my mouth. And not just because we did the last episode right before this and I couldn't get, you know what I will say the lipstick. I get all of my lipsticks from Menagerie Cosmetics and they really stay. And you can tell because when you put it on the other parts of your skin, it kind of gets dyed a little bit. But I like it. Yeah, it does look like I'm eating. I ate out. I not even a mermaid. It looks like I ate out like a seahorse.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, something that has algae attached to it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, but don't worry, I'm gonna cut him up with my little shitty knives. I was also just telling Natalie that I bought a knife belt and a bunch of fake knives. They didn't arrive on time and I was like, I can't be the harpy without my knives.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I really appreciate the commitment that thank you needed to Bring a weapon into the recording studio.

[Natalie Jean]

I had to make sure because also we. What else? Don't worry, they're fairly dull. They're fairly dull. Don't worry about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm actually very sharp.

[Natalie Jean]

They're not. These are my shitty knives. So I just bought and I wrapped them up in a paper towel and did I do almost exactly what I feared I was going to do, which was forget that the knives were in my costume bag and put my hand in the bag and I went, oh, that would have been bad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't put it in your merkin pocket.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. My hairy pocket needs knives. So you better not come close to me. I'll cut you up. Yeah, I'm gonna get ya.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like maybe you should put those down. Why?

[Natalie Jean]

There's no way I'm gonna over gesticulate. I'm lightly flailing and I'm torn. This is a tiny flail. Look at that. That's a. Oh, get out of here. Flail right there. Yes. Thank you. Ah. I also. I'm gonna throw it out there. I'm feeling myself right now. Do I need to be straightening my once in a while?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, maybe every once in a while. But your natural hair is pretty.

[Natalie Jean]

I know, but this is like, bitch, I used to. Man, I used to straighten the fuck out of my hair.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, you are a millennial.

[Natalie Jean]

I am a millennial. And, oh, with the razor, and then, like, I would put the paste on it so that I would, like, flatten it down and then I'd flip out the edges so that it was, like, very severe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do you have side bang sweep?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I had some pretty intense ones.

[Natalie Jean]

It is why I do think I have. I know. Oh, my God. I'm not like the other girls. I've got bang. And I'm not talking about that kind of bang. I am scared. I mean, I got that too. I got it. I got that, too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I got some of that.

[Natalie Jean]

But I was talking about this with some friends that don't use Botox. And I was like, what do you. I was like. I was like, but all the creases of your makeup and they're like bangs. It's like, that's how you don't get Botox. Get bangs instead. And I was like, but I'm scared of going back to bang.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's a commitment.

[Natalie Jean]

You gotta live in fear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I grew my bangs out for the first time in a long time, and I think I'm the opposite. Most people say, oh, if you have, you know, you want bangs. Are you going through a crisis? I grew mine out. Am I in a crisis? Maybe.

[Natalie Jean]

Do you want to talk about this?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, it's what you'd expect. It's. Everything's scary and we just try new.

[Natalie Jean]

Things and sometimes you gotta try new things and that. And you know what? You can always cut them shorter. We can always change it. Best part about the hair keeps growing sometimes, but not all the time. That's why we get out these knives. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get out of here.

[Natalie Jean]

Alright. Put the knives down. I'm not gonna pick them up again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm gonna take my glove off. So.

[Natalie Jean]

Why? What do you want to use the computer or some shit? You look great. Your under king is. I'm upset because you are. I feel like your name is Lil King right now. And I think that you're gonna be coming on the scene with some beats of some sort.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I prefer Lil Undies.

[Natalie Jean]

Lil Undies. Okay. All right. But we don't call you Tiny Panties.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How dare you?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, this Tiny King. Yeah, it's more like Tiny Panties.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Big Panty.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, he's a. You're a big panty man. And I'm here to let you know, as you know, it's my job. Although not as the fucking harpy. I am a badass bitch, so you better not come at me on the King. I do look a little bit like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The Burger King's corpse, honestly.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you do. A little bit. And I would assume you do. Wow. And I think that the Under King would like that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You think?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. I think the under king would be disgusted at fast food.

[Natalie Jean]

Why? He doesn't have the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we decided the under king was Gwyneth Paltrow.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you're right. So Gwyneth Paltrow would hate the fast food. Yeah, that is true.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Lord. I mean, she does say, like she has recently said that she has started eating carbs again because everything's gotten so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hard out of here.

[Natalie Jean]

Every once in a while she has to have a car.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hey, I don't know. Who needs to hear it out there? You can eat carbs. It's fine.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it turns out it, you know, it energizes you and it's actually almost.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like fuel for your body.

[Natalie Jean]

Crazy with these people.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they're pretend not eds.

[Natalie Jean]

Morozone up. Yes, I'm giving it. And no, my wings are little, but. But my breasts are big, but you can't see it under my battle suit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You look cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Oosh. Oosh. Goosh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think you look too pretty for the harpy.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm like, what? I feel like Harpy serves. You don't think so? I guess she.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, she's, like, really evil. So, like, I guess it depends on if you think evil can serve.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's never described as attractive.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. It's just taken away from me that they're not all really hot. Like, I just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Most of them are.

[Natalie Jean]

I think that if you're a part of the triari, unfortunately, I feel like it's like getting into the world of PR where it doesn't matter how good you are at your job, you also got to look good while you're doing it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I feel like in this text, like, the harpy would be an Earth 11, you know?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like a Midgard 6.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. I can see Midgard 6. All right. All right. But what is the Under King?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It depends on whether you're into skeletons or not, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you sexually.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want the clicking and the clacking, and I feel like it would actually be really difficult. Yeah. Not that fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do love skeletons.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I don't want to have sex with them. No.

[Natalie Jean]

And I'm glad that we're talking this out, because, like, ghosts want to have sex.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Why would you even have sex with. Would it be a bone? He just take another bone.

[Natalie Jean]

He'd bone you?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, he'd bone you with it. But what?

[Natalie Jean]

Like, I mean, you'd probably pop off his hand. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then use his forearm and put.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It on like a strap on. That'd be kind of cool.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, see, that's kind of fun. And if you could use the bones of, like, either people you hate or maybe people you love.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't want to have sex with the bones of people I hate.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm saying maybe the skeleton uses other bones from the ones that they've destroyed. Unless all skeletons live in peace. And I do hope that for them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know if that's true. They're painted often as ghouls and goblins.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, that is true.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But maybe that's a stereotype.

[Natalie Jean]

I do. I feel like the underking might have a couple of things to say about that. I feel like the Under King, since he's so busy slurping on soul.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When we last left off, he was not coming off very well.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, no, no, no, no. But hopefully he's getting off just fine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I. We have to ask.

[Natalie Jean]

All right. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I guess I'm the under king.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I was the under king, but now you're the under king.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, Natalie, haven't figured it out. Still working on the maneuvers.

[Natalie Jean]

This is good. This is like a. Like a Hollywood Reporter interview here. I'm glad that we're getting to the bones.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like when they, like, paid those paid articles. Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm talking about PR today, so, you know, it's. I really want to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The other king is just like us, but also way cooler. Cooler. Love to talk to you.

[Natalie Jean]

Anti skeleton, but pro bono.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa. So where we last left off, Bryce and Hunt were about to be turned into mincemeat to feed the under king. Or at least slurp their energies. Yeah, I don't know how. I guess that would kill them. They would have to get sucked off.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, it's like, get stronger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, maybe get stronger.

[Natalie Jean]

If you can't atrophy after. It's like if you're atrophing after getting sucked off, I think you have a couple of other problems.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Got stuff going on. It's almost like it was a bad idea to go to the haunted skeletons trap house.

[Natalie Jean]

My God. It's almost like they didn't really think this through.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They come to his cemetery, and then they're there.

[Natalie Jean]

They.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, they get to. Do you think they make the rules there?

[Natalie Jean]

You in a bone daddy's house.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're in my house. My house. So, I mean, really, it was a stupid idea. They. I don't know why they decided to do this, but they had gone in, they asked him about the reapers. Then the under king reveals a bunch of secrets about Midgard, the entire planet. And then he's like, well, I just told you this. I'm going to kill you now. Obviously.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's a lot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So at chapter 30, we're gonna have to table that for a minute, where we left them about to be attacked because we're with Ruhn. Because, as you recall, Ruhn and Cormac and Ithan are going to relay the message that Ruhn got from Agent Day to the Ophion point person. Right. Everyone following?

[Natalie Jean]

We're following.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're with Ruhn's pov and they're making their way through the streets of Ludatheon.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. I just imagine this montage, and they're just with shopping bags, and she's like, you know, just having a little boy's moment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, do you think they went shopping first?

[Natalie Jean]

Just. I mean, what are you gonna wear? You know, one must have something new to wear. To new information meetings, to your intel. Yeah. Honestly. Ugh. Rebel fashion. Yeah. Some might say it's a little like. Oh, tactical. But it really depends on what you're into.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, but part of them, partly they have to be in disguise, like their point person. Dressed like a person who is without a home, sits upon the street. Their point person.

[Natalie Jean]

They're just hanging out, just being like, I'm a rebel, somebody want to talk to me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, they're disguised as basically somebody on the streets.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they're going to make their way to the old square where their point purse is sitting. You kind of have to blend in.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you don't want to have fashion.

[Natalie Jean]

No, what I'm saying. Or. Yeah, it's. It's. It's street wear. Just living in dusty.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're living in that street where. So Ruhn is feeling disturbed as they make their way through town. And it's because there are dread wolves everywhere walking around. Cormac asserts that Ephraim must have arrived for the upcoming betrothal announcement because if zero call, there's a big party happening.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Celestina is being forced into mates with Ephraim.

[Natalie Jean]

And now that's a party. Everybody loves going to a forced meeting. Oh, yeah. Hell yeah. Turn it up. Let's do the mambo number five.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Watch as they force themselves to kiss each other.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell yeah. All right. Maybe they'll find love in a hopeless place.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, cool. So they're all in town for this. And apparently Ephraim has brought all of the dread wolves with them because his main posse is the other people from Sandriel's crew. It's the hind. It's all the baddies. It's the spookies and the scaries.

[Natalie Jean]

You called?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God. Oh, Jackie, I'm so worried.

[Natalie Jean]

You should be. You know it's not gonna end well.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I'm worried for you.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm worried for you. I'm not gonna keep dodging the knives.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, good. So there are dreadwolves everywhere.

[Natalie Jean]

The wolf shifters were exactly as Ruhn had expected. Cold eyed and harsh faced. Above their pristine gray uniforms, a black and white patch of a wolf's skull and crossbones adorn that uniform's left arm. The seven golden stars of the Asteri shone on a red patch above their hearts and on their starched high collars. Silver darts. Very cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, very scary.

[Natalie Jean]

Very scary. Very cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Very cool. Wouldn't want to be walking around the streets where I was.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, no, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The darts represent their kills. One for each rebel, Roon notes that many of them sport around a dozen. Ethan expresses his discomfort also. So I mean, like they're wearing basically wearing uniforms showing how many people they've murdered, which is really exciting.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. But like, how else is everybody gonna know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It just, it's kind of funny to think about, like every time you get kill somebody, you get one gold star.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. And honestly, it will do anything for a gold star.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A lot of people will. I get it. It's nice to be rewarded. But should it be for this? Cormac, who has also been a distance away from the other two speaking with the informant during this conversation. So Cormac's they're basically in this alleyway. Cormac has moved ahead of them to talk to this informant who is in disguise on the street. He returns to the other two and Ru notices that no one is even giving them a second glance as most people are too distracted by the threatening dread wolves pacing the street. So they were able to actually use that as like a little bit of a cover because people are like, oh, I'm afraid of these scary men walking around.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm a Dodge em.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm a Dodge Em.

[Natalie Jean]

I won't let my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis symptoms define me.

[Tremfya Advertisement Voice]

Emerge as you in two clinical studies, Trimfaia guselkumab taken by injection provided 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks in 7 out of 10 adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In a study, nearly 7 out of 10 patients with 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks were still clearer at 5 years. At 1 year and thereafter, patients and healthcare providers knew that Tremphya was being used. This may have increased results. Results may vary.

[Tremfya Safety Information Voice]

Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremphya may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms of infection, including fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. Tell your doctor if you had a vaccine or plan to emerge.

[Tremfya Advertisement Voice]

As you learn more about Tremphya, including important safety information, at tremphya.com or call 1-838-77578-3527. See our ad in Food and Wine magazine for patients prescribed Tremphaya. Cost support may be available.

[Natalie Jean]

Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change your receipt did the sausage McMuffin with egg extra Value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5 only at McDonald's for a limited time. Prices and participation may vary Cormac speculates.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

On whether the Hind is using the mating ceremony as an excuse to send the wolves around to hunt for a meal. So you'll recall the Hind is also doing this other mission where they're trying to find the Thunderbird, too. And so maybe they're kind of just using this as, you know, a cover. Ethan says that their presence is a disgrace. And Cormac tells him he'd be surprised how quickly people can become complacent about a military takeover. Oh, I don't know. The National Guard parading around, intimidating people, going about their day, you know?

[Natalie Jean]

Do we have powers yet?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nope. Just the other stuff. Just the bad. We don't get any ass every once.

[Natalie Jean]

In a while, like, to make sure that, like, definitely don't have any powers. And, like, there's definitely, like, no way that, like, there's magic or star power here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, cool. Rune feels chilled by this reality and tells them he's going to call who he needs to to get these wolves pulled from the streets. As much as he hates his father, he knows he will also be irritated to have this interference on the streets of Lutatheon. Mostly just because I think his father has an ego and he doesn't want other people patrolling.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even points out that even Sabine won't want to stand for this. She and the other wolves don't consider Dread Wolves their community. And if the Dread Wolves stay. And if the Dread Wolves for Christ to stay at the den.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cormac asked, will the prime or Sabine find their morals holding firm?

[Natalie Jean]

Ethan didn't answer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Again, that feels very relevant. Who are you willing to be loyal to and at what cost? I don't like it.

[Natalie Jean]

But also it's like. Or is that, you know, an offensive thing to ask of, like. Oh, oh, Dread Wolves are just like all the other wolves. Huh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, but I think it's fair to ask that.

[Natalie Jean]

What would.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Where is your loyalty and all that. And even the idea of loyalty pisses me off because you shouldn't need to have loyalty if you're being a decent person, then you shouldn't have to request loyalty. You just have it naturally.

[Natalie Jean]

Is this coming from the under King or is this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, who knows?

[Natalie Jean]

Cause I feel like the under king probably, probably likes loyalty, but I also don't know if he's very loyal. So we don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We don't know if he's a quadruple agent. We don't know what's going on.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cormac tells them to look at this as the reality at the end of the day.

[Natalie Jean]

At the end of the day, another day.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also relevant. They're all slaves to the Asteri, saying, look, this is their truth. This is the truth of our existence on this planet. Yes, you can play all these little games, but at the end of the day, we're all just like insects under the the thumb of these Asteri.

[Natalie Jean]

It's good to be reminded.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is good to be reminded. It really is.

[Natalie Jean]

And we go, yes, yes, whatever you say. Yes, yes, and I will do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, no, no. Bring the knives out. They are interrupted when Cormac senses someone behind them and whirls around to see a massive floor form staring them down.

[Natalie Jean]

Mordaw. So many silver darts covered his collar that from a distance it looked like a mouth full of razor sharp teeth around his neck. Mordoc Rune scanned his memory. The second in command to the Hind, her chief butcher and enforcer, the Dread Wolf, monitored the alley with golden glowing eyes. Dark claws glinted at his fingertips as if he lived in some state between human and wolf.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't want to be on his bad side.

[Natalie Jean]

Nah, dude, I. I mean, it's like the silver darts. It is fun. I just imagine them having to go to their wolf moms and just being like, could you put my mother. Mama killed another one. Can you put it on my collar? Because I don't know if Mordoc is adding the silver darts onto his.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Got a little thimble.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Oh my God, it would be cute. And he's just like, with his like huge hands trying to sew the little. Yeah. You know why they call it woman's work? Because it's hard and wonderful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thankless.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, and thankless.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or he would be. He looks like he's staring them down. Or he would be staring them down had Rune not been cloaking them in shadow at that moment. So they are at the moment kind of unseen in this dark alleyway. But it looks like Mordack's looking right at them. They silently watch him lurch towards them down the alley. Run thinks in a panic how poorly they covered their tracks just now, including footprints. Rune asks Cormac if Mordoc knows his scent and Cormac doesn't think so. Rune then mind speaks to Ethan to ask if he knows Mordoch because of wolf, you know, and again, I don't know if that's offensive.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he says he actually does, that he has come to visit the den before Run wants to know why Ethan.

[Natalie Jean]

At last responded, eyes wide and pained. I guess if it's mind speak. Do I say it?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think so.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because he's Danika's father. That's not where we're ending it. That's. We're still middle of the episode, but. What, what, what, what, what? And it's like, you're just dropping this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, the ship. You're just dropping this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That is a big old bomb.

[Natalie Jean]

But it makes sense, because who's gonna Sabitch? Yeah. That sounds like Murdoch. Sounds like Murdoch and Sabitch had. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'd watch the tape, of course, but I. It makes. It's like, who would want to that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, it does also add another layer to. While Sabine seems like she might be quite evil, if you're having sex with Mordoc, Murdoch is a bad man. I don't think he's morally gray. I think we know that he's a very bad man. So if she was having consensual relations with him, what does that say about Sabine?

[Natalie Jean]

It's interesting. You know, sometimes I feel like in life, you have people in your world that you're like, why did you choose that person to date? And then you think about this pairing and you're like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Honestly, I'm. I'm kind of glad because maybe she didn't have that great of a time. Not that I ever wish that on somebody, but I feel like I do on Sabitch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And, you know, she's an independent woman, so maybe she just wanted a seed. She could have been doing that.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it was more for the power, because something tells me Sabish is not looking. And I don't think Murdoch's number one, you know, desire in bed is to make another person come. I would assume. And. But don't worry. You don't have to come to make a baby. Well, not everybody does. So I. You know, who knows? And, yes, these are all assumptions that I am making about their sex. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And we will. So what are you gonna do about it?

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. Uh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, no, not the knives. Yeah, so that's Dan.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm keeping them over here. And I want everyone to be proud of me. I'm keeping them away from Natalie. They're on the other side of the screen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I still not. I don't care for it.

[Natalie Jean]

No, you shouldn't. No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So it even just adds another layer of, like, how did Danica become a decent person?

[Natalie Jean]

Right. And especially, like. And how. So you think coming from that, I guess, like, I had always assumed, oh, if you've got sabitch, maybe Daddy was a good wolf. You know, like, oh, but, Daddy. But, oh, but, Daddy, I love you. I miss you. So this, it's like you think, is it because of the prime? Two negatives make a positive, two negatives make a positive. But it's like, the grandfather is like a nicer wolf. Is it because of the wolf pack? And maybe that's why she's so connected, because that's where she found her family.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And maybe Bryce helped her grow.

[Natalie Jean]

She was so busy tattooing shit into her body again. I still feel like I'd have a couple of questions of, like, you put what inside of me and didn't ask for my permission, but you know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know, but the only thing I would.

[Natalie Jean]

You couldn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know it was a planetary crisis, but I also still didn't ask.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, sounds like a bitch crisis. She was having a crisis. Cause she was a bitch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow. So we don't find out the reaction to that because we have to cut over to where we are with Bryce and Hunt, who are currently facing off with the under king. As if we don't have enough going on.

[Natalie Jean]

Right? My God, just add another thing on the pile. I have a stupid question. Danika. We know she's a bloodhound at this point, right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. Sorry. I just want to make sure. Yeah. In my brain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you, Yar. So did you want to add something?

[Natalie Jean]

No, I was just. I. I guess it was more in the thinking that, like, when the mordoch dropped for its. When I first read it of like, I. I was like. Was I thinking about, like, does that mean Mordoc is a bloodhound? Like, does that mean, like, where does she get, like, in learning of her parentage that, like, did that explain more about Mordoche, per se. But we don't know at this point.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We will learn shortly. Yes, you worry. So we're now back with Bryce and Hunt. She's pulling the star Sword out as a response to where we left them last, about to be eaten by the under king. The under king gleefully introduces them to a shepherd. What's a shepherd? Because the under king goes, I can't wait to eat you. Perhaps you haven't met my delightful, loyal pet, the shepherd. Hey, guys.

[Natalie Jean]

How you doing?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, hey.

[Natalie Jean]

Can I get a little slurp, too? Whoa, whoa. You guys. A little. Ah, I'm big.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, he's a comedian.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, he's like. He's a bit of A comedian, honestly. That's why he doesn't keep him next to him all the time because he's always like trying out new bits at him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

He's like, don't worry, use your crowd work on me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's got a little, what's his name?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh hey, Andrew Dice Clay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, he's got a little Dice Clay in him. So he welcomes the shepherd, which turns out the shepherd is a 10 foot dog. So we have the Under King. Not just saying, hey, I'm gonna eat ya. He goes, welcome to my world of hell. And this big dog shows up and I would think it was cute. I would be like, aw.

[Natalie Jean]

I would be actually upset that he didn't introduce the dog. Up top.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you're holding out a dog on me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I imagine the Under Kings a bad dog owner, which means sometimes the dog is aggressive, off leash. Off leash.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I am against that. You never know what can happen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The dog's teeth are hooked and his eyes are milky like the under king. So I guess probably dead.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, but it's cute. It's like they're related. Yeah, like my dog brother.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. They started looking like each other after a while.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh wow. Wow. It even happens down there, huh?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce thinks the fur almost looks like scales in their sleekness. So it's a big, scary, mean, mean doggy.

[Natalie Jean]

Big O.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, not actually dead. Like I just guessed. But Hunt tells Bryce, no, this is a demon. He seems to recognize this. So this is another hell creature.

[Natalie Jean]

Now would you. You find out you're you, you fall in love with a dog you're gonna adopt?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Uh huh.

[Natalie Jean]

Find out the dog has a demon inside of it. Do you still adopt the dog or and like learn to accept the demon that lives inside of the dog.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How do you find out the demons in it?

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, I feel like it's gonna be in the adoption papers, but wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well they tell you up front.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I feel like, I feel like that's the kind of thing that they don't, you know, they want you to know if it's responsible. Do you keep the dog?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess it depends on what kind.

[Natalie Jean]

Of demon it's like, who knows? Because like, is it like a trick Trixie demon or is it like a demon that wants to reorganize your house? Yeah. A what?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or a Katya demon. God, ya, demon eccentricity.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I got. Yeah, I thought you meant because you caught it, shoved it inside of the dog.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mean.

[Natalie Jean]

Two different things, I guess. I call you. I caught you. Yeah, I caught you. And I'll catch you again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's tough.

[Natalie Jean]

No, that made more sense.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Trixie the under. I'm not even gonna answer that question.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Okay. All right, fine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The other king clarifies that it is actually an experiment by the prince of the ravine in hell to be used in the first wars. The dog, the under king says, my pet was an experiment in hell. That's where we are right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Pretty fun. Little bit of a Frankenstein's dog over here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Now, the shepherd chills in the bone quarter with the under king, and that's kind of fun. They must have, like. They just hang out and, I mean.

[Natalie Jean]

You can't, like, stop yourself from deciding in your brain that it is a German shepherd. Right. Like, we. We all are thinking German shepherd.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, that's kind of what I see. Although sometimes it kind of looks like a Doberman to me.

[Natalie Jean]

In my mind. Yeah. Because it doesn't look like a German shepherd. But I just feel like. I mean, it would make sense, you know, German shepherds, very smart dogs. Very. I mean, that's a good teammate to have.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Absolutely. And the under king continues that it is maybe also called the shepherd because it is most often tasked with forcing the souls through the gate that many people, their souls resist going through. Almost like it is not good.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. Like, it's not consensual.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not consensual. They don't want to be made into food, which is. Who would. Who would have thunk, huh?

[Natalie Jean]

But it's the circle of life. They were fine with it in the Lion King.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's true. You know what? You're right.

[Natalie Jean]

Get your ass out on that velt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

On that what?

[Natalie Jean]

Velt. Melt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, you just keep saying hello.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Geographical. It's like. It's like a plane. It's like. It's like you'll find a zebra on a belt. Like, find a cougar on a velvet. But then I'm like, yeah, you still look great for your age.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Felt. Oh, boy. What? Wait, so a veldt is a thing?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm basing it off of the Ray Bradbury, specifically the short story, but yeah, it's an open, uncultivated country or grassland in southern Africa. Veldt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I guess I also classified by altitude into high veld, middle veld, and low veld. You say we don't teach you anything. Belt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You taught me today.

[Natalie Jean]

I won't let my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis symptoms define me emerge as you.

[Tremfya Advertisement Voice]

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[Tremfya Safety Information Voice]

Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremphya may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms of infection, including fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. Tell your doctor if you had a vaccine or plan to emerge.

[Tremfya Advertisement Voice]

As you learn more about Tremphya, including important safety [e-mail] or call 1-877-578-3527. See our ad in Food and Wine magazine for patients prescribed Tremphaya, cost support may be available.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You open the fridge, there's nothing there. So what's it gonna be? Greasy pizza? Sad Drive thru Burgers Dish by Blue Apron is for nights like that. These are the pre made meals of your dreams.

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

So yes, the shepherd is there to force people through the gate. Mostly. While this is a tense scene, it's so near the first third of the book and it is amidst so many plot points. I never really got a sense of urgency like this was going to be a crisis like point. Because also Bryce is sort of making like puns during this fight. I'm. I feel like this was not a. It feels more like a training montage than anything to me. It's like a first level boss.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. I was about to say it's like a stepping stone of like a. Well, you got to do these things three before you see me. And I feel like it's one of those of. It's just different kind of. You're right. And the fact that man, how many episodes have there been. We're only in the first third of this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we're getting. We're like towards the middle.

[Natalie Jean]

I just, I just. That there's so much. I'm not saying that like because we're taking so long. It's just like there's so much and there's so many Ins and outs to the story. And they're like, oh, you think that? But wait a second. And she's great with the mic drops. She's great with the small bosses. But, yeah, this definitely seems like a more. I don't want to say silly situation, but it is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, it's not because some of her fight scenes are very upsetting. This one doesn't really feel like that. It feels a little Scooby Dooish.

[Natalie Jean]

And she. I think. And that's a choice. It's got to be a choice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I mean, I think so. So even though when I first read this, I was like this, the stakes are low on this, I also feel.

[Natalie Jean]

Like this is the same kind of feeling I get every time Bryce and Hunt, or like, one of them are interacting with one of, like, the princes of Hell. I also feel like it is that kind of like, I know you're bad, but, like, also, we're kind of getting along.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. There's something else happening here. So it almost feels even like. And I don't even know if this is true, but it feels like the under king is almost in on it. Because having the umbra mortis and the princess of the Fae coming to your land and then you kill them seems like it would start a big old war or something.

[Natalie Jean]

I think a couple of people would have something to say about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As the dog launches at the duo, Hunt unleashes his lightning and things begin to explode. Obelisks are going everywhere.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, baby.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And what is certainly an ode to the mythological dog Cerberus. The dog splits into three. I assume Andrew, Dice and Clay.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, forget about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You won't forget about this because I'm coming at you.

[Natalie Jean]

Threes. Oh, God. They're all just, like, covered in gel and all slicked back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh.

[Natalie Jean]

A little drunk, but, like, kind of in a charming way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Obviously a bunch of cocaine.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, no. They definitely took quite a few tutors before coming out there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's hard to split your body into three. Probably need a lot of cocaine for it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I think Cerberus has three heads. It's not three dogs. Right. But I think this is obviously like an Oda. Yes. So the dog actually splits apart utterly. And Hunt stands in front of Bryce. But the two of them begin to work in tandem almost immediately. So they go into fight mode. Very feels, very training. So, you know, he. He does his I'm a big tough guy thing and stands in front of her. But he knows she can handle herself. And they both start to Immediately go. You go. You do. You do this. You do this. Hun screams for her to run and she does. She. She starts to take off. Not to escape, but to lead one of the dogs away from Hunt. She lets it chase her for a moment and then dodges it. So basically she leads the one dog, so breaking up the three towards the docks, making it look like she's running towards the boats. And then when she gets close, she banks really quickly and she turns and the dog smashes into a column before she can. Before it even knows what happened.

[Natalie Jean]

It doesn't even ask her if she wants to make a deposit because she banked.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. You know, I thought it was something to do with the obelisks and I was like trying to.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that a no?

[Natalie Jean]

No, that's. Honestly, sometimes a joke is so good that you like the explanation. Makes it more powerful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're stunned.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So that's probably why you didn't get it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So before she could turn back towards Hunt, because she basically wanted to take this dog away and then was gonna circle back around back to Hunt, like, because she's not gonna leave, right? Even though Hunt says that to her, like, run, leave, run away.

[Natalie Jean]

You really think Bryce is gonna run away?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. Ridiculous. So she goes to turn around, but amongst all of these columns and stuff, it's super foggy and she kind of loses her direction in the fog and she's running and running and she smashes face first into the courts of the dead gate.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Her teeth mash through her bottom and blood pours out. She rebounds off of the dead gate and collapses to the ground. The sword goes flying from her hands. That had a hurt.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, man. Oh, and your. Your teeth ripping through your bottom lip. Ah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do you think if you had fat, like, super fast healing powers, you wouldn't be as freaked out by those kind of injuries?

[Natalie Jean]

I feel I. I would imagine as someone that plays D and to be in a world where it's like, well, if I die, I can either be brought back or, like, we can figure this out. And so it really does make you do stupider things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's fun.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So her. Yeah, this is a gnarly injury. But of course, with her, her Fae healing, it'll start to like, fix itself pretty quickly. But so as she did this hit, though, as this injury happened, the sword goes flying out of her hands. She looks up from where she's fallen and the sword has flung itself between her and the dog who was chasing her, who is now locked in on her and about to attack.

[Natalie Jean]

Ah. Oh, God. You know, dogs are good at sword play. So.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The dog's gonna pick the sword up.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Oh, thanks. Whoa. Sword's really big.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Have you ever seen the dog whose sword fights with his. His owners?

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. James, you could probably find.

[Natalie Jean]

It's so cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you gonna look it up?

[Natalie Jean]

Yep. Oh, God. Oh, God. What is she, an Australian shepherd? Maybe another shepherd.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe this is the dog that's gonna be good at sword fighting. Is this good? Is this good audio? Is this. Is this what you want? Us silently watching a dog? Oh, my God. How did you learn how to do it? This dog loves to fight with swords.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. Now I'm just picturing. I guess maybe. No, that's. I want to say Dice is the one that followed.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, okay. Yeah, Me. Okay. Dice. All right. Yeah. Whoa. Oh, sword fighting. Yeah. I thought that. I thought that was the under king. I was like, is under king having a seizure?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My crown fell.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So before we find out what's gonna happen, we cut back to. Runo has just learned the shocking news that Mordoc is Danika's father. As the trio waits with bated breath for Mordoch to move away from the alley because something has caught more Doc's attention. Even if he can't see the three of them in the shadow, something is sparking his interest down there. And so he keeps walking closer and closer to these trio hiding in rune shadows as they wait. Ithan explains mind to mind that Danika forbid any of them to talk about it. Ruhn is shocked. He shook Ithan, basically. Also, it's kind. I mean, he knew, but it was a big secret, and she just kind of pretended that Mordoch didn't exist to the rest of the pack, and so they never brought it up. Ithan then has more bad news, because you would never know that Mordoc was Danika's father, because they look nothing alike. They don't have the physical traits that they share. Except she gained a trait from her father that you can't see but you can sniff. He is a bloodhound.

[Natalie Jean]

This is also why I was asking earlier, because I was like, I couldn't remember if we already knew she was a bloodhound or if we just found out that Mordoc was a bloodhound right now. Because I didn't reread this chapter. I didn't get this far.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And I was like, I. So thank you for that earlier.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. We found out. Oh, My crown.

[Natalie Jean]

Biz. You about to get dethroned. About to come in here, knife that crown off your head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hang on, let me just reapply this. This is really entertaining podcasting. Okay, here we go.

[Natalie Jean]

Get cut. Probably.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't. Don't you dare.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, we're leaving it in. Don't you dare. Cut out. We're leaving it in.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You wait for when I decide to speak.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, you are the under king.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And the under king. Yes. We learned that she was a bloodhound already, and now in this moment, we learn that her bloodhound skills come from her father, which is not good news for three people. Trying to hide from him in this moment.

[Natalie Jean]

Nope.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, Rune takes the snooze in and goes, okay, we are really screwed right now. He goes into Cormac's mind and tells him to teleport them the F out of there. Right then.

[Natalie Jean]

I wonder if teleporting makes any sound. Like, I wonder if there's like, a. You know, I know that they don't address it right here, but it's like, I feel like doing that soundlessly has gotta be. Man, that's a technology that I like. Oh, that's the sound. You just hear that kind of. It's like, where. What I get. I feel like if that's the sound, I may be like, I guess maybe I. Even though I can teleport, maybe I shouldn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, we don't. I don't know. But what Cormac does say is that he can't take them both at the same time. Rue knows that. He says grabby.

[Tremfya Advertisement Voice]

Then.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then Cormac basically has to lay a plan out with him. In those, like, seconds, as Mordoc is creeping closer, he's like, I'm not going to be able to get to the exact precise shadow that you're in right now. You're gonna have to start edging yourself towards the street level, because right now, you're an alleyway. We need to go towards the sunlight, where the crowd is, and then I can snag you really quickly. And so they have to do a very careful maneuver here. They figure all this stuff out mind to mind. And then he grabs Ethan.

[Natalie Jean]

Ruhn kept perfectly still as the wolf prowled near, sniffing, head swaying from side to side. I can smell you failing, Mordoc. Growled voice like stones cracking against each other. I can smell a coffee on your breath. Oh, man, you are full of creep today, Nat. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Uh, yeah. So now it's just Rune. Ethan and Cormac have already Escaped to wherever he took Ethan. And now it's just Rune trying to not make a sound, make a move. As Mordoc's right up in his face, slowly run. Is creeping closer and closer to the busy street nearby, maintaining his shadows. Because he can only really be in the shadows and hide in this way. If he's, like, in a shadowy area. As soon as he gets towards the street, he's going to be able to be seen again. But he's trying to get as close as he can to the edge, trying to also keep from making a sound as his feet are, you know, like, walking along the stones.

[Natalie Jean]

And it's like he already knows you're there. You got to do what you got to do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he can't exactly tell where.

[Natalie Jean]

He can only smell where and smell that they're a Fae. But not like I can't smell necessarily at a. That's him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or where exactly they. He is. He. I guess he could just start, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Grabbing at the air.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But, you know, Murdoch is taunting him. Cormac returns in a shadowy flash, giving Rune the signal to just run. As Murdoch laughs and says that he will remember this scent before Mordoc can react further. Rune makes it to Cormac's grip and the two of them disappear.

[Natalie Jean]

Man, lots of, like, crazy juking happen chapter to chapter. Like, right out the gate in this second part of the book. You know, it's like just back and forth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bam, bam, bam, bam. So there's a lot happening. It's. Again, why I. I never really thought this under King scene was going to be, like, super consequential.

[Natalie Jean]

Right, right, right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

There's too many plot points already happening.

[Natalie Jean]

And also, it's so much lore that's dropping in the. That I feel like, like, it's like, what, are they gonna kill off a main character right now?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I. I didn't get that sense.

[Natalie Jean]

So at 30, also with SJM, I mean, you do it, I guess you don't ever know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't give me another one of those barge scenes or I'm gonna lose my mind.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't. My heart breaks just thinking about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

At 31, Ruin and Ethan are day drinking at a pub.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, after you go through that, you go have a drink.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Drink.

[Natalie Jean]

Come on. Yolo.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Memento mori.

[Natalie Jean]

Right, let's go off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they're at a pub, day drinking, where Cormac has teleported them away from the alleyway. So this is immediately afterwards this just happened. He took them to a public place because he says before he leaves them There that he wants to create an alibi in case Mordoc kind of figures out who everybody was, where they were. They can say, nuh, we were over here. Because most people aren't aware that Cormac is a teleporter, right? So he sets them up at this alibi and then Cormac wants to go talk to. To the ophion people about what they know, Right. So they kind of just like relaying intel. You know, when in pub go drink the whiskey.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, what are you gonna show up and not be drinking the whiskey?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So the two of them are sort of decompressing from the situation. A lot of information has just also been learned. The whole Mordoch Danica thing. They're both just kind of like reeling from everything and run. And Ethan, this is like one of their first alone bonding. It kind of boy times boy scenes, right? They're sipping on whiskey. They sit at a nearly empty bar because it's not even lunchtime yet. And Rune says in mind speak to have Ethan play along with whatever casual conversation they're about to start in case people are listening.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, man. That is a skill you got to work on if you are mind speaking as well as talking aloud. You gotta, man years and years of practice to be able to keep a conversation going while you're doing it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also just seeming like you're not doing it casually, like you're having just a random hangout and not just like recovering from almost being ripped apart.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. And also just I imagine the two of us trying to mind speak at each other. I'd be like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then I go, what about that one show you like.

[Natalie Jean]

Just like they're so upset about it. Honestly, makes my chest hurt just thinking about it. Or maybe it's just because my chest is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you're uncomfortably in a car. You're wearing an armored outfit, sitting in this chair.

[Natalie Jean]

It's my battle suit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't do it. Don't do. I said no, no. You put him down.

[Natalie Jean]

All right. It's just like get this to a Benny Faina.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that Benihana?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. It's just keep going. I'm not. I don't know what's happening with my mouth. I don't think I have control over my mouth today. Maybe I am mind speaking.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Shouldn't it be more. It'd be like faini hana.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, that sounds like heiny. I know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're in this mind speed conversation. And then they're talking aloud as they sip their whiskey. Rune offers Ethan a place to stay with him and the other boys at the frat house. And, yes, I did spell it. Freight House.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Freight house. But also, you spell boys. B, O, I, S, the bullies.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's because that's how you spell that when it's boys who are playing grab ass, playing pool, drinking whiskey.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right. And then, honestly, it really. It divides them from the B O, Y, Z's. Because I feel like those boys are also looking for a very different time. Different time. You know, it just depends. But I feel like there's a lot more neon and a lot more hammer pants with that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And they're just like, wow. I feel like it's a lot more of that. Yeah, maybe it is. Is. Is Andrew Dice Clay with us today? Like, I feel like he's inside of us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You hear?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. We want.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't have it. Any sort of sexual feelings towards the Dice Man?

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, no. That's not. He was never really my type. No. Which is for the best because it's like, I've got father issues, but I don't need to add that on top of it, you know, he does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He has a little bit of your father.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Energy.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Oh, he loved the Dice Man. I tell you what.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ethan is sort of stunned by this offer that Rune has given him. It's very uncommon for wolves to fraternize with other species. Because they're wolves, for crying out loud. They have wolves to hang out.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. There's a phrase also called a lone wolf. Ever heard of it?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but it's usually a negative concept.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right. And they don't want to be lone wolves.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But then they're like. Women seem to always fall for them, and then they're usually, like, pretty damaged and cause a lot of problems. But then, like, do I scream, I.

[Natalie Jean]

Can fix you again?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I can fix you. No, you can't.

[Natalie Jean]

Come on, let me in.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't do it.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm so good. I'll tape you up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's the takeaway. You're just not good enough at fixing them, and it's your fault.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm glad that we always put this back on ourselves because really, we're always wrong and we're always the problem.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. Yeah. So they are having. They're trying to have a conversation that looks casual from the outside, but Roon is actually suggesting this, and Rune, you know, he's Faye royalty, so that's another big, weird thing to put on top of it. But it's Rune. He don't give a care. You don't care because he is bad. He's a bad boy. He doesn't care that he's the prince. He's like Harry.

[Natalie Jean]

He's right. Oh, my God. He's like Harry. Wow. I wonder if Run also thinks he owns Africa. We'll ask him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Let's ask him. Yeah, let's find out. Ethan asks why Rune is saying this, and Rune makes him laugh by suggesting, hey, I mean, is not getting away from Bryce and Hunt's hookups enough of a reason why? Like, do you need more reasons?

[Natalie Jean]

Which is such a cute little boy convo of just like, I know you don't want to be. I know you have a crush on her. I know you've had a crush on her since the beginning of time. I can't imagine listening to them hook up every night, even if you didn't. Yeah. Get out of there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Get out. But then he says. Rune says it more sincerely, that Ethan seems like he's a good male and he's helping Declan with the tech matters and going through all this footage. It would just kind of make sense for him to come live with them. And he has the room. Why not?

[Natalie Jean]

It's like the end of Breakfast Club. You know which part when they all like when he goes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

See my takeaway from Breakfast Club is that they never will talk to each other again.

[Natalie Jean]

No, of course not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

They're gonna pretend like that day never happened. And we all know. I'd love to see the sequel where they all go back to being exactly themselves and never speak ever again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. This is the next day.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just like, oh, my God.

[Natalie Jean]

God. Oh, what? Yeah. What? Detention.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he says all of this. It's not like the Breakfast Club. Sorry, I want to.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you, but I don't agree.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. You know, you are right. We know they stay friends. It's like, you know, it's like a. You know, we shouldn't say it says.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, we got the space. And also, I. I'm getting a very big brother vibe from Ruhn in this moment.

[Natalie Jean]

But also, you know, who needs a big brother? Ethan, of course. He's never been the same since everything with the other wolves and especially with Connor. And he needs you, Ruhn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And I think Ruhn can tell.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. And that also goes to show what a good male he is. That's why I love Ruhn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm a Ruhn girl. So Ethan, of course, has to not. Not played off. He has to go like, oh, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe I'll of course, you know, he's ecstatic.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's probably very happy about this. But then, as they're having this very nice conversation, something happens behind Rune's back. Because we're with Rune's POV that makes Ethan go tense.

[Natalie Jean]

Before he could ask Ethan, mind to mind what he saw, Run. Found himself faced with the most beautiful female he'd ever seen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mind if I join you?

[Natalie Jean]

Her voice was lovely, fair and cool. Yet no light shone in her amber eyes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Joining her.

[Natalie Jean]

No. And she started doing this and he's like, are you threatening me? Am I pretty now?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you okay? Do you need a hug?

[Natalie Jean]

Or are you. Are you. Yeah. Are you bad? Like, are you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Are you threatening me or are you crying out for help?

[Natalie Jean]

Help, help and attention all at the same time?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So that is not.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it's not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Jackie was just portraying. But joining her is a female that Jackie's portraying. Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Not the pretty one. All right. Even though everybody that's bringing it to the table, it's too pretty to be her. Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So it's an angel of sorts. Pale, dark haired with black wings and a crazed look in her eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

Tiny black wings that probably can't lift her thick, juicy body.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We need to invest.

[Natalie Jean]

Barely see my wings. The problem is wings are either so cheap that they fall apart and they're barely wings or they're 600.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. There's no middle ground. No, I know it.

[Natalie Jean]

There's nothing. I know that. Honestly, you know what we need to do? We need to build ourselves.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We do need to build.

[Natalie Jean]

We need to build.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So get your husband. Your crafty husband.

[Natalie Jean]

Husband. Stop doing all your working in your own businessing. Make me wings.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He could do it.

[Natalie Jean]

He could do it. And he chooses not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Every day he chooses not to.

[Natalie Jean]

Ah, yes, it's another day where you choose not to help me. That's how I wake him up every.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Morning after you ask him if he had a beautiful cousin.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Yeah, he did. Honestly, I did ask that and his response was, who? Patrick? Hell yeah. Which is one of his cousins. And it was a very funny. Because Patrick looks just like him and you know, know it's a lot of fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, that's nice.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So, I mean, honestly, that's the response. That's why I married him. When you ask him if you're. If you would fuck your sexy cousin if your sexy cousin could teleport and his answer was a joking response of, oh, yeah, of course I would. That's the yes ending you need in a partner.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

In a partner. Yes. For sure. So.

[Natalie Jean]

And I didn't even ask. Honestly. We haven't even talked about it since. Never asked why I asked it. Never asked if it was for something. And again, continues to be a great partner.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, that's also for his own piece.

[Natalie Jean]

He does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So if he asks, it's gonna be another three hour conversation.

[Natalie Jean]

It really is. And honestly, like, I was telling him, I was like, did you know I was talking to Cena? Because Cena was on an episode of Page Seven and Cena's wife is in choir. And I asked him if he gets his knob slobbed on after choir because choir puts me in a real horny mood. And he was surprised. He's like, I have kids. No, my wife's not coming home from choir and slobbing on my knob.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wait, you get horny at chorus?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm in a fucking great mood. Like, I just come back. You're just singing for two hours. I'm feeling it. And it's great because no one's looking at me and no one gives a fuck about me. No one's, like, thinking about what I'm saying. It's great. It's so freeing. And so it always, like, I'm in a great mood when I leave choir. And it was. It was just shocking to Sina that that's what I associate with choir with. And the reason why I brought this up was because I told this to Jeff and he said, you were talking about that on an episode. And I was like, yeah. And he's like, I just don't want to know. I just want. I was like, yeah, on an episode that many thousands and many thousands of people listen to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But, you know, sometimes you just don't ask. Don't ask, don't tell.

[Natalie Jean]

He doesn't need to know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm very. That is not some. I would be. Especially because your course is, like, mostly with grandma. And so, yeah, it's not. The first thing that comes to my mind was the. Oh, I'd be, like, really turned on afterwards. But I can see what you're saying, that you just, like, did this very freeing thing.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And your. Your endorphins are up and I feel great. Oh, serotonin.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Really get. It's. It's on. It's a free high.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do you.

[Natalie Jean]

Never mind.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Actually, I was gonna ask something.

[Natalie Jean]

What was that gonna be?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not appropriate. So we are with the heartbeat.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, yes, there is this beautiful female and joined by this other.

[Natalie Jean]

Other female. This other thing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ruhn looks at the blonde female and recognizes her from media. She is quite famous, it turns out. The blonde calls for the bartender and then eases herself into the opposite chair. I thought we'd play a round of.

[Natalie Jean]

Cards, the hind said, and then we're back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So the hind is. This is the reveal in that sentence.

[Natalie Jean]

Me. So it's like the boys are having a boys day out. The Hind and the Harpy. Also, I feel like having a glam time. High five in the Dread Wolves. Being like, get it. Kill them. Yes. Get another silver dart, bitches. And I'm like with my knives. And everybody's scared. And we are having at work.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like they shouldn't be going to have drinks at a bar.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie, we're also at work. I think that some people see work as different things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When you say we, who do you mean?

[Natalie Jean]

I mean the two of us and we're dressed like this. We're not drinking now. We're not, but we could be.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're not drinking.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie, would you like to start drinking during these episodes? I think we want to. I want to go back in time 10, 15 years ago when we only used to podcast hammered. And I think that's what we need to bring back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We are barely hanging on to the thread of this podcast.

[Natalie Jean]

What do you mean?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Throw some whiskey on top of it.

[Natalie Jean]

Imagine, then what, we'd start confessing, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I would definitely have.

[Natalie Jean]

And I would have asked that question. I would have finished that. Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So.

[Natalie Jean]

So we have playing cards.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Playing cards.

[Natalie Jean]

Uno, draw, four.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Go fish.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, yes, that is the Hind and the Harpy. And they have found Ethan and Rune. Almost as if they were being followed. Interesting.

[Natalie Jean]

What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because they were just teleported there. So what does that mean? Is Cormac a double agent? How did they know?

[Natalie Jean]

Don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Interesting. Then we cut back to. Oh, yeah. Hunt and Bryce are near death, being attacked by three huge dogs who are all one comedian from the 80s.

[Natalie Jean]

Juke back to Andrew Dyson.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Clay Hunt is holding off one dog with his lightning because. Okay, we have one that's chasing Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt is facing off with the other two and he's got one of them holding tight with his. He's made like, almost a noose out of lightning. And that dog is starting to. To struggle.

[Natalie Jean]

Should have put that arms up. Should have made his head bigger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Should have made his head bigger. Hand at the level of his eye.

[Natalie Jean]

Call back to the last episode, I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Guess paw at the level of his eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he's got it. But then the other dog, which this Is pretty awesome. I wish that I could do this. The other dog sucks itself back into the dog that's being choked, and the two of them coming together is too strong for Hunt's lightning extra dog.

[Natalie Jean]

So put an extra dog on it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Dog in it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they come together. It rips apart his lightning.

[Natalie Jean]

Cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He wonders, hoping Bryce has made it to the river before the third dog catches her. And again, Hunt, do you actually think Bryce just left you here? Like, she was just like. You know what? You're right. I gotta go, get out of here. Sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, he's at lihe you. You know, he knows that she did it, but he's hoping that she did.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. He's like, I hope she made it to the dock beforehand so she can just leave me here. Suddenly, they hear a scream in the distance, and before Hunt can stop the dog in front of him, it is chasing down the sound through the mist, presumably towards wherever Bryce is. We cut over to Bryce. At this moment, she's not just got the dog now, but as she has fallen, she smashed her face into the gate. Fallen, swords falling away from her. Dog is in front of her, coming towards her. But now there's also a dozen reapers who have appeared, and they begin chanting at the gate, making it light up. If I were to guess they were doing whatever they need to rip the first light out of her for food.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, they're not, like, chanting, like, I don't know, the electric slide. Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I was thinking more command dancing, but, yeah, you could do it. Go, Go. I like that. As their cheer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wait, what were you saying? It was dances. Wait, what did I say? I don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't remember. Okay. Immediately left my head. Sometimes the second, you know, it comes out, and then it's like butterflies, you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Know, it's like your first light just disappears.

[Natalie Jean]

Just disappears into the room.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So your first light all over the place. So the reapers have chanted. The gate is now lighting up command dances.

[Natalie Jean]

That's what I was saying that they're chanting, you know, like the electric slide to the left, to the left, to the right, to the right, to the front, to the front, to the back, to the back. Slide, Bryce, slide.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That is the tootsie roll.

[Natalie Jean]

That is not the electric slide. Uh oh, call me embarrassed. Ah, I'm mixing up my command dances. And honestly, that's on the reapers. It's really not on me. They should really. They should come hang out in the realm of the living a little bit more.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe in Midgard that is the Electric Slide. It's not the tootsie.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God, it's all upside down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's upside down land. So they are not chanting command answers. They are doing something that is lighting the gate up. That's not gonna be good for her, I imagine.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, okay. This. This bed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She thinks bitterly of all of the people before her who had given a piece of their light, thinking it was this contribution to the planet, when in reality they were just sending it to some ghoul cafe. Because that's what the light. The light is coming through the gate. That is first light or second light, I guess, from dead people. She considers trying to pull power out of the dead gate the way that she did the heart gate earlier that spring. But it seems like a bad omen to try on the skate because it is called the dead gate. We don't know what will happen if you try to pull from it, which.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, usually Bryce doesn't think even for a moment. So, you know, honestly, growth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Growth for sure, because. Yeah, for sure. Most of the time she's just like, oh, I'll figure it out later. Yeah, she doesn't. It seems like this might not end well if she tries to get dead people's life to come out.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She curses herself for not learning to teleport before she came here, which again, should have thought this through potentially a little bit. The dog that has just ran from Hunt appears before her where she is crouching behind the dead gate. So after she fell, she kind of like took a little cover by the gate, but that's when the reapers came. They started chanting the. The dog is between her and the sword. And now the second dog that had become two back into one from Hun has now appeared by her as well.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, the Spice Girls. When two become one.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. And now one becomes two, it splits again. So all three are now facing off from her, and she is not in hands reach of her sword. She decides she has no choice and runs towards them, towards the star sword, because she has to come down as they. She has to basically go towards them running at her to get the sword.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The dogs launch themselves at her and she slides underneath across the jagged rocks, tearing her skin, but manages to get the sword in her hands, cradling it as the dogs fly over her head and crash to the ground behind her.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, it is a bit. That's a. I feel like a bit of like a farce move. Like, I feel like she's in the play Noises off, where it's like, don't what? A little bit. Those crazy dogs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A little. So she slides down. She's. Her body is. The agony goes through, courses through her body. Because she realizes as she's crouching down, holding the sword, as the dogs sailed over her, one of their claws must have gotten into her spine and sliced a big old slice in her back. She can only think of Hunt as she used the sword to pull herself to her knees in deep pain from this big tear in her back, preparing to swing the sword out towards the dogs. Even if the pain causes her to pass out. She hears a battle cry before she can move.

[Natalie Jean]

For Hunt, there was only Bryce, bleeding and hurt. Bryce, who'd made that brash run for the sword, probably thinking it was her only shot. Bryce, who'd gotten to her feet anyway and planned to go down swinging. Bryce, his mate.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we've cut back over to Hunt's POV in this moment, and he is peeved.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The three dogs reemerge into one big.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. The is back. About to take out Bryce, Hunt landed in the dirt beside her and let out a bellow that shook the gate itself. I mean, also goosh, goosh, goosh, goosh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Gosh, for sure. We cut back over to Bryce's POV as Hunt slams down next to her, wreathed in lightning and rage.

[Natalie Jean]

That's my man. That's my man. That's my man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ready to protect her at any and all cost. Costs.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

His power is so vibrant that her hair floats up as though she's like one of those lightning globe things.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. Sexy. She gets to one of those lightning globe things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She marvels at the core of his lightning, turning blue with the heat of it. Then realizes he looks like something. She's seen this image before. What, sir? In the lobby of the ballet house, channeling his lightning through the sky. And that sculpture at the beginning of.

[Natalie Jean]

The book, that God sculpture.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she has an idea. Hun's ancient rage sends a thousand bolts of lightning out at the Hound and the reapers.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce was too fast, even for him. As she leapt in front of the blow, star sword extended. A wild theory only half formed. But Hunt's lightning hit the star sword and the world erupted.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He lightning her.

[Natalie Jean]

He lightened her sword. Oh, we didn't even know they could do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What's gonna happen? We don't know.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know. We don't know, man. Fucking dropping it. Dropping it. Okay. Oh, no. They're both very powerful, but together they're even more powerful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or is it going to kill them both.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. We know because it's still we know. We know it's not. But you know. But what.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But what if.

[Natalie Jean]

What if?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do think that last scene with Hunt is very hot.

[Natalie Jean]

Please read up until chapter 35 for next week. I won't let my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis symptoms define me.

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[Natalie Jean]

For a limited time at McDonald's. Get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8. That means two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun and medium fries and a drink. We may need to change that jingle.

[Tremfya Safety Information Voice]

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