The sun dipped low behind the desert hills as the Feral Eclipse bus rolled westward, the firetruck escort long gone and the city of Dallas a memory scorched into the internet’s collective soul.

By the time they crossed into El Paso, the roads were quiet, but the buzz sure wasn’t. Gabriel’s phone kept dinging from the dash every two seconds. Emily was already editing a video montage titled “Breakfast of Legends” with a custom howl soundtrack. Diesel still hadn’t stopped shaking his head.

“I tell ya,” the grizzled driver muttered, watching the highway roll out ahead, “if we get a marching band escort next time, I’m retiring on the spot.”

The bus rolled into the lot behind a mid-sized but modern arena. New venue, clean trusses, polished loading dock. Professional crew. It felt… calm.

Too calm.

Thane stood at the open side door, sniffing the air as he surveyed the quiet courtyard. “Where is everyone? I thought we were trending in four languages.”

Gabriel stretched and cracked his neck. “Maybe El Paso doesn’t do ambushes. Maybe this one’s just chill.”

That was when they heard it.

A low, collective chant from somewhere beyond the venue walls. It started soft—just a ripple—but grew louder by the second. Rhythmic. Unified. Excited.

“FEE-RAAAL! FEE-RAAAL! FEE-RAAAL!”

Cassie peeked around the side of the building.

And there they were.

Hundreds of fans packed into the sidewalk perimeter—some wearing handmade shirts, others waving signs, one guy holding a cardboard cutout of Mark holding a mop. Street food vendors had set up tents. A mariachi band was warming up. Someone had made piñatas of the entire band.

“I swear to Luna,” Thane mumbled, “if I see a plush mop in that crowd, I’m turning around.”

Jonah grinned. “We should start selling them.”

The local promoter—an over-caffeinated guy with a clipboard and wireless headset—came running down the dock.

“Okay, uh… slight update,” he panted. “The venue wasn’t expecting this kind of turnout for a load-in, so uh, the crowd’s kinda blocked the entrance. And uh… the mayor’s office just called.”

Thane raised an eyebrow. “…Why?”

“They, uh… they wanna give you guys a key to the city before soundcheck.”

Mark groaned. “Oh no. That’s how the curse starts.”

Gabriel clapped his paws together. “Let’s go meet the mayor!”