The tour van coasted through the tree-lined streets of Oakridge, a picturesque college town so charming it practically had a degree in wholesomeness. Brick buildings gleamed in the late afternoon sun, bike racks overflowed, and students wearing beanies and earbuds walked in clusters, sipping cold brew and quoting Nietzsche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thane squinted at the navigation app. \u201cThis can\u2019t be right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel leaned between the seats, tail twitching with curiosity. \u201cSays the event is at the \u2018Simmons Cultural Auditorium.\u2019 Sounds… fancy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark growled from the back seat. \u201cIf we\u2019re playing next to a guy giving a lecture on butterfly migration again, I\u2019m not responsible for what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The van turned onto a narrow service road and pulled behind an ivy-covered building. A banner flapped overhead in awkward, cheerful font: Underneath in smaller print: There was a pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maya leaned forward, staring out the window. \u201c\u2026Please tell me that\u2019s the name of a student poetry collective.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jonah slowly lifted his head off the window, blinking. \u201cOh no. They think we\u2019re here to speak.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassie, staring at the banner, deadpanned, \u201cWell I do<\/em> inspire minds. Mostly to run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico pulled a laminated event pass off the dashboard and read aloud: Thane just muttered, \u201cKill me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside, things got worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cgreen room\u201d was stocked with vegan muffins, herbal tea, and a collection of pre-highlighted books on mindfulness. A student volunteer named Braeden with an undercut and ironic Crocs handed out personalized name tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust wear these on stage, yeah? Helps the audience connect with you emotionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel\u2019s tag read: Thane\u2019s tag: Mark stared at his: Ten minutes before showtime, a soft-spoken organizer approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re so excited to have you all. Just a quick note\u2014no pyrotechnics, no flashing lights, and please keep the volume below 85 decibels. We\u2019re still within library hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassie stood there in full leather, mic in hand. The woman beamed. \u201cThat\u2019s the spirit!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Showtime.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They walked out onto a fully seated auditorium stage\u2014no pit, no fog, no lights. Just polite clapping from two hundred students holding complimentary stress balls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel took the mic and cheerfully declared, \u201cWe are Feral Eclipse\u2014and we are not<\/em> your usual lecture!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then he slammed into a bassline so filthy it made Braeden drop his reusable water bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maya launched into the rhythm guitar part like she was starting a riot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico\u2019s solo tore through the auditorium like a sonic earthquake. Jonah, grinning like a demon, smashed through the bridge and howled into the breakdown. One of the professors actually stood up and cheered.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And Thane\u2014offstage\u2014cranked the mix past 100 decibels. Afterward, the event organizer approached, shell-shocked and smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was\u2026 not what I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassie, still panting, wiped blood off her lip ring. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Braeden handed Gabriel a tote bag. \u201cHere\u2019s your honorarium. Also, like\u2026 what are you guys doing later?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel blinked. \u201cUh. Sleeping?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico took the bag, peeked inside, and muttered, \u201cCool. They paid us in granola bars and bookstore gift cards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark just stared at the ceiling. \u201cWe should\u2019ve played the frat party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane, arms folded, nodded. \u201cNext time someone offers us a \u2018cultural engagement opportunity\u2019\u2014we say no.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel leaned on him, grinning wide. \u201cBut we did<\/em> inspire minds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Thane said. \u201cTo invest in better earplugs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The tour van coasted through the tree-lined streets of Oakridge, a picturesque college town so charming it practically had a degree in wholesomeness. Brick buildings gleamed in the late afternoon sun, bike racks overflowed, and students wearing beanies and earbuds walked in clusters, sipping cold brew and quoting Nietzsche. Thane squinted at the navigation app. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tour-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3251,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions\/3251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/threewerewolves.com\/tourblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cOAKRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS: INSPIRING MINDS SERIES \u2014 TONIGHT ONLY!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Featuring Feral Eclipse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018An immersive evening of empowerment, artistic expression, and the creative voice in modern society.\u2019\u201d
He turned to look at Thane.
\u201c\u2026Bro. We\u2019re opening with Blood Moon Breakdown.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
GABRIEL \u2013 BASS \/ TRANSFORMATIONAL ENERGY LEADER<\/strong>
He was thrilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THANE \u2013 SOUND TECH \/ AURAL ARCHITECT<\/strong>
He immediately crumpled it and shoved it in his pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MARK \u2013 LIGHTING DESIGNER \/ EMOTIONAL CONTRAST SPECIALIST<\/strong>
\u201c\u2026I will burn this building down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You know I scream<\/em> for a living, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Cassie let out a bloodcurdling scream halfway through the chorus.
Someone in the third row fainted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Library hours be damned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n