It was another clear, sunny day in The Promise Land. Not quite completely sun-drenched, but just clear enough to warrant a pleasant day in the lower 80s. David had risen early in the day, taken over for about two hours by the beast before he managed to take control once more, promising Mystica his time was coming in a little less than two days. The beast was satisfied with this explanation, and gladly gave up control of their shared body to David. But David couldn't be quite sure if this was the best of ideas. He had been suffering from bad thoughts -- nothing impure; just painful. It was a recurring series of memories that haunted him, even taunting his placated mind in the light of day. He thought nightmares only came at night, when one was asleep and innocent. Helpless. But even at one's strongest, the worst instincts can easily overcome rational thought. Even more bothersome, these worries were not coming from the Myst locked deep within. David was thinking of them all on his own.

With the day to himself, David sat on the porch of his stately shack for about an hour, enjoying the sight of the busy people moving to and fro. They walked with a certain stupor to their step, drunk with something David couldn't quite comprehend. In a way, he secretly hoped they were still thinking of his sermon from the previous morning. He had certainly tried his hardest. All he could hope was that it had left an impact. And in another way, he hoped one soul had been most impacted by his words. After an hour, he sighed and made his way off into the fields to think.

As he stumbled over the pastures filled with wheat and tall grass, he passed several people, who gave him hearty "good morning"s and little waves. David smiled back at them, absent-mindedly returning their friendly gestures. It had become almost robotic since yesterday. These pleasant little exchanges. It had become ingrained in him like a deep wound. With Eli away, the common folk had turned to the man who had most reflected what Eli preached. Since he had arrived, David had felt somewhat alienated from the community. His shack was located rather far from the main grouping of houses in what he could only refer to as a "village." He had been alone with nary but his thoughts and Becky to relate to. And the thoughts had been more intriguing than he imagined. But now, having others to interact with...it was somewhat of a culture shock to him. His entire life, he had been used to a life of introversion; looking only into himself and not into others. Here, it all changed.

As he continued along the brush, he looked to the forest surrounding the compound. It was much like a fence, corralling the flock of people into the confines of Eli's dream. David could feel himself locked inside the foggy manifestation of something morbid and beautiful all at once. He paused, trying to remember life back in Redditch. It had been busier; more robust. This new life he was living had become more leisurely; more devoted to an ideal. Back in the city, he could remember people moving like a current to and fro, not interacting, but cohabiting. He grumbled something to himself and tried to massage away a growing headache. The migraines were becoming more frequent in the country air -- his latent allergies emerging to the forefront of his lackluster immune system. He had this strange inability to heal well. It always took conscious effort to recover from something traumatic. And recently, life had been nothing but one giant trauma.

Returning from his momentary reprieve, he raised his gaze to stare more intently at the woods. Somewhere in there was Elisha and his...daughter? Mother? Child? Guardian? David wasn't quite sure. What he was sure of was that there was some form of connection between those souls. And oddly enough, he himself felt some sort off dire connection to them as well. Tag team partners...partner...friend? He couldn't be quite sure. The monster that was Elisha was quite an enigma to him. In his recent studies, he had not only examined the wrestling repertoire of his opponents. He had also delved into the in-ring psychology of his partner -- or, at least, who Elisha used to be. Eric Rex. Some man, some...thing. He could barely make sense of it all, and to be expected to team up with this unknown entity...

Needless to say, he felt overwhelmed.

The trees before him swayed gently in the breeze of the midday, sending a welcome chill down from the hills far away on the horizon. It was almost relieving how the wind blew his loose dress shirt across his skin. The very temperature moved the beads of sweat across his chest, cooling even the deeper parts of him. He took it all in with welcome arms, his eyes still studying the trees.

Nature, he wondered. How it stands in perfect unison with humanity. With everything man had thrown in an effort to destroy it, somehow it always found a way to survive and thrive. It always came back. Browsing the inventory of factoids in his mind, David recalled a television programme he had watched about two years prior.

"It would only take a century for nature to retake a city if man were to disappear," he whispered to the wind.

One hundred years. More than a lifetime, but nothing in the eyes of the universe. One hundred years was eternity to a man, but to the world...to the trees...was it just a day to them? It always found a way back. To dominate; to retake what it was owed.

Digging deeper, David began to scan his memory bank for information about flora. After a moment of closed-eyed reflection, he realized exactly what he had been hoping for. Turning on his heel, he rushed back toward the village; toward his shack. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

Achievements

• 1x Tag Team Champion
  
• August 2013 Superstar of the Month (Thank you all so much!)
  
• 1x US Champion
  
• 1x X-treme Champion