"Please," Timothy croaked, his lips stained with crimson. "I need to get to El... To warn them...about..."

Words failed him as his consciousness began to wane. He'd been ousted as an El spy and nearly killed by Princess Jennifer of Storms; he'd had to flee while severely injured. War was coming, and he had to warn the Kingdom of El. But his wounds were grievous; the lightning magic had done a number on him and he'd suffered numerous cuts. The blood loss and internal damage were severe. Though he'd managed to make it close to the border between the two kingdoms, he'd collapsed by the roadside.

A passing traveler had found him—a stranger, he thought as his vision grew darker. He couldn't tell whether this person was from Storms or El; whether this was friend or foe. He could only pray that the gods smiled upon him that day.

He thought back on his friends, the other Robins; on the trust the Bat-Prince had put in him; on the look of betrayal on the faces of the friends he'd made during his stay in the court of Storms. He thought about Prince Jacob, his close friend, now gone. If nothing else, at least, if he died...he would see the prince again.

"It's so dark," he murmured, his eyes glassy and unfocused. Timothy's strength was fading. Pleading was the only option left to him now. "Please, have...have mercy. My mission... I..."