Viridian Awakening - Part XVII (Patreon)

aka "Gout sucks!"

Here is the latest update. I had to delay as much as I could this month, not due to writer's block or editor's ennui,  but because of little uric acid crystals deciding that my wrists were their new favorite hangout.

Among my other metabolic follies, I've acquired a propensity for gout. Only lately it's decided to give my ankles a miss and move up into my wrists. Why? I have no idea- I only know it hurts like the dickens. It started in my right wrist and then jumped to the left. 

Of course, this makes using a keyboard, let alone wrestling a laptop around somewhat problematic. This is the first day I've been comfortable doing that much with it, thanks to my two best buddies prednisone and tramadol (a steroid and a strong painkiller).

Anyway, to give some value to this drabble, I give you a PSA: If you start getting strange joint pains, especially sharp ones, get your uric acid levels checked out. Gout isn't just an old man's disease, and the rich diet tropes are just that. Cheap, dollar-a-pound, bologna really messed me up. I miss asparagus.

Now that my self-pity quota has been met, on to the story. 

This release sees the resolution of a cliffhanger, and the solving of another mystery. All's fair in Love and War, and this has a bit of both. 

I hope you enjoy. I'm back to my ice packs and  brooding over William and the chuunin exams for Team 8...