middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"No kidding! When they have those big ugly mouths they open and there's another mouth inside?! What is that!"

Guhh! He feigns a shiver at the memory, not entirely put on. He nods for them to continue walking together, talking on.

"They're not all that way, but it's weird, right? Like something out of a horror movie!"

...which...?

"B...oth?" Uhh? Uhh? He's trying to think, but-! "He's a people that're both, his whole family's like that. I think."

Faux isn't at all surprised that Tidus would wants to check out his light-jet, he somewhat regrets not just offering it up. Perhaps another time then indeed. He gives Tidus an affirming nod. "If you can make the seating arrangement work, I'll offer you a ride next time." Maybe he could alter it enough to stick a second seat on it. For the daring.

When Tidus performs what he thinks is another form of magic, he blinks at the bluish creature that appears, "Ah, hi." He put up a hand, momentarily distracted from preparing himself for the 'water slide'.

"Oh yeah? Then let's see how they do!" Which means: "I'll take the lead!"

A.K.A, he's on the move. There's a light breeze being carried easily over the ascending hillside, the forest at lower grounds below them, and a nice view of the countryside offered to them. Tidus is sneaking looks, but he's not losing focus on what they're supposed to be keeping an eye out for.

And Rezo knows better about animal-caring than him, right? Totally. So while he checks on the guy with a few looks back, he's leaving it to them to be their favourite guy.

But it looks like Rezo had picked a good direction to take, or Tidus finds when he finally comes over the peak of their hill. He does a circle around the risen top, stopping when the sight below needs him to pause to check what he's seeing.

"Rezo!" He says the name with some urgency, then starts down the slope, as far as he can get. There's a portion where an aged tree that must've stood has come out with the surrounding dirt and some loose rock, causing mess to culminate in the land between. A lamb finally bleats, barely visible under the tangle of the tree branches, but what Tidus can just make out is a bundle of white wool trapped even lower under.

And it's hard to see yet if it's alright, or not.

"Oh, you play the piano? That's impressive," Aden said, without so much as a hint of sarcasm. He was more of a programming guy himself. Building droids. Making poisons and the like. Still, he appreciated music and musicians because he had friends who did too. He could certainly appreciate it from a technical standpoint anyway.

"Glad to hear you and your very, very tall friend have been doing okay."

Eli had been perfectly pleasant when they'd first talked. And it was nice to know others from his own galaxy, despite their timelines being way off from each other. Eli being connected to the Ascendancy certainly didn't hurt either. Reminded him almost of Raina in a way.

And he didn't mind being reminded of friends.

A tear?

The headache is definitely pounding now being this high up, so close, but he sees what Taiki does. He's trying to think, figure out - wasn't there something convoluted? With the anchor-?

"What do you want to do, Taiki?! Should we try closing it?!"

(Good idea, right?)

Unfortunately brain cells are needed to make good decisions, and the goat, apparently, had been born without any.

As soon as it regained its footing, it was back to stamping its hooves, apparently trying to decide which target would be the easiest. It seemed a little shaky- that hit to the face had apparently done some damage at least- but Aden was hyperaware of any movement anyway, standing in a stance that would allow him to quickly launch himself sideways should the animal decide to charge at him.

"Just checking friend, but- you good if I just ice this son of a Hutt?"

An indication toward the knife he was so kindly allowed to borrow, to indicate what he means by that exactly. Aden wouldn't mind giving it a few more tries to wear the animal out and toss it back into the forest, but he was pretty sure that getting really got with those horns would be bad news for the both of them.

He laughs.

"I'm okay - I'm just the 'take the goods' guy. I'm leaving the picking fun to the rest of you Oranges."

No tree climbing or vine sticking for him! He passes over the bag for her to take. It's better with her than him.

"It's fine. A bunch of roads are wrecked from the tremors and whatever's loosening the soil, but we've got some strong arms around." He pats one of his arms. "You met Molly? Young girl, brown hair, in Purple? She can throw around boulders like nobody's business!"

"Hilarious," Aden said, with the sort of icy tone and expression that just cried that he was laughing on the inside. He was laughing on the inside. Really. Having himself a case of the giggles, really. One could find less giggles at a teen girl's sleepover.

That icy expression was quick to go though, as he smiled somewhat and tilted his head to the side with a slight shrug, "How about I give you the squished ones then? What better way to commemorate my blunder than immortalizing it in dead chinchilla cloak?"

He was mostly joking about that. If there really was such a good market though, he'd have to bring back a few of his own so that he could hopefully trade for something useful.

"Shall we?"

A motion toward the forest. Aden figured they might as well make sure to either eradicate or chase off any of the most opportunistic little nightmares of fur and teeth and grabbable little tails for easy maximum throw.

Yondu cares about his crew. He's a team player. Most of the people here have been on the better end of that. He's not as kind as some people here suspect: he rescues people out on missions because his people rescue people, not so much out of any great personal kindness. His people need help? He's gonna do it. And he was left in circumstances, prior to being here, that these people are all that he has left. Even a young man with a similar color scheme. Lending a knife is the least he can do.

"Nah, I got my primary." He opens his coat to show that there is something in his holster, but it just looks like a lone arrow. Not something you'd think of as more than ammunition. He's pretty confident in how he shows it, though, and closes his coat again.

"We got some light arms in the armory but I'd really like to expand on that. I got all the equipment to make it capable for us to build some weapons and supply the ammunition. Just ain't managed to do much of it. But I know Q'uila can make a damn good blade."

[ Tidus takes the gear with a hum and a 'Thanks' following it, plopping it on the table while he gives his legs a stretch. ]

Mhhhr, tiring! Even with the transgates, we're still walking some of the way. [ (Well, sometimes). ] But I found a tractor today, and they've a part on the front that'll pick up dirt! [ He waves up a hand. ]

I am so having a ride once.

"Glad to hear it, or I'd have to have handed the knife back."

Yondu's weapon wasn't familiar to him, but then, he wasn't one to judge on appearances. Plenty of perfectly messed up weapons could look completely innocent when not in use. And while he'd hardly been on the train long, he'd been there long enough to recognize that his experiences were not universal. And the technology they all were familiar with was certainly not.

"If it's making weapons, I could give you a hand. I make some pretty mean blades myself. And other weaponry too."

It had been a little while since he'd indulged that particular hobby, but he kind of missed it. Of course, getting some weapons was already part of his plan in general. He missed having about twenty knives on or near him at any given time.

"I can make some perfectly messed up acids and poisons too, but those are definitely more... Let's call it niche... Than a good knife or gun."

Generally didn't want the untrained to run around with them, at any rate.

The little creature gives another squeak in what might be a return greeting, but there's no need for too long of a delay from their task. "Okay, you ready to show our new friend what you can do?"

Higgle! the higgledy squeaks again, and Tidus closes his eyes, briefly. As he does, the creature starts to glow, turning around and jumping down to the ground below - where it then disappears inside a balling water that forms around its being. the water spreads out into a circular disk, and Tidus steps forward to get onto it, lifting off from the ground. Plenty of room for the both of them, and Tidus turns, waiting on Flux.

"It's more like a 'Water Ride' than a 'Water Slide', this way."

Heh.

"Really? Well... I got a little knack for growin' plants that I picked up on one of the worlds we ended up on." And wasn't that a hell of a story, but not for right now. "So if you can order some kinda special seeds for 'em, I could get ya some stock goin' real fast."

He gestures towards him as he heads towards the Inn. "Actually, you seem like the type to be interested in a proposal I got. Wanna come have a sit-down with me? I'm gonna get restocked before I head back out."

The trees he lit up would attract more attention at night, maybe drawing in some of the stragglers he'd been looking for.

Yondu's done a couple of desperate missions here and there for the train. Not too many, but he always prefers to work with a team when he does, one that he has a good bead on their abilities. Like teleportation, spells to go unnoticed, or even well-practiced or trained stealth or quick combat (like he generally does).

If the guy can fight with a knife alone, he's also assuming that he's nimble and quick and hard to catch. And that's valuable to have around.

He hops off the stream of water without further ceremony, and catches the celebration between mate and higgle pal. Roland has very little else to say apart from eating his own words, which he's happy to do if he can be convinced his hesitations were for naught.

"Well now, call me ye of little faith, then. You should be careful, pro. I might ask you to give me a ride to places more often." Roland jokes easily, patting him once on the back before moving to Gibbs who deserves just as much praise.

Except when Roland bends his knees to give the high higgledy its own just reward, his mind suddenly catches up to the adrenaline. Sorry for leaving you hanging like that, Gibbs! But he notices it fast; how things have changed all around them, and it feels dizzying that has nothing to do with their ride. He attempts to spot their location on the map, alert and on edge.

Roland frowns. "Damn. I didn't notice if we went north or east. Where do you suppose we are?"

The forest was a less visible on the skyline from where they stood, but they could be anywhere between the open plains or the far stretch of the yawning farmlands where they needed to alert the people of their plans.

"No can do." Roland is quick to interrupt, a steely determination set upon his brow. He points further ahead, past the fragments of boulder that have been cleanly cut into quarters; clearly man-made damage.

"I have a feeling an active void tear is nearby. My injuries aren't debilitating at all. I got them from a personal accident." Such as using his Diagad-given powers at the wrong time while trying to avoid debris from crushing him. He's not going to dally on that any longer than he has to, though. He gives Lioriley a nod, body poised to make a dash back into the fray.

"Can you help me locate it and close it up? We can do it with the two of us, I think."

"You wanna try taking them out here?" Tidus suggests. "How good do you think their sight is?"

"Got it!"

He doesn't need to be told twice. When Wash distracts the void blob, Roland runs to the fork in the road, hoping the cover of the bushes and redwood will help him to follow the feline familiar without interruption.

But the creature is not as dumb as it may seem; a dark slob of tentacle darts out from beneath its massive globular body, without ever ceasing to give Wash chase. Roland's ankle is suddenly pulled back mid-step, his body crashing into the ground with a violent thud as if a rug was pulled from underneath him. The void blob drags him back to the fray, though his sword makes short work of the tentacle wrapped around his calf. It's enough of a swing to cut it loose, though the offending limb slowly begins to regenerate. He clicks his tongue against his teeth.

"Got anything louder to get this thing's attention?" He says to Wash, shouting from across the forest floor.

That response, simple as it may have been, told her a lot about Yondu. Anyone willing to immediately think of children in such situations, even in the wake of what was meant to be a tease, surely had a good head on their shoulders and intentions more aligned to her own. It also said that he probably wasn't joking about getting into trouble himself, and she did make a mental note to assure he checked in when he was able - lest she worry for his well-being all the same.

"Of course." She had already prioritized the 'kids' aboard the train, though her own baseline for that was also higher than most. Twenty-something humans still counted as children in her eyes most of the time.

Lioriley made sure to gently press against each bottle she touched, chilling the liquid inside and then tucking it into the packs, assuring it was cold whenever Yondu happened to need it; the magical chill lasting a significant amount of time longer than usual.

Trust they got their reasons, he said. Lioriley nodded and handed him a finished pack of supplies. "I understand. I have been healing people for centuries, have seen plenty of battles despite how I may look and act. I know sometimes people do what they do in the heat of the moment for the good of those around them." Mostly. "I am not immune to it myself."

She smiled. "Just try to be careful, hm? That is all I ask."

Kitty snickered a little. "So long as it's far away from here. I'd rather not have to fix the fence again."

Glancing towards the pile of rocks she'd acquired, Kitty nods in agreement. "It definitely looks like it." Turning back to the younger girl, she smiles. "I think a break sounds like a good idea. Do you want some water or anything?"

Ruby looked at the fence and sighed in defeat. "Yeah, that would not be good at all..."

Rezo would feel another brush of her fingers against his palm, and of he didn't pull away from it, Lioriley would gently squeeze his hand. If not that - she would aim a little higher, softly touch his forearm and then let her hand drop again. A simple gesture of thanks for the apology he truly did not have to offer. She did not say anything else about it, about as willing to distract herself as he was.

"There looks to be a patch of fruit cups to our north east." She said, moving along in that direction. The sound of her bag being shifted off her shoulder heard while she pulled a few small burlap bags out, offering one to Rezo once their pace began to slow. "How many would you like to keep for yourself?"

With another small laugh, she shaded her eyes a bit as she glanced down the rest of the fence. "How much more do we need to repair, you think?"

"Great!" Hey, if Hera's on board, so is he. And their farmer friend doesn't sound unimpressed either. "We should ask around what they have, too. A tractor? I wouldn't mind riding one of those!"

He's not a superpowered superhero, ok. Give him a tractor. Totally not just because he wants to ride a big and oversized vehicle.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 36 of 83

Swirling Consequences Start

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject