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Sassolite had come for the hell of it, that and she wanted to know what this youma was. She had a soft spot for them, especially the good killers. She had brought energy orbs with her and some bandages though she had no intention of using them for injuries, just to tie someone or thing up if need be. She thought it looked better then bringing rope - after all multiple uses are good.

As they walked on the tracks appeared and she stopped and smiled. Ah youma, they really were everywhere. She turned to Howlite as she spoke and her eyebrows went up.

"If you want to follow every set of tracks we come across go ahead, you will be walking round in circles for days." She wasn't impressed by the comment, really it had been a stupid one. The captain instead turned to Osumilite and Sugilite. "I agree with them, just wait and see if something happens, if not just go on walking. After all if this youma is all big and great, surely the lesser ones know about it." It made some sense to her and hey a break to just hang about was always good. She wasn't too bothered though, if need be she would summon her weapon, so she wasn't worried about any dangers they would come across. Sass was always one of those stupidly confident people.

(Option 2 then option 3)

Fluorite had chosen to travel light - medial supplies, two bottles of water and a flashlight were the only things she brought along with her, in case they would end up being needed. Energy was something she had thought about, but then.... Well, it would only attract youma.

Others arrived, started talking, but Fluorite still wasn't feeling so talky. Wolframite headed off and she almost went to follow him - but with most of the lieutenants staying behind, they might need help if something showed up. Wolframite, on the other hand, could handle himself.

So she stayed put, and waited.

((Option 1 followed by Option 3.))

Serandite's sleeves had quite a bit of room to hold things. Such things included energy orbs-- Although that was a double-edged decision. After all, energy orbs weren't only useful to yourself, they were useful as bait too!

Serandite's first start of the adventure might have started with a bit of skipping, pink heels crunching branches and leaves under her foot. What she had no expected was the low indent that her heel sunk into-- footprints?

She hadn't expected that. Typically, one didn't give footprints and expect it not to be followed. And so, Serandite followed!

Option 2 ---> Option 1!

After this leg in your trip, a few of your party members turn up missing. Tanzanite and Laurelite probably aren't going to be too happy!


For Option 1:

The footsteps lead you through an elaborate labyrinth of dead trees that, although confusing, strikes you as terribly familiar after a few moments. You get the inclination to peer closer at the inhuman-looking tracks, and notice that there are trace remnants of your own barely visible along with them. Whatever had left these prints had also been erasing yours! You ultimately wind up at the same point you split up from.


For Option 2:

Choosing to follow your directional instincts instead of waiting or following proves to be a a fruitless experience. You wind up getting awfully lost, winding around in circles for a while... until you find a bent branch that looks familiar and are able to trace it back to the point where you broke off from the rest of the party. You haven't made much progress, but at least you didn't get lost forever!


For Option 3:

The wait is pretty boring for the first few minutes, and as dead as the surroundings are every second drags on in the worst way possible. However, the boredom quickly ceases as you hear rustling noises nearby, followed by an inhuman-sounding giggling, until a cluster of shadows descends upon you too quickly for you to escape.

If you had energy in your possession, you're safe! The energy and some of your other supplies have been stolen, however. You didn't get a very good look at the youma that attacked you -- all you can really say for sure is that there was more than one of them, and they walked on two legs like humans.

If you only took the bare essentials, then the rest of the group can hear you screaming in terror as you're dragged off somewhere. Your life is now at the mercy at the youma of the forest, for better or for worse.

If you did not post a response to this round, you were also Nega-napped. Sorry!



CYOA -- ROUND 3


For the rest of you, this is your chance to find a way through here! Along with the desire to help your comrades (or at least have bodies to bring back), the opportunity to follow is too sensible to ignore. The drag marks left behind by the other members of your party leave behind a decent trail, and you run along it for a good while. As you race through the forest, the sound of rushing water begins to reach your ears.

Eventually you come across a wide stream of... well, it's easier to tell what it isn't, and it's definitely something other than water. It's a dark, rusty red. And there is some kind of pungent smoke pouring up from it. The ruts in the dirt continue on the other side, so you're going to have to cross it in order to continue. It's far too wide to jump, and the only thing remotely close to a bridge is a jagged and slippery-looking line of rocks that could impale your face if you lose your footing.

Looks like you'll have to choose one of two ways to proceed...

1. Try to wade across. The rocks are definitely dangerous, but there's no saying for sure the water is.
2. Take your chances with the stepping stones. Who KNOWS what that river water could do to you! At least rock-damage is predictable.


Please respond by 8AM CST!

Howlite had only spared an easy grin Sassolite's direction, apparently unperturbed by her borderline animosity. "No, not all of them. These in particular."

With that, she'd set off, with the two others that had decided to come with her. They seemed capable enough [one was a general!], but their walk soon proved fruitless. Kneeling, to stare at their own footprints, she gestured to them. "Look. The youma are playing with us." Covering them up. A slight shake of her head, and perhaps a slight chuckle.

Her humor drained, however, at the sounds of shouting up ahead. An ahead that was clearly the same place they had left the group. As her own small group converged on the spot, they found those that had stayed behind... Missing some members... Including Fluorite. Dammit.

"Guess waiting around for the nasties wasn't the best choice." An observation, rather than a jab at anyone. The fellow with an eyepatch had the right idea of it, and by the looks of it, he'd ended up back here, too.

"Seems like I am planning on following another pair of tracks," She glanced at Sassolite, before gesturing to the drag marks. "We have to follow our comrades."

Soon enough, the group took off.

As they arrived at a.... River? The lanky, freckled blonde frowned. Not water. No way was she going to touch it unless she had to. The rocks looked dicy, as well, but that was the only real option.

Moving slowly, she began to cross.

[Option 2]

When the thing - whatever the hell it was - started to approach, Osumilite's hands shook in terror until the cigarette simply fell out of his hand. He reached for his briefcase, but it had been moved a few feet away and was open, its containments poured out. He tossed everything back into his bag as quickly as he could before dashing away after the others until he found them by some strange stream.

When he arrived, he paused to pant and catch his breath, and quickly checked what belongings he had lost. His cigarettes were gone, as were all of the condoms and some of his snacks. <********> He those condoms really could have come in handy.

He looked up at the haunting stream. It appeared he had two options:

1] He could risk his life by walking on jagged wet rocks in a mysterious stream.
2] He could swim across and potentially stay in total safety.

To him, that translated to two options:

1] He could risk his life by walking on jagged wet rocks in a mysterious stream.
2] He could get his suit wet.

With that in mind, he started to cross on the jagged wet rocks following close after the other women. He did his best to keep his eye on where he was stepping, but he couldn't help but have his eyes gaze on occasion to Howlite's a**.

((option 2))

Well, so much for finding that youma thing or whatever. He and the other guy had just gone in circles. Could this wilderness excursion be any more poorly planned? The drag marks along the ground and the noticeably fewer searchers was his answer. Fantastic.

"Ugh, that's disgusting," he remarked aloud at the sight of the water. It was smoking. Why would any body of liquid smoke? There was no way it was safe, let alone sanitary. And he'd already been introduced to the water in this godforsaken place. Like he was going to get himself wet again after that.

He tried to make a protective face mask out of his scarf, but it smelled so foul from the first pond he'd been in that he had to abandon the plan and return it to his neck. He took a last glance at the distance between here and the other shore, straightened up, and hopped onto the first set of stones.

(( Option 2 ))