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Krima was a little excited and a little nervous all at once. She’d gone and scrounged up a bit of cloth to hold the provisions she’d made for the trip and now the bags lay at her sides, it would make a good blanket if needed. Atop her back also sat her new companion, Amoli, who helped steady the bags. They’d met while Krima had been looking for supplies and Amoli had been enticed with the idea of an adventure. Hopefully, once this was all said and done she would stay with Krima and they could have new adventures in the ruins this time.

Krima made sure to arrive as early as possible, there seemed to already be quite a few other Noul’s already here and it wasn’t long before they were setting off into the barrens. It was all going to be sand for a while and she was happy that at least Amoli would be around to speak with. She hadn’t spotted any other Noul’s she was familiar with until Ralir came into view and she tried to trot up to meet him.

“You should keep your energy and walk like the others,” Amoli commented. “You never know when you’ll need it.” Krima flicked and ear back at her but ignored her, she did slow her pace back down to a walk though because she could agree that Amoli did indeed have a point.

Eventually she did catch up however there was no time to say hello. Viltalta was asking about the ground and Krima craned her neck to see what they were looking at. Even Amoli decided to scurry up her mane up to her head to get a better look. Krima fought the urge to shake her off.

“Is there not a way to perhaps test the ground? Throw a rock or something, maybe?” She didn’t like the idea of taking even more time to go around personally. They were already quite behind and this could cost them precious extra time.

She knew that voice, that was Aldwyn! Someone else she could talk to on their journey.

Adahy is shocked to see a crack in the earth before him. As they slow to a stop, Viltalta askes the group what they should do. Adahy first thought would be to go around but what if they where to get lost; the Wanderlust need them and getting lost would only make a bad problem worst. The alternative was not much better though; they would have to go straight across.

Pondering the pros and cons for a second, Adahy heard Furry Tail say quietly "I would vote to go around." That made Adahy grin because he had had the same thought. But time was of the essence; they needed to keep moving for a couple of reasons but most importantly was the mission.

"Maybe we can test it out and see first." He turned to Draven with his next statement. "Do you have and rope in all your stuff? Maybe we can tie it around the tester so they don't fall to far if the ground gives way." It wasn't the best idea and a noul could still get hurt but they would still have their life at the ever least. It would also help them decide which path to take.


wc:876

Tsarine's mind traveled to his sanctuary leaving him skittish in reality. He honestly missed most of the lessons his parents could have taught him before blundering off into the ruins. While his vision made peace with their loss he still held an inkling he'd lost so much concerning wisdom. Coaxing his feet to move once again he felt out of place amongst those that had fully learned wrong from right. Eyes lying on the strange ground his withers prickled from start to finish leaving him solely uneasy. This topic bearing uncertainty even seemed to cause the lead doe Viltalta on alert. Flicking his ears he stepped to the outside of the group watching the ground intently, "Ayala.... opinions?" he spoke in the confidence of his familiar. She was a godsend in a world he carried no inkling what lied in wait.

Ayala sat upon his withers still, her head idle if not for an occasional quick tongue over a dry eye. Her voice was quiet homing in on the situation. It seemed ages before she spoke still savoring the heat his worried fur was producing. "The Barrens" she spoke, "is a fickle place for travelers that aren't used to the terrain. In other words, the sand can be unforgiving. This anomaly in particular though is something of newness here. If I were any of you nouls... I'd tread carefully where you step".

Tsarine shivered thinking to himself that wasn't comforting news in any language. Once again he thought of his beloved bucket drifting off to the scattered light that awoke him daily. Being warm to the touch even in rays of light it was home. Returning from his dream state he pondered an answer as the others had. When he was certain on an agreement only then had he spoke. "I vote we go around". Feeling a bit of confidence he continued, "Ayala seems uncertain about this obstacle it must be riddled with danger".

Ayala knew her companion was not well equipped with bravery. Scolding herself for suggesting the Adventure party she wondered if her friend could handle trauma, danger, etc like the others. He was such a young-minded Noul to be this far into the ever-changing Barrens. "But..." she spoke once more looking toward Tsarine, "I think you are strong, even if you don't feel it inside. Don't forget who you are Tsarine of the Erli ruins ... and who you've become"

"Thanks Ayala..." he spoke with a small smile. In truth, the young buck would have been lost without her for sure.

Tsarine WC: 423

There was some dissonance, but it seemed like everyone was mostly in agreement - even that one grumpy buck. Ralir felt relieved to know it. He tended toward caution himself - he'd lived all his life under Father's guidance, after all.

Besides, they likely had a long journey ahead of them, if even Wanderlust hadn't been home in moons. Ralir nodded unconsciously as Viltalta spoke, taking note of the cautions that she mentioned, and looking over the ground again to commit it to memory. He might not be this way again, but it'd be nice to know what dangerous ground looked like in the future.

The calm discussions between nouls and their familiars eased Ralir's tension a little as he walked, though he was careful to glance over at the horizon every so often. There was a strange peace in the Barrens, especially as night crept on them. The moon was barely visible, and the stars...Ralir had heard that once, Vykeli's skies had been covered in them. That hadn't been the case for a while, though, what with the Others and their pollutants. He wasn't sure whether anyone even knew for sure what Vykeli had looked like before, though.

He cleared his throat as it became clear that navigation was getting harder, though. It was a pity that they hadn't timed the trip for a full moon, but there was a difference between delaying for a few hours to make sure they had every bit of information available, and delaying for two weeks. "Should we shelter soon?" he asked, raising his head so his voice was a little louder, despite the interruption it might cause to the conversations going on around him. It seemed silly to keep going when they could barely see where they were headed, after all.

He drifted to the side of the group to let others pass, looking out toward the horizon for signs of danger - or something they could settle next to for the night.

Ayala's eyes widened as the sun flickered quietly into its slumber. Her body regulated quite nicely leaving her energy to soak in the coolness of the barrens. The second welcomed asset was Tsarine's body heat which caused her to radiate between two elements. Her wisdom was well heard, recognized even among the unity of the travelers. Thay anomaly was indeed a death trap if not something of injuries waiting for them all. Peering around the area she paused leaning into Tsarine, "Be sharp Big Boy. While the sun has set others will roam". Her intentions weren't meant to spook the young noul, if only to warn him.

Tsarine could feel her leaning inward, Ayala's heartbeat soothing him with her presence. His eyes were still filled with uncertainty as the last glimmer of sunlight slid downward from view. Though his coat was thick, he still sensed the coldness of the Barrens creeping around him like tendrils. Her words were almost like daggers settling deeply into his muscles. While the sun has set, others will roam. What kind of others exactly was she speaking of he wondered? It certainly was ideal to rule out the fact this wasn't the safest place to traverse. Seriously, the ruins were essentially dangerous but he could survive if he needed to. The Barrens? not so much he agreed. Swiveling his ears back and forth he focused on movement or any sound that could entrap them at the slightest second.

"I think..." he mumbled, "Maybe we should rest before continuing? I mean.... we don't know what's out there, right?" Flicking an ear, he heard something hit the ground near them. It was faint but his imagination could have played tricks on him to the point they were being watched? His fur rippled in a prickling sensation overthinking something was there.

"Easy Big Boy... easy" she cooed leaning in more for warmth, "let's see what the united answer is of resting or pushing on. This is the Barrens Tsarine, as I've mentioned they do not favor those that can't survive".

Tsarine inhaled a breath releasing it casually, "I'm sorry I get too overly cautious. Okay, I'll wait but, I swear I still heard something off in the shadows".


Tsarine WC: 370

The darkness fell on them like a thick black blanket plunging them into total darkness. Form out of now where Adahy's vision went form black to a wild array of color. "What the...?" he said out loud as he stopped and looked all around. They group pasted him as they didn't stop and in a blur of red and yellow they kept going. "What is wrong Adahy?" Furry Tail asked form his back. "I...I do not really know buddy but the world is all a wavy color." Adahy hadn't used his gift since he had been bestowed if form the Grandfather Tree but this had to be it. Looking all around again he noticed that alive thing had a red, orange, and yellow glow. Things like the rock just the right of him was shades of blue or black. "How strange."

The group was putting a lot of distance between him and them so he set off at a run again to catch up before they go to far ahead. Still looking all around he realized how helpful this could be and made his way up to the front of the group. As he can up to Viltalta he said "Viltalta my gift of infrared has kicked in I can see all shades of color or heat maybe." He was a hundred present sure on that one. "I think it will be helpful in seeing danger." He took the place to the left of Viltalta and looked around searching for any signs of red, orange, and yellow in the distance hoping to not find anything but knowing that there had to be other things out there.


wc total:1152

A familiar, nervous-looking buck also started discussing shelter, and Ralir nodded, finding it reasonable. Aldwyn, though, who was finding his way to Ralir's side, made a compelling argument against.

"I did assume we'd do the majority of our travel in daytime, but I see why we'd want to go by night instead." Ralir admitted, a touch of shame in his tone. That was why he'd dressed for heat. He could see the wisdom of travel by night, though, especially if Viltalta had torches - or if some other Solar user could help light the way. He'd certainly commit that to memory, for his future ventures. With that in mind, he turned his head to Aldwyn with a grateful smile. "I'll be fine in the cold, though." That much, he could handle. He wasn't shivering yet, and his ability did help with that, as he was aware. "Though perhaps I can wrap my cloak tighter when we do end up stopping later on."

He kept scanning the horizon continuously as they discussed - it was very flat. He couldn't see any of those earlier landmarks at all. What he could see was motion, though, and it was unmistakable even for someone who was a novice to travel through the Barrens. Dire rats even made it into the Homewood, sometimes, and that quick motion, dark shapes slipping up from underground burrows, was certainly familiar. He raised his voice quickly into a shout. "Ah - Viltalta! I see dire rats."

He said her name because she was the leader of this party, though he wanted to make sure the nouls nearby - Krima and Aldwyn - were aware, too. Well, the rest of the party, too - but it seemed like those in closest proximity would be in danger first. To do that he inclined his muzzle, trying his best to indicate the direction the danger seemed to be coming from.

He gave a quick glance at the nouls nearest him, gesturing them to not get too close without moving to defend the fragile parts of their body first. Next, he settled into a crouch, knowing it'd be easiest to make a move from this sort of position. He was no skilled brawler, but he'd helped ward off a dire rat or two from his den before, so he had some idea of the best way to prepare. This was far more dire rats than he'd dealt with before...but there were far more nouls with him, too.

The scurrying of something at a distance reached Draven's ears leaving him to stand still. Something in a large mass was moving and moving quickly. Shaking his head, the dappled grey buck surged forward to keep close to those that were at the end of the group. If it was what he thought it was, there would be many and they would be fast.

"Bluebell, you may want to wake up now. Things are going to get very dicey." He said as he moved, wanting to press ever forward, he was close to the center to the group still on the edges.

"What's hap..." She stopped as she set up, ears flicking like sonar to the darkness. Her hearing slightly better then those of a Noul, her nose twitching as she seemed quiet in fear. "Dire Rats. A lot of them." She said as a foot thumped on Draven's back, a signal from days in her warren, Danger.

Draven had a feeling it was dire rats, while he had skirted around a good many of them. Coming across these vermin in the night was not a good thing, not when they hunted and scavenged in large roving packs. And this one sounded massive. Keeping pace, he waited to hear what was going to happen from the front of their group, his gaze watching the shadows in the scant light, wishing that he did have a gift. Or at least some sort of light source to at least cut a path through this darkness.

"Keep steady, if they attack, keep them off my back." The common command he had for situations like this, he would keep her off the ground while she keeps things off his vulnerable back.