Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Well...Whatever it is, it's gone now."

Despite his words and those of her teammates, Anya wasn't so readily convinced. She wasn't blind; she knew she had seen something, and it was because of that conviction that she stayed put and flashed her light's beam through the surrounding trees while Zeke and the other Frei talked amongst themselves.

"Thanks for carrying my backpack, Cesc. I appreciate it." Zeke cast a smile to the Stag when he retrieved his bag from where the pink-haired male had placed it. The vet swung it over his shoulder to carry it the short distance away from the cliff edge but placed it down as soon as he stopped to dig the tent out. "I'm cool with doing any watch anyone doesn't want. So if you guys want to take a break, that's fine by me." With the tent free, he laid it on the ground and began to unwrap the canvas. "Of course, we might wanna get this set up first."

Chuckling, the tent's poles and connecting pieces were placed off to the side while the big, shapeless grey tent was spread out with its opening facing up. Zeke pulled out the flashlight and looked over the directions, sucking on his lip ring before frowning just a little.

"I wish we could get a fire going for extra light, but it's too damp here for that." Any dead wood and leaves would be moist at the very least. Dry kindling would be nigh impossible to come across, and if there was anything in those woods beyond their clearing, he didn't want any of his team members to come across it right now. "Did either of you bring a lantern? I spaced on that and Anya definitely doesn't have anything like that in her bag."

He looked over to the spider queen, watching her flash her beam from trunk to trunk and hold it for a heartbeat or two between trees. He saw her wings and crown flared out as though she had been spooked and he felt a tug in his heart by it. The vet didn't know of her vision impairment, but he knew her overly cautious nature well and the time it would take for her to become comfortable in her surroundings if immediately startled. He put a grin on and called over to her.

"Hey Anya! We're talking about night watches! C'mere and pick your slot or you're gonna get the worst one!" If anything, it would get her away from where she was now and that would be the best thing for her right now.

The spider queen turned her head slightly upon being called, but she didn't immediately move. She didn't like this place. It felt wrong and a growing part of her was telling her she wouldn't be comfortable nor safe until back on the bus again. They were in over their head here and Dr. Kyou was a fool for going it alone, well-practiced in what he was doing or not. She wanted to ask why the old fart who organized this little hunt hadn't thought to contact authorities, park rangers, or that ilk, but she knew none of her present company would have an answer for that. She didn't even have one of her certain opinions on the matter. What she did know, however, was that she was tired and wanted to rest. Even though the jungle left her feeling uneasy, the trek today had been long and arduous and pushed her well outside her limits for outdoor tolerance. She was pooped.

Anastacia floated backward a short way, turned with some hesitation, and finally rejoined her group. She made a point to float around the two Frei so her back was to the cliff and her front facing the forest. There would be no surprises while this Raevan was awake.

"I don't want to be the first watch. I want to rest." She didn't want to be on watch at any point tonight, especially not with something out there lurking beyond the treeline, but she knew better than to think she could manage to get out of it try as she might. Not with Zeke and his 'fair's fair' mentality here and above all leading this party. All the same though, the spider queen looked at her Guardian pointedly before casting a glance between her fellow Raevans. If anything, he would make sure her demands were met if either of them had a problem with it. He was good for that at least, even if she knew Cesc would agree with her on the spot.

"Okay Anya." If she was tired, she was tired and he wouldn't make her stay up if she didn't want to. With half the first tent pole inside the tent proper, he looked to the two Raevans nearby. "Who'd like to be on first, guys?"

The gargoyle was all set to volunteer for as many shifts as needed. It seemed like the perfect role for him. He preferred to be awake during the night anyways although that meant he'd be very drowsy during the day, but that was the price to pay to keep his team safe. And even though he felt confident with this plan, when Cesc volunteered the two of them a wave of relief washed over. It was so much better to know he'd have someone at his side.

"Sounds like a good plan. We'll watch for a few hours and then you guys can." Probably best if he got some sleep too. No one wanted to deal with a grumpy Iorek.

He got to work putting the tent together, his night vision aiding in connecting this and that. Half way through popping a pole into the ground he realized not everyone had this special little gift.

Iorek grimaced and resisted bopping himself on the head for forgetting to pack a lantern. He grabbed everything on the table but that was something the searchers had to remember to bring from home, which he clearly did not.

He huffed and shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't bring one either." Iorek looked about at them, eyes glowing green, as he thought of what else they could use for light. Good thing Cesc's side job was working as a glowbug!

"Perfect! Keep glowing just a little bit longer and we'll have these done in no time."

It did take some time but when they were done the tents looked lovely! So two took to the sleeping bags, and two took their post. For a few hours Iorek and Cesc floated about, checking their surroundings and listening to the jungle all the while quietly talking about anything and everything.

As soon as the tent was set up it wasn't long after that Anastacia floated inside and disappeared into the realm of uneasily gained sleep. Zeke, on the other hand, remained up awhile longer; spending an hour to eat, change into sleepwear, and relieve himself; the latter of which came with much fanfare as he did so over the edge of the cliff with his hands in the air while he gleefully proclaimed himself a human waterfall. It was a once in a lifetime experience, so why not use it to its fullest?

Once all that was said and done, the vet bid the two night's watch members a good one and clamored on in to curl up in his sleeping bag and sleep. Like his Frei before him it didn't take long before Zeke was audibly snoring away, with an over-sized button up shirt in his arms seeming to act almost like a security blanket for the man.

A half hour passed by and with darkness fully settled in, Anastacia awoke with heady displeasure at the forefront of her first thoughts. Zeke snored; she knew this. Time and again she had come upon him in sleep only to hear that sound emanating from him. In bed, atop Brad, beneath Brad...He snored, this was nothing new. What was new was the fact she was in such close proximity to her sleeping Guardian in a way and in such a manner that she had never been before. To those who heard the vet, the sound he made in sleep was quiet, far less apparent or distracting as the snores of some men (and women). To the spider queen, it was a chainsaw on a quiet weekend afternoon ripping through the air and ruining her day...or night as it were.

She turned on her side, covered her ears, and did what she could to drown out that sound that didn't involve touching Zeke or smothering him. Nothing worked. Hissing under her breath, the Virus Frei gave up with a toss of her long hair and a forceful wrench to open the tent's zippered entrance.

Her face bore no frown as she floated into the midst of her two fellow Raevans, but her eyes showed her displeasure. She gave her head another toss and flared her wings as she passed the two males and settled down over the grass that stretched from treeline to cliff side - arms crossed defiantly.

"He snores," was all she said, her voice flat and definitely not hiding her true feelings on the matter. Her posture and the glint in her eyes almost seemed to dare the Stag and Gargoyle to question her further, but if they were smart, they would know better too.

Anya sat in silence with the two males, here and there nodding her head as she began to drift off again, only to jerk upright and tug her lips slightly down in a frown before shifting her posture and flutter her long wings. As tired as she was and even though she had her front facing the trees and had two other Frei with her, she was exposed out here in this glade. What's more, she knew that something was out there; something that she just knew wasn't just some passing deer or other harmless thing. Whatever it was, it was watching, waiting, and biding it's time. This was certain, and that feeling only grew in her breast when the bushes nearest to them began rustling.

When the sound broke the relative quiet, Anastacia jumped. With a gasp she threw herself into the air with her wings and crown spreading wide, body turning toward the source of that sound. Her lavender eyes were wide and searching, trying hard to look through the dark gloom and ever present blur to find what had made that noise. She only cast the barest glance to her teammates, which immediately went back to the bushes when the second rustling occurred. Instead of simply flaring her Sigel-sized wings out wider, Anastacia flipped them over her shoulders as a carnal, buried part of her at the back of her mind began whispering to strike at the first sign of danger.

"Who's there? Come out here, now."

This wasn't a joke or any game, and even in the state she was in Anya knew it was far smarter to coax whatever it was out than to go in to it.

If this night were to turn sour and frightening, at least Iorek had a few good laughs before things went downhill. Zeke's human waterfall performance had the gargoyle chuckling. Mentally he made a note to try it once he got that certain accessory since Zeke made such a good time out of it.

After the good man disappeared to accompany his frei in dreamland, Iorek discovered new Cesc tidbits. His favorite being they both knew Thriller and the wonderful dance that accompanied it. One day, Reks proclaimed, he'd be able to do the whole dance. Until then his upper half would have to do twice the work.

Their laughter died down when the spider queen reappeared. She didn't look too pleased.

He smiled and listened to Zeke's powerful sleep noise. He hadn't even noticed while chatting with Cesc. "So does Lillian, she snores as loud as a lion roars." Looks like his ears had trained themselves in blocking out snores. Thank goodness.

Wishing to prevent any further dislike, Iorek quickly clammed up after his little comment. He already felt a little uncomfortable around Anya. The gargoyle suspected she didn't like him all that much and he'd hate for her dislike to grow. If Cesc didn't continue their conversation Iorek would of stayed quiet until dawn.

As the night lingered the forest became a chorus singing of life all around them. Iorek found it peaceful and even a bit at home in nature. Although the sound of rustling pushed him out of his comfort. It didn't help his nerves when Anya flipped on her defensive switch.

Iorek's own wings spread and he floated forwards to stay by Cesc. After a quick thought the gargoyle moved just a little bit ahead. With Shepard as a guardian Iorek guessed Cesc could handle himself. But they didn't know what lurked beyond and Reks preferred he took the hits if it came out swinging. He'd just have to be quick in subduing it. The thing couldn't reach the tent.

"We mean you no harm. Please come out with your hands in the air." Iorek kept his voice level as he spoke out. He didn't raise it or shout just in case it was an animal, which he hoped it was. The only humanoid he wanted to run into out here was Dr. Kyou and the other Lab searchers. Anyone else out here in the middle of the night would be suspicious...

If anything was going to come out of the jungle Iorek hoped it would be a cute fuzzy squirrel.

The sound of the whatever-it-was hitting her skin was what registered in Anya's mind that she had been attacked. The thrown thing moved too fast for her eyes to see, but the SPLAT and the following wetness trickling down her arm ripped a shocked gasp from the spider queen's lips. Her wings flipped back over her shoulders to push herself away as she whipped to the side where Cesc and his glow were. In that pinkish light Anastacia could make out the red-orange coloration and watched in mounting horror as her skin absorbed the color and marked her. The farther down it slid, the larger the stained area grew, but this was momentarily cast aside as her arm started burning.

The sensation was like nothing the femme had ever felt before. While the orange-red liquid streamed downward, pain shot upward and Anastacia couldn't stop herself from immediately grabbing the area to try and rub the sensation away. This was her undoing however, as the wetness that lingered on that area spread to her left hand and brought its sting along with it. Pain shot up that arm too and as she doubled over she cried out.

"It burns!!!"

Anastacia all but threw her partially formed body to the ground, trying in vain to wipe the stinging liquid off on the grass. What hadn't turned into a painful dye simply spread further along the spider queen's bare skin and less still made it into the grass, where it glittered menacingly in Cesc's light.

The spider queen pushed herself away from that area with her wingtips, dragging her arm and hand along the grass as she moved over it. A small patch of barren earth was near to her and the Frei hissed and moaned as she dug fistfuls of soil from that spot and slapped it to her skin. Unlike the humid air around her, the dirt was cool to the touch, but it did nothing to help relieve the sting.

Looking up and around, the Virus Frei's eyes landed on her fellow Raevans. Her lips were spread and she appeared to ogle them; her face paler than normal and her eyes wide and glassy with the mixture of pain, shock, confusion, and something that could have been fear. Behind those six eyes her mind was racing - what was this, why did this hurt, what had hit her, where was it, who would it attack next - muting that 'strike first, ask questions later' voice and instead replacing it with a chant of 'get away; protect yourself' instead.

But she couldn't move from that spot.

The stinging continued - pressing down and intensifying - and with it Anastacia's ability to react to everything outside of it waned while time seemed to slow before her eyes.

Everything had become still as the trio waited to see what would emerge. It was the calm before the storm. When nothing emerged Iorek presumed whatever had given them a scare was gone.

Suddenly he heard something whiz by and contact being made. "What..." Iorek followed the sound as it blew by he and Cesc only to hit Anya. At first glance it looked like nothing had really happened. Maybe it was a prank being played on them by another search group. They snuck some water guns onto the trip to liven up the hunt?

But then Anya crumbled to the ground with a cry that cause Reks to shudder. It was burning her!

Iorek quickly shot towards the darkness as Cesc hurried to reach the spider raevan's side. With the light of his friend gone, the gargoyle relied on his own vision to aid in the search of this sudden criminal.

A low growl rumbled in his throat as Rek's plunged his massive hands into the bush. Quickly he pushed away the branches and pesky leaves in search of what had harmed his team mate. It had to still be there and he planned on finding out what it was. Although they weren't exactly friends Iorek still felt protective of his team. He'd do whatever he could to keep each of them safe even if it meant messing with something unknown.

Anastacia grit her teeth together as she tried hard to make the burning sensation go away. It was in vain; her skin had absorbed the color of the liquid and it seemed it took in the pain too. The bottom of the Frei's mouth moved inward as she sucked back what might have been a sob. Even in lieu of what had just happened, she was not one to cry like some weakling.

When Cesc descended upon her with his goal to help the spider queen in mind, the older Frei acted much like a toddler in that instant.

"No, get away! Don't touch me, Cesc!" She recoiled from him, dragging her ribbon along the ground and struggling to get away from the Stag and his hands. She looked at him with her lavender eyes appearing wetter than ever before, gripping her arm tightly with her stinging left hand as though that would stop him. Her lips were pulled back with that gritting she was doing as the somehow fruity smell reached her nose and made that wrinkle as she turned her head away. In the end however, Cesc's persistence won out, though the touch of the waterlogged cloth was what did it for him. When the cool-feeling bandana graced her skin, the Frei felt as if some of the sting vanished. It might have just been a placebo effect or the fact Cesc's hand was clearly covered by the bandana or the Stag's calming aura if not a combination thereof, but whatever it was in truth it made the spider queen stop moving and allow the Stag to tend to the result of her assault.

"What's out there?" She stared at him balefully as though he would have an answer, the words coming shakily through her teeth and a slightly quivering lower lip. It wasn't long after saying that that Anya took over holding the bandana to her arm. Her stained left hand throbbed and she rubbed it over the exposed side of the orange cloth to tend to it and continuing tending to the sting on her arm. Soon thereafter, the crash and Iorek's shout came.

Anastacia wheeled into the air like a frightened bird, her wings flipping over her shoulders as before and eyes immediately on the area in which the sound had come from. She struggled to see but could at least make out the shape of something large dangling from the higher branches of the trees. It looked like a sack, and one that moved as its occupant struggled to claw his way out. It was clearly Iorek by the sound of it and with that fact laid bare Anastacia's attention fixated onto the bushes below him. She floated backward and to the right, the chant of 'protect yourself' mingling with a renewed 'strike first' in her mind. She shook her head to the return of the latter; she was no barbarian.

"Wha's goin' on out here?"

From behind the two Frei who lingered near together, the tent opened and Zeke stumbled out, bleary eyed and half dressed as he tried to pull that over sized button up shirt over his shoulders. Iorek's entrapment had woken him up from a dead sleep and it took a few slow moments for him to see and process the scene going on before him. When it did, the vet was immediately on his feet with a shout and ripping his bag open to get at his knife.

"Hold on Iorek!"

"No don't, you idiot!"

Her words came too late; Zeke was sprinting toward the Gargoyle that hung like well ripened fruit and Cesc took his own hit two short feet to her left.

It happened so fast. One second he was riffling through shrubs seeking out an unseen bully and the next he was shooting through the air like a star. Iorek's startled shout pierced the night before it was quickly silenced. The gargoyle scrambled in the net against the branches and leaves, clawing for an escape as he tried to catch his breath. A pitiful wheeze was all he could make in response to his friend's worry. The wind had been knocked right out of him.

The wild panic that attacked Iorek did not help him regain his breath any faster. Fear pounded and burned against his chest. He couldn't breathe. It was an awful feeling that he fought to escape. For a brutal moment Reks thrashed in the net in hopes of escaping by brute force but this only entangled him more.

Somehow, through his distress, Iorek realized his antics were only endangering them more. The beast then let go and slumped in the man-made web. He had to just focus on one thing and that was to breathe.

Being calm, air filled the raevan's lungs in no time and he was back in control. He spat out leaves and debris so he could croak,"I-I'm fine...d-don't get close."

The gargoyl'e glowing green eyes darted about to examine the situation he was in. He'd been caught. Strung up like a villain in Scooby-Doo. Unfortunately so had parts of the bush.

It took some shoving and unsteady movement, but Iorek righted himself enough to look down at his teammates. Before he could say more Zeke was stumbling out of the tent. The man must of had quite the sight before him so it was no wonder he was then scrambling to find something sharp.

But then they were under fire and this time Cesc the main target. "Just spread out and get down!" His voice was hoarse but hopefully they heard.

The pounding against his chest only quickened as he tried to break through the net. From above he had full view of the three of them. They were three sweet targets to take down one by one. It was Iorek's responsibility to keep them as safe as possible. That task was hard to accomplish when he was trapped in a net with branches and roots.

"Hold on! I'm coming!" Iorek worked on a certain spot of the net, clawing and even biting at the ties to break free. Soon a hand was free to reach outside the mesh but not the rest of him.

If it wasn't such a dangerous situation, and he wasn't the one entangled in it, Reks would of been impressed with this particular trap.