|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:59 pm
Dante looked over the people that had gathered in front of him.
It had been a difficult talk with Herei about what was to be done about the missing party. In the end, Dante had simply suggested that they break up--once again--into separate groups, hastily adding on that they wouldn't be far from one another--one party a mile to the left, and another a mile to the right. If the group arrived at the meeting spot, somebody--probably Lina, with her pistol--would send up a signal for the others to come back as well.
Herei had said he would think about it, and Dante trusted him to make a good decision as he gathered the rest to hear what they had to say and then tell them the plan.
Lina was feeling marginally better--she wasn't as nauseous, and some of the color had begun seeping back into her cheeks. Right now her legs were crossed, chin on elbows, eyes fixated on Dante with a fierce kind of determination. It was go time.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:41 pm
RuiZhi hadn't slept again. He still wasn't tired in the sense of needing sleep, but he was very drained mentally. Trying to keep everyone smiling in this dark time and privately worrying over his own fears was taking a toll on the young boy. He sat placidly on his bag, eyes moving languidly between Dante and Herei as he waited. Unusually impassive about what path would be taken, he simply waited, as there was precious little else he could do.
"I don't like it," the Advisor murmured to Dante after he approached him. He'd thought about it long and hard, and Herei still came up with the same answers he had with Kenth. However, if the two were against him in his judgement, then there was nothing he could do but try to support them. Once more, he felt the reason they were here was being lost in favor of fear for two boys who were capable of taking care of themselves, especially in a forest that had little danger outside of Luna's Temple...so long as they stayed outside of it.
The man crossed his arms, his smile enigmatic despite his words. "I don't agree with it, Professor Araquenosse, as I've stressed to the doctor. However, if you both feel it is the best course of action, then I will lend you my support."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:07 pm
Dante nodded. "Alex is not the one I am particularly worried about--I am worried about her, that is, but not to the same extent as the boys. She's an adult, and I trust what RuiZhi and Wei have to say about her."
He turned to the group. "My suggestion is that we split up once more and each go about a mile in each direction, left and right of the group, then stay put. That way, if they boys are just a little off we might be able to catch them. If and when they return to the original meeting point--whether by themselves or with a group that managed to spot them--we send up a signal of some sort. Preferably with your help, Miss Lina. Then the other group returns, and we all set out again."
Lina nodded, deep in thought. "That seems a bit time-expending and complicated...."
"I'm trying to take into consideration other options, as I recognize that this is most likely unreasonable. The other option is that we all stay in place right here and wait for them to come to us. I'm not sure how good a plan that is, considering that if they miss us even by a little bit we might not be able to tell, but again, I am open to suggestions from anyone."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:40 pm
"I don't necessarily see a problem in your suggestion, advisor. The point I'd like to point out however, is that 1 mile distance is not going to get us to anywhere. I think Advisor Fang (and I) can see that if we are able to find them within a mile range, then surely they'd come to us in no time, considering this is day time after all. They haven't returned after a day. You and I both know what that means, that they are lost not within a few miles range, but rather within the range of the entire forest...perhaps beyond. Perhaps they are not even there in the forest anymore, we'd never know."
Kenth paused and adjusted his hoarse throat a little by coughing. He had been feeling a little better after a day of doing nothing. His mind more settled down now...and more logical than before.
"If my words still meant anything to you, I'd want to go on with the task. Those three left on their own will. It is unfortunate, but due to the fear that we don't want to sacrifice more people, going far back down there to look for them is not the best solution." Kenth eyed Herei quickly and then continuted, "if more sacrifices are going to happen, I'd rather want them to happen at the cause of finding the truth instead of this."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:44 pm
Elijah slept the same as the previous night with just enough sleep to get him through the day but that was patched with nightmares. Having woken he shook his head and forced himself into complete alertness in order to start his day and pulling his back close he opened it to grab a bottle of water to cool himself down. The water dribbled down his chin briefly before he wiped it away with a sleeve, but for that moment he felt refreshed and ready to get going. Glancing to the other faces of the group he wondered what was being discussed until his attention was dragged away by a morning cooing in the distance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:20 pm
Farlest actually laughed in what was sheer relief and then quite nearly tackled the woman in a hug. "You're ok!" He sounded positively delighted. "You disappeared and we were looking for you!" The dark-haired young man seemed to almost belatedly realize that he was all but in her lap and he promptly plopped backwards onto his rear, letting go and looking embarrassed all over again.
"Uhm...butyeah. Food would be nice, we didn't really think to bring much at the time, didn't expect to be walking for days from the initial site." He admitted, glancing back to Ka. "And he sprained his wrist..."
Wrinkling his nose, he eyed her curiously, "How's tea going to help?" Yes, when he was excited or upset or imbued with any sort of vibrant emotion, Farlest tended to talk a lot. It was becoming very very obvious right about now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:33 am
The woman barely caught the boy as he embraced her, managing to keep her balance while giving him a tight and earnest hug in return. She smiled as he released her, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "I'm all right," she confirmed, "and...you two came after me?" There was more than a hint of surprise; Alex looked downright bewildered. She didn't have time to think about it as both of the boys seemed confused by the tea, agreeing that food would be a good idea.
She pawed through her rucksack again, glancing up to Ka'hmesh as Farlest mentioned his wrist. "It's willow tea," she remarked as she pulled out several packages of the dried meat, "willow being the base of asprin. It will help with the pain. I also have some ginger salve that ZhiZhi gave me that will take down the swelling." The woman spread out the packages, including a small container of dried fruits and nuts, placing a canteen next to them. Alex turned back to the small box she had pulled out before, opening it to reveal many strange leaves, barks and bulbs, choosing one of them and dropping it into the second canteen. "Eat, while we wait for this to absorb."
With that, Alex stood, turning her gaze up the tree they were gathered around. She walked around it to the back, surveying the prospective area before leaping up its length like an animal, grabbing the lowest hanging branch and breaking it with her weight. The woman landed roughly on her feet before approaching the boys again, plopping down and removing a pocket knife from one of her cargo pockets. As she started to cut the branch in her hands, she glanced up at the two and smiled, "So! You guys left the Doctor? He's going to be so mad. What possessed you to chase me?" That ellicted a small chuckle from her. "And how'd you sprain your wrist?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:43 am
Sable got less sleep than the night before, rolling over what felt like every few minutes. They were still in the woods, and it still bothered him. Bugs. Rocks. Noises he couldn't indentify. The missing people were still missing. When he finally decided to get up, his head felt like it was full of cotton. He glanced around blearily, pulling off his glasses to rub his eyes. The teachers were discussing something, the missing people, if he heard correctly. He had no opinion, well he did, but it wasn't his place, nor did he know anything at all about the area, so his opinion probably didn't have a lot of knowledge behind it. All that was fine, anyways. He had no desire to talk with them. They were very...intimidating, that was a good word for it.
Having spotted RuiZhi and Elijah sitting and waiting, he decided to do the same, spotting a nice rock only a few feet away. They looked like he felt. Ug. Damn forest. Sable yawned and pulled his glasses off to rub his eyes again, running a hand through messy hair once he was finished. He'd just have to sit and wait for the group to come to a decision. Not that he minded, really. He was far to foggy to think of anything at the time being.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:46 am
RuiZhi caught Sable's eye, stretching and yawning playfully. He smiled wearily at the older man, noting how little sleep he and Elijah had seemed to have gotten. The boy pawed through his belongings, retrieving what looked like a handful of red grapes. He handed some to Elijah, then went to Sable, offering him a couple. "It's called schizandra. It's native here - we call it 'wu wei zi,' which means..." the boy paused, mulling the translation in his mind, "'five taste fruit,' I think. It's...sweet, but bitter. A little salty, a little sour, and has a bitter after flavor. It'll help give you a little energy."
He didn't expect his friends to just pop the things in their mouths and enjoy, but he was hoping his explanation - as limited as it was - would ease their minds. If they really were going into the forest, they'd all need to be as sharp as they could be, for all their sakes.
Herei turned his amused smile onto Kenth, watching the man as he interjected with the confidence and logic that the Advisor was used to. He pondered commenting on Kenth's choice of words, namely 'sacrifice,' but decided against it for the time being; he wanted the others in the group to hear both ideas, and to make a decision. A little shock value never hurt anyone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:58 am
Sable was staring at the dirt, trying to collect his thoughts as he toed a pebble back and forth when RuiZhi happened by. He looked up, blinking a few times at the boy before the words finally registered in his head. Sable was not a morning person. He really needed a can of soda, or something.
"Thanks," he mumbled, tongue not exactly working with the words in his head. He eyes the small fruit for a moment, wondering if it was any good. He quickly decided that really didn't matter, because he probably wasn't going to be getting much else. He popped it in his mought and chewed thoughtfully. Well, it wasn't bad. Kind of...strange, but he could manage the other few just fine. He stifled another yawn and ate the others one-by-one.
Sable stood and streched, tossing his head in RuiZhi's direction. "How are you this morning?" he asked, finally getting a better mental grasp on the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:01 pm
Dante nodded, though he was frowning a bit. Leave the boys up to fate....? As a teacher, he wasn't sure he felt comfortable with that path of action at all.
"We do need to move forward," he finally conceded, face still pensive and troubled. "I do not want to leave the boys up to fate...but this is what you judged, Kenth, and for right now we seem to have no other path, much as I hate to admit it."
Lina raised a hand. "Um...might some of us stay here, in case they come to the meeting area? And then we can head back to the facility, to wait for your return."
"Much as I wish we could, we have to stick together as a group now, Miss Lina. We can't risk losing any more people. We won't lose them. Not on my--our--not on our watch."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:47 pm
A light layer of sweat coated Wei's body as he sat down upon a log. Looking around he almost felt guilty for being able to have a rather moderate sleep than the others. The half-native looked down at his boyfriend smiling a bit. As much as he adored being with this man, there were just some things that woudln't change.
Mainly the need for spending time with RuiZhi. He knew this whole trip he had ignored his younger brother, it was a large mistake on his side. Though the former would understand his reasons better than Ry. He missed someone who understood his odd quirks. The male had a feeling his brother might need him too. This land held meaning for the both of them and Rui was a virgin to this sort of situation.
He leaned down and gave his red head a light peck on the forehead before mulling over to Rui, plopping down next to him, not saying a word.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:06 pm
Ka smiled faintly at Farlest's enthusiasm, adding his own two cents in once the other stopped talking for a moment. "Yes ... we came after you." Ka glanced at Far, then returned his gaze to Alex, listening as she explained about the tea. Aah. That made sense ... and yea, something to help with the pain would be really nice right now. He was trying to ignore it, but that wrist really was literally throbbing.
Ka reached over then and picked up some of that jerky, nibbling on it for a moment and then actually gnawing a bigger piece off when his stomach growled. He sighed slightly at the next round of questions - having missed the whole deal with the tree branch since she had gone around to the back.
"Farlest was ... concerned about you," he said after a moment, attempting to be diplomatic. After all, it wouldn't look very good to admit that Far had panicked and run off and then Ka had followed. As for his wrist ... "I fell on it," he said softly, keeping his gaze on the ground as he reached over to grab some of the dried fruit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:33 pm
Elijah turned to RuiZhi as he was addressed and gave him a large friendly smile as he joined him and glanced to Sable as he came over as well. "Good morning," he greeted them both before he was offered a few of the red grapes, ''Oh thank you." His smile strengthened and instantly he plopped one into his mouth and bit down. The explosion of contrasting flavors instantly took affect and giving an interesting expression he found the fruit's unigue taste rather interesting. It wasn't long before his were gone and he smiled in thanks to his friend. Glancing to Sable he listened to the pair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:56 pm
"It is not my wish either to leave those behind. But if the fact that they are missing drag us down, who knows what worse things are going to happen?" Kenth frowned also, seeing that Dante, as a teacher, did have a point. Sentimentality, which was not what Kenth liked (and despised himself for being so yesterday), did get mixed with the word of duty and responsibility. Kenth's job, as he had stated earlier, however, convinently rid of itself the trouble of taking care of the students and whoever else that was missing. Therefore, those people looked more like burdens than target of protection---not that Kenth's opinion really changed from the begining.
"My job is not to take care of the students. So the final decision is up to Advisor Fang." Kenth shook his head and crossed his arms, looking at the ingenious man that stood next to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
