Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( Journal didn't seem the right place, this is for Joliette.... And anyone she may run across in her search for shelter ))


Joliette shivered and peered through the rain and foliage "There... has to be ... somewhere... a cave... or something" she speaks aloud but to herself, her teeth chattering together. It'd been at least a good day since she'd left Ambrose's camp, she wasn't sure, maybe more but time seemed to be lost just then...

She was trying hard to find shelter, shelter where she wouldn't be a risk of danger to anyone... She'd finished the meat she'd taken from the camp and her stomach growled loudly, but it seemed most things that could be prey to the Komodo had gone into hiding from the rain, she hadn't seen anything...

Her resolve to stay vegan was crumbling quickly, no vegetation she ate seemed to quench the hunger she felt. Her tongue flicked as she stood shivering looking through the foliage looking for both food and shelter.

(( note this is supposed to take place after Emerwyn and Pyroth seperate... putting it up only cause it would seem weird in the timeline with the end of hte metaplot to put it up later ))


Joliette didn't know north from south, east from west, all she knew was she was cold and wet, and her stomach was rumbling like ever. Fruit she found didn't quench the hunger pangs, and she'd yet to have found any prey ... stupid weather...

Teeth chattering the young woman continued to trudge through the foliage in search of food and shelter, shelter that was away from the camps... She didn't trust herself, and she didn't know if she'd lose control, and in fact was afraid she would.

Emerwyn stepped gingerly away from the water. Every nerve in her body was shaking, burning. Breathing still came as a chore to her, her chest moving labored, as though her lungs were filled with water. Pyroth had been kind, and she wasn't sure whether she was happy or sad to be taking her leave of him.

She came once more into the thicker trees and the scent of water grew fainter to her senses, slightly removing the feeling of immersion that filled her still.

Joliette's tongue flicked and she looked around , was he senses playing tricks on her? She'd not run into anyone... or anything since she'd left Ambrose's camp, "H-hello?" she asks into the wind doubtful anyone would hear her with the volume of her voice which was hampered by her chattering teeth

Emerwyn's ears twitched, as she thought she heard a sound foreign from the jungles natural noises. She followed it, almost too eagerly. She couldn't be alone. No, they'd come back to her. It was all almost faded now. Almost a day had passed since they'd begun. Since she was with them... But she couldn't risk anything. Her eyes came to focus on a large moving object. It was someone she recognized. From so long ago. But had she seen her recently? Only a passing glimpse...
"Joliette?"

Joliette stopped moving and turned more towards the voice, her arms wrapped around her for what little warmth it provided. "Emer..wyn" she said mostly to herself "Yeah.. it's me" she says looking at the equally soaked woman

Emerwyn's heart soared. Seeing Joli gave her more joy now than it could have ever at any other time. A familiar face, and one that didn't make her feel like her world was out to destroy everything she loved. She ran forward with an odd burst of energy and embraced her. She was a deal warmer than Joliette, even though her sparse furs had not completely dried.
She stood there, simply hugging her, and Emerwyn found herself crying over her already wet face.

Joliette nearly pulled away... least until she felt the warmth, of god she wanted that warmth. She wasn't sure why Emerwyn was crying, but she didn't stop her. She did her best to keep her tongue in her mouth, she didn't want her body to be even remotely tempted to lose control, Emerwyn was her friend

She pulled away slowly. "I am sorry, Joli. It has been a long time since we've seen each other and... a lot has happened. I'm sure on both ends." She could not for a second think she was the only one suffering here.
"How have you been faring?" Though, in her state, Emerwyn could only assume the worst. She hoped Joliette was doing well, for both their sakes and sanities.

"C-cold... wet.. and hungry..." she states looking at her friend as Emerwyn pulled away "I think.. my resolve... is crumbling" she shivered as the warmth left it's closeness

Another one was losing faith... losing hope. What more was left for them?
"How much more can we do? How much more can we take?" She took Joli's arms in her hands and rubbed them, standing still close to her, offering what warmth she had. "It grows hard. Hard to hold on to what little hope we had.
What are you holding on to?"

"My veganism... but... fruit... doesn't seem to be enough... and I've lost control... at least once.. and woke up next to a dead boar piglet already" She appreciated the warmth, she was glad though she had been stuck outside in t-shirt, vest and shorts, that she wasn't as bad off as those who were caught with next to nothing at all

Emerwyn smiled sadly, recalling when Pyroth attacked her. "At least, at least it was only the boar... and not-" Emerwyn shrugged slightly. Joli would know what she meant.
"How many people have you seen? I've not seen many in my travels, and I wish to hear that everyone is alright."

"Uhm it was one of... us... the second time" she looked down "I've seen 9 or 10... Ambrose has a big camp though, so more... have to be around"

Emerwyn's stomach sank quicker than she could anticipate. She had taken what Joli said... differently than she may have meant it. "You mean.... you...... " Her hands drew back a little. She didn't think that any of them could...

Joli stayed quiet for a few still looking at the ground "Awen got hurt, and I lost control for a time... and hunted her... But... int he end I only wound up scaring her I think... came to my senses" she closed her eyes ignoring the tears that leaked ... she didn't blame Emerwyn from pulling away, she found her actions repulsive too. "I'm so scared... that I'll lose control... again"

Actually, Emerwyn found herself feeling a world of relief.
"Oh, oh... No, no... I'd thought.... I thought you meant you'd actually..." She actually laughed a little, despite herself. "She's safe, that's all that matters. Many of us are losing control. I was just with some such individual." She didn't want to say anything about Pyroth. It wasn't his fault. "And it's not your fault," she said, as though vocalizing the end of her own thoughts.

She nods slowly and lifts her head "It's not fun being a predator... Ambrose thinks I need to give in to the bit of Komodo that's in me.. and I won't lose control so badly... I... the thought of meat doesn't bother me as bad as it used to... but still..." She searched Emerwyn's face for understanding of what she meant

"It's hard to change... to turn away from something that was once a part of your life. It's hard when it disappears so quickly... And it's not fair." She understood, as much as it was possible for her to.

Joliette nods slowly and shivers "Did.. did you have to turn away... from anything?" she asks pulling her arms closer around herself trying to keep any warmth she had

"I thought that it was the last thing I had to lose, my humanity. But it seems I must turn away from something else. The only other thing left for me here." She swallowed. "It seems I must turn away from the only chance I had left... at love."

"I'm sorry Emerwyn" she says softly, she didn't know if she'd be heard over the wind with how quiet her words were. She'd come tot he isle and found love, and her friend had the opposite

Emerwyn smiled softly. Perhaps it would be for the best if she never saw Ian or Julian again. Or the Jabberwock, for that matter. She changed the subject, this was a little too much, too soon. "So, Ambrose has set up a camp?" She was glad. She'd only met him once, but she knew he was a strong leader and good friend from only a few minutes with him. He'd been the one who first told her about Julian...

Joliette nods "Yeah, big one... a bunch of lean tos.. and it had a fire..." She looks around "Uhm ... not sure what direction" she was sure she'd turned a few times, she had no idea where she actually was

Emerwyn sighed. "It's alright. Right now, I wish to leave the jungle, by any means necessary. The town, the beach, anywhere is better than here. This place haunts me so, and I cannot escape it."
"But you, you need a fire. You're chilled to death."

"Need shelter, so I can dry... and then a fire ya" she agrees "Was looking for a cave... or something" standing still in one place didn't really help matters either, but she'd not exactly sorted out if it was just the weather or her own body

Once again, Emerwyn cast aside her own desires. "Come," she put an arm around Joli's shoulders. "Together, we will find somewhere for you to stay."

Joliette nods and told her own desire to not be touched no. and looks around "Uhm... you pick a direction, I have.. not idea where I am" she admits

"Well, I think I've covered the area around the river, not much in the area of warmth there," only that horrible, drowning pain; she choked in her breathing a little, looking back. "Unless you are in need of water, I suggest we go the other way."

"I've had more then enough water... The rain is doing that... just have to look up and open my mouth" She can't help but give a wry smile since part of why she'd had enough of water was she was soaked from head to toe

Emerwyn smiled and nodded, and led the way away from the river. Maybe she'd be able to find a place for Joli to stay warm, and get out of the jungle.

Joliette let Emerwyn lead her, she hoped they didn't get more lost then she already was, Emerwyn obviously knew where the river was, so perhaps they wouldn't. She was thankful for the warmth the physical contact of another provided. Her tongue flicked and brought her back scents, but she still wasn't used to the scents being 'muffled' by the wetness of rain and the scents of wet foliage

Emerwyn tred carefully through the damp jungle, the scents tantalizing her; she was hungry. But, she'd better get this done first.
She decided to get some information, if she could. "You were at the camp - what do they know, of our situation?"

"Probably no more then we... Everything is locked down, Ambrose and I didn't really get... to talk about that" she tells Emerwyn "last I talked to anyone... bout the lockdown, was before.. I lost control"

Emerwyn sighed. "I wish to return to the village. I feel that something will be made clear... Somehow we can understand what happened. Moreau does not seem one to be easily thwarted."
She looked around, hoping to spot some sort of cave or large burrow. Nothing yet.

"I want back in my darkroom, its dark in there, I feel at home in my darkroom... not like out here" Joliette admits her eyes often following Emerwyn's gaze

"I actually found that, slowly, I was beginning to feel averted to staying indoors. But, there must be some way to get into the rooms. There is something I need, desperately." Her book. She had not seen it in so long, even before the lockdown.
She found a little overgrowth that seemed to be covering something. She separated, leaning forward, digging through the brush. It was naught but a pile of rocks and dirt. She sighed. "Nothing." Slowly, she rose. "Let's continue."

"There isn't I tried a while ago" she watched the digging then kept moving

Emerwyn breathed heavy. She needed to find Joli shelter, but that also meant she'd be on her own again.
Maybe this was her fate.
Her breathing grew a little more labored as they walked. The humidity in the air was not being kind. This climate was not for her.
She wiped the dirt from her hands as they proceeded. Some was stuck in her hoof-fingers, and it was very uncomfortable.
"Maybe we're just not looking in the right place..."

"Uhm caves... I only explored a couple times... and first time I did... I got lost" she looks in various directions "near the mountain maybe?"

"The mountains are on the other side of the village. Shall we seek out the village..." Emerwyn thought hard. This was difficult, and hungry, work.

Joliette nods and lets Emerwyn pick a direction and after a few hours and a few wrong turns they'd gotten past the village and into the foliage again

Emerwyn felt a pang of regret going straight through the village, the place she'd been trying to reach for so long. And her stomach surged as she returned once more into the place that tormented her so, to help a friend. At least she knew, up north on the Island, Ian and Julian were far away, and she had no risk of seeing either of them.
Towards the mountain the continued, their luck surprisingly high.
Within a short while, they'd found a little cave, large enough for one person to remain relatively comfortable.

Joliette pokes her head into the mouth of he cave her tongue flickered , she didn't pick up the scent of anything that would be a threat. "Thankyou Emerwyn" she says softly turning and looking at her friend

Emerwyn smiled warmly. Finally she had been able to help someone, and it had paid off in the end. "Stay warm, and stay safe. I'm sure we'll meet again soon." Emerwyn embraced her one last time. She had dried off considerably.

"Thanks and I'll try" Joli nods "You... you stay safe and well" she says looking up at the foreboding clouds and then back

Emerwyn looked up, too. "There's an end to every storm."
"We shall know, soon enough."
All too soon...
And, with that, she departed, heading back slowly to the village.

Joliette watched her for a moment and then disappeared into the darkness of the cave in hopes of a warm area, and to dry off

That night, Emerwyn curled up not too far from Joli's cave, and fell asleep hungry. She couldn't take this any longer. What was she to do? Where was she to go? Every meeting she shared ended only in sorrow.

She didn't dream that night. Unless thinking of your own stomach eating itself counted as a dream.

She woke to an... odd sound. It made her ears twitch irritably. It was still dark. She'd hardly managed a few hours of sleep. She dragged herself up out of her little bush and searched the skies. Nothing, but an awful, unnatural sound.

...

It was time to head back.
"No rest for the weary."