They took no time at all to set up everything they need for the briefing before they head into the forest. Time is of the essence when it comes to searching for survivors lost in a large forest such as this. And having waited for more than three weeks, it is even more important that they don't waste anymore time.
Stepping up to a small pedestal, the six foot two man in his early sixties clapped his hands loudly to get everyone's attention. When everyone's eyes were on him, he began to introduce himself. "My name is Jeremiah, you can call me Jeremy." The group was just the right size for his voice to reach when he speak loudly, so he don't need to use a megaphone. "I am a close and long time friend of Kyou's, and I am the one who organized this search party."
"According to the villagers, Kyou departed from this village heading due north. So we will be heading in the same direction." He pulled a map from one of the pockets of his hiking vest before he continued. "I've marked down seven search grids on this map." Unfolding the map, he pointed to the seven areas he marked with a blue pen. "We will be divided into seven teams, each team will have four people and we will search according to our grids, all heading north. This is so we cover as much ground as possible."
Folding the map back up again, he motioned to a pile of supplies stacked up next to a black board. "You could pick up the map - two for each team at the supplies area over there later. Along with the following to aid you in the search."
One Lightweight portable tent Two compasses One lighter and a box of matches One hunting knife One Multitool Some Tinder Two flashlights A basic first aid kit A sewing kit Four bandanas A few fish hooks A survival guide for newbies
"Of course, if you brought along sufficient supplies, you could opt to drop a few things from your supplies package if you want to." Then from a utility belt on his waist, Jeremy pulled out a bright orange flare gun. "This is going to be the only way we could communicate between each team. When your team is in peril danger; when a man is down, fire a red flare and the rangers and villagers over here will come to your aid. You have six red flares, including the one already loaded in the gun, just in case. The green flare." He said the following parts more loudly as he lifted the green flare up. "Only use it when you had found Kyou!! This is important, DO NOT GO NEAR KYOU when you found him, even if he seemed like on the verge of death. WAIT FOR ME!!! I will head on over as fast as I could."
Even though he worries for Kyou's life, Jeremy also worries for the safety of the participants. He is the only one here that had went on fel hunts with Kyou before, and only he know for sure what to do if they really did found the fel essence with Kyou. Which he thinks is the most likely scenario right now.
"This is how you load the flares." Jeremy went on to demonstrate how to c**k the barrel open, taking out the red flare within and replacing it with another red one, then cocking it back in place. "To fire it, just c**k back the hammer here like this, then pull the trigger while aiming at the sky." He further demonstrated without actually pulling the trigger, then he gently clicked the hammer back.
"It's late afternoon now, only a few more hours until night. When it's dark, it's best to find somewhere to make camp. Do not wander around at night!! It's dangerous." He could not emphasize that enough in this case. Since he had already heard some stories from the villagers.
"Okay, now you can go and pick up your supplies. The team info is on the blackboard next to the supplies, you can depart into the forest when you're ready. And uhm... what else.?" Jeremy thought for a moment before speaking again. "Oh remember to bring lots of water! There's a well at the edge of the forest, you could fill up your bottles there."
At the start of the briefing, Genie had taken Basil's right hand gently in her left, the both of them giving the man on the pedestal their full and absolute attention. It had begun as a nervous gesture of mutual support, but when the flare gun made its appearance, she started squeezing. By the time it was over and everyone was dismissed, Basil had been biting his cheek to keep from yelling.
After, she guided him to the blackboard where a small crowd had already gathered. Because Basil's vision was so poor, it was unlikely he'd be able to find his name, so Genie had to do the honors. She needed to stand on tiptoe, trying to peek in the spaces between any number of horns and wings and backpacks. She mouthed the names as she went, and when Basil's appeared, her heart felt pickled in her chest. Like she was reading it off a draft-card.
Or in an obituary...
Noticeably, her own name was not among those listed.
She turned to him, running her thumb soothingly over his knuckles. She was making an admirable effort to hold it together.
"Well," she started, "it looks like they've got you teamed up with Lazarus, Jeremy, and Duncan."
She looked at the board in a double-take. Jeremy. Wait. Wasn't that the guy who had briefed them just now?
Somehow, this brought her some small comfort. After all, Jeremy was leading this expedition. Running the show, you might say. Out of all of the people here, so far Jeremy demonstrated the most competence, the most leadership, the most experience. It struck her as an advantage over the other teams. Extra insurance that Basil might actually be alright. She should be so lucky that Basil would be with the man in charge.
Still, when she glanced around the base camp—at the busses and supplies—everything in her heart, in her soul told her no in big neon letters. No. Jeremy couldn't take him. The jungle couldn't take him. She wasn't ready.
She squeezed his hand and looked up at him. "You know, you can still back out of this if you want to. It won't hurt the search-effort to lose just one person. I mean, now that you're actually here and looking at all the supplies and the people and... If any of it seems like too much, we can just...!"
Basil let out a long sigh. An exasperated we-talked-about-this kind of sigh. "Genie,"
Her words dried up, her hand gesturing to cut him off. "I know. I know."
For a full minute they stood there in brittle silence, unable to look each other in the eye. Waiting for the clock to run out. Genie was the first to speak.
"Well," she tugged him by the sleeve, "let's find Jeremy and let him know we're here." Basil nodded.
They found him near the supplies. There was no need for him to check the roster. He knew who he was paired with long before the others did. It was his business to know.
"Excuse me?" She called.
When they arrived, she and Basil both immediately went for a handshake, but Genie was quicker on the draw. She put out her hand, which was trembling, and just a bit damp. Basil's stuttered awkwardly in mid-air before he pulled it back in a you-didn't-see-that kind of way, turning as though something interesting were happening in the distance.
Genie stepped forward to close the gap. "Hi, I'm Genie Witham from Durem,
After two limp shakes, she held his hand a moment in sympathy, "First, let me say I'm so sorry about your friend... I mean, I've never met the doctor myself but—" She trailed off when she felt herself start to ramble. She was aware they didn't have time to waste on pleasantries.
She cleared her throat into her fist, bringing his attention to the boy behind her, "Uhm, this is Basil. The board says that he's going to be with your team?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:08 am
Jeremy was just done entertaining some rangers with some questions when Genie came up to him and introduced herself. He didn't mind the limp handshakes as he smiled politely at the duo. "I would introduce myself again, but you already know my name." His tone was polite, and a lot more gentler than before when he was briefing everyone. "It's very nice to meet you, Genie and Basil." He recognized their faces when he was going through Kyou's files at the Lab.
"Yes, Basil is coming with us." Glancing up, Jeremy took a good look at Basil. Seemed like a decent looking Frei, strong arms too, and those wings look sharp. Hopefully he will be useful in the expedition. Grey eyes then turn back to look at Genie. "You didn't sign up right? Are you planning to join us?"
Right after the briefing, Lazarus headed straight to the supplies. He only brought a utility belt along with him, you know those that carpenters use. He stuffed a few lighters in there as his food source, a flashlight and some other stuff. But he figured that bringing a few more along wouldn't hurt as he picked up a large backpack that contains the portable tent. A few Raevans had already came by to wish him luck, Xiu, Rivener and Zul, he did the same courtesy too. However, he is too preoccupied right now, eager to enter the forest and find Kyou as soon as possible. Although deep inside, he feared the worst had happened to the man.
Lazarus wasn't bothered to look at the black board yet to find out which team he is in. Whoever is in it, he don't really care, as long as they don't get in the way or slow them down. But when he moved a little closer to where Jeremy is standing to pick up one of those maps, he overheard the conversation between Jeremy and Genie.
"Uhm, this is Basil. The board says that he's going to be with your team?"
Shocked, red eyes snapped up to look at who the older man was talking to, and to his horror he found Basil and his guardian standing in front of Jeremy. "No way..." The red Sigel said it out loud without really meaning to.
Just like the conversation between Jeremy and Genie was within earshot of Lazarus, the Sigel's words were within earshot of Jeremy too. Turning his head around, he saw the Raevan with a look of horror on his face and his mouth agape. Scratching his face, he looked at Basil again briefly, before looking back at the Sigel. Truth to be told, Jeremy assigned the teams base on ability, he wasn't familiar with all the relationships between all of these individuals at all. "Lazarus, why don't you come here and say hi to Genie and Basil?"
Still stunned, the grip on the map he was holding tighten, crinkling the paper as his body moved on it's own accord to Jeremy's words. Taking an audible gulp, he extended a hand towards Genie as his eyes travel warily to Basil once more. This is not happening, why is this happening?! They haven't entered the forest yet and his nightmare had already started.
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:42 pm
Mordekai had gone with Duncan to the search party meet-up out of obligation, and both of them stood anxiously by while Jeremiah explained what they had, and what they were in for. The list of supplies made Duncan rather anxious-- he hadn't realized the search would take so long, but it made sense, given the size of the forest. He had to squint to see his name on the blackboard-- there were three other names next to his on the list, all of them strangers, save Jeremy.
"You sure you want to do this?" Mordekai and Duncan waded through the crowd of people to where Jeremy was, "Have you even gone camping before?"
The two men stopped between walking, and Duncan stared off worriedly at the forest. He shook his head in response to the former question-- hopefully Mordekai would understand that-- and sighed, to collect his breath. "I haven't gone camping in quite some years, but-- I believe I'll be okay. Jeremiah seems to be on the same team as I am, and the supplies seem to be a necessary precaution."
"Okay," Mordekai grabbed Duncan by the shoulders, exasperated, "I'll be honest-- I'm not sure I trust you to be by yourself in a team. I mean-- I was trained for this search-and-rescue bull. It really makes no sense that you're going and not me, you know?"
Duncan pat Mordekai's arms down, "I think I have a few more tricks up my sleeve than you realize, Mordekai. I think I owe this much-- to Dr. Kyou and the Lab-- and it shouldn't take that many days. I've heard of this forest before."
Mordekai rolled his eyes and continued on their way, and Duncan followed. There was something welling in him telling him that he had to do at least this-- he'd been so absent from the Lab already, and he'd scarcely contributed to the project the remainder of the year. Raw strength and youthful machismo be damned-- he knew very well how to navigate a compass and save someone's life with a First Aid kit, if the situation called for it.
When Duncan reached the group with Mordekai, the other three team members were already there, and it seemed that at least Jeremiah and Lazarus were already quite acquainted with each other. He grimaced at the sight of the woman there-- she seemed worried, and he figured she wasn't on the team, given how the other names suggested the rest were male. Behind her was a Raevan-- quite different from the red one standing next to Jeremiah.
"Hey," Mordekai voiced, "Excuse me, Jeremiah. I think my father-in-law here is in your group?"
"Ah," Duncan stepped in front of Mordekai, extending his hand at Jeremiah in greeting, "Yes, I'm Duncan Clarke. It's very nice to meet all of you, though--" he glanced at Genie, and nodded politely, "Is everything alright? You seem awfully worried, miss."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:57 am
"You didn't sign up right? Are you planning to join us?"
She looked a little flustered by the question.
"No," she said carefully, "I'm afraid I'm just here to see Basil off. Uh, lately some issues have come up for me. Health issues..."
She was quick to assure him, her hands spread, "Nothing life-threatening, of course! But... I've given it some serious thought, and I really don't feel that I'd be able to keep up. Believe me, if I thought I could, I would suit-up in a heartbeat but...!"
She trailed off with a laugh. A manic, nervous sound. She realized she was saying all of this to a man a little under twice her age. How embarrassing was that? Looking at the lines raying from his eyes and the graying hair, she felt a stab of resentment.
He could keep up. He probably didn't get short of breath. He probably wasn't hypertense or on trial-diuretics that made every trip to the bathroom a borderline emergency. He could rise to the challenge and help his friend in times of crisis, and all without the superpowers of a Raevan thank-you-very-much. This only magnified her embarrassment when she realized she was starting to babble again. He didn't want to hear her excuses. Excuses weren't going to help Kyou one bit.
Just then, a voice broke her focus.
No way.
She immediately cut her eyes at a new Raevan. It was one of the older ones, she noted. Belly and all.
That's either Lazarus or Duncan, she thought to herself, unaware that this was the missing doctor's own Raevan. Had she known that, her pity for him would have taken precedence. She would have been the picture of forgiveness, patting his arm and saying her I'm-sorries.
But unfortunately for Lazarus, she did not know he was the doctor's Raevan. Today, she was testy and sensitive, and she was not in any mood to deal with this guy's attitude. Basil was here to help. He didn't deserve that.
She looked suspiciously at the hand Lazarus offered before taking it. It was tanned and hot-blooded. So hot-blooded, it made her wonder how he could be looking so pale.
Her frown set deeper. Like it was chiseled there.
Jeremy introduced them. It was obvious he had noticed Lazarus' discomfort, but was polite enough not to bring attention to it. But Genie did. She didn't come out and say as much, but there was an unmistakable edge to her voice.
"Hello, Lazarus." She said, and nothing else. The same two limp shakes she had given Jeremy and her hand flew quickly back to her side.
Basil didn't seem to give Lazarus much consideration at all. He was turned slightly away from the group, and had a fist pressed tightly to his mouth, as though deep in thought.
While everyone was getting acquainted, he had absorbed himself with the task of working a scab on his knuckle. Peeling it away with his front teeth with rodent-like nibbles until the tiny wound was stripped bare. Presumably the scab had been eaten, but it was difficult to tell without getting up close. A bead of blood swelled on the surface, no bigger than the head of a pin. He dabbed his tongue at it, lost in his own little world with Genie as his weary representative.
At that moment, some new people approached the group. Two men, one younger, one older. Jeremy and the older of the two exchanged handshakes. There were a lot of handshakes going around. Only Basil's remained untouched. With the sun so high in the sky, the shadow cast from his hood blotted out most of his features. Only his mouth and the tip of his nose saw sunlight. It didn't help first impressions. It suggested a creature that was only mouth. Something with a nasty bite, and a big appetite. Something that drooled and hissed and sneezed. Something inhuman and extra-terrestrial.
The older man acknowledged Genie. Apparently this was Duncan. Sadly for Mr. Clarke he had caught Genie in a difficult state. Her face was pale and drawn. Nostrils slightly flared. She looked at him, and blinked stupidly as if he'd smacked her. "Yes," she began in a breathy voice. "I'm alright, thank you."
Then suddenly, she turned to kiss Basil. Once, on that terrible mouth. An affectionate, motherly thing to do, but a move she may have thought twice about had she seen him biting off his scabs. She patted his shoulder. "Hey, I'm going to get the rest of your stuff out of the bus, okay? You do everything Jeremy tells you, and I'll be right back."
He made a grunt that was meant to convey understanding, and she nudged him towards the group. If only so he wouldn't be standing around like the ugliest girl at the dance. Turning to Jeremy, she added, "Don't worry, he talks. He just needs to warm up to everyone. I know you have a lot to handle already, but if you could help him get everything together? I know he'd appreciate it, and so would I."
She forced a small smile, nodded once, and stalked towards the buses, leaving Basil alone and adrift.
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:16 am
The distaste from Genie was quite apparent in her tone of voice and expression, quite different from the tone that she was communicating with when it was with Jeremy. Maybe his distaste for Basil was too obvious and it triggered Genie's protective instincts, like a mother bear protecting her baby bear. Even if the baby bear was crazy.
Withdrawing his hand from the shake, he moved back a little as a sign of retreat, not wanting to stir up anymore trouble, but also because he saw two other men coming to greet them. They were strangers to Lazarus. Sure the older one name Duncan do look kind of familiar, he may have seen his photo before in Kyou's files, but the younger one that failed to introduce himself was a total stranger.
Deciding that his time was better spent preparing instead of socializing, he gave that job to Jeremy. "I'll go pick up some other stuff that we might need." Lazarus said to whoever was listening before he turned around, heading back to the supplies stash.
"Oh yes, Mr Clarke. Call me Jeremy please." Giving Duncan the same polite smile as he had given Genie before, he took the other man's hand and gave it a firm shake. The man is as old as Jeremy is, thinner in comparison, although Jeremy is the taller one of the two. "And your name is..?" He then turned towards the older man's son-in-law, extending his hand to him as well. Jeremy is a polite man like that.
When Genie said her departing words, he gave a nod of acknowledgement to the lady and looked at Basil for a moment, who seemed quiet and perhaps a little shy? He did noticed the tension from Lazarus back then towards him. Whatever grief they have, he will have nothing of the sort in his team, only by working together that they would succeed in this expedition. So with a gentle voice, he spoke to the Frei. "Why don't you go pick up some tools that might be useful from the supplies provided?" Putting a hand to the Frei's back, he nudged him towards the pile, where Lazarus is now attaching a spare torchlight to his utility belt. "Perhaps Lazarus may help you."
"Had you picked up enough supplies to enter the forest yet?" Jeremy directed his attention to Duncan as well. "I'll carry the flare gun." He motioned at the bright orange gun strapped to his waist. "Let's gather all the tools we need and depart into the forest as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."
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Duncan hardly had the time to say anything to Genie before she wandered off, though he surmised it was for the best-- he was aware of his own brittle state, and he wasn't sure if any words of consolation he had to give would actually console. He grimaced and watched her go, then turned his attentions back to Lazarus and Jeremy, as he preferred to be called. He wasn't blind to the fact that they were in the same age group, though one was clearly more prepared for the job.
Jeremy introduced himself to Mordekai who was previously distracted by glancing between the two Raevans-- it was hard for him to hide his look of uncertain distaste-- cooperation was of the essence in a team like this, and the friction between the two was glaring. He smiled gingerly at Jeremy anyways, and offered him a firm handshake in return, "Name's Mordekai. Pleasure meeting you all, though I can't say I'm staying," he laughed, "Didn't realize the call to arms was going to be this, uh, drastic. But I'm sure my old man will take good care."
The two men stood by complacently while Jeremy issued orders to the two Raevans, then, though at the mention of supplies, Duncan shook his head. "Not yet, no--"
"I'll go get them. Stay put." Mordekai ran off in the direction of Lazarus and Basil, careful to pick up every category of supplies there was to offer in the pile. The last thing he grabbed was the two flashlights, which he pointed towards the forest and turned on briefly to test. It didn't quite hit him how late in the day they had started until he noticed how radiantly the flashlight gleamed past the trees. He walked back glumly to the team and handed Duncan his supplies.
"Guessing this can't wait 'til early morning, huh," he muttered, then pat Duncan on the back, "Alright, well, I wish you all the best of luck. Don't keep us all waiting, alright?"
With that, Mordekai left for the car and left, and Duncan felt strangely embarrassed. He opened the map to study, and noted quietly, "Ah, it's much bigger than I remember it being."
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:50 pm
Basil startled at the touch of the older man, looking up quickly from the ground the way an inattentive student might when called up to the board. He blurrily mumbled something that sounded like a 'yessir', wetting his lips with a quick swipe of his tongue before heading off to the supply stock.
When he arrived, Basil was neither uncomfortably close to Lazarus, nor so far away that he would seem to be avoiding him. Ordinarily he might have chosen this opportunity to strike up conversation. It never occurred to him that he might not have been Lazarus' favorite person... But Jeremy had given him an instruction, and he aimed to follow it.
His hands moved slowly and cautiously, hovering over more things than he was actually picking up. He didn't memorize the list. He didn't know what he needed and what he didn't and what Genie had already brought for the trip. He considered just grabbing one of everything. It probably couldn't hurt to double up, and he could handle the extra weight.
He had his hand on a first-aid kit when the voice groaned at him.
("God, you're so slow. Here, just... move over and let me...")
"H-hey...!"
His arm stilled in the air. In the space of a second, he felt flung backwards. Away from the eyes, suddenly and strangely, like when you climb the stairs and put your foot on an extra step that isn't there. He went down into the depths. The body grunted. His shoulders rolled and his eyes went half-lidded. And then, he seemed to be moving with a new confidence. A new efficiency, like an assembly-line worker. Plucking items and setting them aside in a neat pile for when Genie brought the bags.
The two Raevans worked side-by-side in silence. At some point he had trained his eyes on Lazarus, his progress slowing, then coming completely to a stop. He was holding the survival guide in one hand, feeling the small heft of it. Some skimpy little thing you could order out of the back of L.L Bean, he assumed.
He made a contortion with his mouth, then riffled the pages with his thumb. Ffffffwwip.
He did it again, more slowly.
Ffffffwwwpppwppp.
It was the sort of thing that belonged in a classroom, like tapping your pencil or spinning a protractor on your finger. Distracting. So the people around you can't focus.
In his case, it was the game of a very patient antagonist. A feinting assault that comes with full deniability. Sort of a grownup version of, "I'm not touching you".
He was trying to catch Lazarus in the act of staring. Wanting him to look at him. Size him up. Put him off his game. He riffled the book a few more times, the pages purring in his hands.
Ffffffwwippip. Ffffffwwippip.
Come on. Look at me.
When the fun went out of it, he patted the cover and placed it carefully in the small pile he'd made. He then stood over it, as if taking inventory. Had he hips, he probably would have put his hands on them. He spoke, his voice silkier and clearer than Basil's. A slightly higher note, with a bored, professional drone. "Let's seeeee. Sewing-kit, compass, flashlight? Everything here seems accounted for. Except..." He lingered on the 'c' in 'except'. A small, thoughtful hissing.
"Hm. I don't seem to see any arm-warmers here." He tapped his lip and turned towards Lazarus.
"Oh," He said with mock-realization, his eyebrows arching.
He clucked his tongue. "Right."
The eyebrows came down over his eyes in an expression of petty hatefulness, but before he could add anything else, he heard Genie shouting.
She was approaching slowly, waddling under the weight of a backpack. He groaned, making a big production of not wanting to deal with her. He turned to Laz with a more neutral expression.
"Mm. See you on the trail, Laz. I can tell it's gonna be a barrel of fun."
He met Genie roughly some distance from the group, but did not quite meet her "halfway", letting her huff and puff and do most of the legwork. He folded his arms as she put the backpack and some other essentials on the ground, which struck him as a stupid thing to do.
She planted her hands on her knees, bent over and wheezing. While she was getting her breath, he went to pick up the backpack. She stuck out a finger to stop him and his face went sharp, staring at the finger as though it had something unspeakable on it. When she was ready, she bent down on one knee to unzip the backpack. "Here," she said with small ceremony, "I got you something for the trip. I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh?" He said cautiously.
She stood up and showed him a strange black box, roughly the size and shape of a computer modem. There was a folded antennae on top and a bizarre U-shaped piece of metal sticking out of the side like a tuning fork. She turned it over in her hands so he could have a better look, and underneath he could see a place where a stand might have gone. He knew what it was the minute she had taken it out, and winced. He didn't know what to say. The only thing that came out was, "Oh..." before his throat closed up.
It was a portable theremin.
Genie wasn't paying attention. She showed him the protective case it went in before putting it back in the pack, making sure to surround it with his change of clothes for added cushioning. "I know Lola lent you her iPod," she said in an 'I-know-I-shouldn't-have' sing-song,"but, I just wanted you to have something more filling. It's important to keep your strength up." He didn't say anything in reply, looking guilty.
She stood up with a groan, "It's got maybe forty hours of battery life, so, you know."
She looked up at him, and when their eyes met, he could barely move his arms. Completely defenseless. Her face started to screw up, and he felt a touch of panic. He knew what was coming, her eyes and mouth bunching up (no no no no no no) tighter and tighter until she shattered, throwing her arms around him. She squeezed him tight, her breath unnaturally hot against his skin. Like a sick dog.
"I love you so much..."
There were a few awkward seconds of her clinging to him before he lowered his arms. Slowly. By fractions of inches, until he managed to fold them loosely around the small woman's shoulders. When he was holding her back, she sobbed once, loudly, muffled in his sweatshirt. The Other looked pained and breathless. Like being kicked in the stomach he didn't have. 'Please God don't let there be any more in there...' It was too much. This wasn't his area. He couldn't handle it.
He shut his eyes, and then, went limp in her arms. Genie slowly drew back. Was he alright? She searched his face.
Basil blinked down at her, sleepy-looking, but all-there. They were getting much better at passing the baton. The corners of his mouth lifted.
"...I love you, Genie." He said.
There was a seize in her chest, like pulling a seatbelt too fast and too hard. Clunk. She let him go, wiping her eyes with quick swipes of her forearm. It was such a crime. She never used to be the kind of person for teary goodbyes.
She cleared her throat and clasped her hands in front of her, standing stiff and straight. She was all business now. With her hands together, she steepled her index fingers in a pistol-shape, gesturing with them as she spoke. Her voice was husky, "I meant what I said, you know. You do everything that Jeremy tells you. He's the man in charge."
She listed the rules in staccato, "Be careful, stay fed, and don't break off from the group." She lowered her voice secretively, "And uh, if that red guy gives you any trouble...?"
His face broke out in a smile so disarming she was unable to finish, which may have been by design. It was an 'oh-you' kind of smile. He kissed her once on the cheek and picked up his bags. He grunted with the effort of slinging them over his shoulders, but she knew he had a strong, weight-bearing back. He just had to mind his wings. If he wasn't careful, he'd slice right through the straps.
Their eyes lingered as he moved back a few paces in a 'well-I-shouldn't-keep-them-waiting' sort of way. She understood. They'd dragged this out long enough. She watched him as he went, trying to preserve the moment in her mind. Especially when he bumped into one of the rangers. It was a short collision, a quick exchange of apologies, Basil smiling shyly with his hands spread.
She touched a hand to her chest, then left to sit with the others who were staying behind.
Basil returned to the little heap of supplies The Other had made, sliding one strap off his shoulder as he approached. He realized that he had come back to the pile without even thinking about it. Like it was just the next logical thing to do. A half-remembered thought. But when he actually saw it sitting there, neat as could be, he paused in front of it, his face glowing warm like a coal. Eyes widening. He was paralyzed by the humiliation of what had happened with Lazarus. The memory was blurry, but it was there in fragments. Major sensory fragments, like the smell of the air, and the heat of the sun on his back. He heard the pages in his head, softly whirring. To think what a great start this was.
Ffffffwwip.
He began shoving everything quickly and hastily into every pocket of the backpack, making no effort whatsoever to remember what had gone where. It felt good to take the pile apart. Make it smaller and smaller until it didn't exist anymore. It would have felt better to knock it over, though. One big satisfying sweep of his arm.
The only thing holding him back was the thought that people were watching, and there wasn't enough time to clean up.
When he was all packed up, he approached Jeremy, staring fixedly at the ground. His voice was small and rough, "...I'm uh. I'm ready."
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 7:36 am
Lazarus was concentrated on organizing his tools, trying to remember which pocket he stuffed what in. There was the first aid kit in the larger pouch on the left side of his utility belt, some extra lighters he brought along in there as well. He wasn't used to feeding on lighters, he preferred the fire from the stove as it was in a way, richer and more flavorful. To him, the difference between stove fire and lighter fire is like tuna sushi and canned tuna. But for the expedition, lighter fire will do, he can't bring a stove with him after all.
Picking up a multitool, he slipped it into a small pocket on his right, he has a swiss knife in there as well. The hunting knife and flashlight hung on some straps further to his right, for easy access. And since there's an extra strap for a hammer, he brought one along too just in case they need to break something. The first aid kit and sewing kit he had stuffed into the extra pockets on the backpack with the portable tent. Going once over, he made sure he didn't miss anything.
Ffffffwwip. Ffffffwwip. Ffffffwwip.
Lazarus was trying reaaally hard to ignore Basil. He had overheard Jeremy trying to lump them together to work something out, but for the past few minutes Lazarus just tried to pretend he wasn't there, not giving him any heed, like he was invisible. The Frei was quiet at first, even seemed hesitant. But suddenly it seemed like he changed into another person altogether. He was deft with gathering the tools and supplies, as Lazarus could see from the corners of his eyes, then he started doing that annoying book flip. Ignorance is bliss. He just thought as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Then Basil started talking, which is weird in a sense that he sounded normal. When he mentioned about the arm warmers, he did throw him a puzzling glance, but then he was off running towards his guardian in a jiffy.
He is still weird, and crazy. Lazarus convinced himself as he picked up all the tools and supplies he packed away and swing the backpack over his shoulder. He is stronger than normal human beings, so he don't mind carrying more. Picking a few empty water bottles, he went to the well to have them filled for the trip. Figuring that bringing more wouldn't hurt, and he is more than capable of bearing the weight.
Just as everyone was busying themselves by packing additional tools, Jeremy too went to get his backpack that he had pre-packed before this. He didn't need anything extra from the supplies pile, he had everything ready. With a soft grunt he heaved up the large bright red backpack with accents of grey. So that the rest wouldn't be able to miss it in the forest.
"Oh you've been here before?" Jeremy caught Duncan's comment as he secures the bag's straps to himself. "How long ago was it?" He was glad that at least Duncan was not new to forest hiking or outdoor camping. Having some experienced members on the team was better than having a bunch of newbies. Jeremy still couldn't figure out why Lazarus brought that hammer.
When Lazarus was done filling up the water bottles and stuffing all of them into his backpack, he headed back towards Jeremy and found that Basil just got back too.
Smiling, Jeremy was glad to see that everyone seemed ready now. "Okay, let's head in then before we lose more sunlight." His voice was optimistic as he turned around. "This way, follow me!" He said as he marched forward, leading the group. Looking around, he saw that quite a few teams had already gone now. Good, the further they get in during the day is better, because what lays in the darkness is still unsure to the man. Despite his cheery outlook, deep inside he is praying that no terrible harm will befall the people in the expedition.
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:04 am
Duncan was in the process of folding the map up again and setting up his utility belt like the rest of his team when Jeremy responded to him, which caught him a bit off guard.
"Ah! No, I haven't been to this forest, exactly, but I was a professor over at Barton for quite a time. I was never able join an expedition with him extensively, and he never talked about this place in full detail. I don't-- want to raise expectations," Duncan laughed sheepishly, "But I can at least read a map and compass quite well and keep track of where we are."
He pat the pocket where he put his two compasses confidently, though he felt a tinge shameful for allowing false expectations to take place. As soon as the last of their team members returned, Duncan raised his brows at just how much the two Raevans alone were able to carry. At the mention of losing sunlight, though, Duncan looked around and noticed just how quickly the sun was fading already, and a quiet sort of panic overwhelmed him that motivated him into busting open the map again.
As they started their expedition into the forest, Duncan had already combed through the details of the map for a while; once they reached the threshold of the forest clearing, Duncan glanced and stammered, "Ah, pen, do we have a pen--" Duncan rifled through his jacket and pulled one out, and sighed in relief, "There we are. Considering how we don't have a GPS with us, I suppose I'll keep track of the direction of the trail, though..."
He fumbled with the map singlehandedly for a moment, though it drooped sadly across on arm when he tried. Duncan grabbed ahold of it with both hands again, then glanced over at the two Raevans. "Ah, that will also require one of our compasses. Basil, Lazarus-- could one of you two gentlemen manage that? Just make sure that the red arrow is pointed over the red "N", there, and we can keep track of how far we've gotten when we set up camp. I believe we started here, on one of the marked trails," he circled their starting point sloppily, "But we'll stray from it soon."
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:24 am
As you walk into the jungle, the setting sun sinks below the canopy of trees. Instantly, you hear the incessant noise of the jungle, with things yelping and skittering and hissing all around. It only takes a few steps for the entrance point of the jungle to fade, camouflaged into the rest of the jungle vines and underbrush.
The air is musty and hangs in your lungs. It’s so humid that pricks of moisture are forming on you, like little fingers all over your skin. No matter how deeply you breathe, it feels like there’s too much moisture in the air to get a good solid breath. The scent lingers on the air, immovable, dusty and dead.
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:36 am
The four of them breached the treeline with little ceremony. There was no pep-talk. No huddle. Nobody put their hands in the middle and said a chant on three. Between two sixty-year-old men, a potential orphan, and "the dynamic duo", they weren't exactly a ship you christened with a champagne bottle.
It was get-and-go. The search was officially on.
As they picked their way along the path, Basil felt a touch of excitement that his mild, sleepy expression failed to represent. He looked around him. At the shafts of sunlight. The dappled forest floor. The foreign plant-life. So far the trail was an easy walk, the path worn smooth by human traffic. A lot of scruffy trees and thick low bushes. The kind of path that usually came with a tour-guide pointing out the names of mushrooms. Weeds. Virulent strains of ivy.
They didn't make it very far before the man called Duncan brought all proceeds to a stop. Basil had been so absorbed in keeping pace with everyone else that he nearly kept right on going, making the six extra feet from the group feel like a mile. He hastily closed the semi-circle of people, both hands thrust standoffishly in the pocket of his sweatshirt.
After some fumbling, the man made an impersonal request for one of the Raevans to oversee the compass. Basil didn't leap at the opportunity, but showed clear signs of considering. He was trying to remember what pocket his compass was in, and it bothered him that he was already caught with his pants down. The task was as basic as it could get. Just keep your eye on the needle. But in the context of surviving in the wilderness, even a simple task was arguably important. He wanted to volunteer, but could he be trusted with the responsibility?
He hesitated before waving his hand and making a noise. A grunt. That oh-so-masculine verbal shorthand for, 'I got this'.
He made an awkward reach-around for a small pocket on the side of his backpack and produced his compass. Lucky guess. He stared sidelong at Laz while he did it, as if to say, 'hope its alright'. Not that he expected any objection. Despite the tension between them, neither had the time, energy, or even the necessary "equipment" for a pissing match.
While they were standing around getting situated, the sun was setting at an alarming rate. Basil arguably had the poorest eyesight in the group, and already his teammates were turning into interchangeable gray blurs. The jungle exploded with intricate layers of sound. For Basil, so sensitive to these things, it was intense. His rune glowed, taking a decided interest in events that was separate from his conscious mind. His whole body thrilled at it, and he couldn't tell whether it was the noise or his own anxiousness.
They were assaulted all around by a ripe green smell, with just a touch of standing water. Basil didn't find it entirely unpleasant, but he didn't much like how the air thickened in his pipes, like it was conspiring to waterboard him. His breathing became shorter and shallower to adjust. His skin began sticking to the cotton in his sweatshirt. He held the compass closer to his face, and could see the face was fogging up. Beading with moisture. He swiped his thumb over it, a wet droplet flinging off with it. Hopefully it wouldn't fog from inside the glass, but it wouldn't count for beans if he couldn't even see.
"Light?" He commanded vaguely.
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:04 am
So the expedition officially started as Lazarus followed the two elder human into the forest. He gave the village behind a last glance when they were about twenty feet in, and wondered for a moment when he will see human civilization again. A few villagers were looking in their direction, mostly curious children and a few adults. Lifting his hand, he gave them an awkward wave of goodbye, and was surprised to see them wave back. For some reason, that gave him some hope for the search, surged his adrenaline a little. Turning around to face the group again, he realized he was a few feet behind. But it's okay, he could keep an eye on Basil in front of him. Even though the Frei is not straight in the head, Lazarus is determined to keep that behind them for now and will try his best to keep Basil out of trouble, or causing trouble, for that matter.
For the moment, Jeremy let Duncan handle the map and take the lead. Since it's something the other man could do, he don't see why not let him be useful. When he fumbled with the map, he reached a hand over. "Here let me hold this side for you." He offered as he took the right corner of the map. Besides, Duncan can't hold the map with two hands AND mark on it with his pen at the same time. Teamwork, this is how it is.
"It's a good idea to follow the direction with a map and compass, but why don't we spread out a little too?" Jeremy suggested. "The grid is still pretty wide and we need to cover as much ground as possible. Maybe we could spread out in pairs? Me and you will go a little towards the right." He gestured at Duncan. "Lazarus and Basil could go a little ways to the left. Not too far, maybe just like... ten feet apart. So we could still keep a line of sight of each other. I could hold the compass for you." He offered before he saw Basil fished one out himself too. "Oh Basil, you and your team could also hold one too, just in case our's are broken or something." Jeremy smiled enthusiastically, not wanting Basil to feel useless or pointless for his efforts.
Lazarus was just looking over everyone's shoulder as they discussed about the directions and maps. The fire Sigel is totally inexperienced at this, so he will follow the lead of Duncan and Jeremy, who seem to know what they are doing. However, he wasn't very agreeable to Jeremy's orders to team up with Basil, distancing away from the humans. But he also knew that it was pointless to argue with the man. So he grabbed his flashlight from his belt and shine it onto the compass in Basil's hands. "Maybe if you pull the compass away from your face a little bit, the glass won't fog up from your breath." It sounded a little rude of course, but it was Lazarus's best efforts to be as polite to the Frei as possible.
And so with that, the team separated into two. As they moved further into the forest, the humidity in the air was getting more and more apparent. The noise and scene was no surprise for him as he watch a lot of discovery channel. But to finally be able to know how it smelled like, was in a way refreshing and interesting to him. So this is how nature smells like. It was a little overwhelming with green and dirt, but Lazarus felt like it was a smell that he could get used to eventually.
For Jeremy though, he was used to weathers and conditions like these, since he had traveled the world before and had been to more than a few tropical jungles, which were way worst than this. As Duncan was reading the map and in a way leading them, Jeremy took the opportunity to take in the details around them. Every broken branch, leaves trampled over, plant species, scratches on tree trunks, anything that would lead to any clue to finding Kyou. Though it seemed like there is nothing at the moment.
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:29 am
"Thank you," Duncan smiled politely at Jeremy when he offered to hold up a corner of the map. He was nonetheless quite displeased when Jeremy issued the two Raevans to separate from the two, and showed it initially with a gentle frown, which quickly grew to confusion when Lazarus split but a few feet away from them. He was grateful for that, at least, and focused a moment of his attention on the map instead, keeping mind of when the trail ended for their own knowledge. He circled where they were and trailed the pen across to the very end of their grid.
"From the looks of it, we'll be able to keep of this trail for another five miles, which should take us perhaps two hours to reach," Duncan chuckled, either out of fright or nervousness "If it weren't for me, perhaps one and a half hours, but I can't quite blaze the trail like you three."
He looked up at the Raevans-- he was less concerned with finding Kyou at the beginning of the expedition than keeping the two in sight and out of harm's way. "Just be sure to keep that compass arrow pointed North, Basil!" Duncan called out, while digging out a compass of his own. While the two looked rather grown, he was now fully aware of how vastly different Raevan growth was to human growth, and he had no way of really knowing how old the two were, and if that would hinder their capabilities. The fact that one was without a Guardian also worried him greatly.
"Jeremy," Duncan turned to the traveler, "Will Lazarus be alright with Basil when separated? They aren't too far away, but they are traveling out of range from the trail. Not to undermine the understanding you have of your own Raevan," Duncan added, completely unaware that Lazarus was indeed not Jeremy's Raevan, "But I don't quite have an intuition for Raevan capabilities yet."
