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And there he was. Guy faltered as his senses recognized those from the mall. The vines that made up his form twisted into tight knots that vaguely formed something that may have been a human if squinted at and stared at for a good minute or so. There was no indication of plush muscles, no fancy leaves or thorns. All that remained were a twisted collection of emotions: distrust, guilt, rage, confusion, loneliness, satisfaction, disgust, insecurity.

He hung back. Observedseethedwatchedwaitedhopeddistrustareyouhappynowdidyougetwhatyouwanted?

It seemed like she was wandering forever, watching and observing the others that were apart of this winding system that they now called home. Leiah wouldve chuckled at the form her vines took if she only had a mouth. Perhaps they could communicate through their minds? Like the....She couldnt really remember what that lost memory was and it pained her just a tiny bit before she moved on. She would be complete soon, they all would. Still Leiah had finally found what she was looking for: Kin! some of her mall rats that she was looking for!

Her form was something that resembled what one would call a forest nymph, with flowers blooming on some parts of her "body". She looked around with her light green eyes, finally spotting two forms that made her chest ache. Jeff! Her thought was to immediately go over to him, but the second form she saw was one that she went to first. When she had heard of Lease's death, she cried because she wasnt there to help her or potentially save her from the undeserving fate that she had. It was like that one time in the casino where she had to choose which person she would save, wondering why she couldnt save both.

"Lease....."

Her voice sounded so...Odd. Her form instantly walked up to hers, wanting to hug the grumpy teenager before her. However, her form stiffened as she caught the sight of Guy in the corner of her eye. She growled before deciding she would deal with him later. She didnt understand why he got the chance to become apart of something greater when he was still nothing but a piece of s**t to her. But for now, Lease and Jeff. She would deal with him later.

July felt lost, what was once him had been replaced by a series of vines, protruding thorns, and various flower blooms that had begun to creep up where they pleased. They still held his form as mostly human, he'd been reluctant to shed what remained of him. His figure stopped moving, somewhere in all the green and vines there was a gathering starting. While he did not know everyone from the Mall, he had tried to get out more closer to the end. All the lives they were surrounded by had mattered to him. They were all in this together...and yet it hadn't been enough.

A mess of emotions crashed into him all at once. Loneliness, confusion, rage and ultimately despair. The network he was connected to however kept him calm and complacent; there was no sense in being angry and thrashing about. He couldn't change his fate this time. This was not the route he had envisioned for himself. And where was Jay? He hadn't seen him since the dreams began; no matter how much he tried he hadn't been able to wake. Only in dreams had he had glimpses of him.

There was two plant He had not seen him since the casino, and while they hadn't really interacted very much..it had to be Jeff. Tentatively he moved forward, hearing other voices speaking to the figure. "...let's face it..us Mall Rats? We all needed one another. We we're in this together and we still are." He spoke softly; the thorny figure looked down at the green floor below. "It's good to see you, all of you..." If only it was under happier circumstances. He could make out Re--...Green 7 among the plant matter too. He greeted both her and Jeff in turn waving to them and sending a greeting. Thank you for looking out for us...It meant so much.

One of those voices that spoke had a familiar note to it, unlike all the rest. He'd dreamed about it, and who it was attached too! He was certain of it. Taking a chance, he stepped beside the one who rubbed his neck, one of the vines gently reached out, in the shape of what was presumably meant to be a human hand if you squinted at it long and hard enough. "Jay...? Is that you?" He asked softly as he stepped beside the figure not reaching for him just yet until he was certain.

As Ellie wandered the verdant tower of knowledge, her vine form became progressively more stable as she gathered herself back together. She looked almost exactly like herself in shape, but there were of course clear differences. Her eyes were a light, almost blue, green her skin, naturally, was green as well; If you could call it skin. Her hair was made of vines and braided just as it had been outside of the tower; however, various flowers, mostly orange, or red in color, bloomed from the braids and the rest of her hair. Her 'clothing' mostly was a simple variant of her usual skirt, shirt, and vest woven out of vines. One notable thing was, she wasn't wearing shoes.

Ellie wasn't exactly sad about her situation... She had long ago accepted that 'death' might come for her... She had to admit though... She never thought it would be like this... Still... At least what knowledge she had was going to something greater and not just fading away... But... She'd still rather be singular again... As she watched her body fight the monster in the Mall base, she couldn't help but smile... That rod Camilla got her really was useful...

Ellie continued to wander as she mused on things. Such as, what being part of the whole might be like and what exactly would their legacy mean for the future...? Would she actually have enough self consciousness to even know when she was taken by creation again... Or was she going to be just part of creation as a whole... Nothing more then a passing memory in the greater being creation made... It was... A lonely thought... To know you were with so many others and yet... Not with them at all... Not you, yourself...

Finally, as Ellie wandered, she comes across a small gathering of people centered around a slightly familiar person... Mall Rats! Her 'Kin'... She'd never really gotten to know them honestly... She'd been too shy, too busy surviving... She only recognized Jeff because she went into the Bar once after a particularly harrowing Infected chase... Maybe there was still time... Time to get to know them...

"H-hello..." she broadcasts mentally to the small group in a shy tone as she approaches them tentatively... Would they accept her? Would they help fill in a few of the missing pieces...? She was a Mall Rat too... Did she have place among them...? These questions floated around her mind as she searched the former barkeeps eyes for answers...

He rolled in like a tumbled weed, unrecognizable in the ball like shape his vines twisted him into just for that purpose. Giuseppe now, not G-Man, not the swag-master, not the dawg, because those things didn't matter anymore. He was simply called by the name that was given to him, but even that barely seemed important, and he only clung to it because it felt like it should matter, because it linked him to two people who he'd never wish to forget.

The ball of vines stopped, and changed, vines reaching up, branching out, taking a shape that was quite similar to Giuseppe's true, human form, but perhaps just that little bit bigger, with just slightly broader shoulders and a larger chest and thicker arms to match a large personality. He stood up straighter, taller, and stood proud. The vines that formed his mouth smiled, exposing teeth made of thorns. Around his neck, there were flowers, a vibrant orange in hue, something attention drawing, of course.

"Hey." He spoke, without actually speaking, and his voice was loud, demanding to be heard. He may have dropped all strange additions to his dialect, as they seemed completely unnecessary, now, but his thirst for attention remained. "I know you----Jeff!" His gaze had settled on one who was rather familiar, and he made his way towards him, reaching out with the thickly twisted vines and tendrils that made up his arms, stretching them longer, until he could pull the once human, living man towards him into a rough embrace.

"You made it!"

July's consciousness shifted and stirred listening to the various exchanges until one was directed at him finally. There was a strange rustling of what plant matter was his figure. The vines curled and knotted on themselves as if his brows were furrowing together in consideration. How far would he go? Staring at Jeff, he considered his words.

Wasn't he supposed to be absorbed into all of this? Didn't that mean he didn't have far to go. Creation had been calling for them, gradually breaking down what it meant to be human.

Yet what were all these thoughts? July gazed at Jeff, a strange understanding stirring in him. We have come far, and faced many and trials and tribulations.. July agreed reluctantly, speaking the truth. The two mismatched flowers that now served as his eye moved to the different beings gathered around, seeking some kind of companionship in their darkest hour.

What could be called a smile was present on the vine-encased figure. That was at least what he got from this. It felt right. Emotions of all kinds emanated from them through the network. I'm not sure..I suppose I will do what I have too in order to move forward. Isn't that what got us all this far? He wondered aloud. At least that's what he'd always done, even when he was scared.

Is now any different? Besides the physical nature of course. That went without saying. Before they were all lost, he wanted to send what love he had left to give to those who had looked out for him. For Jay. They didn't have to help, no one did. The message he broadcasted was clear. July welcomed everyone, even if he didn't know them as well as he should. They all had suffered this hardship together over the last month, now was the final chapter.