Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Yeah... but there was another island I went on that wasn't like mine."

I look below me to check if anything has gathered, while still keeping an eye on the hounds in the pit.

 

"Ugh, stupid machine." The scientist complains, albeit relieved, checking the files the system has on Amber.

 

The only thing it has on Amber is a brief fact sheet and a body scan.

"Amber
Draconian, Female
Age Unknown
7'3"
Medical Record Withheld"
The body scan shows a cylindrical hole going straight from her right shoulder to her left knee.

"Oh?"

Nothing else has gathered aside from a harpy watching from above.

 

"Yeah. It had this big lake in the middle and my island didn't have that."

I look towards the harpy, then look back towards the pit to see how the hounds fare.

 

"So, no lake. That's a good detail."

The harpy shies away a bit when you look at it, and the hounds are starting to try and dig out the walls.

 

"Yeah. And there was a lot more rocks than there was grass."

I take a quick look around to see if any trees look stable enough to be used as a bridge.

 

The scientist checks the note in the drawer, making sure it's still there before closing the files and continuing with her work.


The next day, I return to the labs, approaching the scientist taking over for the one I spoke to.

"Good morning, your highness. Michelle wanted me to tell you that the note you had her decipher was written by a draconian by the name of Amber." The scientist says, taking out the note and handing it back to me.

"Oh, really?" I ask, doubtful, "Well, alright. Thank you."

"Have a good day, your highness." The scientist says, getting back to their work.

"You too." I half mumble automatically, heading back to the elevator to regroup with the others.

 

"That also helps."

There aren't trees tall enough to get the hounds out of the pit.

________________________________

Upon regrouping, Alice isn't there.
...probably a good thing in some ways.

 

"There were barely any animals there, too. And no trees, and about one cave."

I jump off the tree, going to the edge of the pit and looking in.

 

"Also helps."

The hellhounds are scratching at the walls or trying to get out of all the webs, the occasional fight resulting in less hellhounds.

 

Crystal thinks a bit more.
"I think that's it."

I look into the pit, seeing it if has anything other than hounds or leads anywhere.

 

"Well, I'm going to go fly around and take a look. Do you want to come or explore with Muffy?"

Doesn't seem like it, aside from a broken tea set.

 

"I'll go with you."
Crystal smiles.

I leave the pit, walking in the forest and looking around to see if there's anything interesting from in the forest.

 

Linoa offers Crystal up on her staff.

Nothing much. More of the same, but things still try to keep their distance from you.

 

Crystal, smiling, takes the offer.

I fly out of the southern forest, walking around the northern by foot.

 

Linoa gets on after, taking off over the ocean as she looks for an island that resembles Crystal's description.
"You're not afraid of heights or that big storm, are you?"

The northern forest is many times larger, and the wildlife is less scared of you - to the point where a few creatures give you challenging glares.

 

"I guess she was serious..." I mutter under my breath quietly.

"Who was?" Artemis asks, walking over to me.

"Alice said she had to leave, but hoped to cross paths with us again." I say.

"Great, she's planning to kill us." Shadow Stephanie says, sighing.

"What?" Stephanie asks, confused.

"Oh please, isn't it obvious? First we discover the relic we want is guarded by her headless sister, except Aj was too stupid to realise that at the time and basically said he planned to kill her. Next thing we know Alice mysteriously leaves but "hopes to cross paths with us again". She's going to get an army or something, warn her sister, and be waiting for us so she can 'cross paths' with us again and blackmail us into her will so we can't harm her sister or get the relic." Shadow Stephanie explains, frustrated.

"Stephanie is kind of right. She's been collecting secrets and information about you and her, she has the upper hand in this situation." Artemis says.

"I knew I shouldn't have pardoned her all of those crimes." I say, annoyed.

"You really shouldn't have, Aj. If people find out your secrets and go rogue, you're in massive danger." Artemis says, shaking her head.

"But no, Aj had to be all like 'But she's a good detective, she spoke to Tenebrae, blah de blah de blah, we can't kill her because she's useful to us.' She's not even part of the damn detective agency, Aj!" Shadow Stephanie shouts at me.

"Well, I'm sorry, alright? How was I supposed to know she was going to go rogue and screw us over!?" I ask.

"I honestly thought better of you, Aj. If I were you, I would've killed her when she discovered the first secret, not the last." Artemis says, disappointed.

"You really did kind of screw us over here." Stephanie admits.

"Well...maybe this is what she wanted! Us to argue and get split up so we're easier to kill!" I retaliate.

Artemis pauses, sighing, "In fairness, we must stick together. We're responsible for each other as a whole, not individuals. Splitting apart and trying to fight the same battles that way will only lead to failure." Artemis says.

Everyone goes silent for a bit.

 

"No. Storms are fine, and I've dropped from heights before. Neither hurt."

I stray a bit from the challenging creatures, frequently watching my back.

 

Someone breaks the silence.
"What are you talking about?" Someone asks. "Didn't you read my note?"

"Wanna check the storm first?"

As you stray, you find more challengers.
The forest has a tense feeling, like everything is having a cold war with everything else.

 

"Sure, why not?"

I don't seem to mind the looks, taking my time trekking through the forest, and looking around, yet still staying very alert.