Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Kiin pauses and blinks back up, eating the ice cream slowly but constantly.

 

Aquira finishes her dinner, sliding her plate to the side and starting on her ice cream.

"I'll do the dishes tonight." Sidus says, smiling at Aquira.

"Thanks, darling." Aquira says happily.

 

"No not exactly. The rumors I've heard that this prophet is really strong and may harm the forest and my kin."
"Which brings me to this. I never got your name. What is it?"

 

"I'm Anne! Granddaughter of Ella, who helped the prophet defend the forest from Vyraxian scum!" Anne says happily.

Vyraxis fell a long time ago. If the prophet stopped them back in the day, then she can't mean harm to the same place she fought for... can it?

Kiin thanks Aquira after finishing, before proceeding to once again start eating her chair.

 

Katie holds back her laughter as she watches Kiin, and Sidus takes away the empty bowls.

Meanwhile...

Artemis and I head into the Anubis' desert, chatting to each other.

"So I'm guessing their leader has it, so if we can find them we can sort this out." I say.

"It's annoying how the others have acted. Though you didn't help too much." Artemis says, glaring at me.

"I'm sorry. It's just stressful hearing them join the hive master." I say.

Artemis looks down at the sand, looking for large groups of life signs.

 

I fly around, looking for possible entrances to the stronghold that wouldn't be where I've entered before.

Content, Crystal waits.

 

"Ella...." I say that name with an expression that stares off into space.
"I haven't heard that name since 480 years ago. Anyway my name is Naoto chief of the kitsune's and sworn protector of my kin. And if what your saying is true, then this prophet must be good person. But people can change...."

 

There's no particularly large cluster of life signs, generally groups of two to four Anubi.

The only other entrance is more like a pit that opens up off the cliff the stronghold is built on...

The spider, a bit flustered, comes to the table in a few minutes.
"Terribly sorry, something went wrong with my gardening equipment and I had to dig out my spade! What can I get you?"
"Crackers and serpent's blood."
"Of course, right away." The spider says, skittering off around a corner.

"Ah, you must be the person Ella talked about!"
Anne rolls over, her tail splitting into two.
"Look, I'm part kitsune too!" She says, blissfully distracted.

 

I enter through that side, seeing where it takes me.

Crystal relaxes, and can't help but slightly grin.

 

"There don't appear to be large clusters of life signs that would indicate some kind of leader." Artemis says.

"We could try asking Ali again." I suggest.

"That'd help." Artemis agrees, looking around for the cafe by sensing for Ali.

 

It takes you straight into a heavily guarded gauntlet, the floor near impossible to navigate.

"...What?"

Ali's about a minute's walk, though her cafe doesn't seem to be open yet for another half hour.

"Huh? Oh, hey Aj! You're a bit early, if you came for food."

 

"No, just info." I clarify.

"Do you know who holds your artefact?" Artemis asks.

 

I notice what it's mainly guarded by.

"'Dig out my spade.'"

 

"Artefact?" Ali asks, confused. "What do you mean?"

Traps and golems, mostly.

"Garden tool broke." Linoa shrugs.

 

"I was informed your people held a powerful artefact, and we were hoping to...gain it." Artemis says.

 

Having gotten more information, I start flying back to Aral'hrah territory.

"Never mind."

 

"Ah, the radiant scale? Yeah, the mayor has it... or, had it, before he hid it away in some pocket dimension once you spoke of using weapons of mass destruction on us." Ali explains. "Town hall is about... thirty five paces north and twenty west from my door. I'm pretty much next to it."

________________________________

Nothing stops you.

"I get why it's funny."

 

"Just so you know, I meant on the hive master, not you." I say.

Artemis leads me out, "Thanks for the help!" She says, smiling as she leaves with me.

"You did this." Artemis says, annoyed, heading north and counting her paces.

"It's not my fault they misunderstood what I meant." I say, crossing my arms.

 

I see if I can look around for the group from above.

"Spades are used for digging. They dug up a spade."

 

Ali nods, remaining silent.

Thirty... five. There's an entry on both sides of Artemis, both about twenty paces.

The group is way on the other side of the highlands still.

"I know. But theirs broke and they had to dig up... you know."