Julius half-listened to Spinner’s story, his eyes flickering between the trees. Nothing disturbed or out of place, as far as he could tell. Whatever had killed Elian had been fast, moved without disrupting the jungle around it, and he had a horrible feeling that they might be dealing with something that was purposeful in the same strange way the boar earlier had been. Precise, and driven to kill. The wildlife here was altered somehow, unusually intelligent, and it was more than unfortunate that the dragon who might have been able to theorise on that was lying dead in the dirt in front of them.
When Spinner fell quiet, distraught, Julius turned to Aspen. “Can you find a trail? He’s not been dead a long time. There still might be something we could use, if only so we can tell what sort of creature this is in case we encounter it again.” He moved his crest thoughtfully. “We should take him back with us.”
“I’ll carry him,” Lathair said. The ridgeback’s face was grim and lined in the semi-darkness, with not a trace of his earlier good humour. “He deserves to not be left out here. He was one of us. When you’re ready,” he added, looking to Aspen.
Julius had spotted something on the ground nearby—something that caught the remaining light with a glint. Elian’s pearl. Julius flew over to it and saw he had also dropped his bag. With a little difficulty he put the pearl and the miscellaneous samples and notes that had fallen out back inside the bag, and carried it with his own.
Julius half-listened to Spinner’s story, his eyes flickering between the trees. Nothing disturbed or out of place, as far as he could tell. Whatever had killed Elian had been fast, moved without disrupting the jungle around it, and he had a horrible feeling that they might be dealing with something that was purposeful in the same strange way the boar earlier had been. Precise, and driven to kill. The wildlife here was altered somehow, unusually intelligent, and it was more than unfortunate that the dragon who might have been able to theorise on that was lying dead in the dirt in front of them.
When Spinner fell quiet, distraught, Julius turned to Aspen. “Can you find a trail? He’s not been dead a long time. There still might be something we could use, if only so we can tell what sort of creature this is in case we encounter it again.” He moved his crest thoughtfully. “We should take him back with us.”
“I’ll carry him,” Lathair said. The ridgeback’s face was grim and lined in the semi-darkness, with not a trace of his earlier good humour. “He deserves to not be left out here. He was one of us. When you’re ready,” he added, looking to Aspen.
Julius had spotted something on the ground nearby—something that caught the remaining light with a glint. Elian’s pearl. Julius flew over to it and saw he had also dropped his bag. With a little difficulty he put the pearl and the miscellaneous samples and notes that had fallen out back inside the bag, and carried it with his own.
Aspen tried to find a scent again, this time, moving more slowly around Elian's body. "I'm sorry, but no. There's no scent markers. If Elian had gotten to defend himself, I would have something to work off. But whatever did this didn't leave behind any fur or blood," she told Julius sadly, shaking her head.
Looking up at Lathair, she nodded. "I'm ready, let's go back. Come, Spinner," Aspen said, turning and going back from where they came. She noticed Julius taking Elian's things and subtly nodded with approval. They would try and give him as much respect as possible. It was a huge blow, however, to have someone of her team die. As much as she hated herself for this, she couldn't help but be angry with Elian. He should have stayed with the group, how could he just run? She kept those thoughts to herself, however, and quietly stewed as they made their way back.
*
Spinner noticed immediately that Julius had Elian's bag. Well, they shouldn't be able to discern too much from that... He turned and followed the group, head hung low as he thought about what they all would do. Julius would most likely spend all his time examining the contents of Elian's bag, Aspen would guard or sleep, and Lathair would have to tell the home team what happened.This should be enough to get them sent home, perhaps even discredited or punished for a team member's death. Whatever Julius found he most likely would never see again.
It all depended on Kiani now. She had to get them sent home.
Aspen tried to find a scent again, this time, moving more slowly around Elian's body. "I'm sorry, but no. There's no scent markers. If Elian had gotten to defend himself, I would have something to work off. But whatever did this didn't leave behind any fur or blood," she told Julius sadly, shaking her head.
Looking up at Lathair, she nodded. "I'm ready, let's go back. Come, Spinner," Aspen said, turning and going back from where they came. She noticed Julius taking Elian's things and subtly nodded with approval. They would try and give him as much respect as possible. It was a huge blow, however, to have someone of her team die. As much as she hated herself for this, she couldn't help but be angry with Elian. He should have stayed with the group, how could he just run? She kept those thoughts to herself, however, and quietly stewed as they made their way back.
*
Spinner noticed immediately that Julius had Elian's bag. Well, they shouldn't be able to discern too much from that... He turned and followed the group, head hung low as he thought about what they all would do. Julius would most likely spend all his time examining the contents of Elian's bag, Aspen would guard or sleep, and Lathair would have to tell the home team what happened.This should be enough to get them sent home, perhaps even discredited or punished for a team member's death. Whatever Julius found he most likely would never see again.
It all depended on Kiani now. She had to get them sent home.
Nothing at all. That was puzzling. Surely an attacker would have left some trail—animals didn’t worry about being caught. But despite the brief time he’d known her, Julius was confident in Aspen’s abilities. She would tell them if there was anything.
Maybe it meant something significant. A machine or construct, an enemy that would leave no scent? Magic, disguised to look like a physical attack? There were a multitude of possibilities, each stranger than the last. Julius watched with unease as Lathair carefully lifted the limp body. Elian had been dead a while, and it would be a while longer yet until they reached the camp, where the Academy would no doubt call them back, but before that Julius wanted to give the body a better examination. There was something wrong here. That certainty in the absence of any other gnawed at him as they set off through the now-dark jungle; a funeral procession.
They walked undisturbed, and disturbed nothing. Nobody spoke. Julius felt himself in a trance, watching the others as they marched ahead, and when they found themselves suddenly in a familiar clearing with the hulking dark shadow of the tents and the communications array, he blinked himself fully awake again.
“Bring the body to my tent,” Julius said to Lathair. “I need to examine him.” The older dragon stiffened, his face stern, and when he spoke at last a promise of anger lingered at the edges of his voice.
“Hasn’t he suffered enough indignity?”
“I don’t think it’s an animal. I think it was foul play of some other sort. If there’s anything unusual on the body, any magical residue, we need to know.” Julius paused, wondering if the next words might not be a good idea. He tried to twist his face into an approximation of sympathy, wishing he'd practiced. “He was a scientist. A researcher. If there is anything to find, it’ll be more of an indignity for us to ignore it.”
They stared at each other for one long, tense moment, and Julius thought Lathair might refuse, or maybe just swat Julius out of the air—and he couldn’t say he wouldn’t deserve that, at least a little—but the ridgeback acquiesced and they brought the body to the medical tent.
“Well,” Julius said to Elian, quietly, when they were alone under the illuminating glow of the lamps. “I wonder if you can help us.”
Nothing at all. That was puzzling. Surely an attacker would have left some trail—animals didn’t worry about being caught. But despite the brief time he’d known her, Julius was confident in Aspen’s abilities. She would tell them if there was anything.
Maybe it meant something significant. A machine or construct, an enemy that would leave no scent? Magic, disguised to look like a physical attack? There were a multitude of possibilities, each stranger than the last. Julius watched with unease as Lathair carefully lifted the limp body. Elian had been dead a while, and it would be a while longer yet until they reached the camp, where the Academy would no doubt call them back, but before that Julius wanted to give the body a better examination. There was something wrong here. That certainty in the absence of any other gnawed at him as they set off through the now-dark jungle; a funeral procession.
They walked undisturbed, and disturbed nothing. Nobody spoke. Julius felt himself in a trance, watching the others as they marched ahead, and when they found themselves suddenly in a familiar clearing with the hulking dark shadow of the tents and the communications array, he blinked himself fully awake again.
“Bring the body to my tent,” Julius said to Lathair. “I need to examine him.” The older dragon stiffened, his face stern, and when he spoke at last a promise of anger lingered at the edges of his voice.
“Hasn’t he suffered enough indignity?”
“I don’t think it’s an animal. I think it was foul play of some other sort. If there’s anything unusual on the body, any magical residue, we need to know.” Julius paused, wondering if the next words might not be a good idea. He tried to twist his face into an approximation of sympathy, wishing he'd practiced. “He was a scientist. A researcher. If there is anything to find, it’ll be more of an indignity for us to ignore it.”
They stared at each other for one long, tense moment, and Julius thought Lathair might refuse, or maybe just swat Julius out of the air—and he couldn’t say he wouldn’t deserve that, at least a little—but the ridgeback acquiesced and they brought the body to the medical tent.
“Well,” Julius said to Elian, quietly, when they were alone under the illuminating glow of the lamps. “I wonder if you can help us.”
Aspen watched as Julius went inside the tent to investigate the wounds. Her chest felt tight. For some reason, she had thought returning to camp would bring her some sort of relief. Instead, that heavy feeling grew worse inside her. Sighing, she turned to Lathair. "Are you going to contact the University now?" Aspen asked, wondering how much time they had left on this damned island.
She assumed they would be forced to leave the island in the morning... but for some reason she didn't want to leave. Sure, this place had been awful thus far, but it obviously held so much more information. They had only brushed the surface, and she wanted a rematch with this place.
*
Spinner watched as Elian was taken to be examined. Well, it wasn't the end of the world. He would probably conclude it was an animal, some sort of savage beast. The thought made him want to laugh at the irony, but he kept a stony face. Turning, he walked silently into his own tent. Everyone would understand his sulky and quiet nature after what he had "found".
After he was alone, he laid back and relaxed in the dark tent. Someone would let him know if they were called back, which was the most likely answer. For now, he could finally relax and hope for the best.
Aspen watched as Julius went inside the tent to investigate the wounds. Her chest felt tight. For some reason, she had thought returning to camp would bring her some sort of relief. Instead, that heavy feeling grew worse inside her. Sighing, she turned to Lathair. "Are you going to contact the University now?" Aspen asked, wondering how much time they had left on this damned island.
She assumed they would be forced to leave the island in the morning... but for some reason she didn't want to leave. Sure, this place had been awful thus far, but it obviously held so much more information. They had only brushed the surface, and she wanted a rematch with this place.
*
Spinner watched as Elian was taken to be examined. Well, it wasn't the end of the world. He would probably conclude it was an animal, some sort of savage beast. The thought made him want to laugh at the irony, but he kept a stony face. Turning, he walked silently into his own tent. Everyone would understand his sulky and quiet nature after what he had "found".
After he was alone, he laid back and relaxed in the dark tent. Someone would let him know if they were called back, which was the most likely answer. For now, he could finally relax and hope for the best.
Lettie was half-asleep when the console lit up with an incoming communication. After a few seconds of confused annoyance at the interruption, she snapped her book shut and alerted Kanjuro before rushing over. The students had long since retired to their rooms, and it was just the two of them in the control room.
Lathair’s voice rumbled through, popping and cracking as the signal waned. He sounded exhausted. Numb.
“We found them,” he said. “Spinner was unharmed, but Elian’s dead. Something out there killed him. Something—” he faltered, but regained control of his voice after a breath. “It was vicious, and it left no trail that we could find. He was dead by the time anyone got to him. The doctor’s taking a look at him—at the body now.”
Lettie couldn’t speak. Elian dead. A student. There was no question about it, they would have to pull the team back and reevaluate, get the Magisters involved, but she found her voice wasn’t working. The room spun around her. As the silence widened she heard a distant voice say her name, and realised Lathair was waiting on her response. She looked desperately over at Kanjuro, frozen.
*
Elian had nothing to tell them.
Julius had expected it, but it was still disappointing. Worse than that, it puzzled him to infuriation. There was absolutely no sign of magic, and the wounds Elian had sustained were in line with a brief, frenzied physical attack from something with claws. He just couldn’t bring himself to believe that an animal had done this and then fled with no attempt to take the body, leaving absolutely no trace.
Either way, he’d been working for hours and needed to take a break. Julius made his unsteady way to his desk, where he sipped water and stared at the shivering walls of the tent without really seeing anything. After a few minutes he blinked back into focus, and saw something he’d forgotten about—Elian’s bag, lying among the mess of his own supplies. He wandered over and picked through it.
The pearl he set to one side, uneasy about touching it at all. Elian’s notes and journals were undisturbed, as were his samples—Julius took those out and set them on the desk, briefly examining the contents of each one. Dirt. Leaves. Something that looked like animal droppings. None of it any use to them, not if they were going to be called back and disbanded. Maybe someone at the Academy would be able to do something with it.
Then his claws closed over something strange. He lifted it out of the bag and looked at it—it was a chunk of dusty stone or brick inlaid with a carving, and as he held it up to the light and frowned at it he felt his blood run cold. There was a sigil or symbol, familiar in a troubling sort of way, and then it clicked in Julius’ mind where he’d seen it before and he almost dropped it.
The Academy. What was something bearing an old seal of the Academy doing in this place?
Clutching it to him like an egg, Julius scrambled out of the medical tent and went to find Aspen.
Lettie was half-asleep when the console lit up with an incoming communication. After a few seconds of confused annoyance at the interruption, she snapped her book shut and alerted Kanjuro before rushing over. The students had long since retired to their rooms, and it was just the two of them in the control room.
Lathair’s voice rumbled through, popping and cracking as the signal waned. He sounded exhausted. Numb.
“We found them,” he said. “Spinner was unharmed, but Elian’s dead. Something out there killed him. Something—” he faltered, but regained control of his voice after a breath. “It was vicious, and it left no trail that we could find. He was dead by the time anyone got to him. The doctor’s taking a look at him—at the body now.”
Lettie couldn’t speak. Elian dead. A student. There was no question about it, they would have to pull the team back and reevaluate, get the Magisters involved, but she found her voice wasn’t working. The room spun around her. As the silence widened she heard a distant voice say her name, and realised Lathair was waiting on her response. She looked desperately over at Kanjuro, frozen.
*
Elian had nothing to tell them.
Julius had expected it, but it was still disappointing. Worse than that, it puzzled him to infuriation. There was absolutely no sign of magic, and the wounds Elian had sustained were in line with a brief, frenzied physical attack from something with claws. He just couldn’t bring himself to believe that an animal had done this and then fled with no attempt to take the body, leaving absolutely no trace.
Either way, he’d been working for hours and needed to take a break. Julius made his unsteady way to his desk, where he sipped water and stared at the shivering walls of the tent without really seeing anything. After a few minutes he blinked back into focus, and saw something he’d forgotten about—Elian’s bag, lying among the mess of his own supplies. He wandered over and picked through it.
The pearl he set to one side, uneasy about touching it at all. Elian’s notes and journals were undisturbed, as were his samples—Julius took those out and set them on the desk, briefly examining the contents of each one. Dirt. Leaves. Something that looked like animal droppings. None of it any use to them, not if they were going to be called back and disbanded. Maybe someone at the Academy would be able to do something with it.
Then his claws closed over something strange. He lifted it out of the bag and looked at it—it was a chunk of dusty stone or brick inlaid with a carving, and as he held it up to the light and frowned at it he felt his blood run cold. There was a sigil or symbol, familiar in a troubling sort of way, and then it clicked in Julius’ mind where he’d seen it before and he almost dropped it.
The Academy. What was something bearing an old seal of the Academy doing in this place?
Clutching it to him like an egg, Julius scrambled out of the medical tent and went to find Aspen.
Kanjuro groggily awakened when the intercom turned on. Strange, them communicating so late. Perhaps they found the two, so he expected good news. After hearing what had really happened, his whole body stiffened. Looking at Lettie's grief stricken face, he understood exactly how she was feeling. "Okay... Lathair. This is Kanjuro. There's nothing for us to do now... we will talk to the Magister in the morning, but you will all most likely get sent home. In the meantime, stay together. Do not go out again and... please let us know if Julius finds anything. And... I'm sorry. Please stay safe," He told Lathair with a shaky voice.
Elian. Was dead.
*
Aspen was sitting in front of her tent, staring out at the jungle that encircled them. This place...something was odd about it. Her eyes wearily scanned the edges, wondering if something would attack tonight. She was too exhausted, today had been taxing in so many ways. The jungle was alight with the noises of bugs and small animals. Unfortunately, the birds had stopped singing once the sun was gone.
She heard Julius coming before she saw him, and the mirror turned to face him. The look on his face was strange, she didn't think she had ever seen him do that before. "Something wrong?" Aspen asked, looking over at his claw. It appeared he was holding something, but what would that have to do with Elian's body?
Kanjuro groggily awakened when the intercom turned on. Strange, them communicating so late. Perhaps they found the two, so he expected good news. After hearing what had really happened, his whole body stiffened. Looking at Lettie's grief stricken face, he understood exactly how she was feeling. "Okay... Lathair. This is Kanjuro. There's nothing for us to do now... we will talk to the Magister in the morning, but you will all most likely get sent home. In the meantime, stay together. Do not go out again and... please let us know if Julius finds anything. And... I'm sorry. Please stay safe," He told Lathair with a shaky voice.
Elian. Was dead.
*
Aspen was sitting in front of her tent, staring out at the jungle that encircled them. This place...something was odd about it. Her eyes wearily scanned the edges, wondering if something would attack tonight. She was too exhausted, today had been taxing in so many ways. The jungle was alight with the noises of bugs and small animals. Unfortunately, the birds had stopped singing once the sun was gone.
She heard Julius coming before she saw him, and the mirror turned to face him. The look on his face was strange, she didn't think she had ever seen him do that before. "Something wrong?" Aspen asked, looking over at his claw. It appeared he was holding something, but what would that have to do with Elian's body?
Julius didn’t bother trying to explain, he just held out the chunk of brickwork until Aspen took it. He conjured a small, sickly-glowing light with the dregs of power left inside him so she could see better. “Look at this. What do you make of it?”
He could feel his heart hammering staccato against his ribs, and resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, as if he would find magisters hovering there ready to—ready to what? What even were the implications of this?
He examined the slightest movements of Aspen’s expression, looking for answers there, wishing he could read others better. He didn’t know why it was her he’d sought out, but he hadn’t even considered the others. Maybe due to what she’d mentioned earlier about ruins. Maybe because Lathair was loyal to the Academy through and through, and Spinner was a layabout, and now she was the only one of them he felt he could trust. He hoped he wasn’t wrong in that as well.
*
It was shame that coursed through Lettie—that she hadn’t even been able to offer reassurance or condolences to the team, and instead Kanjuro had to speak for her, but mostly that once again she hadn’t prepared her students adequately, and the worst had happened.
She mumbled something indistinct and went back to the desk, sat there with her talons folded and her gaze fixed on the wall straight ahead of her. Her mind was strangely blank, like a storm had swept through it. She could feel Kanjuro’s presence in the room, and she had seen his face and heard the tremor in his voice—he was as distraught as her—but she didn’t think she could deal with a conversation right now.
“We should rest.” She forced the words out. They sounded mechanical, distant. “I’ll meet you tomorrow morning and we’ll find out the next steps.”
Julius didn’t bother trying to explain, he just held out the chunk of brickwork until Aspen took it. He conjured a small, sickly-glowing light with the dregs of power left inside him so she could see better. “Look at this. What do you make of it?”
He could feel his heart hammering staccato against his ribs, and resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, as if he would find magisters hovering there ready to—ready to what? What even were the implications of this?
He examined the slightest movements of Aspen’s expression, looking for answers there, wishing he could read others better. He didn’t know why it was her he’d sought out, but he hadn’t even considered the others. Maybe due to what she’d mentioned earlier about ruins. Maybe because Lathair was loyal to the Academy through and through, and Spinner was a layabout, and now she was the only one of them he felt he could trust. He hoped he wasn’t wrong in that as well.
*
It was shame that coursed through Lettie—that she hadn’t even been able to offer reassurance or condolences to the team, and instead Kanjuro had to speak for her, but mostly that once again she hadn’t prepared her students adequately, and the worst had happened.
She mumbled something indistinct and went back to the desk, sat there with her talons folded and her gaze fixed on the wall straight ahead of her. Her mind was strangely blank, like a storm had swept through it. She could feel Kanjuro’s presence in the room, and she had seen his face and heard the tremor in his voice—he was as distraught as her—but she didn’t think she could deal with a conversation right now.
“We should rest.” She forced the words out. They sounded mechanical, distant. “I’ll meet you tomorrow morning and we’ll find out the next steps.”
Aspen grabbed the item from him curiously. She was thankful for the light he provided, but wasn't sure what it was at first. Then her eyes slowly widened as she turned it over carefully. This definitely belonged to the University at some point. Whatever it was, it gave her a dark feeling. She felt her fatigue melting away as she tried to figure the implications of a find like this.
Clearing her throat queitly, she looked at him carefully. "I... um, this has to belong to the University, right? I mean... that's what I think.." she said in a whisper to him, glancing over to make sure Lathair wasn't close enough to see or hear them. They should figure out what this meant before going and telling the others... right? Her eyes were filled with curiosity. They shouldn't leave this island. Now she was sure.
*
Kanjuro was selfishly glad he didn't have to talk to Lathair anymore. This was their worst case scenario, losing a student. He felt badly for Lettie, she shouldn't have to deal with something like this after what had happened before. He looked up when she spoke. "Yes.. we can do that. And, Lettie, don't blame yourself for this. We couldn't have known this would happen... Elian shouldn't have taken off by himself. Poor kid," Kanjuro shook his head, talking comfortingly to her.
But, she was right. They needed rest to make the best decision possible tomorrow, but he knew they should just send the team home. It would be cruel to ask them to go on.
Aspen grabbed the item from him curiously. She was thankful for the light he provided, but wasn't sure what it was at first. Then her eyes slowly widened as she turned it over carefully. This definitely belonged to the University at some point. Whatever it was, it gave her a dark feeling. She felt her fatigue melting away as she tried to figure the implications of a find like this.
Clearing her throat queitly, she looked at him carefully. "I... um, this has to belong to the University, right? I mean... that's what I think.." she said in a whisper to him, glancing over to make sure Lathair wasn't close enough to see or hear them. They should figure out what this meant before going and telling the others... right? Her eyes were filled with curiosity. They shouldn't leave this island. Now she was sure.
*
Kanjuro was selfishly glad he didn't have to talk to Lathair anymore. This was their worst case scenario, losing a student. He felt badly for Lettie, she shouldn't have to deal with something like this after what had happened before. He looked up when she spoke. "Yes.. we can do that. And, Lettie, don't blame yourself for this. We couldn't have known this would happen... Elian shouldn't have taken off by himself. Poor kid," Kanjuro shook his head, talking comfortingly to her.
But, she was right. They needed rest to make the best decision possible tomorrow, but he knew they should just send the team home. It would be cruel to ask them to go on.
“Elian had it in his bag. But everything else was just samples, notes, and I didn’t find what I was looking for in my examination of the—of him.” Julius let the light fade and considered his next words carefully. “It strikes me as more than coincidence that he had this with him. I mean, after what happened earlier. That beast attacked us as we were about to find those ruins you saw, and that—well, I don’t know what it is, some sort of brickwork—looks like it also came from a ruin.”
He did look behind him, then, a glance to the dark trees that pressed against the clearing. Lathair and Spinner were in their tents. The communications array glinted in faint moonlight like an insect’s carapace. He still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, and twitched his fins in uneasy irritation before turning back to Aspen.
“The thing I can’t work out is if there’s something out there we aren’t supposed to find, why send anyone in the first place? I think whatever it is we’ve started to uncover, it’s important.” Deflated, Julius settled on the ground. “Or maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe I’m just spouting baseless conjecture based on a brick and a lack of sleep. I think we should come up with some sort of plan for tomorrow, though.”
“Elian had it in his bag. But everything else was just samples, notes, and I didn’t find what I was looking for in my examination of the—of him.” Julius let the light fade and considered his next words carefully. “It strikes me as more than coincidence that he had this with him. I mean, after what happened earlier. That beast attacked us as we were about to find those ruins you saw, and that—well, I don’t know what it is, some sort of brickwork—looks like it also came from a ruin.”
He did look behind him, then, a glance to the dark trees that pressed against the clearing. Lathair and Spinner were in their tents. The communications array glinted in faint moonlight like an insect’s carapace. He still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, and twitched his fins in uneasy irritation before turning back to Aspen.
“The thing I can’t work out is if there’s something out there we aren’t supposed to find, why send anyone in the first place? I think whatever it is we’ve started to uncover, it’s important.” Deflated, Julius settled on the ground. “Or maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe I’m just spouting baseless conjecture based on a brick and a lack of sleep. I think we should come up with some sort of plan for tomorrow, though.”
(Just so you know, starting thursday I'll probably be offline for about 5 days. Takin a little trip for my spring break haha)
Aspen nodded, intently listening to Julius as he spoke. Noticing he let the light go out, she figured he also wanted to keep this something between just the two of them. For now, at least, that seemed to be the best idea. "Well I certainly agree that these things are too odd to just be happenstance," she said, thinking about everything truly meant.
"No, no I don't think you're wrong. We are definitely being intercepted from finding out more about whatever that rubble was. By who, is the question. I really liked our team that stayed behind... but at this point I don't think we can trust anyone. Not until we find out who or what is doing this and why," Aspen told him boldly. If she was to decide to trust Julius, she would go all in. If he wasn't to be trusted, he would not have brought this to her.
"For tomorrow... I think we should stay on the island. Even if they order us to return," she said confidently.
(Just so you know, starting thursday I'll probably be offline for about 5 days. Takin a little trip for my spring break haha)
Aspen nodded, intently listening to Julius as he spoke. Noticing he let the light go out, she figured he also wanted to keep this something between just the two of them. For now, at least, that seemed to be the best idea. "Well I certainly agree that these things are too odd to just be happenstance," she said, thinking about everything truly meant.
"No, no I don't think you're wrong. We are definitely being intercepted from finding out more about whatever that rubble was. By who, is the question. I really liked our team that stayed behind... but at this point I don't think we can trust anyone. Not until we find out who or what is doing this and why," Aspen told him boldly. If she was to decide to trust Julius, she would go all in. If he wasn't to be trusted, he would not have brought this to her.
"For tomorrow... I think we should stay on the island. Even if they order us to return," she said confidently.
