The five followed the trail through the woods, Byrd carried Cathryn and Kokoso down the cliff and Spring lifted Maria and brought her down to join the others, and the stopped by the spring.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYhFqaVdZR 維尼
"How far until we reach the equator?" Cathryn inquired, turning to the green haired spirit behind her.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWZWjgDqzF 維尼
"We're about a third of the way there!" Spring announced cheerily, "You tired yet, Kitty?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9YE7r7GHY 維尼
"No, not...not yet." she wheeled around and sighed, instead of saying anything about the nickname she'd been given, she shook her head and turned back around.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsWXbqaUGR 維尼
"Huh, what is it?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IEAlgXF1B 維尼
"I know you're just having fun, but I don't like to be called Kitty, okay? Kitties are helpless, and...and I'm not." Spring turned her around and stared at her for a few seconds.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV5Ci4XF7J 維尼
"But it reminds you of when you were?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ2FoXSGXr 維尼
"It reminds me of when I still am."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQJUDNLhrk 維尼
"The axe is your life," Spring stood on one foot and peered behind Cathryn to see the others were a good distance away, "every time you strike, you leave yourself open to a counter, you're trying to solve all your problems like this, doesn't work."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAnjhQTcc0 維尼
Cathryn stared back at the greenette, and at the space she occupied when she walked away. She wished it was as simple as Spring thought, there were a number of reasons she had power and weight and momentum were factors she could harness, and factors that she could master, in that way she would master the axe.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWzsvJgu58 維尼
Beyond the spring and the surrounding woods they found a canyon, Kokoso was insistent on standing near the tree closest to the canyon, which was a couple of yards from said canyon. Byrd turned to him with a huff and waved him over, "Come on, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner you don't have to worry about falling."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡn57UIhxHfy 維尼
"Uh, yeah...about that, wide canyons...kind of scare me, because the other side is so far." Kokoso admitted.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0y1IPYPEc 維尼
"Well, you could always hang with the monsters," Maria sighed, "maybe they won't wake up before we get back."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpdFMtmVWK 維尼
"How about this, close your eyes and count to ten," Spring started beating her wings against the air and raised him up, "we'll be on the other side before you open your eyes!"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rhkXB3922 維尼
"That's actually a really good idea," Kokoso muttered, "okay." he held his hand over his eyes and took a deep breath, "When should I start?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtr3yJXbwh 維尼
"Now." Spring gesture to the others and Byrd lifted Cathryn and Maria, following Spring to the other side.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUKBOL0PHW 維尼
The girl wandered the beach, casting weary glances back at the waves. Mother Goose wasn't expecting this visitor, and that scared her, it was outside what the spirits told her, and up until now everything was going according to plan, Spring awoke and now the warriors were headed towards the equator, but that left her, an anomaly in the formula of success laid out before her by the spirits, she had no idea what the future would bring now, but she could only hope this strange girl wasn't sent by the Company.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6TKkns96k 維尼
"No, she's much too paranoid of the ocean, as though she's waiting for someone or something...perhaps she's simply a Animen sympathizer...still, I'm curious as to what role she shall choose."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKIurXqOc4 維尼
She jumped as she sensed a presence somewhere to her right, the girl turned to her curiously, "My apologies, hatchling, you simply sneaked up on me!" Mother Goose laughed.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnoY8m7Zkw 維尼
"Hmm, sorry." she muttered, before making her way to the inn.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWskIdvffv 維尼
Mother Goose observed her silently before flying to the woods, where the Mosiac Rosetta stood, she took a brief look into the stone's realm and found the likeness of the strange, nameless young woman in the place of the Lone Wolf, "But mustn't you eventually take a side? I suppose I may only watch and wait."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY36Ryco8p 維尼
"Okay," Spring panted, "we can climb down the mountain at dawn, someone set up the tent, my feet are killing me."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zoEeKEKbz 維尼
"We're halfway there, then?" Maria inquired.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3pMYDApgT 維尼
"Just barely...but it's a step up from a third of the way!" Spring rummaged the supply sack and found a stake, "Here, someone take this."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbHCeH4ATS 維尼
"Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it," Byrd grumbled glaring at the tent, "hey, Kokoso, little help?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXSMKUE7fu 維尼
"If only it wasn't so cold," Spring mused, "we could probably sleep up here."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡWst3v5mFSf 維尼
"You're the spirit of spring, can't you make it warmer?" Byrd wondered.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyQkhnocI5 維尼
"I could, but it'd take a lot more energy, and I'm already exhausted." Spring informed.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHZot1Vcff 維尼
Maria turned around from the fire she was working on, "Well, no need tiring yourself out, not when we have other means to warm up."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66hJfUNCRL 維尼
"Besides," Byrd added, "if it's only a small area, it's not worth it."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqQyvZspjz 維尼
"There, a Kokoso-style tent!" Kokoso laughed, "This has my seal of approval!"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKZWhY0sho 維尼
"Good, now where are the sleeping bags?" Byrd wondered.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwOIjtMRGf 維尼
"Oh, I handed them out while you were, uh, uncollecting the exotic berries you tried out." Kokoso pressed his finger against his tightly pressed lips, "Yep, I figured the team sack was cluttered enough, even if it can carry a lot, doesn't mean it should."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxCj4dd3T3 維尼
"I'll put you in charge of gear management, then." Byrd shrugged, "All in favor?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXJP8ZLVuU 維尼
"Wait, you're not serious?" Kokoso stepped back, startled by Byrd's serious expression as his hand went up.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqYl8HaeV5 維尼
"I'm serious." Byrd confirmed.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJV2fRZYDP 維尼
"I'm all for it." Maria shrugged.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPckpV5XmS 維尼
Cathryn looked up from her drink and nodded, "Might as well, someone has to be responsible for all the potions and meals we're carrying."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡBye4BUbA8A 維尼
"If anyone has to tote all the stuff we're carrying," Spring contemplated, "then why not take turns?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnJPdEx5XE 維尼
A mutter of approval rose up and Byrd groaned, "No one raised their hands." he pretended to complain, much to the team's amusement, "Okay, I'm hitting the hay so try not to stay up too much later."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm61woUqhV 維尼
"The team dad has spoken." Cathryn announced, after gulping down some more water.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC2Y49aTDa 維尼
"So says the team mother?" Kokoso chuckled.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG7VpxPuBl 維尼
"N-no, just because we always hang out doesn't mean anything!" Byrd yelled, reemerging from the tent, "We're just friends...just friends!"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5FAY9IlXW 維尼
"Poor guy, he's obviously suffering from a crush." Spring snickered.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq5MKiewQs 維尼
"Here we have the team kids." Maria pointed at the laughing rabbit and spirit.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfWQt9N2n9 維尼
"I guess that makes you the older sister?" Kokoso sputtered, amusing Spring even more than she had been."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhvYQTt4Mh 維尼
"Now, now, you'll wake Father." Cathryn warned, a small smirk playing on her lips.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uvVNJ7Gm7 維尼
"Ha, right, sorry, Mom." Spring giggled.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxXnZsWzTN 維尼
"Poor, sweet, innocent children." Cathryn sighed, shaking her head, "If only they knew that Father was adopted."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzyFUEGu3v 維尼
"Oh, Mother, I understand completely." Maria crossed her arms, grinning as she heard Byrd huff in the tent.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01gRSNNa0h 維尼
"I guess we should follow Dad's example, eh, younger sister?" Kokoso turned around and crawled into the tent, followed by Maria, while Cathryn sat outside the tent to watch the fire.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RRAdfBU8S 維尼
"It's been fun, so far, exploring with you guys," Spring almost whispered, "it's been a long time since I've been so happy."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5cw17FEH1 維尼
"Glad you could laugh at my expense," Byrd muttered, "now go to sleep."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WqSDyeB9C 維尼
She smiled and stifled a laugh, but managed to stay quiet and close her eyes, but she heard Cathryn and Byrd swap shifts before she felt tired, and only after Byrd and Kokoso changed places did she fall asleep.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u1Hcrxpjs 維尼
"That's what you get when you try to control AI, Sire." the lead researcher shook his head, "A...decommissioned security detail and a bunch of broken glass."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpKhOKnr9u 維尼
"You speak of the vials and tanks, what of her, was she able to take control of it?" King Remulus turned to the scientist, who merely shrugged.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcMcvW8nb9 維尼
"As it happens, she went offline, so it's hard to tell if our rampaging weapon has a soul link or not, if one is established, then our Project E.N.D. could still succeed, but we'd need to find out where she scampered off to." the scientist looked through the recorded numbers and shook his head, "As far as we can see, this thing had a mind of it's own, and what did you call this spirit you were trying to siphon into the Vessel?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJEyNMSD5H 維尼
"Unseason, a powerful spirit, ancient as time."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxenxhnN6R 維尼
"Well, see, Unseason couldn't possess the Vessel because the Vessel already had a will of it's own, you have to go out, drag it back here, and then beat her to a sound pulp just shy of to within an inch of it's body's natural ability to heal, otherwise Unseason will get poured right into a cup full of holes, we'll have a new program that will make it...a bit more compliant, and then come up with a play that will have it running back home, it should be all over within a year!"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBEac4aCR3 維尼
"Do as you will, I want a report later explaining just what your plan is."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uxO1wnxK3 維尼
"You shall have it, Sire." the scientist promised, running to call his assistants in.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN3cknzaLz 維尼
Maria let out a tired yawn as she stared at the dying fire. It was hard to believe an entire night passed so quickly, she still felt tired, but dawn's light just under the horizon couldn't be mistaken, "Maybe I'm just groggy."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwEl08Uwhg 維尼
She leaned forward, tempted to close her eyes, but somehow managed to keep the open. A sudden grunt had her reaching for her claws in alarm. She stood up and peered over the edge to find the second new addition to the village climbing up the last of three short cliffs that rose from the trail.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnGa9P00il 維尼
"Hey," she grunted, pulling herself up the cliff, "are you heading off again?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUilcbQHOX 維尼
"We're halfway there, I'm not sure if we'll be back before dinner, but Spring probably knows what she's doing." Maria waited a moment before asking the question on her mind, "Why are you out here?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7ODZUq56t 維尼
"Um, no reason...I couldn't sleep."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Uqzwy8Q9D 維尼
"Oh...but how did you get across the canyon?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCoswHG2VN 維尼
"I flew, I had some juice left in my rockets after that flight over the ocean, enough to clear the cliff, I'm saving the rest for an emergency."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF7bIbrc9m 維尼
"Um, how did you acquire the rockets?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ELLDKXxsk 維尼
"I...don't remember, my energy cell was empty, all I can figure is I must have got shot and spun out of control and crashed into the water, my flight log doesn't really give those kinds of details."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBdZ1C6AcY 維尼
"Flight log?"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPbcCmdoyv 維尼
"Yeah, I've got a flight log in this armor, it says that I was denied clearance after a successful test flight, so I must have stolen it after flying, that raises the question of why I was there, but it explains why I got shot down...and yet, why would I want steal a Valkyrie suit?" she noticed Maria's questioning eyebrow and shrugged, "That's what the log's called, 'Valkyrie Model I's Flight Log', so I think maybe that's the name of it's series of equipment."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGFCHkEIkh 維尼
"Is you name logged?" Maria asked, crossing her arms.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYIXVKTUV9 維尼
"I understand the skepticism, but what all I have is the initial 'N', nothing more." she sighed and pulled out her log, "See, you can have this." she held out the pad with a shaky hand, "I don't have cards or badges or anything!"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaidKuWTHv 維尼
Maria extended her hand and reached for the pad, curled her knuckles, and pushed it away, "I...believe you, I don't think you could pretend to be so distraught, and if you're undercover...then you truly are disgusting." Maria turned to the tent behind her and grabbed a canteen, "Here, it's a long road ahead, and we can't really go back right now, so stay hydrated."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzBz6lDSbu 維尼
"T-thanks, um-"8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPG4HPVXbp 維尼
"Maria." she said, turning to face her as she started into the tent.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJsC7kSRuj 維尼
"Maria," the other nodded, "thank you."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7F99KJ9v7 維尼
"You're welcome...Noel." Maria smiled and disappeared into the tent to stir the others.8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp9ODocDgK 維尼
"Noel?" she smiled and let out a deep breath, "I like it...it feels right, somehow."8964 copyright protection402ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqLAsnLs6w 維尼
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