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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSTrkzSJqu
"How far until we reach the equator?" Cathryn inquired, turning to the green haired spirit behind her.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAdV7yUpbA
"We're about a third of the way there!" Spring announced cheerily, "You tired yet, Kitty?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjFrM14MhO
"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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZCru0AUFy
"Huh, what is it?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiLdxLrwSn
"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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvYO5uhl9O
"But it reminds you of when you were?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b6EdihtzO
"It reminds me of when I still am."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Czry8mSTT
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oV8IhRvaI
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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRkM9oFLWh
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XXO6ufklA
"Uh, yeah...about that, wide canyons...kind of scare me, because the other side is so far." Kokoso admitted.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WIJhIejFP
"Well, you could always hang with the monsters," Maria sighed, "maybe they won't wake up before we get back."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYocmRq7h4
"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!"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO1VKo25FN
"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?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyVh6bGRE0
"Now." Spring gesture to the others and Byrd lifted Cathryn and Maria, following Spring to the other side.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IyTFQH4dS
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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB1uriM0Bl
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIfcMSSdDI
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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzU8A8xCLF
"Hmm, sorry." she muttered, before making her way to the inn.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAIKJlnINM
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I6Sd0JUEx
"Okay," Spring panted, "we can climb down the mountain at dawn, someone set up the tent, my feet are killing me."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuEr5wR9mM
"We're halfway there, then?" Maria inquired.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡocvH9PfVDK
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7TfTlvqNh
"Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it," Byrd grumbled glaring at the tent, "hey, Kokoso, little help?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdXaMjbH3A
"If only it wasn't so cold," Spring mused, "we could probably sleep up here."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG0CUYHCjZ
"You're the spirit of spring, can't you make it warmer?" Byrd wondered.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sp6bmNxhl
"I could, but it'd take a lot more energy, and I'm already exhausted." Spring informed.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiE3nQ6z3X
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsieQVwjKj
"Besides," Byrd added, "if it's only a small area, it's not worth it."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1cLkOCIh4
"There, a Kokoso-style tent!" Kokoso laughed, "This has my seal of approval!"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5L9Snj8Sy
"Good, now where are the sleeping bags?" Byrd wondered.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OohWfnYni
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR9UqdRMe2
"I'll put you in charge of gear management, then." Byrd shrugged, "All in favor?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡulQ8w7JHkm
"Wait, you're not serious?" Kokoso stepped back, startled by Byrd's serious expression as his hand went up.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WT2j8WBEI
"I'm serious." Byrd confirmed.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRzR5wGbUo
"I'm all for it." Maria shrugged.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBTxJ2mSrl
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZV23eemWr
"If anyone has to tote all the stuff we're carrying," Spring contemplated, "then why not take turns?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT6Mhgeckq
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXAkhNkS0W
"The team dad has spoken." Cathryn announced, after gulping down some more water.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTe8ObDsfU
"So says the team mother?" Kokoso chuckled.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuEQKr6EYf
"N-no, just because we always hang out doesn't mean anything!" Byrd yelled, reemerging from the tent, "We're just friends...just friends!"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBRddS2t7I
"Poor guy, he's obviously suffering from a crush." Spring snickered.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx606lloG4
"Here we have the team kids." Maria pointed at the laughing rabbit and spirit.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqlTMeRlHQ
"I guess that makes you the older sister?" Kokoso sputtered, amusing Spring even more than she had been."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93LddKYt5y
"Now, now, you'll wake Father." Cathryn warned, a small smirk playing on her lips.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ4aOF7Msl
"Ha, right, sorry, Mom." Spring giggled.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGEnvK6627
"Poor, sweet, innocent children." Cathryn sighed, shaking her head, "If only they knew that Father was adopted."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFzRTwNfHF
"Oh, Mother, I understand completely." Maria crossed her arms, grinning as she heard Byrd huff in the tent.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡu369grRj8r
"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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIGw02d25V
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡkakeyhFhyA
"Glad you could laugh at my expense," Byrd muttered, "now go to sleep."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwD2xgSIoe
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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcmOoHU70F
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFJsI3G4I2
"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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr2zO4wO0u
"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?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡquLTl94sZR
"Unseason, a powerful spirit, ancient as time."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzYqzDJZYf
"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!"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBxSvLZx0K
"Do as you will, I want a report later explaining just what your plan is."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yHPPWfioV
"You shall have it, Sire." the scientist promised, running to call his assistants in.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaG5O3dJvC
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo7FAjPNkt
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.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV2hLFyAgV
"Hey," she grunted, pulling herself up the cliff, "are you heading off again?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCZpjQwv3M
"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?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMxFieN6I5
"Um, no reason...I couldn't sleep."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBIZkezYMR
"Oh...but how did you get across the canyon?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUGxy6EcJr
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgGDRNAUA4
"Um, how did you acquire the rockets?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7DBRWhznp
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAp2HskRf7
"Flight log?"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjID7kPiJH
"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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtJfNwP1NT
"Is you name logged?" Maria asked, crossing her arms.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWlsTs5ljG
"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!"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Qceqcu9L
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."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kd7lSBYo8
"T-thanks, um-"copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvWKlTJIGY
"Maria." she said, turning to face her as she started into the tent.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T1MD3ykqB
"Maria," the other nodded, "thank you."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJWcGoUiBw
"You're welcome...Noel." Maria smiled and disappeared into the tent to stir the others.copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEzZbcz0ci
"Noel?" she smiled and let out a deep breath, "I like it...it feels right, somehow."copyright protection269ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAbTqzfDUX
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