Maria leaped up at a diving squirrel, batting it into a wall, she turned to find Spring twirling and stabbing, caught in her own dance with the small monsters.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqWUigzHXp
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"We're almost to the canyon!" Maria remembered the obstacle ahead, glad that Kokoso went with the others, if it hadn't been for that, she would regret not bringing Byrd, as they would be slowed down by the extra trip, and she was already impatient.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡooCD5E4mnH 維尼
"Wait, quick question, we already haven't found her, and theFall canyon?!" Spring screeched, "She can't fly!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVFHle4eF3 維尼
"I know...let's just go, get ready to lift me!" Maria panted urgently, quickly tiring from the brisk sprint.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFCoQ3d5BL 維尼
"Fine, fine, tell me when it's in sight and I'll hoist you up, but if I'm careful and--may the heavens and all that is holy forbid--slow down before landing, then don't get snippy!" Spring said defensively.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnLuUmnzPr 維尼
"Sorry, but I'm more than a little stressed out right now." Maria pointed out, "If I do get snippy, then you can pick another leader."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaLxeR1LZS 維尼
"Ha...nah, I'm beginning to see another side to the whole leader role...might as well not push the others to making these kinds of decisions, such is the path a leader must walk, for right or wrong you must choose, often without time for council." 8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vZCmLjHy5 維尼
"Okay, lift me!" Maria held her arms up and Spring picked her up, and crossed the edge, setting Maria down slowly before running alongside her.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIPef2lPUj 維尼
"Where is she?" Maria panted, catching her breath before continuing the run.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC3wnP03d1 維尼
"I have no idea, but we're getting closer to the mountains...will you please explain why you think she flew over the mountains?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTpOmJBRjO 維尼
"I think she lied to me, when she said she was out of fuel that day, I don't know why, I'm still trying to figure that out."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4uefNowzq 維尼
"If I had to guess, she's lying about everything, she might be a spirit, maybe she's convinced she has to work for Unseason, maybe there's someone she wants to protect."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUCxSqHQCJ 維尼
"Hmm...I'm reconsidering everything, now."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRShY9gIa5 維尼
"Don't, if she's fighting for Unseason, we have to fight against her, if she's not then we need her to be honest, or we'll never be able to fully trust her."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEyyTwfLfX 維尼
"Maybe...there's a feeling she has, something related to her past." Maria turned to the path ahead, "Ready to go?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsOkdrcXKr 維尼
"Yeah, I'm ready...the real question is...are you?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡkinMlWIHre 維尼
"Huh?" Maria turned around and watched Spring search for an explanation.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X93FhlTbq 維尼
"If...you have to fight her-"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxk9sn3URh 維尼
"Spring, no...I knew it'd be something like that, but no, she's not...right now she doesn't want to have anything to do with the Company, or hurting us, or anything."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡBouhRBxiPo 維尼
"I agree...but something she said made me think...maybe she doesn't know which side she's on, and...if it turns out that she was given some ideas after whatever blocked her memories, that Animen weren't monsters, it might have just been to fit in better, and there's a trigger somewhere...I hope I'm wrong, but...if things turn out like that, could you fight her?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPnec5F7st 維尼
"I...I don't want to fight her, but I'll try to keep in mind that...everything she said could be true."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uxOdkA9x7 維尼
"That's all I ask, too many heroes have fallen because they didn't heed a Guardian Angel's advice, and because their hearts were crushed and they...they couldn't handle it, I don't fault them for it, I just wish things could have been better for them, but wishes don't always come true."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVmjghn5jZ 維尼
"I'll take that under advisement." Maria remarked, starting to sprint.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVV0xI5W9T 維尼
"Fair enough." Spring huffed, following close.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWPQI3THS4 維尼
"So, I've been thinking," Kokoso leaned against a tree while the group waited for Byrd's return, "if we're here to make sure someone finds and delays Noel from running away, then...how are we supposed to stop her?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo9Wysh8PS 維尼
"I don't know," Cathryn sighed, "a better question is why we're here."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54rLLpiJ7h 維尼
"Huh, what do you mean?" Kokoso frowned, clueless as to what the cat Animen meant by the remark.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfJOHUwksi 維尼
"I mean that there's canyon between here and the Mosaic Rosetta, it doesn't seem likely that Noel ever went pass it." Cathryn explained.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxz1oA2g2n 維尼
"The Fall canyon would be hard to get over without wings." Autumn agreed.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxplivjeIt 維尼
"Supposedly," Byrd stepped out of the woods, arms folded, "she ran out of fuel...she said she might have had enough for emergencies, but if she could lying, then Maria isn't taking any chances, I don't know what she expects to hear, but I have my suspicions."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGB6oJdGwK 維尼
"Do you think she'll kick Noel off the team?" Kokoso asked worriedly. Byrd silently stared at the ground and Kokoso revised, "Do you think she should kick Noel off the team?" Byrd sighed and remained silent.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fkMMygsYp 維尼
Cathryn cleared her throat to draw their attention and spoke as they traveled to the Refractory Construct, "I think we should sit Noel down and have her explain what's going on, but Maria can make whatever choice she wants, in the end, we did decide that it was her right and burden to choose what she wanted to do, and it's up to us to try to make the most of it, whether we support her or try to convince her otherwise...in the end, this isn't a choice any of us want to make, is it?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtJjBcOtmh 維尼
"She does...make an impression," Byrd agreed, "even if she's so taciturn...she reminds me of myself."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsGG0f92uT 維尼
"She reminds me of you, too," Cathryn agreed, "she also reminds me of Kokoso, when he was struggling that day, after I took a pipe to his arm, and reminds me of me...and somehow, she leaves her own impression, even in her silence, maybe it's pity, maybe curiosity...maybe it's desire to see something complete, after all, what we see reminds us of ourselves, but then, when it comes to the person herself...when we look at her, what do we see?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡc10g2I81MS 維尼
"A void." Kokoso sighed.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG01tEbHPd 維尼
"I guess," Autumn smiled as Byrd spoke, and saw the knowing smiles on his friend's faces, "when she saw her, Maria must have seen...a Noel."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX9YEzndxm 維尼
"Ah, killer!" Kokoso praised.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZxIXXV9mD 維尼
"That was pretty good." Cathryn agreed, "The build up and execution was something to be appreciated, as much for artfulness as rarity."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3uK6yCExE 維尼
"Ha, ha, yeah, glad you think--hey!" Byrd squawked.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F1XNDDSTb 維尼
"I'm just so happy to see you guys trying to understand her," Autumn remarked, "having seen the last decade or so before falling into my nightmare, I was surprised when I awoke to see a human among Animen, traveling together, working together, it was very heartening."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4pMIeGgkI 維尼
"It still is, especially for us," Kokoso rested his arms on either of Byrd and Cathryn's shoulders, "isn't that right, guys?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1kMAo8FvM 維尼
Autumn smiled, an amused chuckle flew from her lips as the pair agreed with Kokoso's statement, "Then we have very little to fear, together we can find a way to overcome most any challenge."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy5ojHRwrM 維尼
As Maria pulled herself up over the edge of the third cliff leading to the former campsite, she saw four silhouettes rise against the starry sky, and to her right, motionless against the mountain, she saw Noel.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtQr20BmQ7 維尼
"Hey, Noel, are you okay?" Maria nudge her shoulder gently and Noel's eyes opened with no mild alarm.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYL0hVyiJs 維尼
"I-I'm sorry!" Noel cried.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡTENHagPWge 維尼
"Noel-"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXMpyAndsg 維尼
"E-Etern--eh?" Noel looked around, breathing heavily as she realized where she was.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPLI5oAIT0 維尼
"It's okay, we're here now." Maria smiled, but yelped in surprise as Noel knocked her down.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CoDdGndEa 維尼
"Why did you look for me? I'm trying to stay away from you guys!" Noel screamed, "I want to be alone!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡsviVW0pxVc 維尼
"Then why did you come back here, the place where you started to open up to us?" Maria inquired, watching relief pass over Spring's face as her stance shifted from a diving starting point, to a more relaxed position.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe46MWk3Ie 維尼
"I-I don't know...it doesn't make any sense...I should have just...gone elsewhere." Noel whispered.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx2sBr5V7t 維尼
"Maybe you remembered being happy here, and you wanted somewhere to run back to." Maria suggested, "Just...what do you feel like now?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cwpfFeq7L 維尼
"I...I just want to go back home...but I...I don't have one."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0d1PS270e 維尼
"Look," Byrd sighed, "at the risk of sounding sappy and cliche, they say that home is where the heart is, and before you try to figure out what that means exactly, tell me this: Are you happy now?"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtLeguZGHs 維尼
Noel sat up on her knees and shook her head, "Whenever I'm around you guys...I feel...I guess it's happy? But I'm also terrified."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4L99dnilJ 維尼
"Well, you just gave yourself the answer, then." Byrd folded his arms and turned to glare at the giggling rabbit Animen behind him.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiOhP8SjmI 維尼
"So...you mean-" Noel looked up at Byrd and Kokoso, Cathryn was shaking her head behind them, but smiled and nodded when she saw Noel watching them.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWEbTYgvuf 維尼
"Welcome home, Noel." Maria offered her hand to help Noel up and Noel accepted.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTnrJjrEyK 維尼
"Oh, Autumn, no!" Spring cried out, "We forgot something tremendously important! We need to go back to the village right now and prepare a party for Noel!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX1xFcBN68 維尼
"Ah, you're right, Spring!" Autumn smiled, "We forgot...something that we never even planned!"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldawHoY4Ri
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"But you get me?!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xQNuRdVHI 維尼
"Yes, I get you!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA0zJ384gX 維尼
'We have to hurry! It must...be...done!"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4KQIeCpya 維尼
Kokoso, Cathryn, and Byrd stepped away as the Seasonal Girls ran down the trail, "What do you think the odds are," Byrd mused, "that one of them is the whimsical spirit who created gorgon noodles?"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz7HG2NDxE
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"And upside down pineapple cake?" Cathryn shrugged, "seems likely to me."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92pFfapHWo
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"I guess we should hurry after them." Maria turned to Noel, "You're not staying here, are you?"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaBlB8xkSY
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Noel stared at her feet, "I don't know...I feel like I just want to...freeze where I stand."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJYVOLGDyk 維尼
"We would only dump gorgons' bane on you." Maria smiled.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO56p6R9yc 維尼
"I wish it was the kind you can't cure...I feel like it'd...fix everything."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuF8YqHqDr 維尼
"There's no such thing as a cure-all."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGfZEQEr4W 維尼
"I know...but I'm not sick, just...decrepit." Noel looked up at Maria and smiled, "You do realize I lied to you? W-why would you just...why aren't you...why?"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEznaRuHqqK
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"I already figured out you were lying to me, I thought I'd let you explain yourself."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZPcUSjkWG 維尼
Noel nodded and started after where the Seasonal Girls had ran.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IgrGx8FBq 維尼
The Seasons got a head start on the midnight dinner, and had it ready shortly after the companions returned.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡozfcLuZtkr 維尼
Noel stood in front of the door and waited until they thought look at her. She glanced up at them and closed her eyes, "I lied to you...because I was afraid you'd be suspicious of me, that you'd never trust me and...I was afraid tonight, after telling you guys...you'd push me away." she looked up at the group to find sympathetic gazes trained on her. She turned away and held her right forearm, "I was afraid that tonight, you'd let me push myself away, but you didn't...I still...can't make sense of it all, but I'm happy...but I'm still worried, after tonight...things won't be the same."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRUhhBJCQE 維尼
"Noel, you've probably got a reason or two, you said yourself you thought we'd mistrust you, and you must have had a basis for that," Maria waved her over, "for now come on and grab seat, if you remember something, don't be afraid to tell us."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OjeshBWhy 維尼
"You guys...feel the same?" Noel smiled as the group agreed and beckoned her to dinner.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPZd5f2Rwz 維尼
"If we don't agree with something our leader says, we'll make sure to let her know." Spring assured.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeDFlHj2I6 維尼
"I feel like this can't be real...some kind of cruel trick." Noel shook her head and slowly stepped over to the others.8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4lP43jvzr 維尼
"Remember what I told you," Maria said, "when we first met...if we could do something so cruel-"8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5ome9iZ9m 維尼
"Then," Noel looked up and tried to keep her eyes on Maria's, "you would be...truly disgusting...but I can't even imagine such a world exists."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvUG1AMZFo 維尼
"The only cruel trick here," Autumn pointed at Spring, "is that this one made the yummiest lasagna ever...and...pause for dramatic effect...none of us will ever be able to eat it all! Fate has the sickest sense of humor."8964 copyright protection501ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsLkDXThxt 維尼
"I guess I can see how that's cruel." Noel smiled, "Funny...I can't seem to decide on anything these days...I still don't know if I should hide from them, to avoid hurting them, or if I should...try to get closer to them. If I turn, and I believe harming them is right...then I'll be a very disgusting person."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixkJPKPypI
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She watched the Seasonal Girls expectantly watching her and saw the others were also watching. She took a bite, smiled and held her thumb up.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlOyg87lgE
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