Ichtaca arrives into the area where it sounded like Zahra was but doesn't see any sign of her. Glancing back at the other two for confirmation, she says, "It sounded like she was here, right?" She walked around the area for a moment, not seeing any signs of her vanished compatriot. Pausing for a second she appears to come to a realization, "We were running for less than a minute; she can't have gone far." Then, shouting, "Zahra!"
After receiving no response to the shouting, Ichtaca takes one more look around the area for any signs then suggests, "If she's run off and we have no way to locate her, we should go back to where she last saw us and set up camp for the night. Maybe she just got lost and will turn up in the morning. "
Fighting the urge to search for Zahra no matter the cost, Keothi had to admit that Ichtaca had a point.
"Ichtaca, you have a point. It's complete blackness out here. While I doubt Zahra is lost, I also doubt that there is any good we can do for her blinded, tired, and desperate. I think it's a good idea if we return to safety, and camp out for the evening. As soon as daylight hits, we can begin our search for her."
Keothi attempted to study the faces of his comrades to see if they looked, and possibly felt, as worn and perplexed as he did. Perhaps some down time will allow him to clear his mind and re-group. After all, its been his experience that trying to survive and hide when your senses are frayed has always lead to close calls with the power he tries to contain. And after the reaction and recognition that Ghires had with the man in the caravan, Keothi knew that he didn't want to see what kind of reaction *his* secret would garner...
Consciousness slowly returns to you, and as your eyes adjust to the dim red light that illuminates the area, you see a row of thick metal bars in front of you, extending from the floor into the ceiling. Your equipment and armor are gone, replaced by a plain tunic and simple cloth pants. The floor has a few animal skins on it, though the one you're on top of doesn't do much to block the cold of the stone beneath you.
The other three sides of your cell appear to be formed from the walls of a small cave. Roughly ten feet past the bars is a metal door. Above the door is a large glass cylinder, filled with a glowing fungus that serves as the source of the room's light.
You are alone.
---
Survivor's Camp
????? - Day 2
Without a trail to follow, you agreed to set up camp in the hopes that Zahra might return. She did not.
It's an hour after dawn by the time your things are packed and you're ready to move again. There wasn't any rain last night, so perhaps with the light of day you'll have better luck picking up the trail of your lost companion.
Waking up in the morning Ichtaca enjoys a hearty breakfast on the banks of the river. Still seeing now sign of Zahra, she calls out her name a few more times just in case she was asleep somewhere close but couldn't find them in the dark. With no response being forthcoming she turns two the remaining two party members and shrugs, "Unless anyone has some better way of finding Zahra, I suggest we continue following the river downstream. That should be the best way of finding other people and is hopefully what she would do as well."
The sun hit Keothi's face with a slow warmth, bringing him subtly back to reality and farther away from the vivid dreams of people and places he didn't recognize. Blinking slowly, he thought he may still be dreaming when he took in his surroundings and remembered where he was... or more accurately, where he wasn't.
He spent the morning readying his things and partaking in a few of the snacks that he'd been able to carry with him from the caravan. With as much lush vegetation around him as there was, he didn't think he'd have to hoard his rations in order to survive.
After listening to Ichtaca's summons echo out in vain, Keothi felt an urgency to get moving and find their lost comrade.
"I agree with Ichtaca's plan. Downstream is where Zahra traveled last and I think we'd have seen some sign of her if she'd been back up this direction...willingly or otherwise."
Keothi stood and adjusted his packs. It was time to move.
Posts
"She couldn't have gone far ... just keep an eye out," he warned, "wherever she is, she's not alone."
Or did it?
Apparently, it did not.
"Ichtaca, you have a point. It's complete blackness out here. While I doubt Zahra is lost, I also doubt that there is any good we can do for her blinded, tired, and desperate. I think it's a good idea if we return to safety, and camp out for the evening. As soon as daylight hits, we can begin our search for her."
Keothi attempted to study the faces of his comrades to see if they looked, and possibly felt, as worn and perplexed as he did. Perhaps some down time will allow him to clear his mind and re-group. After all, its been his experience that trying to survive and hide when your senses are frayed has always lead to close calls with the power he tries to contain. And after the reaction and recognition that Ghires had with the man in the caravan, Keothi knew that he didn't want to see what kind of reaction *his* secret would garner...
????? - Day ??
Consciousness slowly returns to you, and as your eyes adjust to the dim red light that illuminates the area, you see a row of thick metal bars in front of you, extending from the floor into the ceiling. Your equipment and armor are gone, replaced by a plain tunic and simple cloth pants. The floor has a few animal skins on it, though the one you're on top of doesn't do much to block the cold of the stone beneath you.
The other three sides of your cell appear to be formed from the walls of a small cave. Roughly ten feet past the bars is a metal door. Above the door is a large glass cylinder, filled with a glowing fungus that serves as the source of the room's light.
You are alone.
---
Survivor's Camp
????? - Day 2
Without a trail to follow, you agreed to set up camp in the hopes that Zahra might return. She did not.
It's an hour after dawn by the time your things are packed and you're ready to move again. There wasn't any rain last night, so perhaps with the light of day you'll have better luck picking up the trail of your lost companion.
Waking up in the morning Ichtaca enjoys a hearty breakfast on the banks of the river. Still seeing now sign of Zahra, she calls out her name a few more times just in case she was asleep somewhere close but couldn't find them in the dark. With no response being forthcoming she turns two the remaining two party members and shrugs, "Unless anyone has some better way of finding Zahra, I suggest we continue following the river downstream. That should be the best way of finding other people and is hopefully what she would do as well."
He spent the morning readying his things and partaking in a few of the snacks that he'd been able to carry with him from the caravan. With as much lush vegetation around him as there was, he didn't think he'd have to hoard his rations in order to survive.
After listening to Ichtaca's summons echo out in vain, Keothi felt an urgency to get moving and find their lost comrade.
"I agree with Ichtaca's plan. Downstream is where Zahra traveled last and I think we'd have seen some sign of her if she'd been back up this direction...willingly or otherwise."
Keothi stood and adjusted his packs. It was time to move.