13. [Audio]

[brodakota]

[North's voice comes over the network, sounding rather panicked. Surprisingly so, especially to people who know him for his quiet, patient demeanor.]

Is anyone else in Ponyville right now? 

If you are, have you seen Theta? 

It's really important that I find him, and I think it's getting dark.

[That's new...and all the more worrisome.]

Comments

[skysmirror]

[Happily oblivious to any tension in the air, Xion turned to follow North. She didn't know Carolina well, but they could probably manage to get along for a search.]

Right. Barkley, help Max.

[Said Meow Wow hurried off to sniff and search alongside Max, doing his best not to get in the way as he did so.]

[guerriera]

[ Wishes aren't horses, North. You'll have to make do with grumbly ponies, who are at least cooperating (which is more than might have happened had Theta disappeared the week before). Carolina's tamasheep merely sighed, before following in the first party's wake. Hopefully, they wouldn't have use for his spells. ..Hopefully.

Letting the Meow-Wows do their thing, Carolina kept her eyes and ears fixed on their surroundings. It was pretty dark, and the onset of evening wasn't helping either. She doesn't like to consider the reasons why Theta might have gone deeper into the woods.. ]

So far, no sign of additional nightmares. We'll have to take that as a good one. [For now.]

[brodakota]

Yeah. Let's hope it stays that way.

[North is feeling a little better now that the search is underway. He does his best to focus, trying to cast a little light from his horn.]

Sorry so late. >_<

[skysmirror]

[Conditions definitely aren't the best for a search (or recon, for that matter) but Xion is used to dark places. At least one of them has a light.]

I hope we find Theta fast.

s'all good <3

[guerriera]

[ The little bit of light helps, though Carolina wishes her armor was half as useful as when she were human.

Mindful of her feet, Carolina frowns as she watches Max's progress, especially when he begins to stop-start stop-start and his tail whisks back and forth less and less... That's never a good sign, in her book. ]

We should fan out here, see if we can spot something off the path. Don't get too far away, we don't know what else could be lurking around here.

[brodakota]

Right. Let me know if you need any light.

[North has his head close the ground, looking for tracks of any kind.


There's a rustling in some bushes not too far away.]

[skysmirror]

[Barkley hears the rustling and rushes towards it, barking to let everyone know he found a Thing. Maybe it's Theta!

Xion follows him.]

Maybe some over here? I think Barkley's found something.

[guerriera]

[ Max looks a bit disconcerted, tail drooping a bit, and only when she's sure that neither Xion or North are looking does Carolina pause briefly beside the meow wow to nudge his side gently with her hoof. Chin up. Hopefully this is a sign they've found Theta! ]

[ Lifting her head, she called out: ]

Theta! Is that you?

[brokentrust]

[There's a further rustling, but considering that Theta's not coming when he's called, or running out of the brush at top speed, it's probably not him.

Unless he's stuck.]

[skysmirror]

[Xion goes to have a look of her own. If Theta is in there, he just might be stuck if he hasn't come out to meet them by now. Though the fact that he hasn't said anything is weird. Barkley seems to recognize the scent, though, since he's wagging his tail and barking to encourage her.]

Theta?

[brokentrust]

[Nope! It's a shadow! Jumping out to scare Xion!

Boo!!!]

[skysmirror]

[He'll have to do better than that to actually scare Xion, but she is startled. So startled, in fact, that she can't help but take a few steps back before reflexively summoning her Keyblade.

Barkley, for his part, scrambles back so quickly he falls on his rear. He's up pretty quickly, though, barking at Shadow!Theta. That wasn't very nice!]

[brokentrust]

[The Shadow seems unperturbed. That was fun! Can he do it again?]

[guerriera]

[ RUDE, shadow!Theta, rude! ...And very out-of-character for the shy AI.

Momentarily distracted not by Xion's retreat but by the magical key summoned by the younger mare, it takes a minute for Carolina to notice this change in personality. Max meanwhile, waddles over immediately to whuff at Barkley, then attempt to nose at the Theta-dragon, snuffling the ground before making odd whining noises. ]

...Something's not quite right.

[brodakota]

Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's not Theta. He wouldn't do something like that.

[skysmirror]

[The one good thing about these shadows is that their actions give them away. Over her momentary start, Xion dismisses the Keyblade. Sorry about that surprise, Carolina, but old habits and reflexes are hard to overcome.]

No, he wouldn't.

[Barkley whuffs back at Max. He's okay, just surprised. But that sure is a funny smell, right?]

[guerriera]

[Just how many of you people have keys, anyway? ...Would be a question she'd ask had Carolina seen more than one other fight with such a weapon. As it is, there's simply a look, because seriously, a key? before she steps towards shadow!Theta. It's a wary stalk, head lowering slightly as she approaches.

Max yipped in agreement, before nosing further at shadow!Theta, trying to tag it with his tongue. What gives, little dragon-person?]