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

[Action]

[guerriera]

Focus, North. [There's a slight stamp of one foot, as much to get his attention as it is to summon one of her spirits: Tobin arrives in a puff of magical smoke, bleating in startlement.] We will find him.

[He was going to start feeling sore once the adrenaline rush wore off. While speaking, there's a nudge with her hoof for the tamasheep, who proceeds to oblige her by casting Cures on North.]

I need more information, a sit-rep on your last location together. [She meant it when she said they'd all help.] How far in did you go?

[Action]

[brodakota]

[The cures do help, and North takes a breath, trying to remember as many details as he can.]

It wasn't too far from here. We'd gone in to do a bit of training, not too far, you could still see the entrance. That was where I lost him.

[Action]

[guerriera]

[ Carolina nodes, before looking towards the shadowed path into the woods proper.]

Did anything stand out about the trees in the area? Any unstable ground, or low areas he might of taken shelter in? [Headtilt] What sort of nightmares did you encounter?

[Action]

[brodakota]

[He has to think. He really wasn't paying attention to the terrain.]

Uh, tatsu steeds, icequin aces, nothing out of the ordinary for this world.

There might be a place where I pulled a rock out of the ground.

[action]

[raisethemoon]

[And then Luna drops down from the sky. If she's displeased at seeing Carolina still about, she shows it only for a split-second. The matter at hand is more important than any petty grudges she may or may not still be harboring.]

Agents. Is this the entire party, or do we wait for others?

[action]

[guerriera]

As good a place to start as any. We find the rock, then we can spread out from there.

[ ...Did the temperature just drop? Because it sure did just get chilly around here.

The grudge-holding is certainly mutual, if the way Carolina's ears flatten back against her head are any indication when Luna drops in. Green eyes narrow suspiciously, but there's no sharp comments - finding Theta is the priority here, after all. ]

I believe Noble-Four has already gone ahead.

[action]

[brodakota]

Yeah, he has. And Wash said he's coming to.

I can wait for him, so you two can go ahead if you want. We'll catch up.

[action]

[raisethemoon]

[Emile went in alone. Of course he did. She actually imagines he can handle most of the animals of the Everfree, but he'd best not wander into any Poison Joke. That potion takes time to make.

Luna darts a side glance towards Carolina and sighs.]

Very well. It would not do to leave Agent Washington to come after us on his own. It would take too long to list all the dangers just now, but on your way, do not touch any blue foliage, do not antagonize any wildlife or river serpents you may encounter, avoid any trees with facial features, and should you hear or see what appears to be a rooster, you must immediately turn and walk in the opposite direction. Do not allow eye contact, for a cockatrice can easily petrify an adult stallion in minutes.

Now, shall we?

[action]

[guerriera]

[ Emile was a SPARTAN. Neither North or Carolina could be remotely surprised by his doing that, pony form or no.

If she was listening to Luna's rather long and rankling list, the only sign was the slightest twitch of her tail. Only once Luna seemed to address her directly did Carolina look directly at the Alicorn, stiff lines of her body implying the likeihood of an argument.

Until she turned to North and carefully bumped his shoulder with her nose. ]

We'll find him. Don't take too long in catching up.

[ Only then did she turn, head held high, to stalk into the forest. Keep up, Your Highness. ]

[action]

[raisethemoon]

[She's probably like twice Carolina's height now, she has no difficulty in keeping up. Luna's horn casts a subtle blue light on their surroundings, and she ignores Carolina for the most part as they walk, keeping her eyes on the forest instead. Part of it is well-deserved wariness; most is just not really wanting to acknowledge her companion at all.

She wishes she were here with someone else. Dangerous or not, she was young in this forest once upon a time. But she's not going to tell any of her stories to Carolina.]

[action]

[guerriera]

[ Carolina has no problem maintaining silence as they step into the forest, not commenting (and quietly resentful) of the magic used to partially light their way.

Unhappy teammates or not, the search for Theta was now underway. ]