Week 4.

[azumods]

WEEK 4 Backtracking may not seem like an ideal situation, especially not given the situation on Sunday morning, but it isn't without reason or merit; after all, Lake Valor is within a reasonable distance, and perhaps more importantly, there's reason to believe that something may be there. Whether it's one of the Guardians you seek or something else entirely has yet to be seen; there's only one way to know for sure, however. So back onto Route 213 it is; you should reach Route 214 by Tuesday afternoon, and the entrance to Lake Valor by Thursday night; you may want to wait to explore the lakefront proper during the morning, however. Who knows what you may run into... You've seen at least some reasons to not give up hope as you left Pastoria; for the time being, let that hope give you strength. CURRENT LOCATION: ROUTE 214 POKEMON AVAILABLE: PLAINS/FOREST / MOUNTAINS/ELEVATED AREAS SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY [OOC: Welcome to week four of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget that a write-up is due next weekend!]

Comments

night

[semistableman]

[The strange bird-looking thing is new, so Bucky has to approach Ignis. It's noticeable, because like always Flora is by his side.]

You look exhausted.

[He can ask about the new friend in a bit.]

[discutio]

Oh, I'll be alright. Just a few sleepless nights, nothing more.

[Ignis shook his head, sliding the sunglasses back into place.

[semistableman]

More sleepless than usual?

[Bucky sounds sympathetic, coming a little closer to crouch near.]

You could probably do with some more substantial shelter.

[discutio]

...A little.

[At least he admitted that much, though it was with a slight and dismissive shrug.]

I'll handle it, there's no cause for concern.

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods. He looks worried, but of course Ignis can't actually see that.]

If you change your mind, the tent is big enough for two people. It'll be a tight squeeze, but if Flora and Henrietta can fit with room to spare, it should be fine.

[discutio]

You don't have to do that. [He answered with a small smile, hesitant as it was.] Really, I'll be alright--it's nothing at all.

[semistableman]

Sure thing.

[Bucky's tone is still light; it's not like he's been the sort of person to easily accept help. He's still pretty terrible at it.]

Offer still stands if you ever change your mind.

[discutio]

...thanks.

[The answer sounded halfhearted, Ignis not even quite looking in Bucky's general direction as he usually did when speaking with someone.]

I...do appreciate it.

[semistableman]

Yeah.

[He's suddenly not sure what to say.]

It gets kind of cold at night. It's a good thing you've got a new friend with you.

[discutio]

Hm...yeah, I suppose so. It seemed quite determined to make me its new perch--as determined as they get, at any rate.

[semistableman]

Kind of like Herietta, then. I'm pretty sure my head is her favorite place to perch.

[Probably because it's a high vantage point over any specific desire, but he'll take what he can get from the poor thing.]

[discutio]

I would think smaller birds would prefer one's shoulder for stability, but apparently I'm wrong about that.

[semistableman]

She only perches on my shoulder if I'm moving around too much, so I try to keep still when she's sitting on my head.

[discutio]

It's good to hear you're getting along well, by the sound of it.

[semistableman]

Yeah, I'd like to think so anyway.

What about you?

[discutio]

It's...concerning. Hemera seems to be making some improvement, but Sonantis hasn't sounded much different than the day I found him. Just as listless as ever. The bird goes without saying, but the state of them still worries me.

[semistableman]

Herietta hasn't really acted any differently, either. I guess she's a little bit better at accepting food than she was in the beginning, but I think that might just be because she's gotten used to me.

[discutio]

...What happens if that doesn't change? If the pattern holds and the only ones with even slight improvement are the ones we awoke with?

[semistableman]

[Bucky frowns, almost stumbling when Flora headbutts his leg without warning, almost like she's trying to tell him not to worry.]

I don't know. Cynthia said to find the lake spirits, and Saturn told us with a wink and a nudge he didn't find anything worth reporting to Cyrus. We're maybe a week away from the nearest lake.

I think both of them are counting on us.

[discutio]

I get that feeling as well. This is more than merely leaving us to our own devices for the sake of observation, and Cynthia doesn't seem to be offering us direct help inasmuch as traveling with us is concerned. There's more to all of this on every side, I'm sure of it.

[semistableman]

I agree. We're being led, however indirectly.