(Sorry I disappeared, yesterday was really busy)
"If you're sure…" Noah responded trailing off as they left the relative safety and entered the jungle. She contemplated her situation as they walked, it wasn't unheard of to be stranded on an Island, she had just read a book about a family getting stranded in the indies. True the book was full of coincidences and several animals that shouldn't have been running wild on the island were, but they survived. She soon cast aside the book as any pint of reference, it was a work of fiction, no such Island existed and if it did it was most definitely not this one.
"Ra'eon, is there anything in particular we are looking out for, any plant I should avoid stepping on?" She asked, pulling her skirt loose from the brush.
(You're good!)
Ra'eon followed the path as it led further and further into the jungle. If it weren't for the sounds of footsteps behind him, he would have forgotten about Noah. It wasn't her fault, but his mind was far away. What would he say to those people when he saw them? What would he do? Oh! Would they do anything to Noah? No, they wouldn't. He'd make sure of that. "Oh," Ra'eon glanced back at Noah, "I don't really know. We're going towards something that feels wrong, so if you see anything weird, tht might be it. And I think as long as you're on the path, you're good. If we go off the path, I'll show you the things you want to avoid." He smiled at her and turned back towards the front. The way they were going, it almost seemed like the disturbance was going to be right where his village used to be. And it was unusual– even as they got closer to the center of the island, the weird feeling didn't get any stronger. Almost like it was being dampened by something.
Noah, nodded , keeping her response from escaping her mouth, though it was something along the lines of "Right, Bad feeling Next we'll go this way fallowing the invisible floating feathers."She took it upon herself to keep them from being lost, flipping open the compass that hung around her neck and noting the direction they were traveling in. She then pulled out her journal and began to write as they walked.
I've discovered that my so called guide is leading us into the jungle trusting not but a feeling. Should I be following this person? At the moment it seems very ill advised of me to do so. Alas I have no choice, my food wont last me long and apparently this Island is yet undiscovered. There are many curious things to be explored here.
She continued to write, occasionally trailing behind Ra'eon a few meters before catching up, only to trail behind once more.
Ra'eon kept going, his footsteps slowing the closer he got to the village. What horrors would he find there? All sorts of nightmarish things ran through his head, but he quickly brushed them away. Worrying wouldn't help him. Keeping alert and ready for anything would.
This mindset did nothing for him as he stepped into the beginning of the clearing where the village used to be. Instead of ruins or nothing at all, which was what he was expecting, was… "A wall?" This had not even crossed his mind as being possible! Ra'eon blinked, staring up at the stone wall rising towards the sky. It was impossibly tall and impossibly perfect. This was definitely what he was looking for, though. The weird feeling continued beyond the wall. At least he knew what was dampening the feeling. "Noah!" He turned to look at her, a look of pure shock on his face. "You're seeing this too, correct?" Ra'eon gestured at the wall behind him.
Noah Looked up from her writing upon hearing Ra'eons exclamation. The sight of the wall shocked her, she was silent for a moment, then another. A grin spread across her face. This was a discovery, this is what being an explorer was about. "How could I not see it, It's Intriguing." She brushed past Ra'eon to touch the smooth stone, "How do you think this was built? It's so large how did they manage to get the highest stones in place?" Her voice was filled with wonder and her eyes with excitement. She began to sketch the Wall trying to capture it's likeness with her pencil.
Ra'eon waited for Noah's response, hoping… well, he didn't know what he was hoping for. It would be nice if the wall wasn't there, since it didn't belong at all, but that would also mean he was going crazy. "Oh, thank the gods." He let out a breath, then watched as Noah went to go touch it. Ra'eon was half-expecting her to disappear or burst into flames, but nothing of the sort happened. "I think it was constructed using magic. Can't you feel that unnatural feeling coming from it?" Ra'eon glanced over at Noah, who looked captivated by the wall. She was even sketching it. Since it seemed safe to touch, he walked up to it and brushed his fingers over one of the stones. A spark traveled from the rock to his fingers, making him jump slightly. This was no regular stone wall. He had no idea what kind of magic they had used to build this, but he was sure it wasn't a good type of magic.
"Magic…. sure." She replied not really paying attention to him. She finished up the sketch and moved her hand along the stone feeling for any imperfections or perhaps to find the gaps where the stone were fitted together.
"I take it this is a recent addition to the Island?" She asked. Her head ache was now nearly gone, and the excitement of a new adventure pushed what remained of it from the focus of her mind.
"It is magic!" Ra'eon insisted, looking over at Noah. "We should see if we can get inside. Come on!" He turned and started following the wall. There had to be a door or something along the wall somewhere. "And yes, it is. There used to be a village here– my village. It might still be there, just… behind the new wall." Ra'eon ran his hand along the wall as he walked. After a couple of steps, he glanced over his shoulder to make sure Noah was following. He didn't really mind her company and her getting lost on this island wasn't ideal. Back before he'd been trapped in stone, it might have been safe. But now? Any sorts of magical or non-magical threats might be lurking behind every corner. He didn't want to be responsible for Noah's demise.
Noah rolled her eye's not bothering to argue, "With something this advanced I think it unlikely that there would be a door at all." She commented as they walked. "Maybe there's a was in under ground something less visible that wouldn't undermine the strength of the wall." She theorized.
She was finding it harder to deny the logic behind magic being the explanation, the wall was so perfect, and unmarked, It was exposed to the elements and the creatures of the jungle surly there had to be more damage to it. She shook the though from her mind, Magic logical? Next she would be calling the earth the center of the universe. Her thoughts took a darker turn as a question formed in her mind.
"Ra'eon, what if the wall is to keep things contained, Not keep people from entering."
"Huh. I didn't think about that." Ra'eon frowned, considering what Noah had said. That did seem like something those people would do. Secret entrances and extremely strong walls seemed like them. What could be inside there? Noah's next question gave him pause. It could be that there was something dangerous inside, though he had no idea what that could be. "That's an interesting point. If that is the case, I have no idea what could be inside." The wall was too perfect to climb, but if he could get up there, then he could see what they were dealing with. Ra'eon knelt at the foot of the wall and pressed his hands to the ground. A low rumbling came from under his fingers and vines shot out of the ground around him. They wove together as they climbed, forming a sort of ladder all the way to the top of the wall. "There! Now we can check what it is." He looked over at Noah, waiting to see what she would say about this obvious magic-use.
Noah hadn't been watching his display of magic, She felt the ground rumbling and assumed it was some type of earth quake. She braced her self against the wall until the rumbling stopped. She looked up then and saw the ladder
"Oh you've found a ladder I see, well, that's convenient. Do you often get earthquakes in these parts?" She questioned grabbing hold of the vine. Contrary to her families belief Noah was no delicate woman, she was quite strong on one of her previous voyages she had arm wrestled, and won, against the crew. Even a woman had to hold her own on a sailing voyage.
"You've got to be kidding me." Ra'eon stared at Noah, confusion and annoyance written all over his face. The lenghts she went to in order to deny the existence of magic… "I just– these were not here a minute ago!" He shook his head, watching as Noah grabbed into his vine ladder. "So, that wasn't an earthquake. We don't get them… Well, ever, really. I suppose you're going up first, then?" Ra'eon asked, raising one eyebrow at the woman. If she did, that was fine. He could always make the ladder wider at the top so they could both are over at the same time.
Noah thought about it, "I can always stay down here if you want to go up." She said letting go and leaning against the wall, "It would probably be smarter actually, I have no Idea what I'm looking for." She moved a few steps away and gestured for Ra'eon to climb the ladder.
After thinking it over and remembering her previous episode she didn't think hanging in the air a good place to have another.
"I can keep watch from down here."
"Okay. I'll tell you if there's anything you should see up there." Ra'eon smiled at her and climbed onto the first 'rung'. This was going to be a long climb, but at least it was something active– something other than standing there. He continued climbing, moving farther and farther from the ground. The height didn't bother him in the least bit and it gave him a beautiful view of the island. The wall rose above the trees, even– it was definitely magical. There was no way anyone on that island could build something this high. Still, he'd never been up this high before. At least the wall gave him that. Ra'eon finally reached the top. He was breathing a bit harder than normal and tried to steady it before peeking over.
Noah leaned against the wall and continued to write in her book.
The Human, Ra'eon, appears to firmly believe in the existence of magic, but we all know that's highly improbably. we have come across a large wall built with some form of advanced technology. It does indeed apear magical but nothing the rules of science and reason can't explain
(Sorry it's so short I'm unsure what else she would be doing)
(You're good! It makes sense. :)
The ruins of a village took up the center of the walled-in area. There was a wooden fence surrounding it, almost like it was an exhibit. The rest of the area was full of huts– no, these were houses. People's voices carried up to him, as did the smell of cooking food. Ra'eon let out an angry breath and kept looking. It was a small kingdom, almost, completely cut off from the jungle on the other side of the wall. No wonder it looked and felt so sinister. No one was taking care of it. And he bet the people had done something to it as well to push people away, should they ever make it to the island. That was where his pearl would be, he was sure. Probably around the neck of the leader of this 'village'. Ra'eon climbed a little way back down the ladder and looked down at Noah. She was writing something again, but whatever it was, it could wait. "Noah! I'm going over the wall. You can stay here or come, but I must warn you, you will be attacked if you come with me."
Noah paused in her writing slid the pencil into a loop on the side of her journal, snapped it shut, then slid it into her bag. "Ra'eon," She said, pulling a knife from her satchel and attaching it to her belt, "An explorer is always prepared for an attack." She quickly redid her bun ensuring it was completely secure. Pulled her suspenders from her bag to further secure her skirt, before grasping the ladder, "Up we go then."
She began the climb, it wasn't difficult for the sea worthy woman, it wasn't unlike climbing up to the crows nest or climbing through the ropes to sew together the sails. she reached Ra'eon before long, "If you're going to be hunted I suggest we refrain from standing on top of the wall at all, lay low to it, reduce your profile. Do we have a way down the other side?" Her voice had change rhythms, her previous teasing lilt was replaced with a serious tone, "Do you know how to defend your self if need be? Also let's avoid the shouting."
"Alright." Ra'eon nodded and carefully widened the last part of the ladder so Noah could join him. It would be a bit of a tight squeeze, but she would be fine. As he waited for her to climb– which wasn't too long, actually– he looked over the island again. He would do anything to ensure the safety of the island and the people who lived there. Unless they were the one who had turned him into stone. Then his full wrath would be extended upon them. "Yeah. And yes, I do." The place on the wall where they'd come over had a few trees, so as long as they moved quickly and stayed quiet, it should be fine to go down the same way they'd come up. "I can defend myself." Ra'eon crept up the rest of the ladder and peeked over the wall again. There didn't seem to be anyone looking at him, so he called up another vine ladder. "Let's go." He slid over the wall and hurriedly climbed down the other side. He was going down so fast it was almost falling, but anyone seeing him wouldn't be a good idea. His feet hit the soil and he looked up to wait for Noah.
Whiile noah's mind did not fully grasp the logical explanation behind this growing of vines she did not question it. To an extent she had to trust Ra'eon moving forward, he was her life line, her only chance of survival. Though if he was to be believed, he was also, quite possibly, going to get himself killed and drag her along with him. Between probably being murdered by savages or definitely dying of other causes in the jungle she preferred the small chance that this individual gave her, she might live. Noah wrapped her jacket around her hands before she reached the top. When she reached the other side she grabbed on to either side of the newly formed ladder and slid down it. On the ship with normal rope she wouldn't mind a bit of rope burn, here in the jungle, she would rather keep her hands fully in tact, she hadn't yet reformed the callouses needed for such activities.She was in the air only a few moments before her feet touched the ground.
"What ever you did to make that ladder unmake it, get it down." Bright green vines against other wise perfectly unblemished stone was easily spotted from miles away. She stayed low to the ground and observed the surrounding area.
Ra'eon nodded and gestured at the vines. They quickly slithered back down the wall and into the ground, the vines on the other side doing the same. If by some chance someone from inside got outside, he didn't want them to see the ladder. He turned and surveyed the area. They were decently covered by the trees, though they would be clearly visible the second they stepped out from behind them. Ra'eon needed to find out where the leader of this place would be and quickly. The plan was simple: get in, get the pearl, and get out. Once he had the pearl he could figure out a way to get rid of anyone who'd participated in locking him up. A small path wandered by the trees, so maybe he could find someone and ask them where he could find the leader. "Alright, we're going to go find the leader of this place. Just stay there for the moment," He whispered to Noah, keeping his eyes on the path. There was a group of people walking down it at the moment, but he could see a single man a little ways behind the group. He would be the one Ra'eon would ask. The big group passed, all speaking in the same language Noah and he were speaking. That was weird. He shook it off and got ready for the man. The question of languages could wait until later. Right as the man was passing, Ra'eon sent out a few vines towards him. They grabbed the man and pulled him behind the trees as quick as lightning. He opened his mouth to shout but Ra'eon quickly put his hand over the man's mouth. "Shh, don't worry, we aren't going to hurt you."
Noah Was surprised by his tactic, Was he stupid? They would have to either keep this guy somewhere until they were done or kill him, letting an individual run free after kidnapping them for questioning would be stupid. She ignored Ra'eons instructions to stay put and slowly moved over to where they were.
"Are you mad!" She whispered As she approached staying hidden in the leaves, "I thought you knew what you were doing, But then you go off and kidnap someone, what are you planning to do once he's answered your questions? Let him go?" She wasn't done yet, she was clearly upset,
"Not only that but he was part of a group! Groups tend to notice when people are missing, groups also tend to look for said person! The smart thing to do would be to blend in with these people and get information that way. But evidently you don't have enough logic in your mind to think!"
To both Ra'eon and the man her voice would appear disembodied, flouting around from the branches of the tree's, It was now Ra'eon would find out she was a ventriloquist.
Ra'eon looked up, towards Noah's voice, which seemed to be coming out of nowhere. He hadn't really thought about all that stuff, but maybe he could make the guy forget? He hadn't done it in a long, long time, but he might be able to remember how to. Waiting until Noah was done with her weird outburst was annoying, but he didn't speak until she was done. "Well, it would have been nice to blend in, but the second you stepped out they would have known you don't belong. I mean, your clothes are obviously not from around here." In his annoyance, he'd let go of the man.
"Um, excuse me?" The man Ra'eon had kidnapped spoke up and Ra'eon whirled towards him, ready to shut him up again. "You're… you're Ra'eon, aren't you?"
"Uh… yes. How do you know that?" Ra'eon frowned at the man, freezing in his tracks. He would have guessed that the people who'd locked him up would erase everything about him.
"Kalani, Kai's great-great-great-granddaughter told us. She told us that the true guardian of the islands would return and set us free." He smiled hopefully at Ra'eon.
"Kai?" The word was almost lost to the wind. She had been the leader of the village before all of that stuff happened, and she had been trapped in stone with him. Although she was long dead by now, back before everything had happened, she had been one of his best friends.
Noah rolled her eye's, "I don't have to go out there stupid, also who say's I can't change clothes, it's not like they're permanently affixed to me being." She replied equally annoyed.
The Man's response did not calm her, it instead put her on guard, this was strange. He knew how to crawl into Ra'eons mind, obviously. That Kai must have meant something to him. he was either fallowing orders of some sort to get him captured, or he was being genuine, or he was throwing out names hoping to keep himself from being harmed.
"Listen, I get that this mission is your everything at this point, but you are my only life line Ra'eon, I can't survive out here with out you." she admitted after a moment, "If you get killed, well, I'm as good as dead."
Ra'eon turned to look at Noah, his mouth turned down. "Alright, then. I'll admit my actions were rash, but this man can help us. Can't you?" He asked, turning to the man.
"Of course! What do you want to know?"
"Who holds the pearl and where are they?" Ra'eon glanced through the leaves, but they were still alone.
"Oh. Oreni has it. He'll probably be in the main building right now. They're having a meeting," The man answered quietly, glancing at Noah. "Eon… who is she?"
"That's Noah. She's the one who set me free." He looked at her. Although he was grateful for her help, she was also getting on his nerves at the moment. "And don't worry. I don't die easy." Ra'eon gave her a slight smile. "Now, is there any way you could make that skirt a bit shorter? You probably don't have to change as long as you alter that a bit more." Long skirts and lots of fabric weren't really common there, since it was warm all the time. If people didn't look at her too hard, she could probably slip past everyone.
Noah nodded, only crying on the inside as she used her knife to cut the skirt to her mid calf, "Decent?" she asked tucking the extra fabric in her bag. She knew she was being a bit unreasonable, and probably more than a bit annoying. She was scared, of course she would be on edge, Her crew wasn't here to help her. She was useless here, probably more of a hindrance then a help. In normal expeditions she wrote things down, recorded their findings and analysed data. She knew how to defend herself but that wasn't her job, her job was to write things down.
Ra'eon assessed the lenght of her skirt and frowned. "I'd say just a bit more. To your knees, at least." He looked up at her and shrugged, as if to say, 'what can I do'. If she didn't like it, that was too bad. But he would think it would feel better not to have her legs covered in all that fabric. It wasn't cold that day, to say the least. "Now," Ra'eon turned to the man, "is the main building near the center? Just tell us, though– I don't want you getting caught up in all of this."
"Yes, you just follow that road and turn left the first chance you get. It'll lead right to the building." The man pointed at the road Ra'eon had grabbed him off of.
"Right, thank you. You can go now, we'll be fine." The man nodded and after checking to make sure no one was coming, jumped back onto the road and walked away. "Are you ready?" Ra'eon turned to Noah.
Noah sighed heavily but took her knife back out and cut her skirt to just below the knee's, it wouldn't be much longer then her knees when running around or sitting, it should be fine. She gave the fabric the same treatment folding it up and placing it in her bag.
"Mind giving us a good description of this building so we don't break into a random house?" She asked the man.
Internally she was judging Ra'eon's interrogating abilities, Seriously, who asked where a building was and didn't get a visual description? She also felt uneasy about letting him go, however, that couldn't be helped, they had to trust they moved faster then his words would spread.
It seemed like Noah wasn't that happy about shortening the length of her skirt. Too bad. The man paused at Noah's question, but Ra'eon waved him away.
"That won't be necessary. It will be obvious." Ra'eon glanced over at Noah. The man nodded in agreement and made his escape. Ra'eon watched him go, then glanced up and down the road. He understood Noah's want for a description, but he knew the building where Oreni was would be easy to spot. Meeting halls were usually pretty extravagant and distinct from the average house. "Come on." The road was completely empty– the perfect opportunity to get onto it. Ra'eon quickly stepped out of the cover the trees provided and started walking the direction the man had pointed. Hopefully Noah would follow him, though he couldn't blame her if she decided to stay. His whole plan seemed to be full of holes and dangers.
Noah was frustrated by Ra'eons dismissal of her question, though she didn't act upon it. She contemplated not following, she was inside the wall, it seemed to be some sort of civilization, she could theoretically learn how to live here. She dismissed the thought after a moment and followed Ra'eon. If he ended up dead after she left that would be on her conscious.
"You were a guardian of this place?" She asked after a moment, they had a way's to walk it seemed, might as well fill the void with conversation.
Ah, so she decided to follow him! It was probably best, as now he didn't have to worry about her getting killed or anything by the people here. Judging by the huge wall and the magic wards, they didn't like outsiders too much. "Oh, yes. Guardian of the whole island– all of the islands around here, actually. Technically, I still am, but… that Oreni guy seems to have claimed that title." Ra'eon sighed softly. Being the guardian of this place required more than just the power of the pearl. One had to be loving and care about everything and everyone on the island. From what he'd seen, Oreni wasn't doing that. "I guess another description for it would be a god, but I prefer guardian. It makes me seem less imposing." He laughed, though it was tinged with sadness.
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