The forest goes on for a bit before it seems to seemlessly circle back around to the clearing, where Andreas would find himself exactly where had just been standing.
The thing looked smug as it turned to look at Aibhe.
"Sure!"
"You'll get loooostt!" Aibhe called after Andreas.
"I doubt you know the way either. Besides, getting lost is fun, it often leads to meeting new people! I met one of my friends that way actually."
"North it is!" They tossed everyone a compass… which should not have all fit in their tiny bag, especially not with a book inside.
Joe smiles. "I understand if y'all want to make "Joe Mama" jokes, I promise I'm used to it. Can you tell me about yourselves?"
"I'm Maria, a Chilean forest elf hybrid. I just started my, hmmm third year at college?" she glances towards the readers, "Is that correct?"
"Interesting!" Joe said, with a smile.
(I’m lost)
(Yeah, same here- I was waiting for a good point for my scrimble to jump back in, and I kind of sort of stopped paying attention-)
(Sameee-)
(ya im just doing random things)
Aibhe smiled, pointing at the compasess. "South!"
"Why Nortth?" Maria asked.
"North? no, South!"
"How about east?"
"Or West!'
"hmmmm, where to go?"
Caladium seems to enter a sort of trance like state, their eyes glazing over.
What are we doing? I don’t know. Let me out, I don’t want you murdering people. No. I need to keep you alive. These people might try to kill us, and you can’t fight worth a damn. Come on, they seem nice enough—!
They snap out of their trance, but they seem much less murderous than they did previously. Their voice seems lighter. “Hello-? What’s going on?”
"We are headed That direction!" They pointed.
Caladium nodded. “Oh. Okay then!”
Idiot. They could be leading us into a trap!
They put a hand to their head again, obviously in pain. “Shut up-“ they grumbled to themselves.
The thing turns and smiles knowingly at Caladium.
"No traps." they say simply. It was as though they could hear the voice in the girl's head. . . but that should be impossible, right? Not for him lmao.
Caladium stared at the thing, wide-eyed.
How the hell did it hear me?! I don’t know! Don’t trust it. Let me kill it before it can do you harm. No!
They shook their head aggressively. “How… how did you hear it— me-?”
Aibhe was smiling. They knew the audience, and the audience knew everyone's minds. So, with the right tugging… They knew everyone's minds.
Joe smiled at Aibhe. They were quite alike, she had found.
Aibhe smiled back at Joe, before nodding to the audience to thank them for the extra power they provided.
Joe went up and nodded to the audience as well.
Aibhe turned back towards the group. "Lets go northeast."
"oNwArD!" Joe exclaimed, stomping forward.
Aibhe giggled, following in a marching line
Andreas looks over his shoulder to see the group walking the exact same direction he is going a little ways behind him. "Hello there. You guys figure out a direction to go?"
"THIS WAY!"
"alright let's go!" maria was worried about caladium. she seemed at war with herself. no that can't be right, but with a little help from the audience, she could figure out what was going on.
Caladium stared at the thing, wide-eyed.
How the hell did it hear me?! I don’t know! Don’t trust it. Let me kill it before it can do you harm. No!
They shook their head aggressively. “How… how did you hear it— me-?”
"Magic, and a healthy serving of brussels sprouts." the thing smiles teasingly. "Recommended by writers all around the world."