[attr="class","skullbody"]AREA 2[break][break]
The second Isaac set foot in the wetland, he knew he'd made a mistake. The wet, clammy air sent shivers down his spine as it caressed him. While the wetlands were warm, the memory of
Cillian Quinn holding him beneath Sootpolis' waters was all too cold. Nevertheless, he fought to keep a brave face. It was far harder to fear the unknown when the known proved itself to be far more terrifying.[break][break]
"You holding up alright back there, El Sunderland?" The bad news about being a traitor was that the League wouldn't just let him run off willy-nilly. The good news was it was a lot easier to have a sponsor when that sponsor was also his little sibling. Hooray, nepotism! Hooray, having different last names and fathers!
"Can't say this is my idea of a morning jog."[break][break]
At least Isaac didn't have to brave the mud himself. Cambria's sloping cranium and towering frame made for a surprisingly apt ride in a pinch. He even came with handlebars! It was an alliance of necessity, the Golisopod making it very clear that as soon as they trudged onto dry land Isaac would be getting flung off.[break][break]
The fog made it all feel so isolating. Isaac found himself looking over his shoulder on a regular basis, as if petrified that if he didn't keep checking El would disappear. Maybe he was terrified that at one point it would be Cil standing behind him instead. Just the thought made his stomach turn.[break][break]
Needless to say, the second Isaac heard a voice cut through the darkness, he was tempted to run towards it. Only when he processed why those Kalosian tones sounded so familiar did he direct Cambria to stop.
Aurelie Lefevre. It was unmistakably her.
jayden cross made it no secret that, after his betrayal, everyone in Rocket would know what he had done. Aurelie never seemed the most dedicated Rocket. It was possible that she had never checked her communicator. It was possible that, even if she did, she wouldn't have cared.[break][break]
The possibility of being wrong filled him with dread. He knew he couldn't face her.[break][break]
Another voice, comforting for very different reasons, stole his attention.
Genevieve Cromwell. Thank goodness. A familiar face that wouldn't want his head for what he'd done. Isaac steered Cambria in her direction, the great bug making his way over to the sound of her voice.
"C'mon, El. Safety in numbers, yeah?"[break][break]
Isaac had already learned there was too much danger in solitude.[break][break]
Genny clearly learned the same lesson. She was already checking in on others, helping pry
NIKOLA SAMSA out from the mud. To think just two months ago the girl had been reduced to a bitter, angry drunk. Isaac couldn't help but smile as he noted how much she'd bounced back.[break][break]
She wasn't the only sun poking through the fog. Also heading to join them was
Zev Harcourt's sunshine,
Neffatari Nzingha. She had made brief yet frequent appearances around the Howling, even after Zev himself had stopped coming by as often. Just seeing her filled Isaac with a longing for those baked goods she always showed up with.[break][break]
It also filled Isaac with a mix of longing and dread for what once was and what could have been.[break][break]
He shook the thought. Nenet wasn't Zev. She was so not Zev that sometimes Isaac was amazed the two were together. Perhaps she'd invited him here, but knowing Zev, he had much more important stuff to do than to go chasing phantoms. Surely, the worst Isaac would have to endure at her hands was awkward small talk about why he "left" the Howling.[break][break]
Secure in his decision, Isaac slid off of Cambria's back to avoid looking like the cryptid of the hour. He waved to the trio to show that he meant no harm, Cambria awkwardly repeating the gesture.
"In this fog? I'd be amazed if you could even see it, let alone read it," Isaac said to Genny's silhouette.
"But speaking of seeing, Genny, Nenet, good to see you guys."[break][break]
As Isaac spoke, he flicked through his phone, its screenlight barely cutting through the fog. Sheesh, no wonder there were so many disappearances around here. For all Isaac knew, they were just stumbling blindly around the woods to this day. Nevertheless, he was able to quickly pull up a map of the region before offering his phone over to Genny.
"How's this work for you?"[break]
[break]
[attr="class","skullinfo"]MOBILE POST / @