Chapter 1 - A Temple in the Sky

Out of respect, Iris bowed as she bid farewell, "Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors." She could only hope that the other groups she met in the future will be this understanding. Iris beckoned to Yoko, "Let's go," and walked to the left.

She would keep on walking until whenever Shossk and Layl would deem it appropriate to appear from the shadows to discuss the group's future plans. Iris, for her part, believed, "At least the pair that we met seemed like good folk. I think they're safe... It's just a shame that our circumstances really make it difficult to work together," and she would say as much after the group had stopped and gathered.

The lightness Shossk felt becomes heavier as Iris turned from the bear man, though the tension in Shossk's muscles lingers. He stares into the encampment for a few moments... before finally turning away himself to follow after Iris and the others.

Shossk emerges from the underbrush as the group assembles. He stares pointedly at Iris as she relays her news. "Do yyou believe they will be allies? I wish to mmake the most of this opportunity." His tail occasionally rustles the leaf litter as it twitches slightly.

"Ah," Iris turned to Yoko and waved her hands, "No... er... I'm sorry that I didn't give you a chance to talk. Sorry, I just kind of marched my own way through all of that without giving you a chance to think."

Then the rest of company arrived, and it was time to discuss matters. "I believe that Hurn, the one that looked like a Pokemon, is a good person, and while Selis, his companion, did not say much, they seemed to be of like minds," Iris explained her opinion on the matter, agreeing with Shossk, "I would also like it if we could team up," but expressed her understanding for the other side's situation, "However, given the conditions of AL's game, it is hard for them to trust us upon just meeting us. Maybe, if we meet again in the future and prove to each other that we genuinely do wish to work together, we can become allies then." Iris, herself, had to wonder if maybe she had been too eager to find and work together with others earlier. Hurn had made a good point, as hard as it was to swallow.

Layl finally speaks up after Shossk makes his opinion known. "Hey, no one can turn down friends, especially in a weird situation like this. I know I want as many friends in a situation like this as I can get."

She gives Iris a thumbs up, letting the girl know that she was 100% for the idea. Layl had been a bit...of a jerk earlier, so it's important to show that they're still friends, just not exactly besties yet. "The more the merrier, or whatever it is people say"

She then turned and followed after Shossk, intent on making sure that they didn't get separated...that would be bad.

Iris tailed Shossk and Layl, making sure that Yoko came with. She, too, didn't want to get separated. Being an amateur, Iris had thought to just sleep in another clearing, but Shossk had other, better ideas. She gave an "Aaah" of realization when she saw the place Shossk had found. She understood now, and set about making herself helpful. Granted, there wasn't much she could do. Her ability to perceive the future were no linked to that AL being, and she would rather avoid talking to it if she could help it. Unsure of what else she could do, she pulled out her first aid kit and asked around if anyone or their Pokemon could do with some really, really mediocre healing.

Layl looks around as Shossk mentions watch...she really had no experience with camping, so the idea of a watch hadn't crossed her mind at all. In the end, Layl had mostly just pulled out her tent...that she didn't exactly know how to set up. Other than that she had just wandered the area.

"Hm, I suppose I can take first watch? We hadn't really discussed it before you got here." She gives a shrug, not entirely sure how everything works. "I haven't exactly camped out before, I always was able to get back to my house at the end of the day when I went out world traveling."

Layl looked over, thankful someone had offered to help set the tent up. Sure, it probably wasn't hard, but she didn't feel like accidentally ripping a hole in this. It's not like she could just reach into her MoogleMunny account to replace it either.

"Oh, yes, that'd be nice, I've never really set up one before, so if you could show me the ropes, I can probably handle it next time" She also flashed Iris a grin, thankful that they were seemingly getting along. Probably more Layl's fault than anything, but she usually had Chirithy to help calm her down. Without the little guy she felt...lost.

Eventually the group settles down for the night. Shossk is about to go about the task of preparing basic defenses for the camp, but Yoko takes the initiative with her own surprising level of survival knowledge. Shossk merely follows her around and make an addition here and there.

It's decided that Shossk will be taking the 3rd shift watch position, and he does so once Iris wakes him. During his watch he digs out the single book among his generated belongings, one that has a picture of a mushroom stamped on the front cover and no other markings. He cracks it open more out of curiosity than anything due to his inability to read. Apparently AL took that into account, though, as its pages are filled with detailed pictures of various fungi, each listed with cartoony pictures of what ailments they appear to cause. This one shows a picture of a lizard face vomiting, that one has a clawed-thumbs up next to it, the next one has a lizard skull and crossbones next to it, and so on. There's even instructions for how to cook some of the safer ones, all in childish pictographs of course. If Shossk knew enough to feel patronized he probably would be, but as it is he simply scans through the book in between keeping an eye on his surroundings.

When it's Yoko's turn to take watch, Shossk pokes Calt. The owl gives a hoot of surprise as he jolts away, and he nearly falls off the top of Shossk's tent. Normally dartrix would be nocturnal, but he stayed up all day yesterday and apparently needed the rest. In any case, he does his best to help Yoko out during the final watch shift.

Shossk stares off into the darkness in the direction the large cat retreated. Several possibilities ran through his head, the worst of which being that the cat may have belonged to another group. That was unlikely, as this spot was chosen specifically to avoid being spotted from above. In that case it could be the bear-man's group, or perhaps another group got lucky and stumbled upon this camp.

In any case, staying in the camp seemed to be the most prudent choice. Shossk, though, shifts himself into the shadows. If another group approaches and sees the watchman has disappeared, they may suspect a trap and back off.

Assuming nothings happens by the time the watch changes, Shossk warns Yoko and Calt of what he saw before falling back to sleep.