TEOCUITLATL: SQUARE G3

[saltybirds]

Despite having a stretch of sand in the north and south east of the square, most of this section is dense jungle. The trees start out thin in the east, with many flowers and smaller plants littering the ground to start. However, as one ventures further in the smaller plants disappear as more trees take over the land and block the sun out

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[emptytraits]

[From here.]

If there was one thing that Sync had been expecting from the rain forest it was the feeling of misery that it imposed upon anyone who was insane enough to wander in its depths. Of course, Sync couldn’t say it was miserable or else it’d shoot off some man points that he seriously needed to regain after the Ball.

Though it wasn’t like he hadn’t been in worse conditions, but just because he’d been through worse didn’t mean he’d have to like this either.

Even now beads of sweat poured down the side of his forehead, forcing him to reach his hand forward and wipe the droplets off before continuing his way, but he kept his trek onwards anyway.

[bloodinherwater]

This was why clothes were really a nuisance. They became hot and sticky and stuck to the body in a horrible way. Why humans were always so intent on wearing them Arietta could not understand. They also kept on getting snagged on the vegetation here, even if they did protect her skin from the cuts she would have endured otherwise. But she was starting to think that that might be preferable to being stuck. Maybe she could get rid of these clothes sometime later...

He had been vague in his answer before, but Arietta decided not to pursue it, instead asking. "Where are we going first?" The island had seemed large from the air, so they had a lot of ground to cover. Ah, that reminded her. She paused, taking out the knife and scratched away a small section of bark on a tree. She didn't make it into an arrow or any sort of symbol; the most important thing about markers was that no one else was supposed to know it was a marker. It would be a marker for Sync and her alone.

[emptytraits]

Even though they were fussing about with the different varieties of plants that were pressed together Sync still kept an eye on Arietta, making sure not to tear his sights away from her for even a minute despite being somewhat cramped against one another. Her question was a difficult one to answer, especially since the island was largely unmapped.

"Anywhere is good." Sync started as he breathed out a frustrated sigh. "We don't even know what the treasure is, so we need to keep an eye out for anything that doesn't fit."

It was a good thing that Arietta was marking up their path, making sure to memorize the portion of jungle they resided in so they'd have an easier time getting back to the ship when they do find it. His pace remained constant as he glanced about the dense brush, carefully pushing away the thin stalks and holding them out for the latter to squeeze through.

If there were pirates wandering about then it was better not to leave a trail for them.

[bloodinherwater]

"What if there really isn't one?" Arietta asked as she stepped through the small opening Sync had made for them. Even with her small size moving through this dense forest was difficult. She had to be careful not to wear herself out too quickly. Then she wouldn't be any help to Sync at all.

She didn't really care about the treasures anyway. She was only here because she had to be here. Sync was here too, so that definitely made things easier to endure, but still this whole treasure business was annoying.

"Ah!" Arietta said, pointing out the ruins, "That doesn't fit." Whether it was treasure or not would remain to be seen. Like Sync said, they didn't know what they were looking for, really.

[emptytraits]

"Then I'll be pissed." Sync hissed out, more to the idea than to Arietta. If this were nothing but a wild goose chase then he'd be sure to slowly strangle the genius who brought about the rumor in the first place. However, he highly doubted that conclusion, which brought about enough motivation to push forward regardless of the current conditions.

Though he had to stop and glance at where Arietta was pointing out those ruins, raising a brow as he did so.

"No, those don't fit at all." Sync concurred, already shifting his body about so they were now making their way towards the crumbled buildings and what-have-you.

[bloodinherwater]

The plants seemed to thin a bit as they came to the old structures, though some still grew through cracks in the stone. It didn't seem to Arietta like a very good place to hide treasure, but she didn't really care where they looked.

She ran a little ways ahead, though still staying within sight of Sync. He would get angry if he lost sight of her, and she didn't particularly want to lose him either. Though she had a pretty good idea of his scent by now, so if he was nearby she could probably find him, as strange as that was for a 'human.' She hated to keep reminding herself that she was one.

It was this skill that she put to use then, slowing as she neared the ruins and taking a whiff. There didn't seem to be anyone around, but she would wait for Sync before she proceeded anyway.

[tidesnpc]

Slowly, something crawled out from underneath one of the fallen pillars that comprised the ruins. It was a thin creature and small, no more more than three feet in length, but it's armored hide was littered in sharp quills. The plating covered it's back entirely, leaving no gap or opening for an easy strike. Near the front of it's head a small nose and two large black eyes could be seen poking out from under a tuft of quills.

Clearly, the creature was disturbed by the intrusion of its home. It's small legs carried it closer to the two foreigners before it stopped some feet away and let out a loud hiss; it's quills all stood on end.

It might be just defensive now, but if given just cause it would attack.

[layersoflazy]

Doujima sliced through the underbrush with her standard issue knife and dragged her companion along behind her, following the two teenagers. She was much less careful than Sync about not leaving a trail, cutting through leaves and stalks that got in her way willy-nilly.

They came through the last layer of foliage between them and the teenagers, then she looked forward and held out her arm to stop four-eyes behind her. There was something standing between them and their shipmates. Something little and spiky. Little, spiky and hissing. She took a step back as her hand inched towards her gun, then looked towards the teenagers to see if they had noticed.

It didn't look particularly vicious, and she didn't really want to kill it. Maybe they would get lucky and it would run away before anyone had to fire and give away their position.

(ooc: sorry for the deleted comment. It was an accident. )

[emptytraits]

Sync had known for a while that there were people behind them. After all, they weren't exactly being quiet about it, and the sounds of slicing were enough to make him hiss. Way to go about making a trail for everyone to use. But the damage was already done, and he wasn't exactly in the mood to yell at them and blow their cover.

He kept close tabs on Arietta as she passed him towards the ruins, picking up his pace when the underbrush thinned out around them. Though just as they got close enough Sync caught something else coming out from the corner of his eye, narrowing them as the creature drew closer to them before stopping.

But he didn't take a stance just yet, instead glancing at his companion before making a nod towards their foe.

"Arietta?" If this didn’t work, then he could most likely just knock the thing out.

[bloodinherwater]

Arietta hadn't noticed the creature before it came out of hiding. To be honest, she had been sniffing more for any other human scent in the area (excluding the loud and obnoxious crew members downwind of her) than for other creatures. This one appeared to be angry at them for invading its territory and rightfully so, Arietta thought. She, like Sync, made no sudden moves, though she cast a small glance in Doujima's direction. Arietta didn't trust the woman to be as careful as them. Hopefully Sync would keep an eye on her while she worked with the animal

[tidesnpc]

The creature was startled when a third and fourth intruder approached it, and it let out a louder hiss to show it's displeasure. The quills on it's back moved like rippling water before they resumed their stuck-out position, obviously distressed. The two original intruders did not make any threatening moves, however they were still in it's territory and decidedly unwelcome

[layersoflazy]

Yurika held her breath as the things sniffed at the pink haired cabin girl. The girl certainly had a lot more courage than she did. Her shoulders sagged with a sigh of relief when it turned away from the teenagers.

Then it turned on them.

And opened it's mouth to show...lots of teeth. Sharp ones. Just great.

Doujima swore, under her breath and took another small step back, into Four-eyes.

"You have your gun!" the man shouted. "Shoot it!"

"Hush!" Doujima hissed, still in a whisper. "You'll make it mad."

"It's already mad!"

"Shut up." Doujima whispered, as she weighted her options. When they got out of here she would have a talk with Four-eyes about talking back to officers during crises. But first they needed to get out of here, preferably without killing any mutant snake-hedgehogs. Karma had a nasty sense of humor about that sort of thing.

[emptytraits]

Sync didn't hold his breath as Arietta began to take her stance, instead keeping his muscles completely slack as to not bring any unwanted tension into the air. He waited patiently for the creature to accept or deny the latter, smirking out when the thing decided to leave them be. Sync was certainly pleased with the results, nodding slowly to Arietta whenever she stood back up.

However, his good spirits were shot down immediately when that idiot began screaming out like some pathetic twat. Sync's smirk warped into a snarl, whipping his head and glared viciously at the sniveling four-eyed fool. At least that girl (Doujima was it?) had learned, but he was far from pleased with what they'd gotten themselves into

[bloodinherwater]

Arietta rose only when she was sure that the creature had accepted her. However, it seemed like things weren't going to be that easy. With the way that stupid man was acting, she wouldn't be able to keep the animal calm any longer, no matter what she tried.

She found herself torn. The two may have been her crewmates, but Arietta felt herself much more sympathetic to the plight of the animal. If it came down to it, she wouldn't sit idly by to let the animal be shot and killed. It angered her that the man could even think of doing that. It wasn't the creature's fault, after all. Hopefully the woman would direct the man to follow Sync, as he was trying to lead them around the ruins.

As it was, Arietta didn't move from her spot, keeping a close eye on the other two. If the two could make it around, then maybe Arietta could intercept the animal and try to calm it down. Though, now that it was angered there was probably little chance of that.

[tidesnpc]

The creature was suitably confused and, naturally, frightened. The two it had faced were making loud noises and jerky movements, both of which only agitated it further. This situation was not safe, and intimidation would not work.

It was time to attack.

It curled up on itself, the eyes and mouth disappearing under one of it's plates as it did so, which only brought the quills on it's back towards the front of it's body. The quills shuddered against the plate before at least seven of them shot from the creature, aimed at the two loud erratic ones in it's way.

[layersoflazy]

Doujima swore again, this time not under her breath. As it so happened, she had put away the knife as soon as she had reached the clearing and reached for her gun, but she hadn't drawn it. Her hands were both free to grab the dumb struck Four-eyes and push him behind a tree as the spikes flew past.

As soon as they had flown by, she grabbed him by the arm and began to run , making sure that there were at least a few trees between her and it. Hopefully it would need time to set up a second volley, if it was capable of a second volley. She held one arm over her face, head down. The other arm was behind her, her hand still clenched around Four-eyes's forearm