[h2]Astrid[/h2]

Staring at the trees Astrid muttered to herself. "Not barbaric, merely elevated above yourself." Dez wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Normally she would have shrugged it off and reprimanded him for it, but something about the forest was continually drawing her attention. [i]Interesting you say. I do actually. Here’s a test for you. There’s construction in the forest. They had to cease development because the machines stopped working. They haven't been back because each piece they bring in dies...and so do the workers.”[/i] 

Dez was good, his words immediately trapped her interest. Ignoring the rest of the words that tumbled from his mouth she strode forward staring at the forest harder. Talking to herself she said, "Perhaps an acid fog that only appears at a certain hour. Would explain the workers missing, but not the machines. No no more a methane gas pocket. Workers get lost in the fog, machines stop working, people see stuff they normally wouldn't. Could even open sinkholes to make stuff disappear." She stared lost in thought at the forest watching fog billow around the trunks of the trees. Unconsciously she corrected Dez's mispronunciation. "It's 'jee-ah ghwich,' means God be with you. Not really the greeting you were going for Dez..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden punch to the shoulder. Surprised Astrid's head whipped up only to see her friend Sophia standing there. Smiling widely she grabbed her friend into a hug. "Hey Soph. Just figuring out the usual unusual." Pulling back she nodded her head towards the forest. "I'm thinking methane..."