[center]They had resumed walking, after Anni had been calmed by Kate and the rest of the group agreed to continue moving forward. [color=FF7F50][i]Toward the only place we really got to go. Kinda excited! Fuck yeah![/i][/color] She didn't do much to show it, but Tabitha Calvicante was in a pretty good mood. Her talk with Tristan had alleviated a small part of her self-imposed burden; the two of them cracking open a door she thought had been locked with heavy chains. It was him, and that conversation that occupied her mind; at the moment. 

 [color=FF7F50][i]That's pretty deep, man,[/i][/color] Tabitha had said, a crooked smile making its way to her lips, [color=FF7F50][i]Ya speakin' my mind, here, really. I'm scared, too, ya know?[/i][/color] The latter part had been whispered, to avoid prying ears. Despite the strange change in their situation, Tabitha still felt she had her pride to protect. [color=FF7F50][i]Ain't no need to apologize to me, Tristan,[/i][/color] She had said, still smiling, hopping to put another step between them, [color=FF7F50][i]I always try to keep my problems to myself, and that ain't gonna cut it, I think. Ya made me realize somethin',[/i][/color] she grew serious, meeting Tristan's myriad gaze, [color=FF7F50][i]with what ya said about Rani and Lane. Ya absolutely right. They gonna be worried. They gonna assume we been up to somethin'. We gonna do our best to get back to 'em. To get back home.[/i][/color] It didn't [i]need[/i] to be said, but Tabitha wanted her new-old companion to know exactly where she stood.

 [color=FF7F50][i]Though, really[/i][/color] the Tabitha that was currently walking the path, trailing still behind the others, thought, [color=FF7F50][i]I ain't so sure we gonna make it with everyone in one piece.[/i][/color] Silver eyes roved over their backs. The cop, the light-hearted girl and her more serious companion, Ascot with his angel wings, Stormy and the psycho. Again came the crooked smile. Maybe she had been wrong about them. Maybe, just maybe, she would do what she could to watch their backs. [color=FF7F50][i]But I ain't got a power, like they do...but I can make that change, I already came close...and if not, fuck, I've got the gun Tristan gave me.[/i][/color] She trailed a sleeve-consumed hand over her face, over the long 'scar' of ink that sat opposite her teardrop tattoo. Again, she felt the force from when she had conversed with Stormy. This time, however, it came with a pressure. Her fingers hurt and her temples throbbed, forcing Tabitha to slow her pace; another hand coming up to cradle her head. Though it only lasted for a bare moment; it was excruciating, causing her to stop walking, leaning up against a tree, until the discomfort passed.

 [color=FF7F50][i]What was I thinkin' about, again?[/i][/color]

[color=FF7F50][i]...[/i][/color]

[color=FF7F50][i]Oh, right! What me and Tristan was talkin' about.[/i][/color] The distance they had traveled was apparent, with the slow shift of the landscape. The forest and path remained much the same, save for the thinning of the canopy and a slow decrease in the density of the trees. She didn't know, for sure, but Tabitha's gut told her they were getting closer. Idly she took note of a long, thick pillar of some rising in the distance. [color=FF7F50][i]We must be gettin' close! Hell yeah![/i][/color] Despite the excitement, she wanted to recall what had bee said. It was important to her, regardless of how little Tabitha wanted to let anyone else now she was lingering on it.

[color=FF7F50][i]He said, uh...fuck.[/i][/color] 

 [color=FF7F50][i]Pain [b]is[/b] a boundary, but not one that ought be left long unbreached. He got that one right, for sure.[/i][/color]

 Nodding to herself, she took more fluid strides. [color=FF7F50][i]Then [b]I[/b] said; We just gotta be willin' to make that step, right?[/i][/color] Tabitha wasn't sure if he understood her full meaning, but it wasn't something she was in a rush to bring up. Then they had heard something that actually brought a deep flush to Tabitha's face. A blush, for the first time in she couldn't remember how long. She desperately had wished Ascot would shut his mouth and leave her out of whatever he was scheming.

 [color=FF7F50][i]Though, on the real, it coulda been-[/i][/color] As she had, several times before, Tabitha gave herself a hearty smack on the cheek. Now fully settled into the present, she took her eyes away from the group and let them linger on other things. Irriss was full of small wonders, she had noticed. [color=FF7F50][i]Weird, pretty flowers. Some crazy mushrooms, here and there. And us.[/i][/color] [i]That[/i] made her think, again, to Tristan.

 [color=FF7F50][i]This moment pays for the rest,[/i][/color] she repeated, internally, kicking a small rock off of the path as she passed by, [color=FF7F50][i]We definitely payin' for somethin'. We already paid to be here.[/i][/color] She didn't say what had crossed her mind, at this comment. That they had more than paid for what was coming to them; whether that be for better or worse.

 Now, the pillar of smoke was a bit more pronounced; and Tabitha could swear that she heard heavy clanging in the distance. Thankfully the path was straight, and their view didn't change much; except the passing of trees and an outcropping of stone, eaten by vegetation, that came right before a bend in the path. [color=FF7F50]"If I was a bettin' girl, I'd say Silverbook is right over there."[/color] It was an utterance, as she was sure someone at the head of the group was already taking note about it; but she pointed anyway, smiling. 

 Indeed, just beyond the small stone veil; there was a city. [color=FF7F50][i]More like a pisshole.[/i][/color] A village, perhaps, given her lack of knowledge about antiquated habitations. [color=FF7F50][i]So this is where Magician is? I was expectin' weird towers and gargoyles, or some shit. Place looks pretty fuckin' borin'.[/i][/color] She sighed, a little; falling a bit farther behind the group.[/center]