[img]https://i.imgur.com/9K79VIg.png[/img][hr]

Granoda [i]knew[/i] she should've opposed the idea of Noelle driving the cart more vocally. The fact that Noelle fell asleep at the wheel and crashed the cart didn't surprise Granoda at all. How she managed to get to B-rank despite such a heavy flaw in her ethics, Granoda had no idea; and even trying to speculate would wrack her brain into oblivion. She could only hope that Noelle proved competent when it counted. In any case, Granoda [i]was[/i] surprised by the amount of damage that the cart had taken from the crash as a result of Noelle's negligence.

[color=fff200][i]'How flimsy does that thing have to be to take that kind of hit from running into a[/i] tree [i]of all things? Bloody hell...'[/i][/color] Granoda shook her head in disgust, [color=fff200]"Alright, someone take over for Madam Sleepalot. I don't care who..."[/color]

...

Sure enough, Lumi had presumably volunteered to take over cart-directing duties, and no problems had arose since then... as far as running off the road and colliding into anything went, that was. As they drew closer and closer to the village that they were meant to be, however, a mysterious fog had enveloped the area around everyone, preventing everyone from seeing more than five meters ahead at a time. The timing of this fog was highly suspicious; and if the threats Maya told Granoda had any truth behind them, [i]now[/i] would be the time for those threats to come into play. Every fiber of Granoda wanted to wake Noelle the hell up... but at the same time, this was her chance to prove her capabilities as a respectable and effective leader. And if any of the three would give her such an opportunity, willingly or [i]otherwise[/i], Noelle would be the one to do so. That was the one silver lining to a field of black clouds. Granoda rallied the others.

[color=fff200]"Alright lassies... and Grisia too, listen up!"[/color] she called, [color=fff200]"As I'm sure most have you have noticed by now, this fog has gotten so thick that we can't see much of anything. It's at this state of reduced visibility in which our package would be at its most vulnerable, so we'll need to assume a defensive formation. Usually when I get people into formation, I'd have some at the front, some on each side and some at the back. However, if you'd each rather assume position near one corner of the wagon, that will also be acceptable in this situation. But whatever you do, stay vigilant and [i]do not[/i] break formation until this fog clears up; it's only a surefire way to get whoever we're meant to escort killed. Now then, if anyone has any questions... preferably not involving why I've taken leadership over Noelle for the moment, then speak up now."[/color]

As Granoda finished her rousing speech, a long whistle resonated throughout the fog. The rattling of wood, steel, and rock seemed to pierce the grating whistle. Just as unprovoked as it appeared, the noise silenced itself. There was only one thing that could be gleamed from the noise - it was getting closer.