[b][color=goldenrod]Name:[/color][/b] Rowen Tuesti
[b][color=goldenrod]Role:[/color][/b] SOLDIER 3
[b][color=goldenrod]Location:[/color][/b] The Forgotten Capital
[b][color=goldenrod]Tag:[/color][/b] [@Holy Soldier]

[hr]

Rowen hardly needed the flashing red lights and blaring alarm to tell him what was about to happen, as the turbulent spin the helicopter had adopted had already been quite vocal in that regard. And since the initial impact had caused the white haired SOLDIER to come dangerously close to spilling out of the helicopter, just barely missing being thrown out into the open air by mere inches, he could also hear the whipping wind howl all sorts of promises that he had no interest in.

The force of the aircraft’s rotation pressed Rowen painfully flat against the hard metal wall. His right hand just barely managed to grasp onto something solid before the bird crashed into a tree, filling the air with all sorts of awful sounds of wood snapping and metal screeching. A second impact quickly followed, forcing Rowen to bash his head violently against the wall. Before the spots in his visions even had a chance to introduce themselves, what was left of the helicopter made landfall. It felt as if an eternity had passed before the wreck stopped spraying up dirt and shards of metal and come to a much welcome halt.

Consciousness kept trying to scamper away from him, but after some time Rowen managed to will his eyes open and keep them that way. When his eyes finally managed to focus, he could only marvel at how well the metal deathtrap had kept itself together, all things considered. With a pained grunt, the SOLDIER managed to pick himself off the ground. The deed was rather unappreciated by his body though, evidenced by the new assortment of bruises he had accrued announcing their presence with each slight movement he made, but he would live.

The imposters that had caused the mess all seemed to be unconscious. Rowen couldn’t help but think of the lives that had been lost because of their actions, his lips curling into a disdainful scowl. An awful impulse to put the cowards down in their sleep briefly crossed his mind, but the idea was simply too repulsive for Rowen to act on it. Besides, Lapin would almost certainly want these men alive for questioning later, so with sluggish movements he got to work ensuring they wouldn’t be going anywhere as he got his bearings, starting with the pilot.

But when he finished with the lab coat, he was struck by a stark realization. The case holding the artifact was gone. Green eyes frantically swept across the wreckage, but it was nowhere to be found. 

[color=goldenrod]”You’ve gotta be kidding me,”[/color] he muttered, the scowl on his face deepening to new levels of displeasure. 

A glint of light caught his attention. His head jerked towards its direction, his gaze falling on something outside of the aircraft. Rowen approached the object carefully, eyes scanning the tree line for any unannounced guests. A deep sigh of relief left him though once he got closer, as nestled in a patch of brush and dirt was the artifact.

A weary hand reached for his communicator. [color=goldenrod]”Lapin, this is Tuesti. I have the package.”[/color] It was hardly one of the most proper of transmissions, but Rowen figured that even someone as strict as Lapin would cut him some slack considering what he had just gone through.

Except… His ever dutiful commander hadn’t replied.

[color=goldenrod]”Lapin? Did you hear me?”[/color] His voice was tinged with apprehension. It wasn’t like her to let such an important message go unanswered. Another few moments of silence passed. [color=goldenrod]”Come on Bunny, talk to me.”[/color] Rowen’s face twisted with consternation as even the nickname that Lapin despised failed to get a response.   

[color=goldenrod]”Wait a…”[/color] His voice trailed off as he realized that the scene surrounding him did not look at all like they should. The trees were completely different, not to mention the fact that no forest near Bone Village stretched on quite like this one.

A nervous hand reluctantly retrieved the case next to him. [color=goldenrod]”Oh, what have you gotten yourself mixed up in now?”[/color] The question went unanswered by the eerily silent woods, except for a mysterious aura shining through the trees that almost seemed to be beckoning him. Rowen cast a wary glance backwards to the wreck he had emerged from as the grip on his rapier tightened. The options before him were hardly appealing, but with no way to make contact with anyone else, staying in place hardly seemed to be the right call.

Rowen did not particularly care for the idea of leaving his detainees unguarded, but leading them any significant amount of distance would be far too impractical. His teeth grit, unsatisfied with the reality of the situation, but his best bet was to try and break through whatever was blocking his communications and to double back to the helicopter with reinforcements.

With his mind made up, Rowen began walking towards the strange aura.