It was strange, all of it. In fact, it had to be [i]worse[/i] for all those who were better-acquainted with London than he was. For Big Ben, the London Eye, and other buildings to be tilted and drifting slowly along in the distance - Indeed, for there to be even this close-by slight noise of stone-grinding, here and there - was disconcerting in the extreme. Hakuro had experimentally pulled out his phone to see if he could get anything going, maybe test just how much [s]Ray[/s] has gone bye-bye while Alex was taking a more hands-on approach at the moment, like testing the wall that should've been the direction of the school. There was nothing. His phone just didn't turn on. [color=00a651][i]I know it's got a charge. It just won't function. If this were a dream, I'd be willing it to at least light up.[/i][/color] Not that he actually [i]believed[/i] it was a dream, but he had to see just how 'real' everything was, just in case, and at least someone had to see if they could get out something as simple as a phone call, use a camera, or whatever else. That was going to be a decided NO, though. Finally, Hakuro saw that Alex was creeping along the wall while Ava watched, and he decided to take up the other side, basically across from him, to {A} get his own perspective and {B} cover him if anything happened. They were getting close to looking more clearly... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [center][h1][b][i][color=ed1c24]RAVEN[/color][/i][/b][/h1][/center] Somewhere... Going somewhere. Leading someone there. Somewhere safe. Lost track. Looked back. No one there. Who was it, again? [color=0072bc][b][i]...you're a pretty bird...[/i][/b][/color] Who said that? Did someone say that? What was she thinking about again? Lost focus. Pecking the ground a bit. Heard the distant lurch of stone movement and flew off. [i][color=ed1c24]"CAW! CAW!"[/color][/i] [color=0072bc][i]...pretty bird...[/i][/color] So hard to think. Always something slipping. Avian thoughts instead of her own, crowding her mind... That. There. Something there. People. Three people. [i][color=ed1c24]Oh no...[/color][/i] They were almost in the thick of it, on the very precipice of it, the Charnel Square where the feral ones would often feast. It was their feeding ground, a place to swarm and destroy and swell their numbers. Lately, they'd been thinner, but these three would provide new blood if they weren't careful. Her thoughts rang true on this, stronger now than before. Before when? Nevermind, this is important! She headed towards the alley, calling to them. [i][color=ed1c24]Don't go in there! You can't go in that place![/color][/i] [i][color=ed1c24]"CAW! CAW! CAW!"[/color][/i] She flew down, crying her lungs out to be heard, but they didn't notice! They didn't understand...! [i][color=ed1c24]NO! You have to listen to me! You have to-[/color][/i] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [i][b][color=ed1c24]"...STOP!"[/color][/b][/i] [color=00a651]"What the...?"[/color] Someone shouted at them from nearby, away from the corner that he and Alex were about to investigate, trying to warn them. It sounded like a young lady, maybe only a few feet from Ava, but there was nothing there but a bird, a raven... [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7pq68YAz2E[/youtube][/center] The hat boy sort of stared as the bird landed, almost looking out of breath, but very clearly anxious about something. The fact that it continued talking quickly explained matters...sort of. [color=ed1c24]"My voice...! I can talk! Thank god... You can hear me, right?"[/color] [color=00a651]"Yes, we can hear you. Who-"[/color] Before Hakuro could even ask, she suddenly interrupted, almost out of fear that she'd lose herself again. [color=ed1c24]"Don't go down that way! Don't ever approach a marketplace! They go on a feeding frenzy every time someone does!"[/color] [color=00a651]"Hey, we don't even know where we are or what this is."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"I know, I know... I'm sorry."[/color] She held her wing up to her head, as though to wipe her brow in relief, then looked back up at the three of them. [color=ed1c24]"This place is dangerous, a real labyrinth, but I can guide you out of here. I remember that much now."[/color] At the word 'Guide', all three of them would suddenly recall something very important. [color=004b80][i]One you must seek and one you must find. The Moon will wander along the path to this world. The Sun will guide you in this place.[/i][/color] Hakuro, not wanting to sound entirely crazy just yet, tested the proverbial waters. [color=00a651]"Uhh...so...listen...birdy-"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Raven."[/color] Her beak didn't even [i]move[/i] when she spoke. [color=00a651]"Right. Of course. Has...anyone else been lost here, recently?"[/color] Raven's eyes - those little red beady things - visibly widened. [color=0072bc][b][i]You're a pretty little bird, aren't you?[/i][/b][/color] [color=ed1c24]"Oh no..."[/color] She hopped in place, turning around to face the other direction. [color=ed1c24]"Oh [i]shit[/i]... I left him."[/color] [color=00a651]"Who?"[/color] She returned her focus to the there here now. [color=ed1c24]"Err...blonde guy, tall or at least I [i]think[/i] he was tall, blue eyes? He was...nice to me, and I was trying to help, but...I lost my head for a while. We should find him, if we can. I won't consign someone to this place. The labyrinth [i]alone[/i] is treacherous, but I can see it all from above, see [i]alot[/i] of things. I can get us all to safety, I promise! Will you trust me?"[/color] Will they? By that description, she'd seen Laurence. Even Hakuro knew who she meant, because he remembered that he'd taken his picture - among other things - from the tree. This Raven seemed like a decent enough sort, though. It sounded like she was struggling to keep herself focused before the three of [i]them[/i] came along. No, make that [i]four[/i] of them...