[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/MKK5m0sX/Kid-s-Hat-2.png[/img] [i]feat.[/i] [h3][color=00aeef]Michael[/color] and [color=39b54a]Franklin[/color][/h3] [@thedman] [b]Level:[/b] [color=8258fa]4 (15 -> 18/40)[/color] | [color=00aeef]4 (22 -> 25/40)[/color] | [color=39b54a]3 (16 -> 19/30)[/color] [b]Location:[/b] Forest Temple -> Lumbridge - Malo Mart [b]Word Count:[/b] 1506 (+3 EXP) [/center] Exiting out of the blue door, Hat Kid skipped to a stop upon laying eyes on the two men from before. Surprised to see them there in the first place, she locked eyes with them in a blank, wordless staredown, narrowing her eyes with intense scrutiny of her presumed competitors for the bounty. Seconds passed, tension building between them, until… she eased it off with a gentle smile and shrug of her shoulders. What? You thought she wouldn’t be okay with this? Why [i]wouldn’t[/i] she be? They were people she at least recognized, both carrying a painting apiece. As far as she was concerned, they just helped her out by cutting her work load in half. She casually pitter-pattered over to the altar and offered to the blue flame its demanded sacrifice. [color=8258fa]”Two…”[/color] she uttered, picking up on her countdown that she previously neglected to start. As Michael and Franklin exited the room, it turned out that Michael's prediction had been correct. The hat-wearing kid was there, with the remaining paintings in tow. Michael tried to shout out to her, but his words were drowned out by the cries of the fire creatures. Looking down to their paintings, Michael gave Franklin a nod, picking up one of the paintings while Franklin grabbed the other. With all the paintings assembled, they could finally get rid of the flames and complete their quest. One after another, the paintings were dropped into the fires, until only one was left. With the last painting being placed into the flames, the cries of the spirits mercifully died down as the fire went down with it. Soon after, the woman who had been held in the center of the flames emerged, wrapping her saviors into a hug. Michael and Franklin stood there somewhat awkwardly, not used to being treated like the heroes, and Hat Kid tried in vain to free an arm with her face squished against everyone else’s and her hat tilted askew. The girl, ecstatic with relief, tearfully explained her situation. [color=8258fa]”There, there…”[/color] said the child while gingerly patting her on the back, so much as her overjoyed human constraint would allow. After getting her show of gratitude out of her system, she eventually released her three rescuers and dropped to her knees, likely too exhausted to move much more on her own. When she stepped back, though, it was clear why she was so thankful. The girl looked terrible- she was dirty, tired, and looked like she hadn't eaten or drank anything in days. [color=00aeef]"We'll get you out of here."[/color] Michael said, looking over to Franklin. [color=00aeef]"Frank, get her into the truck. Get her a drink if we have it, too."[/color] Franklin nodded, reaching out a hand to Tressa. [color=39b54a]"Come on."[/color] He would begin to bring her towards the exit, helping to support the girl in her weakened state. Michael, meanwhile, would focus his attention to the kid. He crossed his arms, looking down at her with a slight frown. [color=00aeef]"So...you mind telling me what's so important about that hourglass that you ran off by yourself? 'Cause I thought we were supposed to be a team here."[/color] At the question, the child sheepishly avoided eye contact with a delayed apology for ditching them back at the store, poking the tips of her index fingers together in a mild fidget while she looked for the words. It was nothing personal against them; she just couldn’t risk anyone beating them there to obtain it, and that going it alone was mostly force of habit for her. Plus, she came to this world with them (which meant they were hers to begin with, she emphasized), so that kind of made it her problem to deal with. She added that she hadn’t had the best of experiences trusting or working with others, with one unmentioned [url=https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/ahatintime_gamepedia/c/c0/BowKid.jpg]exception[/url]. Come to think of it, why [i]was[/i] she so atypically apologetic? She wasn’t (and never has been) really obliged to explain anything to anyone, and she was never sorry for anything she did, especially when it came to the less than savory people she usually had the misfortune of dealing with. But these two, everyone else, she didn’t actually [i]know[/i] them. The most she could assume was that the green-clad archer, Linkle, and Tora, the one who freed her of the Lord of Light’s influence, were the least doubt worthy among them in her mind. That reminded her… whether anyone likes it or not, they were ALL in this together. They would have to work together if they ever hoped to succeed in their ultimate goal. Perhaps, this guy was right. They were supposed to be a team, and she allowed her [i]personal[/i] goal to cloud her judgement regarding that. It must be little wonder that anyone would consider her selfish... Anyway, she thanked Michael for his and his partner’s help and suggested that they get going, conveniently and intentionally failing to address the first half of his question regarding the importance of Time Pieces. If he was paying enough attention to notice as much, he would understand why. Michael's frown faded into a more neutral expression as the kid explained her reasoning. He could understanding wanting to go it alone- he had dealt with plenty of people with that same attitude. He could also understand her distrust of others, since his life of crime had instilled a sense of suspicion towards unknown people and their motives. And since these hourglass things came from her world, it seemed that she viewed them as her responsibility. Overall, he couldn't find any reason to be angry at her. Sure, he was a little disappointed that she hadn't thought to ask them for help, but given that their team had only been together for a relatively short amount of time (even if it felt like an eternity), it was to be expected. As she finished her explanation, his brow furrowed as he realized that she hadn't actually answered his question. [color=00aeef][i]Ah, I'll ask later...[/i][/color] As she suggested that they begin to get moving, Michael nodded along. [color=00aeef]"Yeah, we should go..."[/color] He began to head for the door, but paused after a few steps. He turned around, spotting Baba still loitering near the center of the room. He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of the rabbit-like creature, but he wasn't going to let him be left behind in the temple. [color=00aeef]"Let me just handle this first."[/color] He walked up to Baba, looking down at the creature. [color=00aeef]"Uh...hey?"[/color] His words caused Baba to look in his direction, so he continued. [color=00aeef]"We're getting out of here. You should really come with us."[/color] Despite Michael's attempts, Baba didn't seem to understand him. Michael groaned as he looked down at the creature. [color=00aeef][i]He's an animal, Michael. Of course he can't understand you.[/i][/color] He crouched down somewhat, patting his leg as he looked towards Baba. [color=00aeef]"You wanna come with me, buddy?"[/color] He asked in as friendly of a voice he could pull off, patting his legs and making gestures towards himself and the door. That seemed to get his attention, the rabbit creature beginning to follow Michael. With Baba in tow, Michael headed out of the temple. [hr] Once outside the temple, Michael directed Baba into the monster truck before getting in himself. Franklin had been waiting behind the steering wheel, while Tressa sat next to him, trying to calm down and relax after her ordeal. Hat Kid mounted up on her vehicle--her slower, much smaller, and significantly less powerful Scooter--jumped it into the bed of the truck, ramping up and off one of the rear tires to do so, and parked it there where she would have her own seat for the return trip. Once everyone was inside, Franklin started the engine and began the long drive back. The voyage back to Lumbridge was easier than the voyage to the temple, thanks to the monster truck having trampled a path through the wilderness that they could easily follow. It was a long drive, but they eventually made it back to the town, Franklin parking the truck with the rest of the group's vehicles before shutting off the engine and getting out. Michael and Franklin both took a moment to stretch as they exited the vehicle, the blood flowing back into their legs after sitting for the entire ride. Michael looked towards Tressa as she exited the truck. [color=00aeef]"So, it was the, uh...shopkeeper guy that gave us the quest, so you should probably come with us so we can claim the reward. And maybe we can get you some food and water, and all that."[/color] He gestured towards the town's entrance. Kid, not bothering to re-park her moped, disembarked the monster truck and headed straight for the general store where she picked up her assignment--in less of a hurry than when she left or arrived initially. While the other two continued attending the ailing merchant girl, the behatted child led the way in, showing some consideration in minding the door for them.