[center][h3]Old Woods[/h3][/center]

[center]~[@Rune_Alchemist]~[/center]

[quote=Zasada][color=f6989d]"I dunno what's going on, my little avian friend, but when we get to Riventor, we'll get a nice warm drink and maybe tell stories about how we escaped some big bad monster by relying on our wits, hm?"[/color][/quote]

"[color=springgreen]How are you still so smug after all this?![/color]" Ibon asked as she practically dragged you onward. "[color=springgreen]I suppose that's we need right now. Reckless courage.[/color]"

Fortunately for the two of you, nothing else happened during your mad dash to the town. The thick, seemingly endless forest finally gave way to civilization. Technically civilization, Riventor was a quaint little town with no remarkable buildings save for a small mansion in the distance which had a sizable chimney that spewed black smoke into the sky and spread all over the town. "[color=springgreen]We-We're here! We're here![/color]" Ibon cheered.

As the two of you arrived, you see a familiar figure at the village entrance. "[color=springgreen]Wu? Is that you?[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Old Woods[/h3][/center]

[center]~[@Kuroakuma], [@Lunarlord34]~[/center]

[quote=Will-O-Wisp][color=f7976a]"Speaking of which, we should get going there yeah? That's where the teams would be meeting after the uh...early landing procedure."[/color][/quote]

Wu was silent for a moment, gazing to the obscuring woods around them. "[color=orange]Yeah, you're right. Let's get to Riventor.[/color]" He said, giving up his search for the missing Operator.

With Wu retracing his steps, it did not take long for the group to reach the clear dirt path that lead to the town of Riventor. The Defender told the group to keep their eyes open and their guard up since their missing Operator was suddenly whisked away without anyone noticing. Not even when someone was directly looking at her.

Fortunately, nothing happened when they arrived at the town. It was a quaint little settlement with no remarkable buildings save for a small mansion in the distance which had a sizable chimney that spewed black smoke into the sky that spread all over the town. "[color=orange]We're here. Thank God.[/color]" Wu breathed a sigh of relief.

"[color=springgreen]Wu? Is that you?[/color]"

[hr]
[hr]

[center][h3]Old Woods ---> Riventor[/h3][/center]

[center]~[@Rune_Alchemist], [@Lunarlord34], [@Kuroakuma]~[/center]

The two groups of Haynek Institute Operators reunited at the entrance to Riventor. Ibon had ran into Wu with a hard embrace, crying again but this time with tears of joy. "[color=springgreen]Wu! You're all right![/color]"

"[color=orange]Y-Yeah, I just ran into a feral dog. A big one.[/color]" Wu then parted from Ibon. "[color=orange]Unfortunately, I couldn't find Longgui. I did find survivors from the other teams though.[/color]" He then motioned at [u]Dragonheart[/u] and [u]Will-O-Wisp[/u]. "[color=orange]W-Wait, where's Blizzard and Rex?[/color]"

Ibon shook her head and Wu immediately knew what happened to them. "[color=orange]Damn it. Damn it all.[/color]" Wu clenched his fist at the seeming helplessness of the situation. "[color=orange]At least you and Zasada are still fine.[/color]" Walking over to [u]Zasada[/u], he then lightly slapped her shoulder. "[color=orange]This must be all pretty exciting for you, isn't it? Anyway, we should enter the town and look for help.[/color]"

Riventor was quiet but populated, mostly by Kuranta. The air was heavy and tense but also peaceful although the group was given some pretty sharp glares from the locals. "[color=springgreen]Ugh, what's that smell?[/color]" Indeed, a foul stench assaulted the Operators' noses. It smelled like food that was spoiled for a few days and Wu and Ibon were already covering their noses with their arms.

For some reason, [u]Zasada[/u] did not smell anything out of the ordinary.

The group ventured further into the town without interacting with anyone. Not for lack of trying, the locals were quick to clear out when they approached. "[color=green]Hey, you there. You people look lost.[/color]" The group was called out. [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cb/83/43/cb83430c308a3d68ba90d9bd19c2251a.png]A brown-skinned Archosaur boy was leaning on a wall of a dilapidated house. He had short green hair and plain clothes and had more reptilian features about him than a typical Archosaur, having scales on his hands and feet[/url].

"[color=green]Outsiders, eh? We don't get much of those. So who are you people?[/color]"