[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hSbxgyH.png[/img]
[sup][@Pyromania99][@Rune_Alchemist][/sup][/center]
For a moment, as Octavia made that dumb animal look, Isidore wondered if he was truly losing his mind. Talking to animals and giving them complex instructions like this may seriously be a sign as to just how much his sense of reality had been disturbed over the past few days. But the demon dog took it in stride, and soon after, Ocavia was off, scampering towards the western peaks. He turned briefly to Augusta and Leuca, their bodies still entwinned with each other, and then said flatly, [b]“It’ll be a hike. Let her walk on her own.”[/b]

It turned out he was right on both counts. The sun dipped dangerously close to the horizon, and Octavia had indeed lead them to the ones they were searching for. The situation though, was unfortunate. There was logic, of course, in the occurrences before him. Sorcha had been pursued by Apostles, who she evidently had a hand in killing. Railey had been out scouting for the Stieneter, meaning he was likely in the area when one or more of those killings happened. It was a miracle, really, that neither of them had continued to fight beyond that first clash Isidore heard.

And as for identity, Leuca confirmed Sorcha, and Railey’s armor confirmed his own standing.

His eyes examined them briefly, lingering on the exposed upper thighs of Sorcha’s own outfit. Strange girl, to be sporting such wear in these parts, but it was certainly eye-catching. Undoubtedly, the great ugliness present in the world was counteracted by equal beauty. What a boon it must be, to be a man. What pressure too, to ever be considered a fitting match for these women.

Isidore glanced over at Augusta, silencing the question that was about to seep out of his open mouth. He settled for pulling her hood over her head instead, before giving her a pat on the shoulder. “Hoods up, heads down,” the man murmured as he stood up. He wouldn’t die, so he would approach first.

And a ‘ladies first’ mentality didn’t make sense when walking into a battlefield anyhow.

With a nonchalance that did not betray the primal apprehension building in his spine, Isidore crested the hill, and allowed his body to be fully illuminated by the setting sun. He looked down at the two below, his gaze sweeping from Sorcha to Railey, before he called out, [b]“Railey! Morgan requests your return immediately.”[/b]

All convenient truths. Sorcha would, if Leuca wasn’t lying, be on their side so long as the Sirithen child was safe, so all he had to do was rid her of Railey. By words, because even without blessed eyes, Isidore could tell that the best he could hope for was an exchange of lives if it came to a fight.

[b]“It’s a matter of urgency, if he’s even asking strangers to relay such a message.”[/b]

No sign of the massive centipede Railey had been pursuing. Who had ran away first, man or monster?