[color=darkgray][center][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/KcJygoU.png[/IMG][/center][hr][B][COLOR=GOLD]Location:[/color][/b] Ruined City
[b][color=gold]Interactions:[/color][/b] Poppy [@dreamingflowers], Dallas [@pantothenic], and Desmond [@Theyra]
[b][color=gold]Mentions:[/color][/b] Akaia [@Exit][hr]

[color=Lightcoral]"I suggest we turn left after we cross through this street. The others are going into the opposite direction. We'll cover more ground that way"[/color]

The sudden sound of Poppy’s voice caused Erik to quickly whip his head up towards her. It was always a surprise for him whenever the scarlet-haired sidhe approached him. It was usually the other way around and the conversations were often one-sided. Should those factors have deterred him from interacting with her? Yes, but Erik is stubbornly optimistic. 

[color=gold]“Pops!”[/color] He greeted before his eyes looked back down the path ahead. He almost echoed her suggestion out of habit but remembered where he was. [color=gold]“Great suggestion Pops, but you know I’m not leading the pack. I mean everyone says I am, but I’m not trying to. I just say stuff and people follow and then y’know… It just um… Anyway, I think Akaia will make that left turn. It’s what I’d do too.”[/color] He shrugged. [color=gold]“I can’t imagine us splitting too far. We have to be close. I can feel it!”[/color] The revenant said as he trailed behind Dallas and Desmond. The former commented on his lost memories, while the latter focused on the potential post-mission storytime. 

[color=gold]“Just your family? Hm, you know some people in the commune might say their family [i]is[/i] their whole life. But hey, if you’re good, I’m better.”[/color] He gave his reliable teammate a single nod. On the topic of family… [color=gold]“And Des you can tell any story you want. The funny ones are the best in my opinion, but sharing a piece of you is always good for the group.”[/color] It was Desmond began to mention karaoke that Erik’s focus shifted again. 

Akaia vanished from view. He squinted his eyes, but nothing. 

[color=gold]“All right boys, let’s move up. We need eyes on Akaia. She might have ducked into a building, I don’t see her ‘sparkles’. Pops, you get up high to get a better look and so you’re prepared to notify the others if we run into anything crazy.”[/color] Erik planned to jog forward with Dallas naturally upfront and center. Erik remained several steps behind Dallas’ right shoulder, while Desmond would then fall into place almost parallel on Dallas’ left. [color=gold][i]Tip of the spear![/i][/color] Erik hadn’t been too worried as the three moved in a wedge formation. Sure, he seemed hasty, but he just wanted to keep everyone in his sight after what happened to Poppy.

Erik let loose a sigh of relief as they came upon the abandoned one-story building, and were just able to watch Akaia enter. 

[color=gold]“It was just a turn. Good. Let’s slow it down. We don’t want to give away her position. The girl is stealthy as heck, so I thi-”[/color] He witnessed the rapid dance of shadows inside followed by the clanging of Akaia’s staff, a hard thud, and the frightening sound of crumbling infrastructure. Erik’s eyes widened before he darted forth. 

A sudden faint familiar vibration that might have caused pause in a seasoned explorer like him meant nothing against the sound of Licorice’s cry. [color=gold]“Dallas, grab Akaia! Desmond, cover us from outside, there’ll be more drawn here!”[/color] And he wasn’t wrong as a few thralls and grimes in the area perked up from their mulling around, drawn to the sudden commotion at the abandoned house. There was also something else but Erik was hoping it was just the crumbling building. Even as his instincts screamed at him, his stubbornness screamed back a whole lot louder.
[/color]