[center][abbr=Ace Cadet][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img][/abbr]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 1509 (+3 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 367/90
[b]Location:[/b] the Frozen Highlands[/color][/center]
It turned out that Mokou had not fallen into the water, as she reformed in the air only a little bit later. Considering she'd turned herself into a human fireball, it was a little surprising to see her just pop back into existence totally unharmed. Then again maybe not, if her power was some sort of magic. Maybe he'd ask about it later. What was most important was that she was now accounted for, so once everyone was out of the water Ace pulled himself up too. With the immediate threats dealt with and the way forward already cleared by Heismay and the stagecoach itself, he and the others could catch up with it at their own pace. 

Compared to the rest of Krat Zoo so far, the plaza they'd ended up in was rather nice. Quieter too, at least for now, though Ace didn't let his guard down too much. He looked up at the huge buildings and the tops of the trees that poked out from one of them, tracing them with his eyes. Eventually he came to the same conclusion as Heismay, that the garden and greenhouse were probably connected. 

There came a surprise for the group then, but thankfully a pleasant one. Ramattra had managed to catch up with them! He must have had an easier time in the stagecoach's wake as its new owners obliterated most enemies in their path.

When the monk (as he'd introduced himself as) stayed behind for some extra investigation into that mill with Kit and Celica, Ace had wondered if the three of them were going to attempt to reunite with the rest of the Seekers. They were all relatively fresh-faced, and the group's grand quest was dangerous, even if the morning had gone relatively well even with the coach being attacked as they covered ground - not to mention Ramattra didn't even truly understand their goals just yet. But here he was, with a small bounty of odds and ends and news regarding the two that had retreated back to Snowdin.

It was unfortunate to have lost two of the people that had set out with them from the Avenger even if they'd gained two more in exchange, but at least they were still alive. 

[color=salmon]"Glad you made it back,"[/color] Ace said to Ramattra, giving the omnic a good-natured clap on the shoulder. They'd have to take the chance to set Ramattra free as soon as possible. hopefully without having to weaken him themselves.

In the mean time they could all spread out and take a breather. Besides the rations he'd bought earlier and already stowed in the coach (which would probably serve them better staying out of the stew anyway) Ace unfortunately didn't have any food to contribute to it. He wished he did, as the smaller breakfast that morning was doing little to hold the hunter over at the moment. Maybe they could get lucky with the leftover reindrix spirits from the few botches capture attempts. Not long later Ace heard Sandalphon announce her intention to explore and looked at her. He still didn't know the archangel all that well, and he wouldn't have blamed her if she took a pragmatic approach and had suggested steering clear of mysterious, egotistical villains and just leaving the zoo behind them as soon as possible. However, the group's newly elected leader had so far shown that she had people's best interests at heart, and not just those of the Seekers.

Ace grinned. [color=salmon]"I'll 'grow' with you. I wanted to check out the greenhouse anyway. And who knows, maybe we can pick out some useful plants in there while we're at it."[/color]

Including the one they actually needed, if they were so lucky.

While the crew split up to chase individual leads, the Cadet pushed open the doors to the botanical garden, letting those that intended to investigate it inside. Immediately a waft of humid air greeted the Seekers, and as the doors swung closed to trap in the warmth and their eyes adjusted to the lighting, they made out the massive building's [url=https://i.imgur.com/tv8bQyG.jpeg]interior.[/url]

Even with glass panes forming the garden's roof, with the sky still overcast a lot of the light came from small lamps that dotted the area. Save for the entrance which featured a short, straight trail of stone that led further in, there were paths that twisted and crisscrossed not only the ground level but elevated walkways and even higher maintenance catwalks too. Decorative fences and fixtures lined these paths, and a few terminated in locked gates made of the same hard iron that could be found throughout the rest of the zoo.

And, of course, the [url=https://i.imgur.com/4hBNgmb.jpeg]central area[/url] was flooded with plants. Many, many plants that not only seemed to still be thriving, but had grown to excess. Curling vines, expansive leaves, colorful petals, weaving roots, and full grown trees were everywhere, obstructing much of the view from every direction. They swallowed up whole areas and pushed their way through the cracks in the ground, though for the moment they seemed to be more minor obstacles than true hazards... save for the [url=https://i.imgur.com/f9Tmfd8.png]toothy bulbs[/url], rooted to the ground and unable to give chase but that still snapped at anything that moved.

[color=salmon]"It's like a mini jungle in here,"[/color] Ace noted, reading one of the many plaques that had been staked into the ground around the various species of flora and were yet to be completely covered by the plants they identified. They showed common names along with scientific names, though only a few gave any additional information. Some of the variety were more interesting than others, like the [url=https://i.imgur.com/2qDIQMB.png]Bomb Spore Plant[/url] whose name said all the Seekers needed to know about it. The scoutflies buzzed around some more innocent looking plants like the [url=https://i.imgur.com/gb2Lhi7.jpeg]Star Brambles[/url] whose ripe bulbs could be harvested only by someone strong enough to wrench them off. There were also [url=https://i.imgur.com/pBtv3ij.png]pale tomatoes and groundcherries[/url] to be found among the underbrush, the resulting low light from larger plants' foliage not affecting their growth at all, as well as [url=https://i.imgur.com/mNsjXAJ.png]Popcorn Plants[/url] that looked nothing like their namesake until the hard reddish ears were struck, at which point they opened up and the edible insides were revealed.

Ace had absolutely no qualms about gathering up what he could as the group passed the various plants after sampling a few. A little unwise maybe, but so far no ill effects. If it stayed that way then they could throw a few into the stew pot!

As they walked the Seekers would still have to watch out for animals, though in this case it was mostly in the form of additional animal enclosures that added to the visual noise of the place and further obscured the pathways. These, thankfully, were meant for smaller creatures, and even those that had succumb to whatever infection had taken hold of Krat Zoo appeared unable to escape the still-functioning tanks they'd been locked into. While carcasses were not a present concern in the garden, it wasn't without its own dangers. Stalking the area instead were humanoid [url=https://i.imgur.com/bVmQwae.png]Arche Puppets[/url] with slender bodies seemingly made of metal. They moved gracefully and did not attack each other, but they were by no means passive. If the Seekers got too close and were spotted, the durable puppets made a beeline towards them to engage with an agile, acrobatic fighting style. Worse still the puppets were not mindless as the carcasses had been and if more than one fought together they would coordinate their offense and defense. 

It wouldn't be a stretch to assume they might be related in some way to the self-proclaimed 'puppeteer of death,' so the Seekers were definitely on the right track. 

They ascended one of the ramps leading to the raised perimeter for a better [url=https://i.imgur.com/hsXzTH5.jpeg]view[/url], but it hardly made it any easier to see. One thing that stuck out was what appeared to be a storage room off to one side. It could be assumed that various tools for tending the garden were probably housed there but maybe there would be a collection of various seeds for sowing too. The Seekers could still go even higher, onto the iron catwalks, and above that... the glass roof, and what appeared to be an attached penthouse room. Ace squinted at the top of the greenhouse through the windows. 

It was here that those who'd chosen to enter the botanical garden could split up even further. The storage room, the penthouse, the greenhouse... though there still didn't seem to be any path that really led to the latter. Well, that was fine - Ace could just try and forge one.

[color=salmon]"I'm gonna see-d if I can find a way into the next building,"[/color] he said, glancing down at the floor below where even now a few puppets were milling about. He could maybe brute force his way through and just head in the greenhouse's direction, but since the catwalks rose above most of the tallest plants an even higher point of view might help. With that he got to climbing. [color=salmon]"If one of you needs any help, just holler."[/color]