[center][abbr=Ace Cadet][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img][/abbr]
[color=salmon][sub][i]Friday Morning[/i][/sub]
Word Count: 885 (+2 exp)
[u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 503/90
[b]Location:[/b] The Frozen Highlands[/color][/center]
It took a little rearranging, mostly in moving small items to his field pouch, but the new armor piece and weapon were safely stowed away in Ace's traveler's backpack. It did feel like such a shame to tuck the golden greatsword into the bag, it was only for now he reasoned. The spot on his back was currently occupied by the [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/20f637a4fd33.png]Crab Buster[/url], the one on his hip was taken up by the Yato, and he needed both of his hands free; while he trailed behind the drilldozer with the others as it ate through the ice, the Cadet was getting use out of his Alchemy Barrel. There were still some small berries on hand, plenty of debris like chunks of rock, and any chips of the natural armor of glyphids that got broken off when they unwisely tried going after the Seekers on their ascent. All of it got tossed into the barrel, which Ace casually held and shook at certain intervals as he walked. The result? Ammo. As much as he could make, especially while Blazermate was busy using her Striker to keep the machine running. He knew these shots would be compatible with both the new heavy bowgun and the Breechshot, which he'd already modified days ago to accept the more crude bullets of his world. 

It would be nice to try and figure out a way to make at least the specialty ammo more standardized for all the more modern weaponry the Seekers tended to come across, and then anyone would be able burn, zap, freeze, and even heal with their bullets. Something to think about after they got back from the Highlands, maybe.

It was only while starting to make them that Ace noticed he had a stowaway. With the things he was carrying plus the thick winter coat he wore, he hadn't realized one of the humbees from deeper into the underground ice caverns had clung to his back until it crawled up over his shoulder to request one of the berries. The hunter blinked in surprise as he turned to look at it, giving it one of the small cherry-like fruits without even thinking. It made a weird, happy noise that sort of sounded like [i]swaswaswass.[/i]

[color=salmon]"You planning on sticking around?"[/color] Ace asked it as it nibbled away. He didn't really mind, but the Seekers' mission was a dangerous one. He couldn't help but think back to the last critter he'd tried looking after, and with a tinge of regret said, [color=salmon]"the berries probably won't be worth it, might wanna head back before we end up in a real jam."[/color]

The humbee tilted its head and made no move to fly off, so Ace let it perch on him for now. 

He packed away the Alchemy Barrel when the first streaks of light and fresh air started coming in through the crumbling stone and ice. It was also only after they were just about out that it occurred to Ace that the whole mountain they were digging through could easily have come down on top of their head while they were drilling out. Thankfully nobody seemed to have worried about that earlier, himself included of course.

Once they were out in the open once more it was hard to tell if it was still morning or now afternoon given the weather and how the sky looked. The temperature was just as cold too, if not more so than the night before. Due to the higher elevation perhaps? Either way it was sure to make for a miserable hike, especially when the group came up to the end of the path that the stagecoach could take. 

[color=salmon]"If that's what the boss thinks is best,"[/color] Ace said following Ganondorf's grumbling, hopping down out of the back of the coach where he'd been assisting in offloading everything they needed to take with them. The camping gear had been mostly lost in the cave-in, the stew and other food eaten now while they had the chance leaving only some rations, but there were still a few things that could be carried with them. Perhaps most important of all the plant that was the area guardian's only weakness.

The hunter looked out towards the man made bridge, not for the first time. [color=salmon]"And she's not wrong, there's no way we'd get the stagecoach across."[/color] Hence the emptying it of anything that might still come in useful. Afterward Edward started the coordination to send everything they couldn't take back to the Lost Numbers, that was the signal for the group to prepare to move out in earnest. If Heismay couldn't find another route then there probably wasn't one, so across the stone pathway to the castle beyond it they would go. Ace peered at the stone fixture with the swirling arcane energy as they passed it and squinted at the looming building ahead, though he said nothing about it. He did glance at Edward though when he mentioned a siege of the castle, putting a reassuring smile back onto his face. 

[color=salmon]"Last couple places we stopped in were friendly, so let's hope for the best,"[/color] he said. Maybe this was even where that kingly cat had come from, and they could just mention they'd already gotten the feline's approval.