Legend of the Crystals

Solas's heart sank further. The sound of huge booming footsteps reminded him that he was almost certainly not fit for the terrors of the jungle. It was indication of yet more threat, as the sound of bickering broke out between distinctly humanoid beings somewhere between him and the oncoming terror. As to just how a fourth-... no, the group of humanoids was distinctly two different sides of a conflict... fifth party to this very point in the forest... well... he certainly was not sure. Nor was he particularly fond of the idea of a five-way battle. Hopefully a least one of the other groups were friendly... though he was almost certain that it wasn't going to be the monsters.

That meant his hope had to lie in the hume or the seeqs. Or both. Was there enough of a threat for them to temporarily call a truce? Solas hoped so. The hostile dialogue that had broken out sounded like the situation was irreparable, but Solas was one who preferred things to come to a peaceful solution.

Deciding to follow Dris's lead, not wanting to blow her cover against whatever she might be planning to do in the situation, Solas remained hidden behind the vines, not even daring to attempt to peek out from his position.

Elyssa had backed away slowly upon seeing the Seeq attack the creature, Treant Elyssa knew that was what the creature was. Her mentor had told her about the creatures briefly, explaining how they were gentle, unless proved.

Of course the Seeq had attacked, they were buffoons.

Elyssa considers her options. Fighting didn't really seem like a good idea at this point and the Treant was more then holding it's own right now. Elyssa took a deep breath and begins to back away, she was being careful, not wanting the Treeant to suddenly turn on her, but she had her weapon out just in case it decided to.

Feeling a mixture of anger and sadness as the Treant roared in pain, Dris thought for a moment about helping it defend itself from these invaders. She watched as the Hume stood cautiously as the Treant smacked the Seeqs against the Jungle walls with it’s other large trunk. ‘This Hume seems knowledgeable, she knows not to attack unless she has to. Surely, she’s not here to attempt to harm the Wood. Perhaps she’s lost too?’ Dris thought as the Treant casted Protect upon itself as one of the Seeqs slumped against the mossy walls, the other Seeq stood up and tried to wobble away.

The Seeq was speaking words that Dris did not understand; but she assumed that they were curse words of some kind, as the Treant gave a final arboreal punch of it’s flaming arm at the Seeq that had started the blaze. Both Seeqs were silent and laid placidly against the ivy, the Treant gave a wild battle cry. It’s odd, orb like eyes seemed to meet Dris’s, as if it knew that they were hiding behind the thick vines. Dris felt a twinge of fear, but hoped that the Treant wouldn’t think that a Viera and a little Moogle were responsible for the harm it had just suffered. After a moment of staring toward their hiding spot, the Treant twisted it’s large arboreal limbs around and continued on it’s way down the Needlebreak. ‘Perhaps it was heading toward the Rusting Chapel to the Feywood to recover from it’s injuries?’ Dris thought, feeling a pang of concern of the Treant.

Knowing that she couldn’t hesitate, Dris swiftly sprinted out from behind the vines as quickly as she could. She hoped that the Hume would get to safety, but felt that it wouldn’t be fair to risk putting Solas in more danger. She had promised him that she would lead him out of this Jungle, and she didn’t want to let him down. She might be considered a “rogue” Viera now by her own kind, but she would always strive to keep the promises she made.

Finally striding into the Paths of Chained Light, Dris placed her hand of Solas’s back, hoping that he wasn’t getting too jostled around with their quick departure. “Are you doing alright Solas? We’re almost to the exit.” She tried to keep her voice reassuring, but her throat suddenly felt tight and ragged. As soon as she turned the corner she realized what her throat was reacting to; there were two Malboros fighting each other on the path.

Heart pounding with fear, the sound of beings being flung around only served to frighten the small moogle even further. But when the sounds subsided, Solas finally dared to peek out at the carnage beyond the vines, watching the giant tree being stride off as though it had just completed a menial chore.

Solas was too shaken to reply to Dris, but he remained close to her, still worried about the other threats that were nearby. At this point, he just wanted to go home. He was done with the jungle.

Elyssa watched the Veira and Moogle on her shoulder run out, gasping in shock as she hadn't realized they were there, hidden in the vines. The Treant had wandered off, to her great relief, and the Seeq were taken care of for now. She was reasonably safe.

"Wait!" she called helplessly as she watched them go, unsure of if they had heard her or not. Elyssa sighs as she's left alone in the jungle, she carefully puts her katana back in it's sheathe and looked around helplessly. She had no idea where to go. She sighs, having briefly seen the direction the duo went off in, decides to walk in that direction as well.

She hoped she was heading out of the jungle, rather then further in. She needed to find a safe place to rest, and soon.

Clenching her fist within the Magick Gloves, Dris launched the spell Drain at one of the Malboros. She knew that there would be no way they could avoid being targeted by the two Malboros so she decided to attack from a distance. Feeling renewed vigor flow into her and drain from the Malboro she had targeted, Dris quickly casted Bubble on Solas, hoping to protect him by using the spell to boost his life force energy. The Malboros were closing in on both of them, their eyes pulsating in a wild rhythm, as one of them lunged, snarling closely at the little moogle, eyeing him like a tasty treat. The disgusting creature was almost close enough to scoop up Solas with it’s tentacles. Thinking quickly Dris stood in front of Solas and casted Decoy on herself and ran as fast as she could. The creatures immediately lurched after her, as she informed Solas. “Run as fast as you can down the path, take the second path left and then turn right to exit to the Ozome Plain! I’ll catch up!!” Dris ran quickly, leading the enemies back toward the Needlebreak.

Solas blinked as he was suddenly surrounded by magical energies. But before he could properly register just what had happened, a malboro lunged at him. He flinched and curled up tightly, expecting his demise... only for it not to come. When he opened his eyes again, the malboro was chasing Dris off into the distance.

Almost missing her words, Solas just about managed to hold onto the information imparted upon him. Determined to stay alive, he hovered up into the air and flew off in the directions he was told. He knew he didn't have the strength in his wings to fly the whole way, but hopefully he would be a safe distance from any monsters by the time the small webbed limbs got tired.

Elyssa had still been running down the path, she was determined not to die in the jungle. There were a lot of monsters around, but she had been able to outrun most of them, and cut down those she could not. It had been a little taxing, but Elyssa had faith she could make it.

Elyssa blinks. Someone was running down the path to her. Elyssa see's the ears and realized it was a viera. Maybe she was the same one from before? Elyssa had twisted, she had tried to get out of the way...but there'd be no avoiding a collision.

This was seriously not gonna be fun.

“Ah!” Dris gave a sudden shout as she tumbled down to the ground, the two Malboros zigzagging behind her. She had run into something but she hadn’t seen what, her thoughts were hazy as she tried to catch her breath after the intense pace she had ran. Catching sight of the same Hume that the Seeqs had been chasing before, Dris wanted to apologize, but knew that the Malboros were drawing up behind her.

Both Malboros took the opportunity to cast sleep upon Dris, their breaths billowing around her, just as she felt like she was suffocating, her eyes closed and she became overcome with the soporific spell.

Elyssa gasped at the Veira when she fell asleep, as she looked forward, Elyssa was horrified to find her eyes laid upon two Malboros. Elyssa knew she was in trouble...and so was the veira.

Fighting one might have been okay. But two at once? Maybe. Elyssa grabbed the Veira, throwing her over her shoulders like a scarf. Elyssa makes sure the Veira was secure, and unsheathed her katana, with Elyssa's free hand, she reached into her bag on her belt and pulled out an Ether, then she downed it. It wasn't much but it could have helped.

Elyssa decided to do the same plan from the Seeqs before. She unleashed a Wind Slash on both Malboros, hoping it would injure them badly.

Dris was still in the grips of deathly sleep when she was quickly picked up and thrown over the shoulders of the Hume. Being much taller than the female Hume; Dris’s body would make it difficult for her defender to move quickly. The two Malboros were launched backward from the force of the Hume’s Wind Slash and were inflicted with Disable; which would allow them to move forward or slink away into the jungle but they were rendered unable to attack until the status effect wore off. Both Malboros decided to retreat into the Jungle, turning their backs on the Katana wielding Hume; unable to attack the Malboros were immediately in defensive mode, these creatures were used to being the predator not the prey.

Elyssa was relieved when the Malboros went away. She shifted the veira slightly as she was on her shoulders and Elyssa contemplated if there was a better way to have positioned her. Elyssa knew there wasn't a better way, considering the veira's size. Elyssa started walking the way Dris had gone, hoping it led out of the jungle to a safer area. Eventually Elyssa had begun to recognize her surroundings, she knew how to get out of the jungle.

Elyssa jogged, reaching the exit to the jungle and stepped out onto Ozome plains. Elyssa glanced around for any foes, saw nothing and decided to check the veira for any injuries. Elyssa had a couple potions she could use on the veira if she was hurt, and if not, she'd be sure to ensure the veira's safety until she would wake at the least.

Solas was yet to reach the outskirts of the jungle. His short legs and panicked mind had gotten him a little lost, and by the time he had gotten back on track, Elyssa had already passed him. It wasn't until a short while after Elyssa had reached the plains that the small moogle wandered out from the treeline, entirely relieved the see the clear open sky above him.

Finding an area of soft grass, Solas stumbled out of the jungle and flopped down onto his belly, lying there for a moment to finally relax after a hard an arduous few days spent wandering around Golmore. Finally... it was over... he just hoped that Dris was alright. He was too busy lingering on these thoughts to pay much heed to his surroundings or any life that may have been nearby. I'll just... lie here for a bit... maybe take a nap... he thought to himself.

Her long silver hair and ears laying against the soft grass of the Ozome Plain, Dris’s eyes remained closed, sleeping like a log at Elyssa’s feet. The look on her face was peaceful, almost like she was a statue carved out of wood. Her dreams were nightmarish; scenes of Lilis crying, bleeding, calling out for help, the Eruyt Village was burning and Jote’s eyes were boring into hers with a look of absolute disdain and hatred. Somehow Dris knew that these weren’t real events, but still she did not stir, trapped in a nightmare from which she could not yet awaken.

Elyssa blinked in alarm as she heard something as it had come out of the jungle, and soft footsteps before something had collapsed to the ground. It hadn't been a big creature, judging by how soft the noises had been. Elyssa had casted a worried look to the veira as she'd had a nightmare, but quickly had gone to investigate the noise.

She'd found the source quickly. It was a moogle. The one Elyssa had briefly seen with the veira before. Elyssa decided to gently and carefully, as though not to wake the poor creature, pick him up and bring him closer to the veira so Elyssa could keep an eye on the pair of them.

Elyssa stranded guard over them until they would wake.

Solas felt himself being lifted up as he was beginning to fall asleep. In a dazed state, he wasn't yet able to currently comprehend what was happening; and the care taken to lift him wasn't enough to snap him out of his edge-of-sleep status.

With a soft groan of sleepiness, Solas mumbled to the individual lifting him. "Dris...? I-is that you, kupo?" He managed.

Still inundated with sleep and captive inside a nightmare, Dris continued to lay upon the grassy Ozome Plain where Elyssa had laid her. Images of destruction passed through her mind’s eye, what made this nightmare more torturous was the constant thought that she could do nothing to stop the desolation. There were several creatures that loomed in the sky of this odd nightmare world. They were unlike anything Dris had ever seen, their bodies almost seemed like fog, as if they were barely tangible.

The beings kept their distance from her, but also did nothing to stop the destruction of Ivalice. She longed to do something, anything…Even if it was just to scream in horror. Soon everything began to fade to white, Dris’s face felt wet as it began to rain a mysterious substance that appeared to be crystal dust. Blocking her eyes from the shimmering dust, Dris suddenly awoke her face moist with sweat.

Immediately seeing Solas laying on the grass next to her, she felt relieved that he was alright. But, then she began to wonder how she had gotten out of the Golmore Jungle… Suddenly she remembered the Hume’s face, the last thing she had seen before the Malboro’s noxious breath had surrounded her.

Jolting upright, Dris immediately saw the Hume from earlier. She immediately regretted moving so quickly, her head still felt fuzzy from the sleep spell. “T-thank you.” She whispered to the Hume, if it wasn’t for her knew knew what would befallen the Viera.

When the Moogle had spoken to her, Elyssa had gently replied,"no, I'm not them, sorry little moogle..."

Elyssa had then waited, guarding the moogle and Dris, and when Dris finally spoke to her Elyssa had knelt by her, and she had said,"It was my pleasure, sorry for knocking you over," Elyssa had sheepishly rubbed the back of her head as she said those words,"Are you feeling any better?" the young hume asked.

Solas was about to drift off to sleep, but the sound of conversation snapped him from the brink of unconsciousness. Stirring from his state in a dazed manner, he groggily sat up and rubbed at his eyes, pompom bobbing around as momentum from sitting up caused it to continue moving for a moment.

Letting the two females have their conversation without interruption, Solas stumbled to his feet and stepped out into the plain, staying close but ensuring there was enough space around him to get a proper look around. His eyes fixed on an area of bushes where he had stashed his hoverbike. He was lucky it was here and not stuck in the jagd... he had noticed the drop in power on his arrival at the jungle just in time to turn the vehicle around before it had gone too far. Now, however, he wasn't sure what to do with it. He couldn't leave it here, but he didn't think it could support two larger individuals alongside himself... perhaps he could be gentle enough with the throttle to keep it at a walking pace...

with these thoughts running through his mind, outside of his head he simple remained standing there, staring out at the bushes blankly.

The Viera shook her head, her prominent fur covered ears bobbing toward the Hume as she did so. “I think I was the one that ran into you back there…But, I feel a bit better, though a bit hungry.” She mused, trying to remember what had happened back in the jungle. It all seemed like a blur at the moment, and right now her concern was trying not to make herself seem dimwitted to the first Hume she had ever met. Looking over at the curly, brown haired Hume with curiosity and a slight pinkness to her cheeks Dris decided to introduce herself. “My name is Dris. What may I call you?” She said the words feeling a bit nervous and fearful, despite herself.