Chapter 8: Jewel of the Nile
7:14 P.M Day One
Shore
Fishing Village (Center of Village)
The small village they'd discovered was far from glamorous, but the series of mostly-intact buildings provided shelter from the elements, along with beds and much-needed supplies. In addition, it sported a dock and pier to the north meant for fishing. They had tied their rafts to the dock.
"Thank you so much for all the tasty fish! I love you, Kogo, and everyone else, too! This has been such a fun adventure!" Madoka took a bite into a cooked fish held in place by a long skewer. Her nomming was only slightly muffled by the crackling of the firepit that sat in the middle of their sizable group. Most of them sat on makeshift chairs, crates, or boxes.
Shoma offered a look of disbelief before shaking his head. "You have a strange notion of what the word 'fun' means..."
"Hey, cut the kid some slack. Some people just deal with things differently," the stuffed cat said. It pointed at the Analyst with the help of Ayumu, who finished his chewing as he nodded towards Kogo. "Thank you for the food."
"It was no problem, everyone. I'm just glad I was able to get enough so quickly," Kogo said. "It was quite lucky to find the fishing equipment still on the docks, especially since this place feels like no one's lived in it for a while."
"Yes, I'm rather curious about why this area is abandoned. There must be a reason why the people left," Elena said, between bites of fish.
"Perhaps they were driven out by wild animals. The Nile River houses several dangerous creatures. There are crocs, hippos, and venomous snakes, to name a few," Natalya said.
The Ultimate Sniper nodded softly in response. "That's a distinct possibility. I noticed that several structures seem damaged. Before we leave, we should salvage what we can. There's no telling when we'll have an opportunity like this again."
"Now don't be gettin' so hasty!" the Ultimate Pirate said before crossing her legs. "Those rafts we used today aren't very seaworthy. I think we should stay at least long enough for me to make sure they don't end up at the bottom of the Nile, Savvy?"
"Yeah, that sounds good. Let's all get some rest and search this place in the morning. Some of the houses here are still in good condition, so we should hopefully get a good night's sleep," Asan explained after finishing off his fish.
Shoma frowned as he gazed around the camp. "Moving forward is clearly what the person behind this wants, so why are we doing that? At the moment, we're likely going according to their design. Perhaps we should reconsider rushing off?"
"What, you want us to wander off into the desert? We saw in the prison that they don't care about us dying off. For now, we have to play ball," Marcello rapidly explained. He crossed his arms over his chest. "We need to be smart about this. By following what they want of us, we can keep an eye out for a chance to turn things around in our favor."
"Yes, and that worked well for participants of the first killing game, didn't it?" the Analyst asked in a deadpan tone as he stared at the Debater. "Look, it's arrogant for us to assume we're going to outthink the person behind this."
"Stubbornly dying out in the desert won't work well for us, I can assure you." Marcello shook his head. "Forgive me if I'm wrong, but people survived the first killing game, didn't they? If you ask me, some people living sure sounds better than all of us dropping dead."
"You know, arguing isn't going to help us. We should work together to find out what we can do. Perhaps we should stay here for a bit to gather our bearings and whatnot. Once we do, we can figure out what to do for the long term. Is that acceptable?" Rika glared at the two young men with an exasperated look on her face.
Hashim uncomfortably cleared his throat and kept his gaze fixed on the fire. "I-I think a nice middle ground is the best solution. We stay long enough to gather supplies, attend to the rafts, and then we should keep moving. If someone had the clout to imprison us, I have to think there could be consequences to staying put for too long."
"I agree with you, Hashim. We must make the most of our time here. We weren't able to procure many supplies from the prison, so every little bit helps. We should start light at first. We don't know what could be living here," Jamila added with a smile towards the boy.
Nerai's eyes narrowed marginally. "All the more reason to take necessary precautions, lest we personally discover what happened to the denizens of this village."
10:35 A.M Day Two
Shore
Fishing Village (Damaged Building)
Nerai, Elena, and Asan had set out to see if they could salvage anything from the buildings. Most of the village was intact, but there were various buildings that had been destroyed over time. Many of them were small houses made of wood and limestone blocks; others were yurts made of leather hide, salvaged from animals.
The three couldn't help but grow a bit nervous. There were no signs of human life anywhere. A few desert animals, mostly small lizards, scurried away as they walked through the village. Nerai had remained mostly silent. Her eyes scanned every building they had passed. She finally came to a stop before a partially-ruined building. The wall had splintered and crumbled, but most of it was still in good condition.
Elena gave the Sniper a firm look. "You want to look in there? What do you hope to find?"
The Sniper stared through the crumbled wall a moment before responding. "Not sure, but there seems to be a lot of stuff inside. Unlike most of the other huts, this looks like a storage room. It's worth investigating, though we should be cautious. There's no telling how secure the structure is."
"Well, it could be dangerous, but it could be just as bad to not have all we can. It could be risky, but we should be fine as long as we play it smart. Plus, I didn't grab a lot, but I did get a good amount of medical supplies from that prison," Asan explained as he took the time to stretch.
"I'll take point and leave the door open. We might have to make a hasty retreat if things go south." Nerai gingerly pulled the door open. It let out a strained groan as it swung open. Dust bellowed out of the hut. "Hm, looks like housekeeping hasn't been in, recently," she said in a deadpan tone before stepping over the threshold.
"Guess the only treasure I'll be looking for is a can of refried beans. If I'm lucky, I'll find some corn, too," Elena muttered to herself as she entered the building. She looked around briefly, glancing at the remains of what was once the living room. "It's gonna be difficult to maneuver around this. Let's be careful. Last thing we need is a slab of stone crushing us alive."
"Heh, that sure would suck." The EMT followed after the others while looking over the destroyed furniture. "So, what do you guys think of all this? If the canyon is fake, what does that mean for this village? Could it have been made like this?"
The Ultimate Sniper ducked below a low-hanging piece of ceiling. "Doubtful. This village has age to it. I think it's more likely that it existed, but was abandoned. Either that or someone forced the population away. It just goes to show how much influence the despair movement still has."
Asan nodded and continued after the Sniper. "Tell me about it. Relief efforts are still unable to get through to some of the countries out there."
"What's more problematic is that, if we're in Africa, we're in one of the biggest messes on the entire globe. Nigeria was well on its way to becoming a first world country, and there were other pockets of society burgeoning, but most of the continent was still far behind the developing world. The despair epidemic may have set many of these countries back hundreds of years. It's very unlikely we'll find outside assistance," the Sniper said as she crouched near a ruined desk and searched its cabinets.
"That's reassuring. No matter how you slice it, we're on our own. We're gonna have to do whatever it takes to make it out of here alive. I just hope those trapped in the prison are faring better than we are," Elena added. She walked across the house, stumbling for a moment before regaining her composure. "I'll check the kitchen. There might be some canned goods we can take."
"Alright, shout if you need us!" Asan called out with a wave. After a few minutes of quiet searching, he looked over towards Nerai curiously. "So, if you don't mind me asking, you said you're part of Interpol, right? Is that why you're so well-informed?"
Nerai paused momentarily before shifting her focus to the EMT. "You could say that. I was well-traveled before Interpol, but information came even easier once I joined. Shame those connections mean precious little to us now, though I am pleased to note we have someone in this group beyond myself with medical training. There's a distinct chance your expertise will be needed again."
"I'm happy to be of use. It kinda bums me out that the only time my talent comes up is during the worst times. I signed up with Future Foundation to keep feeling helpful," Asan said as he moved over towards another side of the room.
"It's the gift and curse of being an Ultimate. We don't always get to dictate how our abilities are utilized. However, Future Foundation or not, I assure you that you've already proved useful. Madoka wouldn't have made it this far without you. She would have likely expired, or, at the very least, remained in that prison." Nerai pulled a rolled-up parchment out of the desk, then began to examine it closely.
The Ultimate EMT scratched the back of his head. "She was really innocent, so I would have felt bad leaving her behind. I've just always felt like I should be doing more. My parents always made me study more and do more medical training, so I want to get as much use out of it as I can."
The Sniper continued to eye the paper closely. "Hm, well you may very well get that wish. Looks like we have somewhere to go, by the way. Someone left us a map..."
"Whoa, that's some good news. What's it look like?" Asan walked over towards Nerai. "Oh, hold that thought, actually. I'll go get Elena. Maybe she's found something, too!"
"No need to come get me. I just finished gathering some stuff. I only found a couple bottles of water and some canned food. I don't know if it expired, but it's better than nothing." She placed her items on a nearby table. "So, what's this about a map?"
Nerai held the parchment into the air. "There's a mark on this map labeled 'Oasis.' The Nile will take us most of the way, then it's only several days on foot till we reach it. It seems we have some good news to share with everyone."
1:44 P.M Day Two
Shore
Fishing Village (Dock)
The Ultimate Pirate hummed to herself as she deftly worked on crafting a sail for each of the rafts. "Argh, this isn't my best work. At least it should get us into port, wherever that may be after this," she said to herself, having no idea that she was no longer alone.
"So, this is what you've been up to? Any luck fixing these up? We wouldn't want to sink in the middle of croc-infested waters, after all," Rika said.
Lucy nearly bolted up right as her hat slipped off her head. She caught it in the middle of the air. "Hah, nay, that wouldn't be good for any of us, dear. Don't ye worry, they'll hold together till we get to dry land again!" she exclaimed as she straightened and offered the other girl an appraising look. "Care to help a seadog with some modifications?"
"Of course! I wouldn't mind helping out. That is, if you don't mind having a landlubber assist you!" the girl happily replied.
"Course not! In fact, ye could say your presence is quite welcome. Ain't often a captain has such a beautiful lady around. Tell me, do you have any experience sailing as a smuggler? I might have a job for ye if we make it out of this accursed desert," the busty pirate said as she flashed a mischievous grin.
The smuggler flushed, shaking her head slightly. "I don't have much experience sailing, but I am a fast learner! If you teach me what to do, I'll be sure it's done to the best of my ability!" Rika gave the Pirate a smile.
Lucy approached the girl with a cocky swagger as she rested a hand on her hip. "Don't you worry, I'm quite a good teacher. Just stick with me, and I'll get you some sea legs in no time. First thing we're gonna start with is teaching you how to tie a proper knot. You'd be surprised how something so simple is crucial on the high seas or any body of water."
"Okay, the only knot I learned how to tie was the Alpine Butterfly knot. I'm not sure if I can use that here, but it shouldn't be too hard to learn a few others."
"When we're done, you'll know about plenty more knots, including the ones in your stomach!" the Pirate boasted as she crossed her arms. "Let's start by seeing your Alpine Butterfly in action. I wanna see what you can do. Give it a go on the extra bit of rope I got here." She gestured at the coil that lay on the dock.
Rika nodded and took a hold of the rope. "This was the first one I learned. It's a basic climbing knot, and quite the helpful one. All you do is twist the top, slip this part through here, and pull like so..." she said while easily tying the loop. She then gave the rope a tug and held it out to the Pirate. "There you are, one Alpine butterfly knot!"
Lucy took the rope before inspecting it closely. "Aye, that it is. Heck of a job at that. This should work fine for what we need. We can go through a crash course after we're done with this. We just need to make sure these makeshift sails don't collapse and that the rafts themselves stay in one piece. Think ye can start with the one I haven't gotten to? I haven't affixed the sail yet."
"Aye, aye, Captain! I'll take care of that right away!" Rika said, giving the woman a salute. She walked over to one of the other rafts, taking a hold of the nearby rope.
The Pirate watched the other girl pass with an appreciative gaze as her eyes wandered. "I know who my first mate is now..." she said under her breath before adjusting her hat. "Heh, that's the spirit, lass. If you need any help, don't ye hesitate to ask!"
4:29 P.M Day Two
Shore
Fishing Village (North Pier)
The Ultimate Archaeologist adjusted his glasses before eying the large net filled with fish. His gaze then shifted towards Kogo, who sat at the end of the small pier with a simple fishing rod in her hand. "Are you sure you're not the Ultimate Fisherman?" he joked as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "...We're really lucky to have you - uh, no pun intended."
"Heh, I've just spent a lot of time fishing. That's all. My hometown is famous for being a fishing village in the modern age," the girl explained. She then patted the spot next to her with a soft smile. "It's something I've always enjoyed. Have you ever fished before, Hashim?"
Hashim fidgeted in place before hesitantly moving forward and taking a seat next to the Ultimate Charm. "J-Just once while on a boat in the Mediterranean. Growing up, my father never approved of extracurricular activities. They were just a waste of time in his eyes. When I lived with my grandfather, our idea of fun was to explore old and forgotten ruins, so I'm sure almost anyone would have an edge on me." He stared at the fishing line that was fed into the murky water.
"My parents never liked me spending my time on anything they didn't approve of, but my uncle was glad to let me join him on his fishing trips. Just getting to sail away from my troubles for a few hours was the best. I'm sure you've had great times with your grandad, at least. Would you like to give it a try?" Kogo held the rod out to him.
"Sometimes finding an escape is nice, isn't it?" He eyed the rod. "...I'll try my best. Just try to not laugh too hard when I get it hung in something," the boy mumbled as he accepted the pole from her.
The girl happily watched Hashim adjust the fishing rod. "Don't worry about it so much. We have a lot of food for right now, so this is just for fun."
The Archaeologist offered a shy smile as he awkwardly held the rod. Every so often, he snuck a glance at her. "K-Kogo, could I ask you something? To be honest, it's something I've been wondering since yesterday. Why nominate me to be a leader? I mean, I'm not the most intelligent, charismatic, or even best trained for this."
Kogo placed her hand onto the boy's. "Please, stop talking like that, Hashim. When the doors first opened, you knew just what to do. Even though you were scared, you saved my life. Even if things get bad, I'm confident you'll still be able to make the right call."
The boy nearly jumped as she rested her hand on his. "I-I was just afraid. That doesn't make me a good leader. It only makes me a coward who didn't want to die. You connect with people in a way that I'll never be able to. I belong in a tomb by myself, not in charge of people's lives. What happens if I get one of you killed?"
"After that prison, we're all worried about this stuff. Sure, I may be good with people, but I don't know anything about surviving the desert. I know you know what to do. You just don't trust yourself." Kogo pulled her hand away, having felt him flinch. "Worrying about getting everyone killed is only going to make it worse. We all know what the stakes are, and Nerai made it clear that it isn't all on you."
"Sorry. I'm being over-dramatic, aren't I?" Hashim asked with a strained smile. "I'm just not used to having people count on me. I have to admit, though part of me feels honored that anyone would trust me enough, the other part of me is trying to not panic."
Kogo nodded as she looked back over the river. "I can't speak for everyone, but I know I've had some anxiety growing since the countdown started. I started feeling a bit better once we got outside, though. I'll make you a deal. If you ever feel like it's getting too much for you to bear, come talk to me about it. It has to be better than holding it in and stressing over it, right?"
The boy offered her a genuine smile. "Th-Thanks, Kogo. I-I'm glad I have someone to lean on. I can't remember the last time I've had that..."
9:04 P.M Day Two
Shore
Fishing Village (Campfire)
Darkness had fallen over the village once more, marking the end of the second day. The crackling flames served as the only source of light. Despite not having any music, the Ultimate Fire Dancer found it easy to dance. Although she lacked some of her torches and fire rings, she was still able to perform her routine. Her lithe movements and dainty steps served to highlight her grace and poise. The shadows moved with her every step, almost serving as a partner of sorts.
Her eyes were firmly closed as she focused on her steps. She had done this routine hundreds of times before. Her bracelets jingled with every action, reminding her of the last time she had performed it. Jamila tried to put those thoughts on the backburner, wanting to focus solely on her dance.
Madoka stared with wide, shiny eyes at the display. "Oh my gosh! She's so cooool!" she gushed excitedly before shaking Ayumu lightly. "Hey, Ayumu-chan, Neko-chan, do you think she could teach us?"
"I'm sure you kids could do it, but I doubt my body could move that gracefully," Hairroneko mused from Ayumu's arms. The boy himself looked on in awe, watching Jamila's movements.
"Don't sell yourself short, Neko-chan! I bet you could put on quite a show," the Barista said with a fervent nod of her head. She then returned her attention to the Fire Dancer. "You know, Jam-Jam sure has pretty skin. It almost looks blue in this light."
"Huh... it does," Ayumu muttered softly.
"With all her body art, I'm not surprised. Even then, what's it matter if she does?" the cat plush asked with a shrug. Ayumu cast his gaze down to Hairroneko and, after a moment of contemplating, shrugged as well.
Without warning, the Barista hopped to her feet with a starry look in her eyes. "Jam-Jam, teach me your ways! I wanna learn!" She made her way towards the Fire Dancer and began to awkwardly wriggle her body like a worm. "Eh, how's this?" Madoka asked with an infectious grin.
Jamila stopped mid-step, panting a bit as she looked at the girl. "Um… that's not how I would do it. You have to feel the music flowing through you, and move with it. Sadly, we don't have any music, but I've done this routine enough times for me to remember the steps," she said.
"So that's how it is, huh? Darn, guess it'll have to wait till we have some proper music, then. It would be nice to have some coffee, too. My energy levels have been really low," Madoka admitted as she crossed her sleeved arms. She suddenly peered over her shoulder with wide eyes. "Wait, Neko-chan, can you play some music or something? Then Jam-Jam can show Ayumu-Chan and I how to dance!"
"I... um..." the Toy Maker stuttered as he hid himself behind his hair.
"Come on, Ayu. Two cute girls in front of you and you're still hiding away. I would've thought that the only silver lining to this while situation was that you couldn't hide yourself out here." Hairroneko gave a sigh. "Sorry, girls, I can't play any music for you. Never was much of a musician, honestly."
"It's alright, I'm sure we can improvise. Pay close attention. Once you get your hip movements down, the rest becomes easy," Jamila said with a confident look aimed towards the pair.
"Hip movement. Got it!" Madoka said while scrunching up her face. She then jogged back to where the Plush Maker was seated. "Come on, Ayumu-chan! You can't learn to dance while sitting, right? Let's get them hips moving!" She extended a hand towards the boy.
Ayumu stared at the hand for a few moments before looking down at Hairroneko. With a shaky breath, he tentatively got up with Madoka's assistance. He left the plush toy on the seat and joined the others by the fire. Ayumu awkwardly stood by while rubbing his forearm. "S-So... what's first?"
"W-well, it's a bit hard to explain, but… What you wanna do is move your hips to the sides. It's almost like a small thrust," she said, briefly showing them the move. "I usually have my arms above my head, so they don't get in the way,"
"Thrust? Like this?" Madoka asked. She tried to mirror the Dancer, but her motions looked far more perverse by comparison. Ayumu, on the other hand, offered an attempt, but was clearly too stiff. It was obvious how uncomfortable he was.
The trio soon registered a throat being cleared before noticing Nerai standing a few feet away. She raised a single brow. "I apologize if I interrupted… whatever it was you were attempting to do, but everyone is gathering. The plan is to discuss our next step when we leave tomorrow.."
9:20 P.M Day Two
Shore
Fishing Village (Center of Village)
Shoma eyed the Ultimate Archaeologist with a serious expression as the entire group huddled around a large bonfire. "For the record, I still think leaving so soon is a bad idea. I know when I'm in the minority, though. You do have a plan though, don't you?"
"...Y-Yes, it's fairly simple. Nerai discovered a map that seems to lead to what is described as Oasis. We'll take the Nile for as long as we can, and disembark when it becomes necessary. There's no reason to run ourselves ragged by walking any more than necessary. It may be winter, but it's still a good idea for us to have access to a water supply for as long as possible."
"Hey, as long as we have those rafts and a gal like Lucy working on them, it makes sense to me," Marcello mused as he brushed sand off of his jacket.
"Just leave it to me, landlubbers, and we shant run across any problems!" the Pirate boasted with a grin as she folded her hands behind her head. "I wish I had a spot of rum, though. Being sober so long is maddening."
"You being sober is a good thing. The last thing we need is a reenactment of Titanic. We'll be sailing in dangerous waters, after all," Elena firmly replied.
The Ultimate Sniper offered a muted nod as she stared at the embers in the fire. "Yes, if we consider the natural predators and traps that may lie on the horizon, we shouldn't do anything to dampen our senses. You can have that drink when we're not stranded in a desert."
"Hey, I ain't got much money nowadays, but the first round's on me when we make it out of this mess!" Hairroneko cheered. Ayumu's eyes widened in shock. He quickly began pinching the plushie's cheek.
"Most of us are way underage," the Toy Maker said in a scolding tone.
"Whatever ya say, kid."
Madoka smiled as she rocked back and forth. "We'll be out of here in no time. By the time we get off the river, my leg should be back to one hundred percent!"
"We'll have to be careful. The Nile River can be quite perilous. We have plenty of medical supplies, but let's try not to use any of them while we're moving," Natalya said.
"That's right! Me and Lucy spent some time fixing the rafts up, so all of them have sails now. They may not be the best looking vessels, but we should treat them well. We may need them in the future," Rika added, giving the Pirate a grin.
"Well, that's good to hear. Great work, you two!" Asan exclaimed with a thumbs up. "Oh, I've been thinking about this for a while, and now is as good a time as any. I wanted to give everyone a basic checkup to make sure everything's alright. That way, I can know about stuff ahead of time, so I won't be caught off-guard. I'd like to get it done before we set off. Don't worry, you guys just tell me if it's getting out of your comfort zones and we'll stop. Not like this is mandatory or anything. Uhh, sorry. Started rambling again."
Hashim offered a weak smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "No, you're fine, Asan. You raise a good point. After what we awoke to, there's no telling what we may have been subjected to. There's no harm in making sure everyone is physically fit before setting off."
"I definitely agree. We're lucky to have you look out for us like this," Kogo added from her seat next to the Archeologist.
"We all need to be as healthy as we can. It's been awhile since I had a check up, so I wouldn't mind getting one. In fact, I'd appreciate it," Jamila said.
The EMT nodded with a large grin. "Always glad to be of service! So, anything else to discuss? Looks like I'm gonna have a busy morning now, so I'd like to get to sleep soon."
Hashim cleaned his glasses as he shook his head. "N-No, I think we've hit the high points. I know the beds aren't the most comfortable, but please try to get a good rest. There's no telling when we might sleep in a bed again. Let's try to be up by dawn. We'll set out once Asan is satisfied."
8:55 A.M Day Three
River
Raft #1
Shoma raised a hand to shield his eyes as the raft drifted past several large rock formations. "I suppose I should be thankful we are using this route. This desert seems to go on for an eternity. I can't imagine having to walk the entire distance."
"Yeah, sounds like a fun time," Marcello mused with sarcasm heavy in his tone. "It would probably take weeks to get through without these rafts. Being able to float with the river is pretty nice after starting out with that deathtrap of a prison. We need to enjoy the smooth sailing while it lasts."
"I hope that isn't the case. We must prepare for anything that lies ahead. If the desert doesn't kill us, a black mamba certainly will. Hopefully, that doesn't happen. I, too, wish to enjoy the smooth sailing," Natalya said, her eyes firmly trained on the water.
"A poisonous snake would be troubling. I doubt our EMT has anything to treat that. However, I'm personally more worried about hippos or crocodiles. The former, from what I understand, are particularly aggressive," the Analyst said.
"Indeed. They spend most of their time under the water, which is where they are the most dangerous. An estimated 3,000 people are killed by hippos every year, which is why I'm keeping an eye out over the water," the girl replied.
Marcello sighed softly. "Look, I'm not saying to be complacent, but you two need to take a deep breath and relax a bit. Stressing over every tiny thing that could go wrong isn't good for you, especially for a little kid like you, Nat. Keep an eye out, sure, but don't give yourself a heart attack over it."
"I may be young, but do not treat me like a child. I didn't spend all my free time learning everything I did to be called a 'little kid,'" she snapped. She then took a deep breath and sighed. "I apologize, I'm just not used to this kind of situation. I'll try to relax a bit."
"I'm calling you a little kid because that is what you are. It doesn't have anything to do with your mind. I also spent a lot of my free time studying when I was your age. That doesn't change the fact your body is still young," the Debater pointed out as he checked his watch.
Shoma sighed and rolled his eyes. "I assumed being on the raft with the least amount of people would be preferable. Save your debating skills for someone who actually cares."
"Well, I suppose not everyone enjoys verbal sparring like I do. It's an acquired taste," Marcello mused with a half-hearted shrug.
"If you don't stop talking, we'll find out if there are actually any crocodiles in the water around us," the Analyst irritably snarked.
"If you both don't stop yammering, I'll toss both of your butts overboard!" Natalya huffed as she crossed her arms with an indignant look.
The Debater lightly shook his head, a smirk now present. "There's no need for that. I'm quite comfortable remaining dry and unmolested by any of the wildlife."
"Sorry, I'm just sleepy still. Those beds back there were horrible, and then we had Asan poking and prodding at us." The girl sighed.
"What are you apologizing for? You should only apologize when a situation dictates it, capiche?" Marcello asked, shifting his attention before his eyes widened. He suddenly shot his arm right past the girl. A moment passed before he pulled back to reveal the snake he'd managed to grab at the bottom of its head, keeping it from biting anyone. "Well, it would seem that the threat of wildlife is quite real."
Shoma raised an eyebrow. "Good reflexes. I guess this rules out any chance of us resting along the way. At the very least, it looks like we have our proper heading," he mused before gesturing far into the horizon, where the top of a pyramid could be seen.
It would take a long time to reach it, but it was a sign of this promised Oasis. However, they had no idea how perilous of a journey still remained ahead of them...
Ouroboros Tribe: 13 Remaining Members/ Sphinx Tribe: 13 Remaining Members/ Bennu Tribe: 15 Remaining Members. [41 Remaining Survivors in total]
*AN* Celestial, Petty, and I would like to thank our betas, and everyone who's tuned in so far. Also Crit Fail has a new SYOC set in LoD but at a different school known as Versailles Academy. Please check it out, it will be very different than anything you've seen in LoD!
Review Section:
Poomi
Yeah Sphinx had the roughest beginning, but since then it's been smooth sailing ;)
Blazerxz
Lol hard to believe we've had two chapters of smooth sailing. Especially after the last chapter of Ouro :P
Altomi
Yeah we decided to have their departure peaceful since Ouro's was so hectic. We figured it would be too redundant if the same thing happened back to back.
pokemansuperallstar
Hah I couldn't resist the Persona reference :P
Fee5H
Hey anything is possible. There's still time on the clock =)
ThePLOThand
Eh I don't know. I think I had considered doing all omakes in italics, but realized it didn't matter.
The Kobold Necromancer
That's omakes for you fam!
doomqwer
That's true. It can and will put a target on your back.
bellatrixshine
Hah I guess you could say they're in a state of...De-Nile...Sorry I couldn't resist :P
MudkipOfDespair
Yeah it was too perfect of a reference, we couldn't resist!
Jeptwin
Yeah I sort of liked that cross for the characterization.
