Rook isn't very good with apologies. If she's going to apologize before they head into the swamp, she can't put it off. There's no way of knowing how long before they set off again. Steeling her resolve, she pulls her scarf up further and approaches the group of four near the tunnel exit.

"Mr. Leorio," she calls just loud enough to get his attention. Unfortunately all four of them turn towards her.

"Eeehhhh?!" Gon and Leorio exclaim in surprise. Kurapika remains silent but he has the same surprised expression.

"How'd you change your hair?" Gon continues, his earlier anger seemingly forgotten.

"What?" Rook mutters, hand moving from her scarf to her bangs. "Oh, the color." In the dim light of the tunnel her hair looked brown, but in the sun it shone red. "Different lighting. Any way Mr. Leorio-"

"Ha!" Leorio interrupts her. "Bet you didn't think I'd be able to keep up!" He says with a smug look. Rook blinks in confusion. Thinking back on her words, she sees how he may have taken it that way.

"That's not what I meant," she mutters, gripping her scarf. "Anyway. I wanted to-"

"Ah!" She's interrupted again, this time by Killua. "You're the girl from Heaven's Arena! R something." He puts his hands behind his head and scrunches his face, clearly trying to remember.

"You know Rook, Killua?" Gon asks in surprise while Kurapika inquires "Heaven's Arena" under his breath. Kilkua snaps his fingers.

"Rook, that was it," Kilkua says with a grin at Gon. Rook frowns and her grip tightens. This is not going how she wanted it too.

"Mr. Leorio," she says again more firmly, regaining their attention. "I-" she's interrupted again, this time by the door lowering to close off the tunnel. She sighs. Looks like her apology will have to wait.

Should I interfere? It's a question Rook has asked herself many times over the years. Ever since she figured out where she had been reborn really, but she had always put it out of her mind. She knew she wanted to meet all the main characters, but beyond that she had no plan. Now, running through the swamp, she can't help but ask herself again. She knows all four of them will be fine, even with the encounter with Hisoka, but that doesn't stop her imagination from running wild. Which is why she's running just behind the blond and black haired duo.

"Hey Leorio, Kurapika!" Gon calls from ahead in the fog. "Killua says we should move up to the front!"

Fuck it, Rook thinks before speeding up.

"You idiot!" Leorio calls back. "If I could reach the front, I'd already be-Ah!" He cuts himself off with a cry as a redhead runs between him and Kurapika, grabbing their arms.

"Come on," Rook says, dragging them forward as she picks up her pace. Leorio shares a befuddled look with his companion before Kurapika turns back forward. He has half a mind to pull his arm away, but decides to follow the blonds lead. He'll take any advantage he can get in this crazy swamp.

The transition from swamp to forest is subtle at first but soon they find themselves on an actual trail. When Rook lets go of their arms, Leorio almost falls over from exhaustion, but Kurapika catches him. Now that they're on a trail they don't need to keep going so fast. Not only had they caught up with Gon and Killua, Rook had pulled them along until they were basically right behind the examiner. Of course the two little brats had kept up no problem. Even Kurapika, while breathing heavily, isn't near as bad as Leorio. They fall further behind the group, but there's no fog anymore so it's easy to keep them in sight.

Finally they come to a large wall and the examiner stops.

"Welcome to the Visca Forest Preserve, location of the second phase!" The examiner, Satotz, calls. "The second phase begins at noon. I'd suggest you take this time to rest."

"Thank god," Leorio mutters before collapsing by a tree.

"You okay Leorio?" Gon asks.

"Yeah. Just need to catch my breath," Leorio mumbles between heavy breathing.

"Miss Rook," Kurapika says. Leorio turns his attention to the strange girl standing off to the side of their group. It's hard to tell, but the way she's clutching her scarf makes him think she's nervous. "Thank you for your help."

"Not a miss," she mutters.

"Yeah. Thanks," Leorio adds. "Not that we couldn't have done it on our own!" He quickly clarifies. "But it would have been a lot harder without your help," he reluctantly admits, scratching the back of his head.

"Hm." She nods in acknowledgment, glancing away from them.

"Anyway, you wanted to say something earlier?" Leorio asks. She had been interrupted a lot. She takes a deep breath and looks him in the eye.

"Mr. Leorio I'm sorry for throwing you earlier I just don't do well with people getting in my personal space like that!" She says in a rush. Before he can respond, she hurries away.