They warped and landed in the middle of a dense and humid jungle. The canopy blocked out most of the sunlight casting everything in dark green shadows. The sound of bugs and chattering animals surrounded them.
"You alright, Fina?" Fred asked gently helping her to her feet.
"I'm fine." Fina blushed and quickly moved away from him.
She stood off to the side by herself while Joe helped Jodie to her feet. Jodie shot an angry look at Fred and Fina and walked away with an irritated huff. Joe shook his head and followed her.
"Jodie, I know you're upset but you can't just go randomly walking into the jungle by yourself." Joe tried to reason with her. "We need to take a minute and discuss a plan."
"I don't want to talk." Jodie said through gritted teeth. "All I want to do is find this Tenebrosi Sanction, stop them from destroying the world, and go back home to tell Freddi just how big of her jerk her great grandfather is."
"If you want me to apologize, I'm not going to do it." Fred grumbled walking a few paces behind them. "I've apologized a hundred times before and I'm not doing it again."
"Don't speak to me." Jodie said not turning around.
Joe sighed. "How about neither of you speak to each other period, okay?"
"Fine."
"Sounds good to me."
Fina, too afraid to even speak, met Joe's eyes and began talking in his head. Sir, where are we going?
"The only thing I saw in my vision was a river." Joe answered her out loud. "But I don't know exactly where. Jodie? Did you see anything useful in your vision?"
"No." Jodie said tightly. "My vision felt like it was further in the future when the monster was destroying North America. I'm not even sure where it came from except somehow I knew South America was involved."
"Wait a minute," Joe said with a snap of his fingers. "I did see some villagers running away. And I think Antonia was the one who summoned the monster with some sort of shell."
Should I fly ahead and see if I can find a village, sir? Fina asked.
"Yeah, that might be best." Joe nodded to her.
Fina gave him a small smile, turned into a bird and took off. Fred watched her go and sighed, obviously missing her. Jodie gave a sharp intake of breath and Joe saw her fists clench. He wanted to wait until they got home to deal with this stupid drama, but he could tell that things might blow up at any minute.
"Okay, stop." Joe stopped walking and stood in front of them with his arms crossed. "I don't know how long it's going to take to prevent this monster from being unleashed, but I am not going to go another five minutes with this crap. Now you two need to start talking."
"There's nothing to talk about." Jodie said brushing past him.
Joe rolled his eyes and stretched an arm out towards her. "Stop."
A soft green light surrounded Jodie's waist and she froze in place. She turned her head and looked at him with a mixture of anger and astonishment.
"H-how did you? Since when could you-"
"Practice." Joe tried to hold back a smirk. "Now I'm going to let you go and we're all going to talk about this."
"Hmph. Fine."
Joe lowered his hand and the glow disappeared. "Now, let's settle this like adults."
Jodie scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Like Fred's even remotely capable of acting like an adult."
"Oh, like you were the mature one of the relationship." Fred grumbled.
"At least I'm not a lying cheater!"
"Enough! Forget it!" Joe sighed in exasperation and rubbed his forehead. "Man, I wish Joleena were here. She's way too level headed to let this stuff affect her in situations like this."
"Joleena?" Jodie gave him a small smile. "You never told me . Did you two ever get together?"
"Yeah." Joe smiled wistfully. "We've been together for a few months now, but it feels like a lot longer."
"That's good." Jodie aimed a hard look at Fred. "Just make sure that you don't lie or cheat on her and everything will be just fine."
Fred sneered at her. "You know, it's really funny how you keep claiming that I cheated on you since I broke up with you!"
Jodie flushed angrily and Joe looked back and forth between them in confusion.
"Wait a minute... Jodie, I thought you said you walked in on Fred and Fina kissing."
Fred held his glare on Jodie. "Yeah, Jodie. Why don't tell the truth about what happened to our relationship instead of lying about it?"
Jodie didn't answer and she and Fred continued their glaring match. There was the sound of a parakeet and Fina gently floated down and transformed into her human form.
"I saw a village eastward." She said bowing to Joe. "We should be able to reach it by tomorrow afternoon if we start walking now. We've only got a few hours left of day though before the nocturnal predators start coming out."
"Then we should get going." Joe patted Fina on the head. "Thanks Fina. I'd don't what I'd do without you."
Fina gave him a small smile and a bow. Jodie made an angry sound and stomped off in the direction that Fina had indicated. Joe sighed and walked quickly to catch up with her, calling her name.
"Jodie! At least wait for me! Don't go off alone. Jodie!"
Fina started to run after Joe until she felt Fred's hand on her shoulder. She slowed down enough to let Fred catch up with her, but still made sure that Joe was at least in her sights.
"Fred, please." Fina sighed casting a wary glance at Jodie's quickly retreating back. "I don't want Jodie any madder at me right now. Or Joe."
"But this is important." Fred's tone and expression were completely serious. "There's something that I have to tell you that I've been trying to tell you for the last two weeks."
Joe finally caught up with Jodie and turned to look at them. "Fred, Fina! Come on, pick up the pace. We need to get as far as possible before night fall."
Fred gave Fina a pleading, almost desperate look and she felt her heart give a little.
"Tonight, when Jodie goes to sleep." Fina whispered to him. "We'll talk then, okay?"
Fred nodded and his shoulders relaxed. "Alright. Tonight."