Episode 3: Dive into Perim.

"Flash lights?"

"Check"

"Water bottles?"

"Check"

"Snack cakes?"

"Che-. Wait, Snack cakes?"

Haley looked up from her back pack to her brother, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

"What?" he replied as he shoved the last of his supplies into his own bag. "I get snacky on hikes"

Haley simply rolled her eyes in response as she finished packing. The pair slinging their back packs over their shoulders and made their way to the transport pad, a giddy energy becoming more and more apparent.

"Man, I am so psyched for this" Linus said, practically vibrating with excitement.

"All that planning is going to be so worth it" Haley responded through a Cheshire cat grin. "Just remember, were going solely to look around, will go for a scan quest once were more use to all of this"

"Aye aye captain" Linus responded, miming an over-the-top salute which earned him another eye roll.

"Hey guys".

The siblings turned to see Coley walking over, giving a small wave. "You going somewhere?"

"Oh, hey Coley" Linus responded offering out a fist bump that was calmly returned. "Just heading out for our first trip to Perim".

"Nice, want me to tag along? I could give you a hand".

"Appreciate the offer Coley" Haley interjected. "But me and Linus want to do this by ourselves".

"she's right bud. Anything new, me and Hale's dive in together".

"Fair enough. So where are you going?"

"Underworld"

"Overworld"

Instantly, the pair's heads whipped over to look at each other.

"Oh, would you look at the time" Coley said, chuckling nervously. "I've got to go, have fun"

"Oh no you don't" Haley said as she grabbed the back of his vest. "You helped cause this problem; you help fix it".

"What problem" Linus said as he pulled out his scanner, "I won my first match, you didn't, I won the right to pick where we're going".

"Yeah right. In case you forgot Linus, you always go overboard and pick something too dangerous"

"When have I ever done that"

"Last 4th of July, when mom let you pick the fireworks"

"Point taken" Linus replied sheepishly, "still think I should pick"

"guys" Coley Said, breaking up the debate and pulling a coin from his pocket. "This is going nowhere. How about you flip for it?"

"okay" Haley responded "but you get to decide the specific location just so I don't have to go traipsing through the Lava Pond if he wins"

"I was actually going to go with Fear Valley" Linus grumbled to himself.

"Sounds good, call it in the air"

With a quick flick, the coin went skywards.

"heads" Linus announced.

Coley reached out his hand as the coin began to arch down, catching it easily and placing it on the back of his hand.

"Well?" Linus asked.

"Stupid way to solve things anyway" Linus muttered under his breath as he clambered over the rocky paths of the River Lands.

"You lost fair and square Linus" Haley stated as she unscrewed her water bottle and took a sip. "Plus, Coley said this place was a good starting point in Perim for new players.

"Yeah, yeah. Still can't believe this place really exists".

"I know what you mean, feel's different from the dromes"

"To be fair, in the dromes, we can shoot fire from our hand's" he stated as he picked up a rock and lazily skipped it across the water nearby"

"And in the dromes you don't have to worry about being taken out permanently" Haley replied nervously.

"Easy Hales" Linus said as he reached over and rested a hand on her shoulder. "We got plenty of advice about what to do from other chaotic players, we just need to stick together and keep our heads on straight, right?"

Haley nodded, a small smile forming on her face as she gave her brother a hug. "Thanks Linus"

"don't mention it"

With that, the pair separated and continue to make their way across the rocky pathways that that both crisscrossed and connected to the clear blue waters that gave the Riverlands it's name.

"Hey sis, you know if anything lives in the River lands?" Linus asked absentmindedly as his eyes wandered across the surrounding canyon, they were now in.

"I Thought we agreed to not make this a scan quest"

"I know, I know. Just wondering if were going to end up accidentally walking into some creature's home and ticking it off"

"Well, I don't think anyone necessarily lives here. it's water feeds into a lot of other locations and those are where most of the Overworld's creatures hang out".

"Seriously?" Linus exclaimed as he sat down on a nearby rock. "No wonder Coley said this was a safe first pick, there isn't anything here to be a threat in the first place".

"Guess you could call it baby's first location." Haley responded as she sat down next to him and nudged him with her elbow.

"You realise what that makes us right?"

"Oh, lighten up Linus." She continued as she started jabbing him lightly more and more, aiming for where she knew he was ticklish. "I get you wanted something excited but you got to admit this is still pretty amazing"

"All right, all right. I get it" he replied as laughter started to break up his words. "I'm sorry for whining now stop, my sides are starting to ache"

"Good. So, you want to port back?"

"Just give me a sec" he said back as reached into his pocket, stopping when he noticed something shimmering in the water.

"Hey check this out".

Haley looked up from her scanner, immediately clocking the strange crystal in his hand. "whoa"

"You know what it is?" he asked as he held the item to the light.

"I think it's a Riverland star"

"Battle gear?"

"Yeah" she replied, slightly mesmerised by the swirling colours that were coming through it. "The cards for them are pretty rare but I remember playing someone online who had one"

"Sweet!" Linus Exclaimed as jumped up, hastily pulling out his scanner and placing it where he had just been sitting. "Lets each grab a quick scan of it for ourselves and port back".

"So much for this just being a walk" Haley thought to herself as she got up and aimed her scanner alongside Linus.

Suddenly, A large tail whipped between the twins, grabbing the Riverland star. They quickly turned to see a large reptilian figure standing over them.

"I believe you have something that belongs to me" he spat in a curt tone.

"L-Look" Linus stuttered as he placed himself between the creature and his sister. "it's yours again so will just be on our merry way"

But before he could reach for his scanner, a hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him up in the air.

"Not possible, I'm afraid"

Haley's eyes widen as the hand around her brother's throat began to tighten, his own fingers desperately trying to pry himself loose.

The creature gaze shifted to look down at her, a throaty chuckle reverberated out of his maw and sent a chill down the young girl's spine.

"love it when my problem's are too scared to run. Make's my day easier"

"Oh yeah" A voice from above yelled. "How about someone who can fight back. RIPTIDE!"

The twin's aggressor could only widen his eyes in shock as a surge of h2o sent him skidding across the rocky ground, his grip on Linus breaking in an instant. Haley Glanced up to see to figures leap from the ridge above them and land a few feat away.

One of them, a large quadrupedal lobster like creature gestured to the twins.

"Get them to safety Aivenna, I'll cover you"

The other, a red skinned humanoid with long hair, pointed ears and a set or ornate looking armor nodded, quickly dashing to where the twins were.

"STAY OUT OF THIS" the reptilian creature yelled.

"You and your fellow bandits from Rao'pa Sahkk have been raiding the Overworld for months. Try to make us stay out of this"

The two beasts quickly began to bombard each other with attacks. Allowing Aivenna to reach Haley and Linus.

"Are you two, okay?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah" Linus wheezed as he lifted himself into a sitting position. "Just need to get some air into my"

A coughing fit interrupted him as Aivenna's attention shifted to her comrades struggles.

"Get your friend somewhere safe" she instructed Haley as she drew the liquilizer from her back. "You're both going to be alright"

Haley could only nod as Aivenna quickly lunged forward, firing at the threat.

Very quickly, the mipedian lost what little ground he had and one well placed shot sent him into the ground.

"This is not worth the trouble" he muttered before scurrying away into the rocks.

"That should have dealt with him, Crawsectus" Aivenna stated cheerfully.

"Maybe" the other creature responded, "the Mipedians know how to hide in places like this".

The pair of creatures turned to see Haley bracing her brother on her shoulder.

"Oh right, them"

"Crawsectus!" Aivenna gasped, causing her amphibious associate to roll his eyes.

"hey don't mind us crabby" Linus wheezed as his sister leaned him against a nearby rock. "just had a potentially fatal experience, had to happen some day, right Hales?"

Linus looked over to his sister, the smile he had managed to muster instantly disappearing when he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Haley, come on. I'm still in one piece, aren't I?"

At that statement, Haley threw her arms around his neck and began to sob into his shoulder.

"I was so scared when he grabbed you" she cried into shirt, muffling her words. "You could have died".

"Technically, I'd still be alive back on earth" he pointed out, earning a punch in the process.

"You're such an ass"

"Um, excuse me", the pair looked up to see Aivenna, waving awkwardly at them.

"I know you have been through a lot today" she continued, "and you have that chaotic game that you play, would you like to scan us?"

"Really?" Haley asked.

"Of course, right Crawsectus?"

At that, the arthropod in question simply grumbled to himself.

"Crawsectus"

"fine" he finally muttered before scuttling up to the twins. "Make it quick, we still need to find that Mipedian's camp"

Linus glanced over to his sister who just wiped her eyes and pulled out her scanner.

"The code scanner can only hold one creature scan at a time" Haley said as Linus got up with his own scanner. "You should get first pick"

"Hales, I know you've been looking for a card of Aivenna for two months, just take the scan of her"

At that statement the Overworlder in question blushed and gave a quick curtsy to Haley who simply smiled and got her scan of her. Linus quickly followed suit and scanned Crawsectus who was now eyeing him with a hint of concern.

"You sure your all-right kid?" he asked as Linus wrapped up.

"Yeah, just need to put some ice on it, thanks for this by the way" he replied, pointing to the card now displayed on his screen.

"Good, just try to not be so vulnerable next time, not everyone in Perim's going to save you. Come on Aivenna."

Aivenna nodded turning to the twins quickly before leaving. "don't take that personally, Crawsectus is actually a good creature deep down".

"AIVENNA"

"I'm coming" she yelped as she caught up with here grouchy companion.

"Well, that was something" Linus stated, "but at least we got a scan out of this"

"yeah" Haley agreed halfheartedly. "do you mind if we call it for today?"

"Sure sis, besides mom would kill me if she found out you'd been crying and I didn't take you home"

"Stop making me sound like a toddler, we're twins, you just happened to be born 20 minutes before me"

"And don't you forget it" Linus finished as their code left Perim.