Expedition Log 5

[lara_the_explorer]

Who: Lara Croft and You
What: Lara returns from the Dead Zone
When: Now.
Where: Castle grounds, Town, or the woods
Rating: PG



Lara returns to Paradisa's safe territory, looking pretty filthy from her outdoor adventuring. But hardly any major injuries, fortunately. When she reached a fork in the road within the woods, she stopped and tried to decide. Should she go straight back to the castle, or just go to town a bit and probably get a drink? Either way, she's gonna be seeing residents from the castle again. Oh well, her alone time was fun while it lasted.

Comments

[fanstheflame]

Gale was returning from his morning check of his traps and snares, when he heard someone coming down the path. It was still habit for him to try and avoid being seen with fresh game - even without Peacekeepers, there were still other creatures in the woods that he'd rather not run into with a dead squirrel or rabbit on hand. As such, he stayed out of sight until he was sure the coast was safe. At the sight of a young woman, likely another resident, he made his way back out, as though he, too, were just arriving.

"Hi."

[lara_the_explorer]

"Hello there" Lara glanced at the stranger, giving a greeting nod in return. "I hope I didn't scare your other game away" she added, looking around the forest. It seems the guy was hunting some small critters.

[fanstheflame]

"It's not a big deal," he shrugged. "If you did, they'll be back. And I come out here about every day, so ... there's always something."

[lara_the_explorer]

"Okay" Lara nods. She noticed the sky is getting darker, though. Whether by rain or the sun that's beginning to set. "Shit, I should try and go back to the castle before it gets dark. There aren't any wolves around here, right?"

[fanstheflame]

"There's one, but ... I haven't seen him around in a long while." He never really did figure out what the deal was with that wolf, but honestly, the less he sees of those tracks, the better.

"Mind if I walk back with you?"

[lara_the_explorer]

"One is better than a pack of them. I have to deal with a lot of wolves near the edge of the Dead Zone. And a couple of bears" Who are all unfortunate enough to die by Lara's hand.

"Sure. You would know the way better than I do"

[fanstheflame]

"Bears?" He frowned, but was still more than happy to lead the way. "The only bears I know of are actually someone's pets. She has them in a pen, on the edge of the woods."

[lara_the_explorer]

"A pet? I've heard of bears being kept for domestic use, but I didn't expect someone to have one in here... But there were wild ones near the hills just south of here. I followed a stream, so it was only a matter of time for me to see a bear fishing"

[fanstheflame]

"Yeah, she ... I think she actually wished for them. I have no idea why, I don't actually know her. I just know a few people who do." Gale shook his head, bemused.

"Have you been on any of the bigger trips out to the Dead Zone yet, the expeditions?"

[lara_the_explorer]

"No I have not. I read about them in that report in the journal. I have many questions about this world, so I would go on my own if I could. But I now know it would be impossible to make it far on my own" Lara sighed, a little frustrated that she can't explore on her own.

[fanstheflame]

"Well, they usually have them a couple of times a year ..." He shrugged. "If we go out past the borders again, it'll be before winter gets here, so you should have your chance pretty soon. And ... you don't have to wait for an expedition, either. I know people go out in smaller groups, sometimes, if you can find someone who'd be willing to go with you."

The ease with which he's moving through the forest and the manner in which he says it suggest that he seems like he would.

[lara_the_explorer]

"I should prepare for that. Thanks for telling me" Lara seems excited by the idea of an expedition, despite the obvious danger. She noticed that Gale looks like the type who would go to the Dead Zone without waiting for an expedition.

"I have thought of crossing the Dead Zone. In fact, I just did"

[fanstheflame]

"Yeah? Which way did you go, and how far out?" He's curious, after all - the expeditions he's gone on only went in two different directions, and there's a lot to cover for ground out there.

[lara_the_explorer]

"I went east, hoping to find go to Terre Haute. I made it just a couple of miles out past the border to the Dead Zone. I could have gone farther, but the weather didn't agree with me"

[fanstheflame]

"You don't want to go to Terre Haute, anyway. There's nothing out there now nut ruins, and those really weird gee-rafes, or whatever they're called."

[lara_the_explorer]

"Giraffes? Hmm... I remember reading about them, and how they could all talk. But the ruins. I know they were caused by a ship crashing on top of it. Did any of you found anything inside?"