Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Trek

A thin string of smoke lingers as the party awakens the next morning, offering little to no warmth for their frigid fingers as they pack up what small amount of belongings they still possess; Ready for yet another journey into unknown territory. As they ready themselves for the trip and grab one last bite to eat, they each silently acknowledge that it is the last meal they will have for some time, as all supplies have been diminished to nothingness. Regardless, they pull at their bootstraps, tighten their belts, and ensure their masks are firmly pressed to their faces. All except for Samuel and Samara, that is.

"Here." Hael's voice resonates in a peaceful tone as she offers one of the twins a spare of hers. "Lee will give another to whoever remains without."

Lee grunts distastefully, but begins extracting a cloth from beneath his coat.

"How were you two so close to Dabria without masks all this time?" Yuler questions, realizing the risk that they must have been facing.

"Simple," begins Samuel, "with our hideaway so securely shut, not even the seeds could spread through the cracks."

"Fortunate." Marne states, buttoning his coat with groggy motions.

"Similar methods are what kept it at bay for all these years." Samuel states, reminding them of The Bethel's history. "Of course, with such a lack of information on the plant remaining, it was only a matter of time before it was freed once more."

"Lack of information?" Questions Hael. "With all that The Bethel stored throughout the years, they never documented these extraterrestrial plants?"

"Of course they did," he begins, "but over time much of that information was destroyed, tampered with, or even lost entirely without a trace. It's simply how things go. Eventually, there will come a day where all known information is destroyed."

"Hopefully no time soon." Marne's voice quivers at the thought. "We've come too far to lose it all so early into the voyage beyond what is known."

"'We'?" Asks Samuel, who cocks his head to one side as he asks with a mouth full of bread.

"Yes, 'we' as a species have come too far." Marne assures, resting a palm against the hilt of his blade. "We deserve to get through this."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Samuel claims, rubbing his hands together and getting to his feet. "After all, we are a destructive species. It's only a matter of time before we are all led to our demise." With this, Samuel steps away from the others, closely followed by Samara, who clasps her hands together with grace as she walks. "If we're to reach Crater's Crown before nightfall, we should be on our way."

"Indeed," Samara says in an agreeing manner, "otherwise their people will no longer be expecting us."

"Expecting us?" Lee questions, unsure of the nature of Samara's statement.

"Well, as I have said before, we have some unfinished business there ourselves." Samuel reiterates in a calm tone. "We have scheduled our arrival for the date and must fulfill it if we are to finish our work there."

"What work might that be?" Hael asks, not wanting to pry.

Samuel smiles and leans in.

"Private work."

"Of course." Hael clears her throat and stiffens her neck. Not used to being on the outside of another's plot, she clenches her jaw and tries to shake off the urge to ask for further information. "Let us be on our way then. No need for us to remain here."

The party and their new companions leave behind their hurried campsite and begin walking with the guidance of Samuel and Samara, who eagerly chatter amongst themselves about what they expect from Crater's Crown upon their arrival. In doing so, they fail to include the others, but their conversation does not go unheard.