New World Order: The Rift [ARC 2]

[AquilaTempestas]

He nods.

"Thanks."

The rest of your journey to Twinleaf is a quiet one.

Twinleaf is certainly a tiny humble village. You count no more than five buildings all of which appear to be homes.

"...Small place. I guess they get what they need from Sandgem."

[Sakura Alexia]

"I suppose so" she just says then sighs.

"Small villages remind me of home..."

[AquilaTempestas]

You spot Caitlin and Marshall up ahead.

"Which one is the right house?"

Morty shrugs. "No idea."

A door pops open belonging to a house with hedges. It's Dawn. "Thought it was you lot. Where's the rest of you?"

[Sakura Alexia]

"Hopefully they will arrive" she says.

"Where's your mother? I wanted to know if she had any news for us, well, me"

[AquilaTempestas]

 

Dawn lets you inside.

"She's gone to Sandgem for grocery shopping with Rowan. She should be back later. You might as well make yourself at home."

She looks at Lyra.

"Put her on the floor. Mum is not going to like a dead person on the couch."

Marshall does as asked then looks outside. It's almost nightfall.

[Sakura Alexia]

"We'll have to wake her up sooner or later" she says.

"Just whenever Morty feels better"

[AquilaTempestas]

"Not going to be getting better without fuel. Joys of being me," he remarks. 

"Well, the local health clinic will have some blood you can take," Dawn says. "They do blood infusions there so they'll have something. It's in Sandgem. Just take the northern  path through the woods and you'll be there. It's like a twenty minute walk."

Caitlin nods. "Right. I'll get them."

Dawn looks at you. "Where's Cyrus?"

[Sakura Alexia]

"Safe, we hope, we had to leave him be though I'm sorry" she says.

"The leftover magic in that place made him turn into a wolf, so we couldn't exactly take him with us"

[AquilaTempestas]

Her eyes widen.

"Oh that's so cool! What colour was he? I mean. You don't get blue wolves. So he can't be blue. That would be weird. Unique though. Oh you should've taken a photo."

[Sakura Alexia]

"I don't think it would be wise you know? Since wolves can and will attack you, I'm not risking my life for a picture" she says.

"Shouldn't you know how he looks like? He is your father"

[AquilaTempestas]

She shrugs.

"Well, he's never turned into a wolf before. Not in my lifetime. And he's never at home."

You hear gun shots in the distance.

 

 

[Sakura Alexia]

"Great... now what?" she growls.

"Haven't we had enough trouble?"

[AquilaTempestas]

Dawn shrugs.

"Oh, it's just the local gun group at the firing range. Nothing to worry about it."

She sits on the couch.

[Sakura Alexia]

"I don't trust anything" she just says as she takes a peek outside.

[AquilaTempestas]

You peer outside and see a flock of birds emerge from the trees.

Fortunately, there's nothing outside though.

"We're fine here. Not like anyone ever comes to Twinleaf Town anyway. Most boring place on the planet. It's owned by a guy called Guzma. Skull Gun Lobby. They're like a motorcycle gang too."

[Sakura Alexia]

"Like I said I don't trust anything" she says.

"No one ever came to Celestic either, and guess what? Its gone now"

[AquilaTempestas]

Through the woods, you spot Johanna and Rowan carrying grocery bags,

"We should probably help," Marshall says. He heads to the exit and heads outside.

Dawn sighs. "I'm coming."

[Sakura Alexia]

Cynthia just follows.

"Now we just wait for Caitlin to return"

[AquilaTempestas]

"And my father," Dawn says.

You head outside and meet Johanna and Rowan.

Marshall offers his hand to take the bags.

"Thank you," she says, handing the heavier ones over.

Rowan gives you one. "We meet again. Johanna told me a bit about what she discovered."

[Sakura Alexia]

Cynthia takes the bag.

"I assume it is not good news, because I have none"

[AquilaTempestas]

"We should wait for everyone else to arrive," Johanna says as she heads inside.

Everyone else follows and places the groceries in the kitchen area.

Rowan sits at the table. "So, the Red Chain is gone. We have a full moon approaching. Which means the old basement under the library will need to be used again."

[Sakura Alexia]

"At least you appear more or less organized" she says.

"We had no idea the sages would be tied to the chain directly, or we would have tried to get rid of it first thing as soon as we got it. Also Naoko is behind this all, she played me like the fool I am" she sighs.

"Maybe it is part of being an angel to be overly trusting in people and to have faith"

[AquilaTempestas]

Johanna nods.

"I had my suspicions when I first met Cyrus at the lake. He was.... different."

Dawn shudders. "I do not want to hear about how you met. Gross."

"So, Rowan moved into the old house built before the war. There was a basement used for shelter purposes naturally. Turns out it makes for a good werewolf den too." She gestures for you to sit down on the couch. "Naoko - the necromancer, yes? That will be a problem. Necromancers are not so easy to stop, but there might be something that can... weaken them to the point of death."

[Sakura Alexia]

"We basically lead her to the chain" she sighs.

"I wanted to trust her to try and see what my mother saw in necromancers too, now I hate that woman even more..." she growls, then pulls out the sacred leaf she got a while ago when she passed in the world of the dead.

"Would this help some? I was told it blocks magic. Also, from the other Naoko I know that she uses some kind of powerful blood to keep herself strong all the time, but I don't know of which kind"

[AquilaTempestas]

Morty clears his throat.

"You'd have to visit Ecruteak City. That's where it all began for us." He then frowns. "And we're not all bad."

Johanna looks at the leaf. "Where did you find this? A leaf from a white oak tree."