Better Left Forgotten

"Wait, I think I remember hearing something about that," Noct said, trying her hardest to stifle a laugh at remembering Roatha trying to be all tough with Senthose.

*Aroma hugs Sab & rubs her back, trying to be strong.*

T"But now it looks like he might be a victim, too...or maybe he's just covering his tracks...Lilith, could you go get drinks?"

L"...Drinks?"

T"We need something for nerves. Even if it's just water."

L"Alright, if you say so."

*So she shrugs & heads out.*

<Lilith, do you want me to come with you?>

*A small smile crosses Cameron's face*

<He's a really asshole.>

Noct scowled deeper, "This whole thing seems awful. It started at the forest right? Have you tried going back?"

Gabe also tries to console Sab, by placing a hand on her shoulder. Sab, for her part, wipes her eyes, and says, "I'm sorry," meekly. Rather than looking up she keeps her gaze downward.

Astarte looked at Noct like she was crazy, "Go back? Why?"

Grimm kept bashing through bushes to get away, keeping his arms out ahead of him to feel and avoid crashing face-first into trees.

Azuma: "Why the hell would we want to go back there? Only worse things could happen doing that."

L"Uh...sure?"

T"Yeah, it's not something that any of us want to consider, unless we're sure we'll find something. It's not so easy to get out once you're in."
=======================
*This strategy meets its logical conclusion when Grimm trips over a rock or a branch or something.*

Mimiru: "Is that Vanessa girl in any of those pictures?"

"To find out what on Earth is going on," Noct said, "Obviously staying away isn't making anything better. People are still going missing, the number of people being attacked is increasing, and the danger is proving to be very real. Honestly, I doubt it could get any worse."

"But, they, er... I guess we, since we're involved now, might get killed or something," Gabe said.

Noct ran a hand through her hair, and let out a sigh, "Doing nothing is already getting us killed."

Astarte looked down at the floor with a borderline queasy expression, genuinely very upset by the thought of ever going back to the forest.

Assuming he wasn't injured in the fall, Grimm got back up as quickly as he could and continued. As he started running again he tried to get a hand in his bag to retrieve his flashlight.

*Eve gets up and goes with Lilith*

Cameron:<It's more likely that we'll find out nothing and get ourselves killed.>

T"We actually have some other areas to search. And no, I'm afraid I have no idea what's going on with Vanessa right now. But first we really need to focus on finding everyone, & making sure that they're all okay."
=========================
L"Boom."

*Lilith points to a vending machine that they spot soon after leaving the library.*
=========================
*He is successful in this endeavor.*

Azuma: "Unfortunately she's also apart of this."

*Eve gets out her wallet*

<I can pay for half the drinks.>
===
Cameron:<Well, we can go try and get an update on Tirea after this. We could see if Monu and Roatha are still enrolled here...>

"Who is Vanessa?" Noctis asked.

T"That's a good plan. Vanessa is an antisocial girl who sometimes threatens us with mace."

Azuma: "And once maced Hector."

Noctis, caught off guard by the explanation's hilarity, can't help but snicker, "She sounds like a sweet girl. What does she have to do with any of this? Was she on the trip too?"

"Yeah," Hector nodded.

Grimm began shining the light down at the ground a few meters ahead of himself to try and avoid tripping or sinking into anything.

T"The fucker deserved it, for being a worthless piece of shit."

*Lilith does the only thing she can do--awkwardly offers Sabroma drinks.*

T"She tries to avoid us, so I think we're always missing about half of the story."
=============================
*While he's doing that, he hears a loud impact & shaking of branches in the trees from the direction he came, far above him.*

Azuma: "Anywho, not much we can do regarding her unless someone wants to search for her again."

"Why would she avoid you guys?" Gabe asked, "I can understand being antisocial, but I think something like this would call for safety in numbers."

"Antisocial is a... gentle way of putting it," Hector said. "I don't know who she hates most, us or the creatures."

Grimm kept on going, hoping to find a less restricted space like a clearing or path.

T"I'm afraid I don't understand it very well, because I haven't encountered her since we left the forest. From what I observed in the cabin, though, she seemed to grow increasingly paranoid that we were conspiring against her. But, yes, Azuma is right. We have less a chance of finding her than we do of finding basically anyone else."

*Lilith keeps standing there, the awkwardness increasing.*
===============================
*As he's stomping around in the bushes, he eventually finds a narrow path, only for the White Monster to land nearby.*

Sab finally looks up and notices the drinks. "Oh, thank you," Sab said, taking one.