event: portal four | the mountain

[mayfield_mods]

The fourth portal, as might be expected, can be found atop the hill known as Makeout Point. The other side of the portal isn't altogether that much different from the side you're entering from, save for the thicker trees and somewhat darker lighting.

The other side of the portal is significantly colder than the Mayfield side; frost covers the ground, and although it's not quite freezing, you'll want to bundle up. A glance at the sky reveals what you might have been dreading: glitch holes, in varying size, litter the skyline. The sun is hidden behind a set of thick clouds, creating a melancholy atmosphere.

The landscape around you is relatively flat, and you can't see too far beyond the forest ahead of you. It isn't until you turn around, facing the portal that you entered from, that you see the rising slope of the ground. The mountain rises high, higher than you can see from its base. There's a rough, primitive path heading up its slope, and for now simply hiking will be sufficient. As you get further, however, simply walking won't be enough: you're going to have to climb...

Somewhere, closer than you might prefer, a single wolf howls, and is shortly joined by more.

Better get moving.

Comments

[jumpsinline]

It iiis? [ She can tell it's cold, but her breath is the only one of the trio that isn't visible in the chill air. Yoshika looks around and then up. ] ...that looks familiaaar.

[selematpagi]

[ Yukko had the foresight to at least wear something that wasn't a t-shirt, so the cold won't bother her so much past a stuffy nose. However, she neglected to bring gloves. But she's taken the liberty of balling her sleeves up, so that might be enough.

Yukko was not expecting a mountain. She was expecting an alien world. Or a parallel universe where Yukko has a mustache and Yoshika was alive. That would have been cool. But no, it was a mountain. She would have expressed her disappointment if she didn't hear the wolves.

Kyouko knows what she's doing. She spoke of living on a mountain before, so this comes as no surprise. Yukko listens and nods obediently. She may be a simpleton, but she's not stupid. Well. Smart enough to know Kyouko knows lots more than her. ]

Okay sis, [ She looks around pensively. Nope, no yetis. ] but should it be this cold? It's, like, freezing!

[echoing_sutras]

It's only gonna get colder. Yoshika and I can take it, so use us as your windshield if you need it. So you're in back.

Yoshika, you're in center. You can't move as easily as we can, but Yukko and I will help you out, okay?

I'll be on point, obviously. Let's move.

-And a marching they will go...-

[jumpsinline]

Okaaay! [ Yoshika does as she's told, though after a couple of days of being un-droned she has started to notice that she's moving with less overall vigor than before. At least she hasn't started hopping again... ]

[selematpagi]

[ Yukko brings up the rear, which is kinda lame considering that she really wants to be up on front. But she gets what Kyouko is talking about. Yoshika is, well, she's not exactly up for climbing mountains.

Yukko slings her bag over her shoulder and walks behind Yoshika. She actually doesn't say anything as they start their trek forward, but eventually she can't help herself. ]

... Say, what if we run into a wolf or something along the way? [ She peeks at Kyouko over Yoshika's shoulder. ]

[echoing_sutras]

Don't worry about it. I'll make sure we're safe. I'll just use my echoes to confuse them.

[jumpsinline]

What's a wolf? Can I eat it? [ because if this is going to be a long trip, she's going to get pretty hungry. ]

[selematpagi]

A wolf is like a big dog except it's not so friendly. They like to hang in groups and they can be really dangerous! But I'm sure we won't have to worry about 'em if Kyouko is right...

[ Yukko is still worried about finding a yeti though. Maybe the yeti is the memento? ]

[echoing_sutras]

Trust me. Confusing wolves with echoes was one of the first things my mama ever taught me.

[jumpsinline]

....so I can't eat them? [ NO ONE ANSWERED HER QUESTION and also they're on that trail now but hiking it isn't so bad. ]

[mayfield_mods]

[ The howls of the wolves become softer as the trio make their way up along the path. As the trees thin out along the trail, the sharp chill of the air brings along a piercing wind. ]

[selematpagi]

I-I guess yah could, if you really wanted to! I bet they taste really gamey.

[ Gosh mom, you'd eat just about anything!

The cold wind hits Yukko, but thankfully Kyouko and Yoshika block the blunt of it, just as planned. Even so, the sudden change in temperature forces a shiver, and she really wishes she brought a coat. It isn't awful, but it's bad enough to bother her. Yukko crosses her arms snuggly and huffs. She bunches her lips up. ]

S-So that letter said that there's supposed to a memento? Or whatever? [ Because Yukko wants to be helpful. But it looks like finding this thing was going to be harder than she thought. ] J-Jeez, I'm really hoping that it ain't at the top!

[echoing_sutras]

I'll definitely know it when I see it. That kind of thing tends to stick out. -Up and up they went...-

[jumpsinline]

[ Correction: she CAN and WILL eat anything. At least she has sense enough now not to chew on inanimate objects (unless someone tells her it's food).

The thing about the cold is that she can feel it and the wind, but other than it drying out her eyes a bit and whipping her short hair around it doesn't seem to bother her. The zombie trudges onward between the two girls. ] It looks reaaally high up.

[ . . . ] Where are we going? [ Please don't tell her there are stairs, with that incline. She hates stairs. ]

[selematpagi]

[ Yukko nods begrudgingly. More work for her. Lame. ]

We're going up! [ Yukko points to the curving path. Jeez Yoshika. ] We might have to climb. I think. I don't think we can just walk up that big mountain - if that's where this thing is, at least!

[ She's still hoping that it isn't. The chances of a Yeti spotting double the further you go up a mountain. That's a proven fact. ]

[echoing_sutras]

We're definitely going to have to climb, but when we do, I can carry Yoshika on my back. -She WAS a bit lighter, after all, missing a few things...-

[jumpsinline]

[ ...oh so THAT'S why she's carrying rope. Gotcha. Yoshika just thought it was for dragging a cart or something. She seemed to equate "we're going to go get something" with shopping. ]

Oh okaaay. [ Yoshika takes a look ahead and around them. Were there wolves? She kind of wanted to see what one looked like. ]

[mayfield_mods]

This is suddenly happening!

[echoing_sutras]

-The mountain's shudder almost through Kyouko off entirely, her claws digging in nice and tight as the thing shook. What the hell was that? Turning up, her eyes widened. Oh no...-

UM... GUYS, I THINK WE BETTER HEAD BACK! NOW!

[jumpsinline]

[ Yoshika's situation is already precarious, but she has the strength to hang on, if nothing else. ] Whaaaat's haaaappening? [ Mountains shouldn't DO that! ]