#expedition1

“When we get back to camp, YOU TWO ARE STAYING WITH GRANITE AND ARE NOT WANDERING OFF ANYWHERE!! You’ll have someone watching you at ALL times! You WILL BEHAVE FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP and once we get back to Sanctuary, the three of us and your guardians are going to have a good long chat about how you’re going to make it up to them for probably WORRYING THEM SICK!!!

“The storm seems to be easing..? Is thi-!?“

“Tree which is biggest of forest! Friend of Elite Ninja Sableye inside! Move Yappy, it!“

“Elite Ninja Sable-OW!“

“Gem friend, we have returned with haste of not snails!!!“

“SNEAKY THIEF OF STEALTH TRY TAKE OUR FOOD WHICH IS OURS! They not try bite Elite Ninja Sableye though! Different from nasties that loiter around place which is ours!“

“*Ach*, yes, I’m not feral, I’m like you two! What’s going on, I can barely hear the storm from here and it’s... almost lukewarm? What is this place?“

“That’s incredible...”

“Not a single speck of snow gets through. We have the occasional monster try and get in, but my own abilities can easily ward them off. You’re more than welcome to stay with us for the while if you have nowhere to go, we have plenty of supplies and they don’t take much to grow..“

“Amazing. But, no, I don’t need to stay, I’m with others. We have our own society south of here. Our scouts have been wanting to reach out to this forest for a while now and we’ve only just managed to do so. This clearing would make a perfect outpost that we could use for future expeditions, we could have a few Eagles reinforce any defenses and even have a Magpie station set up and establish a supply route back ho-“

“E-Excuse me what are you on about?!“

“We have a huge society back home. I bet we could share supplies, maybe even find you some better accommodations there! We don’t want to kick you out.“

“It certainly sounds like you’ve seen some sort of advantage to turning our home into some sort of military facility. Well what about us, you’d just kick us out of the home we’ve held for so long?“

“The benefits Sanctuary could reap from having an outpost like this outside of our main hub are incredible! It’s not like you’d be getting the short end of the stick here!“

“If what you say is true, then we have no problems if this society of yours needs to stop and rest at our home if you need to explore further out, but we both like it here. We want to stay here, home, without needing some huge army taking over it for their own agenda.”

“*sigh* I should... really get back and discuss this further with the expeditions heads.“

“Do what you must, but please consider us in your decisions... I hardly think we could defend us should you DO decide to take this place... but...“

“Soon as Margrave and the others find out i’m not coming back, they’re gonna come lookin’ fo- *OUCH!*“

“Shush Smelly face of bad! You step foot of invasion in land of which is belonging to us and steal fruit which belongs NOT TO YOU!! Friend is deciding what is happen to you!“

“What? What friend? Where’re going?“

“Rat thing wander into territory of that which is mine! Try take berries that which of belong to me!“

“Ooooff, my head...“

“SPEAK UP SNEAK RAT! Or teeth of sharp will pierce your face that is UGLY!“

“Gack. Wait, you’re not feral? You’re... talking right?“

“TALK! YOU TALK, UGLY FACE OF STINK!“

Snake: He was assigned by the Magrave like we all were. Supposedly nominated for his innate ability to travel over long distances and ‘lead expeditions’ with extreme efficiency. Hogwash. He can travel far and fast. But he doesn’t care the slightest for the others. There was one instance where I had to help a poor mon who had fallen in the snow. Told me they had been close to Tim when they collapsed, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed it. He didn’t do nothing but keep going. But he still gets praise from the Magrave and the public for discovering new locations. And what do I get? I get to save all the hapless folk that he doesn’t bother to help. 

You’re correct to suspect him. Many of the Swallows that have any sense know to go to me. That rat might have done a good thing here and there, but he’s nothing but a thorn in my side. Taking the glory for the faction I carry on my back! 

Disgusting little demon he is.

“You are to explore the forest at your own initiative. Magpies are encouraged to collect and take note of any potential resources we are able to find and bring home in these woods. If you find anything worth protecting, bring it back to our main camp. Rayne and her team will remain with me as backup.

The trees will provide some natural cover from the storm, so as long as you bundle up good you’ll be all right, but if you do start to feel the cold, return to Smog and our base at once! I repeat, as soon as you start to feel cold, return at once, do not risk anything! Stay with us until you’re up to exploring again, or until we’re ready to return. There’s no shame in dropping out, the fact we managed to make it this far is an achievement itself!

Falcons have reported many field and plain type ferals around these parts, so expect some bugs and rodents as you explore the forest. Weaker members should party up with stronger ones if necessary.

All right, I’ll hand out some maps, compasses and rations, they should last you a good few days but return to base if you need to stock up! Base location is marked on your map, north a few hundred metres. We’ll be heading there immediately to set up.

All right, good luck all! We’ll hopefully be seeing you all again soon!“

((The Expedition has reached Twisty Trunk Forest

Snake: This is where I’m supposed to be, mechanic.

I am here by choice. Didn’t you hear the Magrave? I head the back so that if any mon falls behind, I am the one who helps them. I am Snake-Eyes, the Immovable Mountain. I do not tire. No one is left behind on my watch.

All of you seem to forget that Tim isn’t the true leader of the Swallows. He plows ahead of all of us, I suppose you all spend so much time looking forward you forget to look back hm?? Forget the many lives I’ve carried on my back to the safety of the colony? Forget that the esteemed Tim would leave you all to die or turn?