The narrator wonders if that pun was an intended response to Mei Ling's existence. But that said, the pig is still in Mittens' way. She giggles, "This isn't a race, Mittens."

Shelly says, "It hasn't even been a second, Mittens. I'll join you when I join you." she gets up and goes to radio. Thankfully, that conversation can happen off-panel.

Emerald leads the way and sings a cheerful song as she does. Raichel glances at Philip and says in a quiet tone, "You know, dad... I really like Emerald. Of course, I like all the people in Channelwood, but you know what I mean... she's very upbeat. Something you don't get to see often these days..."

Emerald flicks an ear, but just keeps singing with a bright smile. Occasionally looking at her surroundings and at her companions to make sure everyone is with her and there are no ambushes.

"If it ain't it should be," Mits answers the pink lady with a grin as she begins to side-step around the obstacle, "You comin?"

---

Philip too is on guard against attack.  He nods gravely in reply to his daughter.

"Tell her."

  The original prototype Joe Darkthorne character was also very upbeat, and a lot closer to Mittens standard issue in the 'Go forth! Where we shall cause EXPLOSIONS!' sense... What happened?  First you got all reasnable with the Matt Darkthorne versions, then you went all Generic Sarcastic Cynic with further Joe's like now.

  Of course, being a killer robot instead of having to fight them may offer some answers there in this particular case.

  Oh, okay, he's juggling.  Juggling is nice and upbeat right?... Well, not so much when you're juggling knives... Progress?

Samuel glances over at Mitten's shenanigans and comments, "I don't think Mittens is going stir crazy. She seems perfectly normal, at least normal for her."

As Samuel watches Shelly head off to use the radio, Samuel mutters, "I miss being able to order out for delivery. Either to get components to finish a job or good food to eat. Speaking of good food, what I wouldn't give for a nice juicy steak right now, or maybe some nice and crisp ...." as he notices Mei Ling's presence and then Samuel then hesitates and all but metaphorically holds his tongue to avoid mentioning bacon as there is a sentient pig in the room, and Samuel isn't annoyed enough with anyone, yet, to start making people think he might actually consider eating a Mobian if he got hungry enough.

Michael heads off to deal with the additional chores around Channelwood that he'll be responsible for with Valin heading off on a mission for a few days.

[OOC: Ya I'll be keeping Michael Off-camera in Channelwood for the time being.]

Valin considers the number of people going on the mission and the size of the area being covered and asks Emerald as the group head out, "Perhaps we should extend the mission to be over 4 days to have more time to scavenge the area for supplies. As your leaving very little time to gather and secure supplies since your having us travel at least ten miles each day if we pack everything into three days but use a day and a half for traveling each way. The extra day would be useful for gathering seeds from the nearby wildlife since if we deplete the grain storage then next year we'll be worse off so we need to do what we can to scavenge renewable sources for seeds and grain, which can be done while traveling if we come across the right type of plants as they may have seeds nearby we can use, but we'll only be exploring two narrow paths getting to and from the grain storage, so we'd be able to use the extra time exploring around the grain storage site to find seeds we can bring back, I am bringing a few tools to help with that."

Emerald replies to Valin with an apologetic sad smile, "Thanks for the thought, Valin, but it's winter. Most of the seed gathering has already been done by the wildlife and we would be left foraging through the snow. The fact it's winter is also why we will need to keep moving. As it is, I already made sure the pace will be slowed down from what more fit members like Joe could have paced. But believe me, I allowed for time to gather things in that schedule. However, I know that plans can change all too easily. What I mentioned is what we will go by for now, but we will see how things go once we get to the storage. If the mission needs extending as you suggest, the storage area is where the extending will happen. So we'll worry about that if it comes up."

Raichel says, "You know, Emerald... it's nice to see you so upbeat and smiling. Don't get to see that often."

Emerald says, "I have much to be happy for. Starting with all of you."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Tue 05 July 2011.

Mei Ling bites her lower lip in thought before smiling and nodding to Mittens. "Sure. But it's cold out there. Lemme get something warm to wear and I'll join you."

Meanwhile, Shelly eventually is off the radio and goes to get dressed up as well. Judging from her slightly worried expression, the call probably went as expected.

Soon enough, Shelly and Mei Ling are outside with winter clothing on.

  Joe's defaulting to certain degrees of cynicism isn't even assuming there is any safely edible food waiting for them at the end of this trip until proven otherwise.  "Well, I suppose another downside to extending the trip is how those back at Channelwood would be expecting us back around when we first planned.  One extra day could work out, but more than that and Katy may end up sending people to look for us only to find 'nope! were fine!'"

  He cuts off the juggling (with no literal cutting involved, fortunatly), and shrugs.  "I guess it's like Emerald said, we'll figure it out when we get there.  Can hardly blame you for thinking about 'how better to not starve to death' though Valin."

By the time the slow pokes are ready to go, there's several snow angels lining the path to Channelwood with Mittens making a dotted arrow made of snowballs in the middle of it all.  The arrow and the snow angels are all pointing in the direction of Channelwood.

"You're ready?  All right!  Let's go!"

Mittens jogs in the direction of all the divine guidance.

---

Philip smirks at his little girl's adorable attempts to connect.  And the nice lady's nice response.  He makes no comment about starvation or search parties, and stays alert.

Samuel realizes that no one is really paying any attention to him and frankly he is starting to fall into a rut by repeating the same routine day in and day out. A small smirk forms as he gets a mischievous, yet amusing, idea and thinks to himself, 'well I do need to test the insulation and some systems on that SWATBot suit. Putting it through some field tests might be just what I need to break the monotony of my daily routine. I could also have some fun with it if I surprise Shelly, Mei Ling, and Mittens by jumping out and yelling 'all your base are belong to us' or something at them... I wonder who came up with that phrase as it is really poor English but it's been around so long.'

Soon Samuel is in his workshop and putting on the SWATBot suit with a bag and large white cloak on hand as Samuel figures he'll be able to use the cloak to conceal the suit while leaving, and he can hide the helmet in the bag and put it on once outside.

[OOC Note: Yes I know where the 'all your base are belong to us' came from, but remember Samuel wouldn't know that, as its origins predate interplanetary, let alone interstellar, travel.]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 06 July 2011.

Valin nods as he listens to everyone's responses to his suggestion and says, "Well the least we can do is make sure that we don't leave any tracks that could be used by a patrol robot to discover the location of Channelwood. That won't significantly slow us down." It is at times like this that Valin wouldn't mind having a long tail so he could use that to disrupt and conceal his tracks, instead he simply uses a branch that had broken off due to the weight of snow on it. Valin uses that branch by slowly swinging it back and forth behind him as he walks to collapse the snow around his footprints to break up his tracks behind him.

Emerald looks over at Valin and nodnods. "Good thought, Valin. I guess I got too confident in our being out here in the woods, but you're right. Everyone in the rear, do what you see Valin doing. Those in the lead will occasionally trade places with those in the rear for cover duty."

She then smiles up at Valin. "Thanks for covering bases and thinking proactively."

Apparently, Sam will have to be VERY quick or he'll miss his opportunity since Mittens is in high gear. Even for her. Shelly hugs her coat close and says, "I brought the spare foodstuffs that we can afford to give. It's a crate's worth." she thumbs behind herself at the crate that is on a sled. "Let's all pull it together."

Milloni is in the hall that Sam's in as he is heading off. The suit concealed, she doesn't figure the cloak is for anything more than being warm. "Oh, hi Sam! You part of the charity mission?" she walks alongside him so he doesn't have to stop walking.

Samuel smirks slightly as he replies to Milloni, "Nope, I'm just heading out to run some field tests on some gear. Although I may come across them though while I'm out testing the gear. You heading out?" as Samuel reaches the exit. Samuel plans to take the helmet of the bag it is concealed within and put it on before he starts sprinting after those on the charity mission once he's outside, as he doesn't expect Milloni to follow him, and even if she does he can truthfully say he is testing the SWATBot suit, since he truly is. Just not in the way other people may approve. However Samuel knows he has ground he has to cover in order to make up time, and he doesn't know how fast they are moving but he hopes to reach them before they reach Channelwood.

[OOC Note: Ya it may be out of turn, but it isn't like posting out of turn is going to affect anyone else.]

  So, finally after ages of never using it, Joe finally uses his arms grapple claw!... To trail it behind him and break up tracks.  Whoooooo!  In regards to the Emerald to Raichel banter, he comments "Well, the whole not being dead and with people who actually help eachother as opposed to look out only for themselves thing does tend to be a mood lifter, yeah."

  Of course, Dark Sun could be considered a better off setting in some cases, as well as worse than traditional Sat AM Sonic.  On the one hand, Player Characters are supposed to all be ridiculous kickass individuals.  On the other hand, they also have to deal with magical plot devices and enemies and personally, instead of rarely and solving said problems just by waving the designated plot item at them.

  Kind of a toss up really, but Sat AM wins out in the end due to the fact the Sun isn't actively trying to murder you.

Well now that Mittens has to drag around a sled of supplies with two slow pokes, Sam will have no problem outpacing her.

"Sure thing!" Mittens cheers, "Always happy to help, Snowflake!"

As requested, she begins helping, chanting some "slaves dragging heavy object" chant.  "Oh weee oh!  Yoooo roh!  Oh weee oh!  Yoooo roh!"

---

Phil helps with covering tracks.  Being an urban warrior makes this kinda thing rarely needed, so he's not especially skilled at the wilderness track covering thing.  He watches Valin closely and mimics the technique as closely as he can.

Valin nods to Emerald and keeps an eye on the others helping to conceal their tracks to make sure no one is having trouble since Valin wouldn't be surprised if Joe's grapple claw got snagged on a hidden rock or something and wants to be ready to help out if it does occur.

[OOC Note: Waiting to post with Samuel will Milloni replies to Samuel's question.]

Milloni ohs and says, "Well... I was kind of curious about Channelwood. I hadn't been. But this place should have at least one engineer around, so much to do. So since you're staying behind, I guess I could go after all. Need any help with the gear before I go?"

---

Meanwhile, Shelly giggles. "Snowflake? I like that..." she grins at Mittens. Mei Ling looks around. "....hey wow. Crucible and Pierson aren't following you? They will have a conniption if they find out you slipped their notice and only had me and Mittens with you."

Samuel nods and says, "Well testing this gear won't take me too far away, since if the gear breaks down I need to be able to safely get it back inside."

Samuel makes sure to position himself so that Milloni can't see his gauntlet-ed left hand reaching for the door release as he opens the door and steps outside.

As soon as the cold air hits Samuel's face he grits his teeth and grumbles as he pulls out the helmet from the bag and puts it on. Samuel mutters to himself that the suit's insulation isn't as good as his spacesuit but he hopes it will be sufficient for terrestrial endeavors. After all, if it fails to hold up then it will be useless as a 'shivering swatbot' would look out of place among other SWATBots.

Samuel quickly glances around to see which direction Mittens, Shelly, and Mei Ling are in before discarding the cloak and bag, as he won't need them till he goes back inside, as he starts trying to run over to them. However Samuel only manages to end up stomping around haphazardly, looking like he is going to loose his balance any moment.

As Samuel works his way over towards the three, he speaks up using the SWATBot Suit's 'robotic voice', "All your base are belong to us!" trying to be just loud enough for them to hear him, but not loud enough for anyone significantly farther away than them to hear him. Samuel ends up having to wave his arms around as he tries to not loose his balance since he doesn't want to slip and fall in the snow as SWATBot 'boots' weren't exactly designed for running in snow. Samuel thinks to himself, 'Okay, which will happen first, will I reach them, or will I lose my balance and fall flat on my face. I just hope the joints in this suit don't freeze up on me while I'm out here.'
This message was last edited by the player at 07:10, Fri 08 July 2011.

Meanwhile, the Channelwood grain-gathering group is reaching the end of day one and Emerald has the group set up camp, giving them careful instructions on how and where to set their tents. Once camp is set up, Emerald goes to check on every tent, every sleeping quarter and makes sure everyone is set up right, wishing each person a good night as she does. Everyone is set up with a partner to sleep with in close quarters so body heat will be maximized.

Emmy is sure to pair up with Mika. Joe is set up with Valin (Lucky Joe, Valin gives off all kinds of body heat) and Raichel is set up with Philip. Emerald makes one last declaration for the night. "Everyone, we have an hour of downtime. Beyond that, be sure you do get to sleep."

(OOC note: Keep in mind since this mission is not going to interact with Aquarius in any way, I'm actually having this happen at a different time than the Aquarius bit. So when Shelly arrives in Channelwood, this mission will either be at the halfway point or Emerald will be already leading the group back home.)

  Joe is more considering Valin's head clearance in the tend than the biological space heater situation.  Of course, the big guy is smart enough to realize stretching may be a bad plan if one of decent quality visual slapstick results.

  "While I doubt it, I don't suppose there is anything you haven't taken care of yet you could use some help with before we abandon consciousness Emerald?"

_{"Only us,"} Mittens scoffs, "Shelly is a mighty hero in her own right, and we're no push-overs either.  But yeah they'd likely fuss anyhow.  Good for you, ditching them for some freedom, Snowflake!  Glad you like the nickname!"

She takes a break from sled dragging to do a few cartwheels then returns to helping with the sled.

---

Philip watches closely how the group goes about pitching camp and makes mental note of how it's done out in the wilderness compared to in the urban environment he's used to.

Shelly sees the SWATbot and screams, jogging in place before rushing to dive behind a tree. Then peeks at Sam.

Mai Ling didn't scream, but she dived for cover behind another tree and begins sifting through her vials for something to concoct on the spot.

Sam gets ambushed suddenly by Pierson. "Run, Princess!" he yells. With Sam already being off balance, the sudden skunk jumping at him from the side will likely topple him if he doesn't somehow dodge the royal guard.