"He's wrong," Aeviternus said flatly.  The claim had sent him back again, pouring over history to see what there was to glean from it so as to compare it to the incredible claims Tiengue was making here and now.  The truth of it was that his mother had done a more than satisfactory job of protecting her boy, and that meant seeing frustratingly little.

Aeviternus cleared his throat, it seeming to suddenly occur to him that his answer would seem both curt and insufficient.  "Not wrong about seeing things, but what I have has been through a heavy veil designed to keep me invisible as much as danger at bay."  He slowed his pace and began to inspect the area more closely, he continued talking as he looked.

"I have spent much time in the spirit world, but I have seen little.  Even less that could be considered evidence to what Tiengue refers, though that does not mean I don't believe him.  I've seen enough to keep an open mind."  He paused from his inspection to look straight at Xuan.  "It pains me to not be able to answer your question."

Looking back to a particular set of ferns and trees, even more unknown occurred to him.  "The reference to how old mortals used to live sounds like the days of Noah and Moses.  Even there I am not much help as my journey took me from them early.  I couldn't even confirm that information though I can tell you, Tiengue, that humans nowadays don't tend to make it to a century."

Seeming to come to a conclusion with his scans, he changed the subject out of necessity.  "Do either of you have means of travelling that are considerably faster than on foot?  Where we go from here will take some time at our current pace, now that I'm here with my physical body it's easier to see just how far I'd gone on the spirit plane."

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 67):

Momentarily Xuan felt, quite literally, out of his element. And yet, beneath his feet the motion of the earth was reminiscent of riding an ocean wave, not unlike the movement of water but still solid rock. The jolt into motion made it clear that Xuan was not attuned to earth, however.

Bracing himself, Xuan immediately and reactively activated his chakras. As his skin once again emanated a faint golden glow, his Chi locked in to position within his abdomen. The warmth cascaded throughout his body as the Chi first settled at point near his sacrum, connecting his nervous system and muscular control for superior balance. Then it traveled up to a point just above, near the navel, his core. Not unlike adrenaline, this point sent a message with the pulse of the Chi to all of Xuan's muscles, empowering the sinew. His skin tingled as it stretched over the growth, reaching out sensitively to his physical surroundings to inform his body of the appropriate reactions to remain centered.

Xuan smiled in spite of himself. He'd known of some masters in his clan with an affinity for earth, but never had he seen this much control over it, let alone have the chance to be moved by it like this. As he settled into a surfer-like stance, Xuan mused on Poseidon's control over both water and earth. Would this have been within his power? Regardless, if he didn't fall off, Xuan imagined he might enjoy the ride.

Not particularly a fan of flight, Aeviternus could nonetheless at least not complain at the lack of technology to do so.  As they were lifted in the air he found his balance easily, the leather soles separating his feet from the dais bending easily to allow for purchase and Avery's natural sense of balance from years of tumbling and gymnastics taking over.

At first.

But with glances around to take in the surroundings, the deficit of attention while Aeviternus let the body's reflexes take over almost cost him dearly, one knee heading the wrong direction as Tiengue's craft sailed them over the woodlands.  Were it not for his initial caution and resulting success in gaining a balanced stance, Aeviterus may have found himself once again plummeting to the Earth only this time without a team of people waiting to catch him.

He focused again on simply staying on the rock, and thereafter only timidly allowed himself to watch the landscape, finding a more consistent balance between the two.

     Aeviternus caught a glimpse first, it was the finch, or it looked like it at least.  John noticed too, there was a very small bird flying almost out of sight dancing in between the branches trying to keep pace. It seemed to be trying to get their attention.

"Tiengue!"  Aeviternus recognized the bird immediately, his guide while making this journey on the spirit plane.  He wondered if touching the driver would lead to something drastic, like starting a fight or bringing the trip to a screeching halt and send him on a trip he'd only narrowly missed already.  He gave it a moment but decided perhaps a call to action might be more efficient.

"Tiengue, stop!"

At first the small bird barely registered on Xuan's radar, only another animal amongst the trees. Except there were no other animals, and this one was...what? Following them? Before he had a chance to make sense of it, Aeviternus had cried out. Was this bird important? Or was there something else out there that Xuan's eyes had missed?

"What is it?" he called out, and braced himself just in case Tiengue decided to listen and bring them all to an abrupt halt.

In reply to Seeker of Truth (msg # 88):

Tiengue's eyes were a dark charcoal brown as he opened them and quickly rumbled the flying dirt carpet to a halt.  He looked around confused for a moment. "What is problem?" He did not seem to notice the bird.

     The small finch stopped on a vine and peered at the group. It flew from branch to branch quickly darting to and fro, all the while it stayed focused on the group.

"Good to see you again," Ace said directly to the finch.  "Where to this time, friend?"

"I didn't realise that animal charming was one of your abilities. Demons are no friends of nature. Is it warning us?"

"_{She's a guide,}" was the quiet reply.  The pronoun usage was based on his continued presumption of who this bird represented.

      Ace made connection easily and realized with affirmation that the finch was Kirby's grandmother Elizabeth. It seemed that she wasn't completely comatose back at the Jahndi, but her mind was not fully here either. Communication was simple as if Ace were communicating with a true animal spirit. The finch beckoned them to follow her.
     Ace began to recognize some of the foliage and minor locales. The bird was tracing back through his spirit walk.  Ace began to understand where they were heading, it was to a specific spot in the jungle, something or someone was waiting. Ace realized he didn't need Elizabeth to guide him any further, she had already done so. He felt the urge to run.

Avery couldn't stop himself from clapping Tiengue on one shoulder.  "Set us down!"  His body hummed with the urge to move on its own again.  He cast a gleaming eye at Xuan that belied the usual professorial approach to communication as was his custom.  "I know where we are."  Aeviternus put up a playful finger to his lips, apparently indicating a need for quiet and barely waited for the ground to get close enough before bounding off and moving into the forest at a jog.  He spared one quick look over his shoulder to make sure his companions followed but didn't break pace.

Despite his curiosity, Xuan didn't hesitate to give silent chase in the wake of the ancient boy. The bird had maybe warned him of something, and Xuan had to assume that they were now in enemy territory, with no idea of how much resistance they might encounter. They would just have to be attentive. And stealthy.

It was good to be using his own feet again, not that riding a rock wave wasn't enjoyable. Breathing steadily to calm the surge of adrenaline, Xuan stepped quickly but lightly and prepared to lock his chi in where needed.

     The finch flitted and the two nimble warriors flirted the trees and vines.  Jogging at a simple lope, the two men passed by with not much of a sound.


Aeviternus followed the finch till night approached, retracing his steps manually through the jungle.  No spacial skips, no flashes forward, no bending the mind, it was an arduous jog staying quiet. Each bend, each trail passed, each distinct copse of trees urged Aeviternus forward, he could feel his destination getting closer.

The wind picked up through the tops of the trees which created an audible slushing sound. Diurnal animals began retreating into their sleeping spots for the night, The jungle began to buzz and hum with a different kind of life.

Aeviternus and Xuan both saw a small plume of smoke off in the distance, the size a campfire would make. They were not alone out here deep in the jungle. It was at this realization that they noticed Tiengue was gone. Neither man could remember seeing him at all during the jog.

"Hold on!" Tapping Ace on the arm mid-run, Xuan half whispered to him as he slowed to a halt and ducked into a thick section of brush for good measure. It wouldn't do to be seen out in the open with no momentum toward an escape.

"Where's Tiengue? I don't see him." Did we lose him? Did he fall back or move forward? Have we been lured right into a trap? Did Teingue betray us? Xuan felt ashamed almost immediately after the thought. Why would he do that? It was he and Ace that pushed to come this way, and it was Ace's bird friend that helped to guide at this point. Still, Xuan was feeling ill at ease. So close to their target, there was little to no possibility for backup. And he didn't really know what power or hold the Demons had someone like Tiengue, only recently freed from their influence. Surely if he was called back, it would be out of pure compulsion, and not by his own choice.

He shook his head as if to brush that thought aside for better ones. What they needed was a plan, and more information, before moving again. It was time to see how well he and Aeviternus could work together, a strategy to proceed with. Had they come too far to turn back?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Thu 19 Apr 2018.

The tap on the arm served the imperative purpose of waking Aeviternus from his reverie.  The ancient soul paid the gesture forward and did the equivalent of a firm grab on the arm of Avery who had been controlling the legs, following the desire to move.  Avery recognized the gesture and stepped back without resistance, familiar with the lesson.  No apology was necessary, no contrition required, simply an exchange of acknowledgement that had been practiced before.  It meant harmony and it was how they survived.

Ace ceased his forward movement instantly at the touch and the verbal prompt.  Before he answered he motioned for a large cropping of tree roots for them to station behind and as the two crouched, he scanned quickly around as Xuan was doing in answer to his question.  Aeviternus looked back to Xuan and caught the head shake.  The warrior was in doubt, though of what the old soul only had guesses for and he wondered if the fragile trust that was forming was already at risk.  Avery needed to take control now and then, it was imperative to the bond which lent to their survival, but was this time a poor choice?  From the shadows of the hood he watched Xuan's eyes and recognized the keen resolve to accomplish a goal, the doubt melting as quickly as it had appeared.  Perhaps a conversation for another day, now was the time for strategy.

Not knowing what the hearing capabilities of whomever occupied where they were headed, he chose to speak in gestures.  He considered the disappearance of Tiengue, remembered the initial fight with the being who seemed to be able to completely alter his form to local elements.  The flight on the earth surfboard added even more credence to the possibility that Tiengue had followed them in a manner which utilized that ability.  Aeviternus answered Xuan by pointing with two fingers to Xuan's eyes then gesturing all around them and ended with pushing his hands out as if he were grasping a very large set of shoulders.  He then pointed the same two fingers at his own eyes, which subsequently began to glow a familiar pearl white color, and finished by gesturing towards the area they were headed with the campfire.

No stranger to basic hand signals, Xuan recognised the importance of silence at this point and the necessity to scout the immediate area while Aeviternus performed a different sort of scouting. That man gave an entirely different meaning to 'soul searching'. Among any immediate threats, he was meant to keep a lookout for Tiengue. At least, he hoped that's what the ancient boy meant. He nodded anyway. If nothing else, Xuan wouldn't give him any more cause for worry just yet.

Lighting up his Inner Eye, Xuan's eyes took on a golden glow, almost in reply to Aeviternus' pearly whites, and began his search, casting glances between bush and leaf, trunk and limb. He moved cautiously around to gain new vantage points, hoping to catch any movement or traces of Chi. It would take a few moments for his Inner Eye to open all the way, so he started very slow, always keeping Ace within view.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Sat 21 Apr 2018.

The bear looked surprised, as it sat in a playful manner. But when Aeviternus directed his gaze at him the bear took on a much more serious demeanor.

Peace, came his instinctive first offer to the bear spirit, his hands even physically going up where his body resided, his spirit doing the equivalent on that plane.  Aevitnerus divided his attention briefly between the terror he knew Avery felt and his own awe at this new experience.  Truly even the ancient soul felt real fear battling against his curiosity.  What he knew of bears in the physical world inspired him to stand his ground, be tall but not threatening, it wouldn't do any good to run at this point anyway.  However this was a massive spirit and seemed very old, perhaps that meant communication was possible.  He certainly hoped so.

He conjured a visual of Elizabeth in her bed, her family around her in their worry, taking care of her in her illness and pushed it towards the giant being.  Next followed an image of the finch leading them out here along with his travels to this campsite previously with the span of dying land in between.

We're here to help.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Sun 22 Apr 2018.

The moisture of the jungle gave Xuan an idea. It was one that involved unfamiliar territory for him however. Prior to contact with Poseidon himself, Xuan only ever worked with water while he was in it, and almost always submerged. Now that his team was down to two, Xuan felt that any help was welcome. Treat water like a friend. It was how Poseidon suggested to utilise this new gift. He'd done it once, in a way, and it was time to try again.

Halting his advance, Xuan considered what to do next. Uncertain of what he was doing, he reached out with his hands, palms up, as he reached out from somewhere within himself. First he tried to connect with the water, to feel all of it around him as if it was an extension of himself. If he was successful with that, he imagined he'd be able to push forward with each molecule he could possibly hold, forcing them outward. Assuming his idea had any validity, he'd be able to form a visual of his immediate surroundings without physically going further out himself.

OK Water, can you help me out? Let's be as one.

Aeviternus was able to see behind the bear now, as his attention was now on the playful finch. Aeviternus saw three non-descript souls sitting in a ever shifting campsite.  The site did not show anything human, just glowing souls.