You know where the past lies? The past. It's a pretty self-explanatory answer, easy to get and all. But for some reason, Nimu's slogging it up again. If she's the kind of person to hold onto things there's going to be a problem with that since my philosophy is, well, the past is behind you- whether that's fifteen years or fifteen minutes ago.

"Look, if we're going to work together on this then we need to communicate more efficiently," She begins.

The region here must mainly be tropical because the scenery is like being stuck in the jungle, though not as thick and overgrown as before.

"Uh-huh, cool, communication."

Again, I can't really hear any wildlife which I find kind of odd since back home on good ol' planet Earth there's usually a chorus of animal noises, especially in the jungle.

"I just don't want us to become flustered or lost or anything, especially if there's an emergency, like back there."

Leaping over a fallen tree, I start to hum the tune to Oh! Susannah, of all songs (I would have expected Into the Labyrinth or something like that).

"-you aren't even listening!"

"Huh?" Honestly, didn't even realize she was talking to me still.

Her tail flickers back in forth in fuming annoyance as her left ear twitches in subtle anger. Now we have to stop and drop everything for her to vent. How peachy.

"I said we need to start communicating more effectively-"

"Yeah, I heard that."

Wish I could say this is a new record for me, but I've annoyed the shit out of people way earlier than this. Right now, we're only twenty minutes out of the gate and she looks ready to ring my neck.

Lan attempts to calm her down which she brusquely brushes off, though she does take a breath of recollection before speaking to me again.

"We need to start hearing each other out," She begins. "We can't leave each other in times of crisis because we need to be unified when going against Tymos. You seem to have trouble working with others, judging from the lack of communication you use."

It's only fair that they're annoyed with me, they simply don't understand how I function.

"Okay, I get it, you're right, I don't always work the best with others- I'm mostly a competitive runner so I don't always do groups like that. Little tidbit about me, though, I leave things where they belong: in the past. So if it seems like I don't care, I probably already shoved it into the past which means it's forgotten."

Me taking the blame for our faulty communication causes her to chill a bit more.

"Okay, well, that helps me better understand. We just have to work in tandem now."

"Sounds good."

Sounds easier said than done. I know my communication skills could be a bit better, but like I stated, I'm an athlete and that's a cut-throat business right there.

"Can we continue?" Chasan grumbles.

Ah, so I've checked off annoying people, now I need to move onto the other list- the getting them to tell a truth checklist. I don't know whether to do it in a group or individually, but knowing my lazy ways it's best if I just kill three birds with one stone.

How to be subtle, though, that's the hard part...

Glancing heavenward in thought, I take in the jewel-blue sky overhead when it hits me- God hits me over the head with His scepter sometimes, I've just learned to live with it.

"There aren't any animals or something around here?" I comment aloud.

"There are, they're just elusive," Lan answers.

My madness has a method, just follow me.

"Back at home, you can always hear animals."

"Where did you say you were from? Edalirw-Edali-"

"Well, actually I'm from this planet millions of lightyears away called Earth, it's kind of like here but then it kind of isn't."

"If you're from there, how are you here?" Nimu questions.

"I was sucked in by this wormhole thing or whatever."

We make our way over a thick fallen tree in our path.

"A wormhole?"

"Yeah, that's for the science nerds to explain and I'm not one of them. Back to the lack of wildlife, though..." Taking out my sword to play with it, I start to whistle. "You know you can get birds to answer you back?"

"That's a myth- they're too skittish," Nimu claims.

"Well, of course they wouldn't come to you," I wave my hand at her. "You're a Nekojin, you scare them away naturally."

"I'm a what?" She stops unnecessarily, giving me a baffled look.

I wave her on. "I'll explain later, but first, listen to this and I'll show you that it's not impossible to call to a bird."

Puckering my lips, I blow gently, creating a soft but steady stream of air that echoes around us. I make the intervals of whistling short and long in order to mimic a real-life bird call, though I'm not sure what the birds here really sound like since they appear to be mute.

After the last note fades, it becomes quiet as we all wait to hear if there will be any return of my whistling. When nothing results after a few more seconds, Chasan is the first to brush me off and continue his march onward.

"You speak absolute nonsense," He mutters just loud enough for me to hear.

"And you need to stop shoving forks up your ass," I mumble in return. Speaking up louder, I get to the heart of the matter. "Do you guys know any cool tricks or skills?"

"Unlike bird calling?" Chasan snidely remarks.

"I mean anything," I drag my sword in the dust behind me, creating a trail. "It doesn't have to be as awesome as mine- I know I'm a tough act to beat."

Before Chasan can counter that, Lan adds his input.

"I can dance."

"Unless you can do the worm while levitating, I'm not sure that qualifies as a 'cool' trick or talent," I reply.

He shrugs. "Well, I consider it a very useful talent."

"Let's be honest here," I sigh, surveying them as I walk backwards. "If you had a chance to choose what your talent was what would you choose?"

I'm not sure if this qualifies for a truthful answer but it's worth a shot- I gotta start some shallow.

Thankfully, I don't have to twist any nuts in order to get people to talk; Lan is the first to speak.

"Don't laugh, but I always wanted to be able to cook without burning anything"

"That would be a rather useful talent," Nimu grumbles in agreement.

"I've always wanted to sit around the fire at night and stir up some rabbit stew or goat loins for people."

He's so wistful, I have to shake my head at him.

"Sounds like a sappy Hallmark movie."

So it's nice to see that Lan won't be much of a problem when it comes to getting the truth out of him. The other two- the other two will require some finessing.

"So, Nimu," I buddy jab her lightly. "How about you? Any secret dreams you got there?"

"I'm quite content with my talent," She replies flatly.

"That's cool, but what else would you like to be good at?"

Her whiskers twitch a bit as her face twists in thought for several seconds before she apathetically replies-

"I don't find wishing over something you don't have as anything useful."

Yeah, definitely some finessing needed here.

"That's weak," I swat my hand. "Just think on it, alright? You'll figure out something."

Lastly, I attempt to get Chasan to answer but Sir Douche is in full swing today (comes out like a girl on her monthly).

"Don't bother asking me as I have no answer for you," He shoots me down without even looking my way.

Picking up the pace to match his stride, I'm not willing to let this go down without any conversation.

"Now you're just being a bore. Come on, humor me."

Giving me a sideways glance, I can sense the miffed vibe targeted at me.

"I have everything I have right here- or rather I would if I were back home."

Is this what this moody shit's about?

"Maybe kindness should be your new talent."

Unnecessary but it felt so good to say.

His go-to for staying out of trouble is avoidance, as evident in the way he speeds up, trying to take the lead again. Unfortunately for him, I'm a) the fastest girl in Cauldron, b) have some long ass, sticky legs, and c) won't drop a topic unless I want it to be dropped.

"If you answer this question- honestly- then I'll buzz off."

"Or you could practice courtesy and leave me be."

"I could...but it's not in my character to do so."

He sighs. "How unsurprising."

I return the sigh. "Just tell me- one thing, one simple answer."

"Why are you still talking about this?"

"Just answer the question, dammit."

Before a full-on stand-your-ground war can start up, Nimu interjects-

"I would want to swim, that would be the talent I'd wish to have."

"See," I direct Chasan to her. "Not that hard. Now just tell me."

I hate to admit it- I hate the very idea of it- but when he continues to march on without acknowledging our previous conversation, I know I've met my match in stubbornness; my dad always told me it would happen someday.

He might think this is the end of it, but now it's my ultimate agenda. Forget the pact I made with Tymos about this, I will stand over this guy until he breaks and lets me know what I want to know. Until then, he may believe he's won but just wait.

"So," Lan clears his throat. "Where are we going exactly?"

Honestly, I have not a clue where we're going, I'm just walking, not even assuming but choosing to follow the main path in hopes that it might lead us to where Tymos is. Sucky ass plan, but I'm scraping from the bottom of the barrel with this.

Judging from the way we've stopped and I'm stared at, I can tell a half-hearted shrug won't suffice.

"Uh, not entirely sure but...you know..."

"Know what?" Nimu probes.

It takes everything in me not to shrug. "You know..."

Chasan growls. "No, we don't."

"Alright, you know what, I'mma keep it transparent with you guys," I lift my arms up and gesture around us. "I don't have a freakin' clue where I'm going, okay. I wasn't given a map, I wasn't painted a picture, all I was told was that I would need to get there before the red sun- and I don't even know what that means."

"The red sun?" Lan pipes up. "I know what that is. You don't?"

"Would be asking if I did? What is it?"

"It's a phenomenon that occurs annually. The sun hangs in the sky for a longer period of time than usual and is a bright, fiery red color. It's claimed that that's when anything and anyone with magical properties are granted a renewed strength."

"Well, I'm supposed to arrive before that happens. When does it take place?"

"In a few days."

"Define 'a few days'."

Staring up at the sky, he rubs his chin in thought then glances at Nimu before answering.

"I'd say about four to five days time from now."

Shit. Well now that means I have to kick it into overdrive and find out how to reach this guy.

"Four to five days?" I begin to pace as it helps me think.

"It shouldn't be anything to fret over if we make good use of our time and travel efficiently," Nimu adds.

"Well, first things first, I need to find the place."

Turning around, I glance up as if the answer was written in the sky. I wrack my musty brain on ideas on how to get to Brent. If only we were twins then I would have telepathy or something in order to find him.

"You're going to taunt me then just leave me like this?" I cry out, hoping to summon Tymos or something. "How do you expect me to do this without a clue?"

My yelling results in nothing spectacular happening except the others looking at me like I'm off my meds. Sighing, I face them again just as, out of the corner of my eye, I spot something. Turning around to see it better, I can't believe what I'm witnessing; a set of footprints in the dusty path forge the way, leading me to my destination.

"That's crazy," I breathe, watching the invisible figure leave its mark in the dust.

"What's crazy?" Lan questions blankly.

"That." I point to the footprints but am met with the same baffled looks that translate roughly into: She's off her meds again.

"You seriously can't see that?"

They squint, they walk near them, they look around, but they still cannot seem to find the footprints I'm talking about.

Just as I'm about to open my mouth again, a familiar, sickly charismatic voice floods my head, like a little spirit trapped inside my conscious.

"I've gifted only you to see the clues I give. Don't give away our game now."

Great, now he can come into my mind whenever he wants, no way that's going to fly- an invasion of my privacy never ends well for the violator.

Knowing now that I'll be the only one seeing the tracks, I hurry to catch up for them before they fade away. The others take notice and follow behind in understandable confusion.

"Where are you going?" Chasan asks, annoyed.

"To find my way to that son of a bitch, Tymos, what else?"

"How do you know this is the correct path?" Nimu questions.

"Call it a gut instinct; I have tons of those, and only been led astray twice. Just have some faith in me, okay?"

They're not happy about this but what other choice do they have? They've all agreed to help me (with some arm twisting more or less) and right now I don't need for them to understand, I need for them to go out on a limb and trust me because I'm stepping out into the unknown myself.

Following the prints a little ways, we arrive at a bridge. You know those treacherous, cliché bridges that look like Methuselah built it with popsicle sticks and sewing thread? This bridge is the grandaddy to those bridges.

"This is the edge," Nimu states blankly.

"The edge?" I glance over and notice a tree with a signpost nailed to it. Going over to investigate it, I read its warning aloud. "'Cross not, end of established territory. Proceed at own risk'."

"No one's supposed to cross the edge," Lan says, rubbing the nape of his neck, looking notably uneasy about this now. "I always promised my mother I would never cross into the uncharted territory."

Nimu bristles as well, her whiskers twitching and ears pointed at attention.

"Every child in the marked territory is told not to venture to the edge."

"So you're telling me that not even the people on this side have fully explored this land?" Chasan questions.

"They have, but the ones that do return are never the same," Lan explains. "There are tales that every trip into the unknown results in a different path no matter if you mark the path or not."

"Sounds uninviting," He grumbles in response.

"I don't know if we should cross," Nimu begins. "First of all, this bridge looks unstructured. Secondly, there are unspeakable dangers teeming in those- Joan? What are you-"

Marching my ass across this weak, decaying bridge, I hold onto either fraying side as I keep a laser focus on the end side. If I look down between the creeky planks, so far apart that I have to jump like I'm playing hopscotch, I know I'll psych myself out; not to mention, the many broken or missing planks is a solemn reminder of the other adventures who took one last step on this death trap.

Regardless of the structural integrity, I'm here to get my brother back and nothing- nothing- is going to deter me.

"Joan!" Lan calls out to me from behind where they still stand.

Pausing to twist around, I squint against the glaring sun, ignoring the gentle breeze which feels more like a violent gust swinging me like a pendulum on this thing.

"What are you doing?" He hollers. "This is unsafe!"

"Yes," Nimu joins in. "Come back here, we'll find another way."

Ah, they don't know me yet, they just haven't caught on.

"I have four to five days to rescue my brother and I get to explore an unpopular destination- I have to do this."

"This is foolishness," Nimu yells back incredulously, still not getting it. "Is it worth dying before rescuing him?"

I shrug, giving her a coy grin.

"I'll never know until I try."

Turning to start back up again, they call out to me one last time.

"You are mad!"

That gets a chuckle out of me, I'll admit it.

Turning back around to face the dismayed group, I grin.

"We're all mad here. Join me if you want, deuces if you're cool. Just know that regrets are not worth having and you never know it's an adventure until you're on it."

Man, make that into a plaque or something.

I know I still have to extract a daily dosage of truth from them but Brent comes before all that, just being transparent here. I can't force them to come if they don't want to, that's up to them- it's always been- I'm not playing into anyone's hands- neither theirs nor Tymos'- that's how I roll.

Setting my sights back on the ominous dense jungle ahead, I press on, not looking back to see whether they'll follow me in blind faith or ditch me in fear.

I'm just about a two-thirds of the way there when the bridge takes a dip, groaning in muted pain as extra weight has been added on.

Glancing behind me, who do I see?

As agile as her feline half offers, Nimu cautiously makes her way toward me, not risking a glance down as she hurries to catch up.

It wasn't who I was expecting to come first- if they were even coming at all- but I'm pretty glad to see there's some support for me.

"Keep going, I can't stop on this thing," She calls out to me as she continues hustling along.

Shooting her a quick grin, I turn back around and pick back up getting to the end of this thing, now with Nimu at my back.

My first step on solid ground again is relieving and judging from the way Nimu practically flings her to the ground I can tell it's the same feeling for her.

"I cannot believe I just did that," She shakes her head, staring up at the sky in disbelief.

Chuckling, I offer a hand up which she accepts. "Why not? Isn't it fun to get out of your comfort zone every now and then?"

"If it's anything like that then no, it's terrifying stepping out into the unknown."

Ruefully, I shake my head at her before noticing that Chasan is making his way across the bridge- a scowl fixed on his face as if I'm dragging him along by a leash. The only person to remain on the other side now is Lan.

"You staying there?" I yell out to him.

Surprisingly, he catches what I say and cups his mouth to reply.

"I don't know if I can do this. I might return to the village."

"Do whatever feels best for you."

Chasan has made it to this side of the bridge when Lan takes a hesitant step back, not sure if he should take the risk.

"It's going to be fine, Lan," Nimu cries. "Nothing bad will happen, now come on."

Though he seems torn between trusting us and living in fear, he can't get past the mental barricade in his mind about this bridge.

Finally, he calls back, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Just come over here, take your time."

I'm not even over there, yet I can feel all the air being sucked into his lungs as he tries to muster up the courage to take that first step. When he does step foot on the ancient thing, he's even more hesitant, not looking too reassured.

"Lan," Nimu calls out. "Don't look down, okay? Keep your gaze on me- yeah, that's it."

While Nimu coaches Lan, I mentally keep track of the time, not wanting to wait for him and waste time.

Not trying to be mean or anything, but if it was any other time I would love to fart around trying to help someone get over their fear of bridges- actually, I would probably just mess around with them instead of helping but same difference- right now, though, I just don't have the patience or time for this.

"-that's it, keeping coming this- Joan?"

Ignoring Nimu's rapid-fire questions as I march past her, I make my way to Lan who's not even halfway across the bridge.

He studies me curiously, about to ask questions when I speak over him.

"Give me your hand."

"What?"

Holding out my hand for him to take, I repeat, "Your hand."

Clearly confused still, he slowly takes my hand. Holding onto him, I begin walking backwards on this rickety thing, barely glancing back as I go. Lan tries dragging his feet but I prove stronger in this case and pull him along to get to the other side.

"See how we're actually making progress?" I ask him rhetorically. Of course he tries to glance back but I prevent him, making sure those brown eyes of his stay laser focused on me.

"Yeah, just keep on looking ahead. You see Nimu? Just look at them or look at me, don't look down until we've made it."

He struggles to listen to my directions fully, but we're just past the halfway point now. Things are going smoothly, that is until behind him, I spot a problem. A little ways behind, the rope is beginning to fray, threatening to drop up at any point- just one more step and we could be free-falling in the next instant. Despite this little snag, I keep my steady pace, not letting on that anything's wrong for Lan's sake.

"We're almost there," I grin at him.

Nimu and Chasan have to see this dilemma, but thankful remain quiet as we make our way to them.

It's the final stretch but that rope isn't looking promising. I know I can make it to the other side if I hurried the rest of the way, problem is I'm holding onto a skittish Lan who would flip if he understood the threat facing us.

The rope hangs by three strands while the ground- oh sweet ground- is just a bound and leap away. Now, I'm starting to sweat. Picking up the speed only causes the rope to fray even faster under the stressed weight.

Without thought and in a single action so fast I swear not even a slow-motion camera could capture me, I switch Lan in front of me while also propelling him forward to the other side where Nimu and Chasan are there to catch him.

Before I can jump to safety- snap!

As one side gives way, my grip slips, my heart drops to my chest, and I'm cursing myself for being so helpful. All it would take is one slip up, one mistake and I would fall to-

"The other side!"

Glancing back, I spot exactly what's causing their alarm. All the way at the start of the bridge, a new strain presents itself.

With this new fray, I am now, literally, hanging on for dear life.