Belly crawling out of the narrow portal, I manage to shimmy out just as it closes.

Getting to my feet, I stand up in the midst of the crowd, brushing myself off. I can breathe a sigh of relief that firstly, I made it and secondly, that we ended up right where we started. Shows I gotta use the power of positive thinking more.

"Joan."

My attention is diverted to Nimu who comes over to me, followed by Lan and Chasan.

She looks surprised to see me, but also relieved. "You made it."

"Yeah, my guardian angel doesn't get paid enough to do this job."

Scanning the many happy faces, I try to locate Rhene or Phili. I risked my neck to get those two reunited and by God they're getting reunited!

I actually decide to use my brain- shocker- and beginning following the rope to track Rhene down. She's exactly where I left her, right at the opening of the once dark jungle, still holding what little of the rope there is. Her eyes roam the faces of the crowd, overwhelmed, before landing on me.

"Hey, Rhene, you failed at your job, you didn't pull me back in when I yanked for you," I tease her.

"I sorry," She mumbles miserably.

"Nah, I'm just playing with you. You did great."

Looking up more hopefully, I can see the unasked question beaming in her eyes. Cracking a grin, I motion for her to follow me.

"I think I have someone you'd like to see."

Eagerly, she follows behind me as I maneuver through the crowd, searching for the dark red-head girl. God, I hate to break this kid's heart after I risked so much to save her freakin' sister. But at last, I spot her frantically looking around.

Leaning down to Rhene's level, I point her sister out.

"Do you see her? Right there."

The little girl cranes her head all sorts of way in order to see in between the jungle of legs before her face finally lights up and she goes tearing through the crowd toward her unsuspecting sister.

I get a taste of that humane side of myself again as I watch the sisters hug and kiss each other; little Rhene even gets swung around in a tight hug.

Okay, and now that all the warm fuzzy feelings have passed...

Looking around for my group, I spot them and round them up. We still have a time limit to beat and a long way to go- four to five days, that's not a lot of time.

"So do just continue on?" Lan asks.

Nimu replies in uncertainty. "I suppose, but-"

Between the jungle of legs, I spot the familiar shadow of aloof footsteps marking a path for me. The hunt is officially back on.

"Come on," I beckon for them to follow. "Enough games, we have a deadline to keep."

I just hope we're done with the unnecessary side challenges and can get onto the real journey. It hasn't slipped past me, though, that those same guiding footprints were the ones that led us into that trap in the first place. Unfortunately, I don't have time to find a backup plan, this Tymos GPS will have to do.

So, leaving the joyful crowd behind, we continue onward on our quest.

"Is Pyranaleath'tai just one big jungle because it really feels that way," I comment as I hack away at some overhanging leaves in my path.

Nimu flinches back and narrows her eyes as I take a wide swing at a big leaf bush.

"Do you mind?"

"Don't stand so close then," I reply, continuing to freely swing my sword.

While that earns me another peeved glare, Lan pipes up to answer my question.

"A majority of it is, yes, but I have heard there are mountainous regions further south that are less tropical."

"Well mountains tend to be less tropical by nature so..."

"It still amazes me," Chasan begins slightly mystified. "How little the people here understand their own land. Back in Edalirwen, almost everything has been explored and mapped out."

"Our world is...complex," Nimu explains. "There are-"

"Can't label it too complex if it's only one big jungle," I interject frankly.

I'm getting on her nerves today, I can tell, so I'll pull it back a little- no promises though.

"There are many more dangers here than in Edalirwen," She finishes explaining.

Lan adds on, "You also have to keep in mind that Pyranaleath'tai is much larger than Edalirwen."

Chasan throws them a critical look. "Larger? How much larger?"

"Oh, about three times larger than Edalirwen."

"Three times?" He repeats dubiously.

Lan gives him a nonchalant nod as if it's no big deal. "Yes, so you can begin to understand how we haven't explored it all in detail yet."

While Chasan has to mentally process this information, I include my own input into this conversation of worlds.

"My planet's pretty puny compared to the others in my galaxy, but it lacks in size it makes up for in craziness. You think this is complex, you haven't seen anything. One day on Earth will have you begging to return here."

Though Nimu is making this skeptical face at me, Lan's pulled in by this.

"Why is your world so horrid?"

I shrug. "Because it's full of humans and, spoiler alert, humans suck."

"You stated your world was full of billions of people. Shouldn't all those people improve your world drastically? If Pyranaleath'tai had that many people then-"

"Everything would suck, just laying it out there. I dunno, maybe Pyranaleath'tai could support that many people but my planet sure can't. If people aren't naturally evil then they're naturally stupid."

That has Nimu arching her eyebrows and Chasan flatly making an observation-

"You don't seem to hold humans in high regard."

I wave a dismissive hand. "Oh, no, most of 'em are fine- I mean, just take us for example, it's a mixed bag. Besides, life would be boring if we were all perfect all the time."

"I suppose there's some truth in that," Nimu mutually agrees.

The conversation fizzles out after that, which is fine by me. It isn't until a few minutes later that Lan speaks up again.

"I was assuming before that you knew the answer to this question, but where are we going?"

"To get to Tymos, why do you guys keep asking me this? I have a plan, just chill."

Holding his hands up in defense, he backs off. "Okay, okay, I just like to be included in those plans if you know what I mean."

"I don't talk in code so, no, I don't," I reply, though I know exactly what he means.

This closes the matter of questioning me about my methods of leadership. But while that matter is settled, I bring another one to the surface.

"So, Chasan," I get his attention. "You've had a lot of time to think about that answer for me, the one I asked lightyears ago."

Judging from the peculiar mixture of irritation and exasperation, there's an argument on the rise and an argument comes with a winner and a loser, and I'm certainly not one to lose gracefully.

"I thought we already went over this," He begins gruffly. "I'm not answering your pointless, trivial ques-"

"Maybe you need a refresher. So the question was what talent would you want to have?"

"You are simply unbelievable," He mutters trying to pick up the pace a bit.

"As I've been told countless times before. Now, what's your answer?"

I'm sticking like a tick, staying right by his side as he continues to try and outpace me.

"Joan," Nimu gives me a cautionary look that I ignore.

"You know, Chasan, life would work much easier for you if you just answered the damn question."

Now he's just being a dick and actively ignoring me, but no worries, I'm not sweating it. I one time withstood the silent treatment for a whole summer vacation from my ex-friend in track- she eventually cracked before I did, hence why our friendship is no more. I was once told that if running didn't work out for me then I could fall back on being a federal interrogator for terrorists and stuff because of how unrelenting- and, let's be honest, annoying- I was. Chasan just doesn't stand a chance with me.

"I don't know what's so triggering about this question that you can't answer it?" I prod. "Get over yourself and answer the freakin' question."

The cold-shoulder is his shield against attacks I see. I stick even closer to him, not remotely bothered by his increasing pace.

"Chasan, just answer the question."

Mr. Peacemaker himself- Lan- is trying to dial down the intensity mounting here.

"Why don't we talk about something else, like food? I could always settle down for a nice, civil meal-"

"I don't know why you're trying to outpace me, but heads up to you, I'm the fastest girl in my town- hell, in my county."

"Joan," Nimu sighs. "Why don't you just leave it be? We don't need this sort of-"

Ignoring them both, I don't back down even as I see the jaw muscles working on Chasan's face. Just gotta add a little more pressure...

"You're such a mature adult. You're successfully ignoring me, yay. You're so edgy you can't answer a simple ques-"

"I swear," He abruptly halts, his voice tight with annoyance. "If you say another word to me for the rest of this day I will make sure you cannot speak another word for the rest of the week."

Folding my arms, I smirk at him with an arched eyebrow, the face of someone who doesn't give a fuck. "Oh, I'm quivering in my lil' boots. Try me."

Before this can get ugly, Lan physically prevents any altercation by stepping in between the two of us.

"Okay, so let's not destroy each other before this quest has even begun."

Nimu pulls me back a little as well, "Yes, I don't want a petty squabble on our hands. Now if we could stop instigating things," She glares at me specifically. "We could continue."

I don't budge though. "I'll only let it go if he gives me what I want."

Scoffing, Chasan goes to walk ahead again but Lan blocks his path.

"Okay, can you just compromise on this one thing?" He asks him. "Do it for the majority."

Though he sighs and grumbles, he gives Lan a pained face then coldly looks over at me before roughly grumbling like some brutish animal.

"Reading."

"Huh? Reading?" He fought me over something so ridiculously stupid as reading. That's not a talent but hey, he answered, I don't care what that answer is.

Now that I'm satisfied and he's even more disgruntled we can move along. The shadowy footsteps reappear and I'm quick to follow them as we continue on in silence.

"You are quite divisive, aren't you?" A sly voice purrs in my head. Just when I thought I was alone. "You've done well for the day. As a reward, I'll let the rest of this day be easy for you, but don't get used to it."

Not caring whether he could see me or not, I raise an obscene middle finger in the air and brush him off. He can play with my mind all he wants, I'm not a chess piece on his board.