The rest of the scattered team thought the grimm would swarm them now that they were separated, but it didn't happen.

They all tried to head the direction they thought the others would go, and the grimm they saw followed them at a distance, occasionally a handful would attack, but nothing so big as before.

No one quite understood this.

The reason was that Salem thought, and probably rightly, that if a huge attack happened while they were so close together, the rest of them would see it and run to help, but if they wandered further and further away from each other, they'd soon be out of range.

Then it would be easy for her.

She didn't know if Shine would think of this, but she was confident no one else possibly would have.

Ozpin did find it odd, after Ruby and Oscar found their way out of the tunnel they were in only to find they were miles from anyone else, and from where they'd entered it to begin with.

But everyone had gone further west, and either north or south also.

Not many people were even moving closer together if you had seen them on a GPS map.

Winter and Qrow had looked for quite a while before they finally found Weiss and Meridian, but lost track of everyone else.

"Well..." Qrow said finally. "Raven could find me at any time, so if she hasn't, either she's with someone else she likes more or ..."

Or she couldn't.

"But where were you?" Meridian asked them. "We've been wandering around for hours."

"I don't understand," Winter ignored the question. "We can't really have spread out that much...?"

"It's so hard to tell here," Qrow said. "But I didn't see anyone from the air. It makes no sense, did they all just run?"

"In that panic they were in, perhaps," Meridian said.

"I don't like it," Weiss shivered. "And... having this." She patted the sword. "The grimm will come right for us."

But that didn't happen.

The next day rolled around, and they'd hardly stopped moving most of the night. Winter didn't like to stay still.

Meridian was still roughed up, but better than before.

Weiss was intact, but not in a good mood, and Qrow was... well he was fine, he supposed.

Still reeling from earlier.

"This is just what I didn't want to happen," Winter finally admitted aloud. "Being lost here..."

"We know we're supposed to go west," Qrow said.

"But where exactly? We don't know what direction the dragon head is in," Winter said a bit shortly.

"We'll hit the ocean eventually and we know it's close to that," Qrow said. "It would be getting that far that's hard. I'm pretty sure nothing would stop Likstar from getting here herself, and West. But I can't see them leaving the kids behind either."

"Still, even they would have to cut their losses, they've always been realistic."

"And they know we cannot waste time..."

"But leaving us to die isn't something I think they'd do either, they said to keep walking but it's been hours..."

"Yes...so I don't know."

Weiss and Meridian exchanged a look.

"If either of you want our opinion," Meridian said. "Just let us know."

"What?" Winter looked at him sharply. 

"It seems to me this is useless," Meridian said. "You finishing each other's thoughts is cute and all, but we can't just go looking for everyone when we've no idea where we're going. If we stay on target, we might at least bump into them later. If there's a big fight, there's sure to be some yelling or magic or whatnot, right? You're a military lady, you have to know how this works."

Well, that got him the slightest bit of grudging respect from Winter finally.

"He's not wrong..." she said slowly.

"I hate to just do that," Weiss said.

"We might see them if we keep checking the air," Qrow said. "I can do that."

"Just be careful, there's still grimm following us and they might get cocky without the DJs around," Winter warned him.

"Sure," Qrow said. "I mean, just check to make sure I don't get eaten I guess... not looking to share that experience with Raven."

"Hmpf, just use your scythe from the inside if that happens," Winter said.

"That's not a bad thought," Qrow admitted. "Somehow not surprised it's one you'd suggest either..."

He flew upward.

Winter was smiling till she caught Weiss giving her an odd look.

"What?" she said huffily and walked faster.

"What was that?" Weiss asked Meridian.

"Something happened," Meridian was grinning. "Can't you tell? 'Bout time, I was right sick of them being all cold."

"Oh please..." Weiss sighed. "I was really hoping that was something people were making up... I mean why..?."

"Why not?" Meridian said. "It's not that weird when you think of it. No weirder than us anyway."

"Are we really anything?" Weiss said. "You just follow me around, like a shadow."

"A handsome shadow, I hope."

"Hmpf, well in this lighting who could tell?" Weiss pointed up at the weird red sky. "At least you're not grimm."

"Well, how often does someone get a compliment like that?" Dryly.

"Shut up," Weiss frowned. "Let's just get moving fast."

She also quickened her pace.

"She's a lot more like her sister than she knows," Meridian muttered. "Runs in the family."

[So apparently does the taste for love interests who are more rough and uncultured. Must be a rebellion thing. Not planned on my part, by the way.]

***

Hazel, Mercury and Emerald finally found Nora, Ren, Blake and Sun; but they found no one else.

Hazel, with 6 young teens to his one adult, was already out of his element.

And all the kids bickered about what to do straight away, to his annoyance.

Finally, they just headed the same way as everyone else, and they also tried to walk all night.

But Raven, Yang, and Neptune did not walk at night, and didn't find Wally, that put them last without them knowing it.

Theo, trying to track everyone, maxed hissemblancel out and was only able to ascertain that they were still moving, but he wasn't sure how far away they were.

So, now that they were all distanced, they kept spreading out.

It went on like that for at least a day, with only the small grimm attacks.

Oscar and Ruby, the only two person group--3 if you counted Ozpin, and 4 if you counted Little--were not thrilled about being alone.

But they wandered hoping to see someone.

Against Oscar's will, Ozpin tired to convince Ruby to just turn back with the Crown.

Ruby didn't listen but she got so tired of it that she told him either to put Oscar back on or she was going to laser him with her eyes.

Ozpin finally gave up for the time being and Oscar resumed control but had a magic fit.

Thankfully it was short lived because it wasn't deliberate on Ozpin's part, but all the maidens felt it.

Raven, after a moment of pained swearing, said at least Ozpin must be alive.

Winter, paused and then pointed at Weiss.

Weiss saw that Qrow resumed human form in midair and made a glyph just before he hit the ground.

"Nice catch," Meridian said.

Winter was gasping but then she stopped and sighed. "Oscar is still alive at least... and close to the fall relic, I feel like... that cannot be helping."

"I wish we had more water," Weiss said after a moment. "I feel so gross after those bugs..."

Winter felt the same but just sighed.

"Oh, you don't look so bad all things considered," Meridian said cheerfully. "Just think of it as looking battle experienced. Like an action movie. The dirt is part of the authenticity."

"And the smell," Weiss said.

"Sure," Meridian said. "And everyone else must be just as grubby as us. It's not like it matters."

"Well frankly, I think it's a health hazard, this area," Weiss said. "I'm sure the acid residue is making it bad to even be in. I think I feel woozy just breathing it."

"But what can we do about it?" Meridian said. "Just got to keep your aura up. Maybe we should try to sing those songs. They worked before."

"Singing is not my strong suit," Winter said coolly. "But I suppose Weiss may if she wishes. At least it won't sound like caterwauling."

"With how dry my throat is, it could," Weiss said flatly.

"Again, who cares?" Meridian said. "We just need to keep our spirits up, right Qrow?"

"What?" Qrow had only just joined them. "Did you feel that?" He asked Winter.

"If you mean Oscar having another fit, then yes," she said.

"Well, at least he's still alive," Qrow said. "Never thought I'd be glad for one of those."

"Do you know any songs about walking?" Meridian asked Weiss.

"They said that was 25% of their songs," Weiss rolled her eyes. "I learned a few of them, Pyrrha would know more...nI wish she was here. I wish anyone else was here."

"I'm going to not take that remark personally."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah...mbut we'll find them, gotta keep hoping," Meridian insisted.

"That's right, keep our hopes up," Qow said flatly. "Might keep the grimm off for a while, but with that relic... I don't know."

"You got to have some courage, man," Meridian said. "And faith."

"If I have more faith than I did yesterday, it's still not enough to think we can do this out here alone," Qrow said meaningfully.

Winter rolled her eyes.

"Just walk," she said. "Or if we can, summon..."

Weiss did so.

"Is it just me or is it getting more humid here too?" she asked, as they started riding.

"I did think so," Meridian rubbed his hair. "I'll get a frizz."

"Well, everyone's go'in ta be just as frazzled," Weiss mimicked his accent and tone, not very well. "So why does it matter?"

"That was bad, but it was also adorable," Meridian said.

"Do you take anything seriously?"

"Not if I can help it."

"Err..."

Weiss decided to just focus on thinking of encouraging things.

Meridian started whistling a tune.

"What's that?" she asked.

"It's better with a hurdy gurdy, but it's The Longing," Meridian said. "Not a bad song for a journey, I was just thinking."

"What are the words?"

"Won't sound very good with my voice, but they go like this:

"I've seen many men wandering
All strong and brave and keen
Seen them growing into rulers
But I long for the sea
Heard a ship came from North
To our harbour for a day
And before misfortune knows
I'll be on my way

I'm all set to veer away
And I'm all set to go astray
All burdens I will leave ashore
To find what I've been longing for

Don't tell anyone
That this night I'll be gone
Greeting the eternal blue
Right at the break of dawn
Sailing t'wards the unknown
With my crew on the sea
And the day that I return
A hero I shall be."

https://youtu.be/hbCpigUi-hI

[Found this song because of Patty Gurdy, there's a more metal version by Storm Seeker, but I prefer this one.]

Weiss picked it up pretty fast with the tune.

The day passed slowly... but it seemed way too soon when the light dimmed and the moon was higher.

"How could we not have found anyone in the entire day?" Winter was on edge.

The landscape was changing again too. It was still just rocks, but the rocks had begun shooting up into spires and arches, much taller and closer together than the previous outcroppings so they looked like a bunch of warped pencils standing on end in uneven rows.

Of course, this obscured them further from seeing anyone else, they could have been 100 yards away and not seen them without being much higher.

Qrow didn't lie to fly over this area because if he reverted to human form again, he'd skewer himself on one of the rocks.

"At least a sheltered campsite shouldn't be any bother to find," Meridian said.

"We could do better than this," Qrow said. "It's still too exposed if you ask me."

"Just anywhere," Weiss begged. "My feet hurt."

"Weiss." Winter warned.

"Well, it's been all day," Weiss was whining and she knew it but she didn't care anymore.

Winter knew it was useless to scold her when she was this worn out--and if her temperament hadn't been so against it, nothing would have prevented her from whining also, so she just ignored it.

"That's a likely looking spot," Meridian pointed at some spires closer together.

With nothing else to do they went and sat there

"Not much food left..." Meridian noted, checking his pack. 

"We should have packed for a couple weeks at least..." Weiss said. 

"I thought I had," Meridian said. "But who knows, in all the rolling around, could have crushed or dropped some of it..."

"I'm sure we're not eating enough," Weiss said. "Though I've hardly been hungry, this land is so nauseating... but I'm kind of famished now... do you think starvation is setting in?"

"Not after 6 days," Qrow said flatly.

"Food is not the problem, water is," Winter said. "I suppose I could make more ice... but without help... well, we'll have to be careful..."

"Can't use two elements at once, eh?" Meridian said.

"Not yet..." frostily.

Meridian shrugged. "Ah well. I suppose ice dust wouldn't work either."

"Drinking ice dust is dangerous," Qrow said. "Haven't you heard the dust poisoning stories? You might get away with it for a few ounces but after that..."

"I know, I know, but in a pinch, isn't it all right?"

"It's really better not to risk it."

"Fine," Meridian said. "Magic ice... still a novelty."

"As it is...we're nearly out of dust..." Weiss was checking her cartridges. "I mean it's been scarce anyway, but I wonder how much we lost in those attacks...not good."

But what was there to do about it?

Winter sighed and leaned on the rock. "We should at least try to sleep."

But sleep seemed to evade them, even though they were tired and sore.

"Anyone know any good soothing songs?" Meridian leaned over onto his stomach and winced.

Qrow, who perched further up to try to keep watch, made no answer.

"Hmm, Winter, remember the one you used to sing?" Weiss asked.

"No," Winter said.

"Sure you do, it has my name in it."

Winter sighed. "Of course I remembered it, but I'm not singing it. I don't sing."

"You can sing it, no one's heart to care," Weiss said. "I mean I don't care what it sounds like. I just want to remember, how did it go...Adelweiss, adelweiss...every morning you greet me..."

"Small and white," Winter sang reluctantly. "Clean and bright..."

"You look happy to meet me," Weiss was more in tune. "And then the other part...'blossoms of snow..."

"May you bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever. Adelweiss, adelweiss, bless my homeland forever." Winter finished.

Actually Winter's voice was better than she thought it was, even if she didn't have as much practice as Weiss.

"That's a nice song," Meridian said. "Reminds me of the one we sing at home a little. Just about every day sorts of things. They're the most homey. What's adelweiss?"

"It's a flower," Weiss said. "It's white..."

"Actually Mother is the one who taught me that song," Winter recalled. "It must have been 10 years since I've thought about that."

"I don't remember much before then," Weiss said. "Mom used to do a lot more things with us... right?"

"Perhaps not so many with you, I remember more of them... back when things were simpler," Winter sighed.

"And before your father showed him true colors?" Meridian said untactfully.

Both of them glared at him.

Then Weiss sighed. "Yeah. Well he admitted it on my 10th birthday, but I think things went wrong way before that. Father was always only concerned with business... you know, money really doesn't buy happiness. He just worried about it all the time."

"Money, influence, it's all the same thing to him, " Winter said. "I've never cared to have either, really. And while I'm tolerably sure I will never have money, influence seems to find us whether we like it or not."

"But you know, you're lucky," Meridian said.

"Why? For being born rich?" Weiss said.

"Yes," Meridian said. "Think how many people spend their whole life chasing after money, and they think it's going to matter in the long run. Now, you already know it's all bunk. Happiness is about a lot more than anything material. Who'd know that better than a Schnee?"

Winter looked like she tried to find something to be angry about with that remark and failed.

"I guess that's one way to look at it," Weiss leaned on her hand. "But grandfather really used his money for good. Money's all right, if you use it well. I mean, I'd like to be able to help people with it. I wonder... I mean, Winter went into the military, I went to Beacon, to try to forge our own paths...and here we both are. I'm starting to think we don't really have that much control our lives. Whitley got the business, but if I was honest...he's probably better at it than I ever was. I just wanted it to have the ability to do something with it, I didn't care about the business side of it. Maybe it's better this way, just don't tell him I said that."

Meridian put his finger to his lips humorously.

"Well, as long as he's responsible with it," Winter conceded surprisingly.

"What would you do if you had money and the world wasn't in peril?" Weiss asked Meridian.

"Hmm, you know I always wanted to see more of the world. Just jump on a boat or something and sail around the other kingdoms," Meridian said. "Though it's not much good alone. Have to take some friends with me."

"What are you going to do?" Weiss asked Winter.

"I still haven't thought very far ahead," Winter tried to get more comfortable. "I suppose I'm have to see to Atlas' remaining people... if that's ever sorted out, I'm not sure what I'll do. I've really only begun to think about it..."

"Qrow?" Weiss looked up.

"I never think that far ahead," Qrow apparently had listened this whole time. "I think as long as my family was all right, I wouldn't care much what I did. Just whatever comes to hand, I guess."

"Well, a pleasant fellow is always useful," Meridian put his scarf over his eyes. "I'll try counting sheep. There's no grimm sheep right?"

"I hope not," Weiss said.

"Good."

***

Winter woke up some time later, thinking something was off.

She couldn't put her finger on it. The sun was out though. It must be morning.

She got up, stiffly, and tried to straighten her hair... She'd given up on the bun days ago and resorted back to ponytails... Buns were impossible without a mirror.

She saw Meridian was still blissfully asleep, impervious to the light, and Qrow seemed to be out also.

Weiss...? Where was Weiss?

She looked around and suddenly found Weiss hiding behind some rocks, trying to put away some of the food containers.

She looked up at Winter guilty.

"Weiss!?" Winter said, so loudly that the boys both jumped up at the same time.

"Whoa!" Meridian hit himself on a rock.

Qrow jumped down.

"What are you doing?" Winter didn't notice them.

"I...I don't know..." Weiss said oddly. "I was hungry."

"We're all hungry, but you know better..." Winter trailed off. Weiss knew better, she was sure of it. What... what on Remnant was this? She'd never known Weiss to sneak anything except cupcakes on her birthday--and she had put a stop to that years ago.

[Hmm, Winter would be no fun to have as a sister if you wanted to get away with anything except disobeying your father.]

"Yeah..." Weiss said strangely. "I'm not sure what... I'm sorry." She looked confused.

Winter was unsettled.

"Well, just... how much?" she said.

Weiss examined it.

"I seem to have... Uh oh..."

Qrow and Meridian joined them, and Qrow got very angry for a moment.

"Do you know how much worse it would be to run out of food than to just eat less at a time?--"

"Qrow," Winter cut him off.

"What?" Qrow surprisingly listened.

"I know Weiss--that is not normal," Winter said in a lower voice. "We should be on the lookout for any strange behavior, correct?"

"I... don't see the connection between this and any of the other things that happened," Qrow said.

"I don't know either. But I know Weiss would not do something so selfish and also foolish. You know her better than that also, I would think."

"Well, yeah..." Qrow glanced at Weiss. "She seems normal though."

"Something is off," Winter said. "And another thing--something else is off."

"Well, yeah, we overslept. It's the middle of the day," Qrow said.

"Day!" Winter suddenly cried out.

"Hey, wait a minute." Meridian looked up. "The sun's out?"

"Yeah, so?" Weiss said.

"For the first time in 2 or even 3 days," Meridian said. "In a land with no sun."

Weiss looked up strangely.

They couldn't actually see the sun, but the light coming over the rocks was definitely bright yellow.

Qrow scrambled to the top of one and looked.

He saw what certainly seemed like the sun.

"This is weird," he said.

Winter rose up, using magic.

"It's in the west," she said. "I think...I almost can't tell, but we were facing west, I believe, when we camped."

Qrow looked back, but he didn't see the moon right now. "The moon never sets here either. But I can't see it at all."

"Grimm?" Winter said.

"I've never seen any Grimm that color," Qrow said. "I'd more think it's some magic trick of Salem's...which probably means that's the right direction to go."

"How does she think the sun appearing is going to accomplish anything?" Winter said.

"Getting us to change course maybe," Qrow said. "Other than that, beats me. But I'm mostly sure that's the direction we were going."

"Or did we somehow head out of the Grimm lands?" Winter said.

"No way we go to sleep in the dark and wake up in the light without something being off," Qrow said. "The rocks are the same."

So they were.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Meridian asked Weiss.

"I'm really hungry," she said. "But other than that, yeah, I feel fine. Do I seem different?"

"No..." Meridian said. "But I wouldn't have thought you'd do that."

"Sorry!" Weiss said. "I always get a smaller portion anyway."

"I'm pretty sure we all got the same," Meridian argued. "Though we won't know."

"So it's my fault?!" Weiss said.

"Who else's would it be?" Meridian said.

"Both of you, knock it off." Qrow climbed back down. "Whatever it was, it wasn't natural... Weiss, just move your rations to someone else's bag for now, if you have any left. And you'll have to skip later to make up for it."

"But what if I get faint?" Weiss asked.

"Should have thought of that before, then." Qrow wasn't sure if Weiss was herself or not, but he was still annoyed that she'd done it.

"Let's just get a move on," Winter said shortly.

Weiss wasn't happy but had to comply.

The light persisted as they kept walking into the rock spire clusters.

[This is an idea of what they'd look like. They're called hoodoos.]

[The last ones are pinnacles from volcanic steam. I'd imagine the Grimm land ones would be the closest to this.]

Going around the spires was taking a long time, but they weren't as tired now. The bright light seemed to energize them.

* * *

Unbeknownst to this group, the other sets also saw the same light.

They'd also come to the rock spires. However they were miles from the ones the Schnees, Qrow, and Meridian were in. The ones to the north of them had found much lower ones, and the air was more moist...which was concerning.

And to the south, which was just Raven, Yang, and Neptune, the rocks were going up into a kind of strange shape, and the light was very bright over there.

No one was sure what it was. It appeared to be the sun, but at least some of them thought that made no sense.

It was Wally who finally said, "You know, the thing is, if it was the sun, wouldn't it feel warmer?"

"That's it," Shine said suddenly. She held up her hand. "It doesn't feel warm."

"Hey, yeah," Roman said. "That's weird."

Neo held a hand up to the light, and she signed something.

"No, there's shadows," Shine said. "I don't think it's an illusion... I think... But I don't think it's the sun."

"But what else could it be?" Wally asked.

"I'm sure there's some explanation," Shine said.

"Does it matter though?" Jaune asked. "If it's not hurting us? Is it hurting us?"

"I don't think so," Pyrrha said. "It's kind of nice. This place looks less foreboding in full light."

"It's basically the same direction," Wally said. "So... it's fine, right? I... guess we'll find out what it is eventually."

"I guess so," Shine said warily. "Anything new has not been good, however."

"Well, you shouldn't be too surprised," Roman said. "Plenty of things have happened around you that are strange, but they've been helpful. Maybe this is it too."

"There was a light or something guiding them in the book," Wally said.

"By night," Shine said. "By day it was a cloud."

"But still, Shine, a light... is that really sinister?" Wally said.

"Wally, don't you know that the devil appears as an angel of light?" Shine really was good at being a buzzkill. "That is what Lucifer means, light." [I've heard that Lucifer is not actually the name of the devil. That it's a misconception... but I can't say I claim to be clear on the theory. Either way, the name is kind of weird to use, but it seems to be getting more popular in media.]

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Cinder spoke, "but isn't she usually right? Didn't you dismiss the Irasci also and then that big thing showed up?"

"Yeah... okay, fair," Wally said. "But... no one's acting weird... are they?"

They exchanged looks.

"I don't sense anything off..." Pyrrha said.

"Let's just keep an eye out," Jaune said.

Shine pulled out her sword warily and held it in front of her.

She murmured a song quietly.

"Be Thou my vision, oh, Lord of My heart. Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."

They went forward.

Gradually, Shine thought she could detect a slightly different shade in the light, and behind it she thought she saw something of the red sky and the broken moon--but it was so faint, she could blink and not be sure she really had seen it.

She didn't like the light.

But as they went on and nothing happened, it started to seem less concerning. It was nice to be out of the dark for now...

Shine's unease began to be more work for her to maintain. [Ever notice that you have to choose to be uneasy sometimes? Like how some shows try really hard to make you think certain things are okay, but you just kind of know it's wrong.]

* * *

Ruby and Oscar, who were farther ahead by dint of speed and having less people to worry about, found that the landscape changed even more for them.

Or... did it change? Or did they just get used to it?

Ruby thought it looked less ugly than before, that the color was more rich and less unnatural.

The wind seemed to blow more softly--in fact, there wasn't usually any wind at all here, but now it was gentle like a sea breeze.

Oscar felt more relaxed, and he heard nothing from Ozpin for a long time. Maybe Ozpin was finally giving it a rest.

"This is nice," he said.

"Yeah, maybe we're leaving the really bad part," Ruby said. "Maybe the whole continent isn't all Grimm... It's possible, right?"

"It might be," Oscar said.

He had a nagging feeling like that might have been a reason for him to be concerned, but he didn't really remember why.

It really wasn't so bad, just making their way forward, no Grimm--and honestly, none of the more difficult teammates there to bicker with them. Oscar hadn't spent that much time alone with Ruby, and he'd forgotten how much less stressful it was. [Like a true introvert... both of them, really.]

"It's kind of nice not having anything attack us right now," Ruby voiced similar thoughts. "I wonder where everyone else is, though... if they made it out... Should we go back and look for them?"

"I don't know... I'm not sure we could," Oscar said.

"Yeah... maybe not," Ruby said. "They'll head this way, towards the light. Makes the most sense."

She peered up at it.

Oscar looked up.

He thought for a moment he kind of saw something behind it, might have been the moon or the sky, but it wasn't clear, and then he didn't see it anymore.

[This make anyone else kind of feel like that horrible Twilight Zone show? Like those episodes where something good would happen but there'd be a dark twist to it.]

* * *

"I can't get our position at all now," Raven said.

"Yeah, but this really isn't so bad," Neptune said. "We'll probably hit the ocean at any time now."

"You're excited about that?" Yang said.

"After miles of Grimm lands, I think even the sea would be a welcome sight," Neptune said weakly. "I mean, at least only the water is going to kill me there, right?"

"Or someone else," Raven corrected.

"Mom!" Yang snapped.

"What?" She shrugged.

"It's fine," Neptune said. "I think she just speaks before thinking sometimes. You guys are kind of alike in that way."

"We are not," they said at the same time.

"I think before speaking," Raven added.

"I am not like that," Yang added.

Neptune thought that was pretty funny but was afraid if he laughed they might hit him.

"I hope Sun is okay," he said instead. 

* * *

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Sun asked Hazel for the 100th time.

"Not really." Hazel was not being comforting.

"I still think that light thing is probably the best direction to go," Mercury said. "Looks like it's not Grimm."

"I feel like I've heard that before," Blake said, "but I don't remember where."

"Ugh, can we just walk?" Nora groaned. "All of you need to shut up."

"You could shut up first," Mercury said.

"I could break your legs," Nora said.

"A little late for that, isn't it?" Ren said with zero humor, which made them do a double take, and then they laughed out of sheer confusion.

"Ren, never change," Sun said.

"I don't see what's funny," Ren said.

"That's why," Sun said.

"I guess we just keep going west..." Emerald said to Hazel. "But why haven't we found anyone else?"

"Either they're ahead of us, or, it's too late." Hazel again was not comforting.

Emerald shivered. "You know, that sun is still weirding me out. The sun over this wasteland is weird. Somehow it looks worse in daylight."

"I was just thinking it looks better," Mercury said. "The coloring's not as gruesome when it's not dark."

Emerald sighed.

[Well, who wants to place bets on which sin we're heading towards?

I'll give you a hint: It may be more than one.

I'll like the first comment that gets it.]

[Also found this song and just had to include it, though it's kind of bizarre.]

https://youtu.be/BtlX3X_T-7w

["Seven Deadly Sins" by Flogging Molly.]