In the woods with no one around...

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[The forest is dense enough to inhibit light, leaving a dappled pattern of shadow on the ground as the thin sun filters through the leaves. There are no obvious landmarks, but Mercury walks purposefully, as if she knows the way.

For all her bravado, the distant sound of a waterfall grows no closer; and when she comes to a small pile of rocks, she stops short.

She was here just a moment ago.

Cautiously now, Mercury keeps a wary eye on her surroundings and stays alert to every noise and rustle. To be sure of herself, she slips off one glove and lays it beside the rocks.

Straightening, the senshi moves forward again. But although she seems to make progress, ultimately she finds herself back at the pile yet again - and the glove remains exactly where she left it. She is lost.

Or trapped.]

Comments

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I left it there to mark where I'd been. [It's a yes.] The exit is definitely not natural.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

So we're stuck here. [ Hmm. How interesting. ] I wonder if it's magic..

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

It is. This isn't a normal forest. [She just hadn't expected it to trap her, when she hadn't broken away.]

Planning on finding a way out?

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Nod. ] Mm. Maybe if there's two of us, it'll be a little easier.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Are there two of them? But no; even she knows it's best to combine their efforts for now, while they have a common challenge in front of them. She nods.]

Until we find the way out of the forest.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

Right.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Then, we'll go forward. Once more.

[But you can't get out of a circle by just plodding forward, relentlessly doing the same thing. You can't cut off circular thinking by getting lost in the maybes and shoulds and mights.]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

What direction haven't you tried yet?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She pauses to think; she's methodical even in her distress, for now. Finally, she nods in a direction.]

That way. But, probably, it's another circle.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

Won't know until we try! [ And Tifa starts off, climbing through the underbrush. She's an old pro at this. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Mercury isn't far behind, setting off the moment Tifa does. It's not hard to make progress; the forest is simple enough to move through. It lets them almost feel they're getting somewhere.]

You move quickly.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ Tifa shoots Mercury a grin over her shoulder. ] I was the tour guide for a while back home when I was younger!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Then you have a good sense of direction. [Good. Mercury has the same, and no real reason to wish Tifa hurt (aside from the tiniest of insecurities), but it's best if Tifa can watch out for herself, too.]

We should be near the waterfall by now. [But they're not.]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

[ At Ami's words, Tifa stops, holding up a hand to indicate Ami should do so as well.

She was listening for the sound of the waterfall. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Oh, it's nearby; she can sense it and with sharp ears, Tifa can probably indeed hear it.

But they won't make it there. If they head that way, they'll get further from it instead until they find themselves at the start point.

Regardless, at the gesture, Mercury quiets herself, thinking Tifa may have heard a youma, or someone else arrived here somehow.]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

That's weird. We're not getting any closer. [ Tifa puts her hands on her hips, slowly turning around. ] It's almost like.. it's surrounding us.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Something like that; or simply that they've gone entirely around the 'globe' of this 'world'.

Finally, finally she gives up bashing her head against the problem uselessly.]

This won't work. Let's find another way.

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

Alright. What's the plan?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Where did we come in...? [Having gone through the forest expecting to come out as easily, she didn't pay close enough attention like she should have; she reprimands herself for that now, internally.]

[kaiserknuckle.livejournal.com]

I think.. it was this way. So let's try going this way! [ And Tifa sets off in another direction. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[When several minutes bring them right back to the same area, Mercury stops short.]

This is pathetic. [She lifts her head, some of that determination coming.] I won't be kept here.