[closed] A fish, a bunny and a vampire walk into the woods...

[expulsions]

Who: Percy + Izuku + Valvatorez
Where: Forest
When: December 15ish?
What: Percy has an agenda and demigods usually quest in threes
Warnings: Spooky ghosts, etc



[As far as Percy was concerned he could have done this by himself. He probably should have done this by himself, but here he was waiting at the edge of the woods mounted on Mrs. O'Leary's back and waiting for two extra companions. He'd messaged them separately and explained what they were about to do.

"We're going to the woods. I have to look for something and Mrs. O'Leary might be onto the trail. Coming?"

As far as he knows, Izuku and Val haven't ever really gotten the chance to know each other. This seemed like just as good a time as any and as the minutes pass by Mrs. O'Leary whines unhappily, anxious to get going.]

I know, girl, I know. Just wait a few minutes. They should show up soon.

[Though which one it'll be first is hard to say...]

Comments

[promissum]

[He looked at this message and had no idea who this is... Still, if everyone in this place is his comrade, then it's only fair he comes when he's called.

Ah. Now that he's coming up on Percy, that message makes much more sense. Val did promise that he was going to help him with this. So he calls out.]

Are you ready to look for your comrades?

[inheritance]

[The words are barely out of Val's mouth before Izuku arrives, raising a hand in greeting when he spots the others.]

Hey! I'm not late, am I? [Percy gets a smile, Mrs. O'Leary gets a fond scratch behind her ears, and Val gets a respectful nod of the head.] It's Valvatorez-san, isn't it? It's good to see you again.

[expulsions]

You're right on time. [He grins, gray eyes focused on his companions even from his perch.] I figured you two would be the best to bring with me for something like this. Like I said when I messaged you guys Mrs. O'Leary seems to be onto something, so I don't want to wait much longer.

[promissum]

Yes, that's right. I haven't seen you for a few weeks, lad.

[Turning his attention back on Percy-]

I did promise I would help you. Let us begin!

[inheritance]

Lead the way, Jackson-kun, Mrs. O'Leary!

[Since they're all here, Izuku doesn't see the point in making the hellhound wait any longer. Maybe this time they'll actually find something!]

[expulsions]

Let me know if you guys want a lift later. [With that, he urges Mrs. O'Leary forward as she bounds into the forest, going at a speed that the others can keep up but immediately sniffing the ground. She seems to be onto something immediately as she leads them inward.]

I know this might sound a little crazy, but I'd trust Mrs. O'Leary's senses over my own a lot of the time. She's special that way.

[promissum]

[Val has an easy time keeping up, he might be a humanoid, but he's still supernatural after all.]

Hardly. Canines have excellent senses. Fenrich's are superior even to mine, except when it comes to human blood.

[Always a little concerning, after all.]

[inheritance]

Doesn't sound crazy to me, either. [It's a quick pace, but Izuku doesn't have any trouble keeping up with the others, thankfully.

Val's words sound a little ominous, though.]

You think that's what Mrs. O'Leary's following? Human blood. [He hopes not, but honestly, Izuku wouldn't even be surprised at this point.]

[expulsions]

...she's not bloodthirsty. [He's a little alarmed, but he knows that much.] If I had to guess? She's following Annabeth again.

[Ah. There's the real motive here.] She still remembers her smell. Nico's too. If she follows that trail, maybe we'll find other people.

[promissum]

If there was a blood trail, I would be a better tracker.

[Anyway.]

It's as good an option as anything else we have.

[inheritance]

[Yeah, that motive doesn't surprise Izuku at all. They are looking for the people who've disappeared, after all, and Annabeth happens to be one of them.]

Guess we'll see what we find when we get there. [He does eye Valvatorez curiously, though.] Say, how good are your senses, Valvatorez-san?

[Even as they follow Mrs. O'Leary deeper into the woods, Izuku glances around them, frowning as the ominous feeling seems to increase. Is it just him, or are the whispers getting louder?]

[expulsions]

[He's noticed, and he tenses a little even as Mrs. O'Leary woofs warily. He's letting her guide them further into the forest but he's also eyeing both Izuku and Val, waiting for Val to answer for himself.]

[promissum]

My hearing is better as a bat. I can always smell human blood.

[There's one specific reason he knows that.]

My eyesight is average for a demon.

[inheritance]

[Izuku perks up visibly, actually turning to grab his notebook out of his bag. Though he does give another suspicious look around as they continue on, it seems even the ominous atmosphere isn't enough to dampen his thirst for knowledge.

Speaking of which...he's totally poised to take notes now, with pen and paper in hand.]

You can shapeshift? Is that something all demons can do, or is it a... more special sort of ability? Ah-- [He cuts off, frowning, when he spots the fork in the road, and something else that makes him squint.] There's someone up ahead.

[expulsions]

[He pulls Mrs. O'Leary to a halt as he looks ahead, squinting through the dark to try and see what Izuku's seeing. The forest isn't the most well-lit, but--]

...a lady? Or a ghost?

[promissum]

[Val can make her out a bit more clearly than the other two-]

A ghost woman?

[inheritance]

[No matter how much Izuku tries to make out the form, it's still looks a bit blurry around the edges. Izuku shakes his head.]

Whatever it is, it looks like the forest finally figured out how it wants to test us.

[His eyes sharpen, looking ready for a fight, if that's what it comes down to.]

[expulsions]

Okay look let's...just approach her and see what she wants. Maybe this won't go poorly and we'll get a hint of where we're supposed to go. You guys ready?

[promissum]

Of course.

[And he just walks ahead without any confirmation.]

[inheritance]

[WELP, looks like they're just jumping right in. Between the three of them (and Mrs. O'Leary), Izuku figures they could at least handle whatever the forest is throwing at them now, though.

He hurries after Val with a glance at Percy.] Ready!

[expulsions]

[As they approach, the road begins to split into a fork and Mrs. O'Leary seems to be drifting one way while Percy tries to keep her on course. As they approach the figure and stop, the three of them are greeted carefully.

She explains to them that they have to make a choice; going down the route that Mrs. O'Leary desperately keeps trying to follow will only end in tragedy, a means to condemn someone they hold dear to them. However, for protection, she can guide them through the woods and away from this hardship.

She leaves the boys with a choice, and as she finishes Percy gives his two companions a look.]

...what do you think?