[Maybe Yu's right about Chatterclock being tired, or maybe he's slower while he's still looking out for monster ambushes while Yu climbs, but it takes him a minute or two to leaf through the pictures Yu gives him and make a decision. A greener, leafier glade where an abundance of crystals give light to the plants and moss of the Labyrinth, where cool, clean water runs in a trickle of a brook.]
Think that one should be close.
[It's not a completely dead zone--the light and water source make it too valuable for everyone--but nastier monsters, for some reason, tend to avoid such tranquil spaces. At worst, they might have to face some of the large insects common enough on the higher floors. More importantly, it isn't far, and maybe they can find a big branch to use as a crutch, so Yu can take some weight off that bad ankle.
Either way, it's not until they've reached the clearing safely that Chatterclock relaxes his grip on that battle consciousness, lets his mind settle back somewhat into its natural pattern, more aimless and distractable. He's still watching for attacks, of course, still listening for sounds in the brush, but it's like loosening one's deathgrip on a life preserver to find the water shallower than he thought.
Aloud, he says,]
Cool.
[He is tired, but out of disuse, he thinks. They only faced two monsters and neither fight was particularly long. And he can't nearly be as worn out as Yu, after all that running and fighting and doing all the literal heavy lifting, on a hurt ankle, no less. Suck it up, CC.
He's still trying to handle most of the pain from Yu's ankle, but Chatterclock reluctantly, gently--and after a wordless warning--loosens his hold there, too, to let a little more through. Pain's an important signal. If they've got the time to take honest stock of the injury again before moving on, they ought to.]
So, questions? I dunno how many I've got answers for, but fire away, dude. I'm an open book.
no subject
Think that one should be close.
[It's not a completely dead zone--the light and water source make it too valuable for everyone--but nastier monsters, for some reason, tend to avoid such tranquil spaces. At worst, they might have to face some of the large insects common enough on the higher floors. More importantly, it isn't far, and maybe they can find a big branch to use as a crutch, so Yu can take some weight off that bad ankle.
Either way, it's not until they've reached the clearing safely that Chatterclock relaxes his grip on that battle consciousness, lets his mind settle back somewhat into its natural pattern, more aimless and distractable. He's still watching for attacks, of course, still listening for sounds in the brush, but it's like loosening one's deathgrip on a life preserver to find the water shallower than he thought.
Aloud, he says,]
Cool.
[He is tired, but out of disuse, he thinks. They only faced two monsters and neither fight was particularly long. And he can't nearly be as worn out as Yu, after all that running and fighting and doing all the literal heavy lifting, on a hurt ankle, no less. Suck it up, CC.
He's still trying to handle most of the pain from Yu's ankle, but Chatterclock reluctantly, gently--and after a wordless warning--loosens his hold there, too, to let a little more through. Pain's an important signal. If they've got the time to take honest stock of the injury again before moving on, they ought to.]
So, questions? I dunno how many I've got answers for, but fire away, dude. I'm an open book.