Edge of the Precipice

12 April 2014

23:12 < Fiery_Cider> "It's still north east"

23:15 Smoldering_Ember waves a hoof as she flies in the indicated direction. "Right, I'll keep watch from up here," she says as she settles into a liesurely glide, eyes and ears alert.

23:15 Wicked nods to his saddle and tries a diplomatic smile. "We can travel as we did before, right? I mean... Ruzeth, would you be so kind to lead again? And Ember... pretty please`?" It was easy to see the stallion does not enjoy any kind of dispute.

23:16 Ruzeth watches longlingly as s Ember takes to the air, before suddenly being jolted back to reality by wicked. "Huh...Oh! Ya, sure I guess I can lead us through here." The Zebra looks around sheepishly to make sure everyone was prepared to take off.

23:17 Wicked nods with a new smile and lifts his belongings, ready to go.

23:17 Fiery_Cider idly chews on one of the shiney mistery berries, a bit impatiently

23:18 < EdenGM> The five Kirin sit a ways away, idly chattering between themselves as they wait

23:19 Ruzeth calls out to their spirits, "Well, we're heading off, better tag along," before he begins to head down the path, sighing a little as they begin to depart from the beatuiful grove.

23:20 Wicked waves Ouranios with his warm smile and trots behind Ruzeth with little distance.

23:21 Smoldering_Ember half-turns in the air and gives a lazy shrug at Wicked commenting, "I'm not mad at anyone. I'm just me, just as I always have been." With that she turns to face forwards once more and gives a single flick of her tail.

23:23 Fiery_Cider just trots along gently rubbing her horn some as she does, maybe not being relaxed for that hold bonding thing wasn't such a good idea

23:29 < EdenGM> The kirin blink a little in unison before hopping up and trotting after the group

23:30 Ruzeth keeps his ears peeled as they head deeper into the woods. While they were currently in the spirits area, that may not last for long and he didn't want to be caught unsuprised by any troubles.

23:30 Wicked adresses his Kirin, Ouranios. "So, how will this... erm, will you always come with us?"

23:32 < EdenGM> Ouranios smiles. "We'll always be with you, though not physically very often."

23:33 Smoldering_Ember glances down to see Kat trotting beneath her and gives the kirin a smile. "Apparently now is a bad time, but hopefully we'll either be able to come back here or meet with you in a ley line. I'd like to get to know you better," she says as casually as possible but makes sure the kirin catches her wink.

23:34 Wicked nods pondering. "I am not sure I understand this fully... but we will see. Erm... will you... *watch* me?"

23:35 < Fiery_Cider> "I think they'll experience what we do, and, based on whats going on give us helpful advice on the situation based on their own experiences" she says in a rather suddenly level tone "But I've no idea with spirits so..."

23:36 < EdenGM> Ouranios blinks a little. "Watch?" Katachthonios tilts her head curiously up at Smoldering_Ember. "Um... Okay?"

23:38 Wicked smiles, blushing. "I... tend to do... strange work. Don?t want to disturb you."

23:39 Smoldering_Ember continues to keep her voice deceptively even as she replies, "I think it's nice to have someone watching me." She's careful to position herself so only Kat can see her wiggle her eyebrows.

23:41 Ruzeth gives a faint shrug at Cider's remark. "Honestly, I can't say that I have much experience with spirit bonds like this, so I suppose we'll just have to find out how it goes.:

23:44 < EdenGM> Ouranios shrugs. "If you wish to be alone, I'll let you be if you ask." Katachthonios blushes faintly and stumbles, knocking against Gennaiodoros while the group comes close to the edge of the clearing

23:45 Smoldering_Ember can't help but snicker though she shoots Kat an apologetic look having not intended to put her that badly off balance.

23:46 Ruzeth halts for just a second and takes one last wistful look around the clearing. "If only we could just stay here. Its so much nicer than the rest of this forsaken land..."

23:47 Wicked smiles. "N-no, I... erm... I do not know if you would... like it. THat?s all, really." He looks up, seeing the edge of the clearing. He nods at Ruzeth with a warm smile. "Well, we have a quest... maybe, if we survive, we can come back here... And you have a home, don?t you?"

23:47 < Fiery_Cider> "We aren't crawling around in dust and ruins"

23:51 Ruzeth gives wicked a faint smile. "Yes, and I long to go back to them, but...this place...it just makes me feel so safe."

23:51 Wicked takes a moment to bow to the kirins politely and honest. "It was an honour... May we meet again."

23:53 < EdenGM> The kirin smile and bow in return. "We're always with you." Ouranios says.

23:53 < Fiery_Cider> "Safe is relitive" she replies and shrugs

23:54 < Wicked> "I just wished I could say goodbye to our host personally... My armest thanks to her. Let us go we have a long way beforehoof."

23:56 Smoldering_Ember grins at the kirins pulling a barrel roll then darting up into the air before eagerly waving a wing. "See you all later!"

23:59 Fiery_Cider shrugs some looking at Fortiaourano "We can talk more later, right?"

00:01 Ruzeth gives the kirins an appreciative nod before passing through the barrier of trees that surrounds the clearning.

00:01 < EdenGM> Katachthonios giggles softly and waves to Smoldering_Ember. Fortiaourano nods and smiles at Fiery_Cider. "Of course."

00:01 Wicked bows again, then follows the leading Ruzeth.

00:03 Smoldering_Ember swoops down over the heads of the others and into the tunnel-like forest path.

00:05 Fiery_Cider just steps out into the forest, rolling her eyes some

00:07 < Shadelow> Shady waved a little to Meghakura and walked along after her friends, "Talk to you soon!"

00:13 Fiery_Cider stops and waits for Shadelow to catch up, leaning on her some when she does "Sorry about earlier..." she says softly to the other unicorn mare

00:14 < Shadelow> Shady wobbled a bit in her step, but gave her a smile, "It's okay.. Just please try to keep things nice."

00:14 Ruzeth glares at the pair. "You were so adamant about us getting a move on when me and Ember were just chatting earlier."

00:15 Wicked frowns at them. "Ruzeth please... You two really need to get along."

00:17 < Ruzeth> "Yes...we need to get along down the road, not just daudle here."

00:18 Fiery_Cider hadn't stopped walking and looks at Ruzeth "And I just wanted to say a quick word not go on and on and on" she replies

00:19 Shadelow frowned a little, starting along a bit faster on her nubs she calls legs

00:19 Wicked now really groans. "Please! You both..."

00:26 Smoldering_Ember flutters down to give Ruze a quick nuzzle and whisper, "They want to be fussy, fine, but try not to let them get to you. Maybe we'll find a crowbar to remove the stick from their asses at the next town." Giving him a wink, she launches back into the air again.

00:29 Wicked shakes his head, sadly smiling. He lets a few steps to get to Fiery_Cider and Shadelow. To Shadelow he says. "About the massage... when we are in town, just ask... I am always happy to help." He then nods to Fiery_Cider. "The same goes for you, you can trust me... I cared for many, in similiar circumstances."

00:30 Ruzeth smiles happily as Ember lands next to him, leaning into the nuzzles and blushing slightly. "Maybe we could just find some time together and ignore their sticks," he whispers back, nuzzling her before she takes off and winking back.

00:31 Smoldering_Ember flies ahead snickering at the double entendre.

00:32 < Shadelow> Shady nodded, her little legs taking her up towards Ruzeth and Ember soon after.

00:32 Fiery_Cider keeps pace with Shadelow, nodding at Wicked thankfully

00:33 Wicked then speeds up again to keep pace with Ruzeth. Right now he wasn?t much more then a transport mule, but this task suited him.

00:33 Ruzeth quite blatantly tries to ignore Cider's presence as she nears, just focusing on moving forward through the jungle.

00:37 < Shadelow> Shady slowed down a little beside of Ruzeth, giving the Zebra a smile, "H-Hi."

00:39 Ruzeth returns a weak smile. "Whats up Shady?"

00:40 < Shadelow> "I was just wondering what you and Ember have been up to. I feel like I've just been focusing on Cider and Wicked this whole time."

00:42 < Ruzeth> "Oh, we've just been plotting on how to remove a certain troublemaker from our group seeing as she disaproves of anyone but themselves enjoying the company of another pony," he retorts in a semi-joking manner loud enough for Cider to hear him.

00:44 < Fiery_Cider> "Like the zebra who can't identify berries you mean" she taunts back

00:45 Smoldering_Ember rolls her eyes silently but neither confirms nor denies the statement, not wanting to continue the fiight right now. It might come back on its own, but she would avoid it as long as she could.

00:46 Ruzeth gives a slight shrug. "I'm not in my homelands, many of these plants are foriegn to me. You couldn't identify it either for that matter, and ate something that was potentially dangerous. I was just trying to save you from doing something stupid. The next plant you eat without knowing what it is could leave you permanantly parlyzed..."

00:46 < Ruzeth> he remarks calmly.

00:48 < Fiery_Cider> "That's what my pipbuck is for" she replies rolling her eyes again "And I don't mind others being affectionate and such but that got a bit excesive when talk of threesomes came up"

00:49 Wicked frowns dearly. He nods at Shadelow, trying to change the topic. "I... I never tried to... get that much attention. Especially since you?re so close to Cider. Just like Ruzeth and Miss Ember..."

00:51 Wicked groans again. "Is this necessary? Cider, we let you and Miss Shadelow alone with your affection, other ponys other ways... and Ruzeth here surely does NOT know what a PipBuck is, tartarus, I can barely grapp it!"

00:51 < Wicked> `grasp

00:51 < Wicked> "Now leave it be, both of you! I am sick of this, I can?t take it any more."

00:51 < Ruzeth> "Your very loud affection at that."

00:52 Wicked groans loudly and speeds up, leaving ALL of them behind.

00:54 Ruzeth rolls his eyes. "That you trust your life to some crazy contraption like that is just setting yourself up to fail when it inevitably malfunctions, if its even so flawless as you claim in the first place."

00:54 Smoldering_Ember has a bit of an advantage in the air and speeds up to keep pace with Wicked, though she doesn't address him, leaving him alone since he seems distressed and she...doesn't have the best track record at soothing ponies.

00:57 < Fiery_Cider> "I never said it's flawless, they can be shut down from certain things, but think of it like you would a spirit. It's only function to help the one it's bound too, to the point it can tell just how hurt that one is, but, certain things disrupt that bond" she replies with a shrug "Best way I can put it, I don't know much about them other than how to use them myself"

00:59 Ruzeth looks at Cider confusedly before just sighing and shaking his head, deciding not to press into things he didn't quite understand.

01:06 Fiery_Cider shrugs some

01:06 Wicked still walks further ahead but seems calmed down quickly. But he doesn?t look back, or show any intends to slow down.

01:14 Smoldering_Ember flies above Wicked for a couple minutes, but as he continues to keep to his fast canter, she drops down just ahead of him and stretches her wings out just before slowing to a more normal trot. "Hey there. Planning on charging all the way to the town?"

01:16 Wicked smiles at Smoldering_Ember and looks back. Then back at the pegasus. "I... just can?t take this. It is against my nature, you know? I tried everything, even shouting..." He shakes his head in a sad expression.

01:17 < Wicked> "If they can?t leave me alone with their raffle, I... I wont get involved any more..."

01:21 Shadelow frowned at the team and trotted herself up to the front by herself.

01:23 Fiery_Cider starts to trail behind a bit, keeping to herself at this point

01:23 Ruzeth bites his lip as Shadelow catches up with the other two, leaving him trailing behind with Cider. He takes a quick glance over at her before picking up his pace as well.

01:23 Smoldering_Ember thinks about that quietly then slowly nods. "I suppose I understand that. We each have out own way of being, ways of coping. Thing is, none of us asked to be thrown together. We just..." She shrugs. "...sort of are. Not quite sure what'll happen to us down the road. Might be we won't manage to stay together once we get someplace civilized."

01:25 < Wicked> "But... can?t they at least TRY to?" His voice sounds desperate. "I... I was in worse situations, really, but I always... oh I don?t know anymore..."

01:28 Ruzeth overhears Wicked as he catches up. "I have tried to...she just has thrown every attempt in my face and so I dont' care to anymore."

01:29 Wicked gives Smoldering_Ember a smile, trying to convince her. "It...it is okay." They can all see his ears twitch at Ruzeth, but the red stallion doesn?t seem to answer.

01:29 Fiery_Cider rolls her eyes a bit behind, her keen senses picking up on what the zebra said, but, she bites her tongue and just huffs out through her nose in response

01:30 < Shadelow> Shady kept on her way, trotting a good bit in front of the team; only just in sight

01:31 Wicked of course tries to trot with Shadelow, not to be left behind. This was the reason he paced up before.

01:33 Smoldering_Ember shrugs and gives Wicked a rueful smile. "That WAS me trying back there. You saw how well that worked out. Got called cruel for tryin' to be kind and for just trying to have a little fun of the sort my worst critic had recently indulged in. Maybe the problem is with me. Dunno, but if my kindness is cruel, then I don't see much of a future for us as a group."

01:34 Wicked stops and looks at Smoldering_Ember stern. "No! You tried, and it did not work, but you STILL TRY. That IS a difference."

01:35 Ruzeth breaks fromt he group as he notices Shadelow trotting so far forward, feeling a little worried about the pony walking so far ahead. Upon reaching her he says softly, "Hey, slow down a bit for the rest, I'd hate for something to get you being so far from the rest of the group, as dense as this forest is."

01:37 Smoldering_Ember stops as well. She stands there a moment and gives the other pony's words some serious thought before finally shrugging and offering a small smile. "I suppose there is that, and I will keep trying. Not sure what good it will do, but maybe, just maybe I'll sleep on it and everything will work out."

01:37 Wicked then speeds up again, determined to stay infront of the group.

01:38 Smoldering_Ember takes to the air once more, not about to let Wicked hog the front runner slot alone.

01:40 < Shadelow> Shady seemed not to quite hear, or not want to listen, as she kept on her path, almost galloping to keep ahead.

01:42 Wicked sees the small pony gallop and whinnies. Not she too! He runs forward, and quickly turns in front of the smaller mare, to let her run into him. "Where are you running? Don?t we have enough trouble already?" He looks at Shadelow, then smiles sadly. "I am sorry. Please... don?t do that..."

01:44 Ruzeth grimaces as she runs, glancing back to see how split up the group was. He moves to stop her, only to see Wicked take that job on. He gives wicked a thankful look and watches as the group catches up with them.

01:47 Wicked looks at everypony for some seconds, then speaks up. "It. Is. Enough. No word, no fight, I wont take this any more. Either you TRY again, or I WONT CARE." Heis ears fall down, tears fill his eyes. "Can?t you see we have to? You?re hurting ALL of us, Cider, Ruzeth. Stop it. Please..."

01:48 Fiery_Cider starts to say something then stops just shrugging some

01:49 Wicked steps up to Fiery_Cider and looks down n her. "Don?t do that. Don?t you dare jusr shrug this off. You are hurting us, you two."

01:51 Fiery_Cider looks at Wicked "You mean like he hurt me the first day after he just randomly appeared"

01:53 < Wicked> "Yes, and you did it to ALL of us ALL the time!" The red stallion looks more sad then angry. "Quit it, please..."

01:54 Ruzeth huffs loudly, not meeting Wicked's eye. "I hurt you the first day? How did I do that? You've been nothing but hostile to me since I showed up. The only cruel thing that happend to you the first day was that damn rain..."

01:54 < Shadelow> Shady let out a meep and bumped straight into Wicked, plopping back to her rump hard in a sudden stop

01:55 Wicked shakes his head, nearly crying now. "You hurt yourself, Cider... I... I can?t take this any more..."

01:59 < Shadelow> Shady bit her lip and stood up, squeaking out loud as she really could, "Y-You guys don't even care about anything else! It's just fighting and fighting and no pony is going to win!" she stood back up and tried to bolt past him.

01:59 Smoldering_Ember listens to all of this with her ears and tail low. She still doesn't trust herself to speak, but she can listen.

01:59 Fiery_Cider looks at Wicked "I know this is hard on you, most of all I know" she says giving him a gentle hug "And I'm sorry for that, but, kicking a pony when they are down isn't fine" she says looking at Ruzeth "I know that shit got bad with that cave, I almost lost Shadey, that was bad enough, but then you, you have the gall to tell me how it's all my fault, and my fault alone"

02:01 Wicked tries to draw Shadelow in a hug, tears on his face. "d-d-don?t run... please..." He then turns away, leaving her with Cider, to sit down for a moment.

02:01 < Ruzeth> "Telling a pony that they should listen to the group next time when they say something is a bad idea, especially when it almost got all of us killed is /not/ kicking a pony when they're down. Its called keeping every pony safe."

02:03 < Shadelow> Shady shakily and weakly tried to keep going, but went limp, crying out, "Just stop it Cider! If you don't, you'll lose me anyways!"

02:03 < Fiery_Cider> "But, you made it a point to tell me it was my fault. You have no idea how much I was already upset by nearly loosing the one good thing to happen in my shit storm of a life, but then, to tell me it's my fault, do you have any idea how much that hurts, any...." she says cutting off as Shadelow cries that out nodding some and falling silent gently hugging onto the other unicorn shaking some

02:04 < Shadelow> Shady squirmed around in their grip, too shaken and disturbed to really take all the contact.

02:05 Ruzeth remains in silence for a couple of seconds, "Well, I'm sorry you took it that way. That was not my intention. I just want everyone to stay safe and alive, even if I havn't know yall for long. You seem to be good ponies."

02:05 Wicked sniffs loudly, but put a hoof on his muzzle ang gulps heavily, trying not to disturb, not to be a bother. Like always.

02:06 Smoldering_Ember trots past Wicked making sure to brush her wing across him and give him a tiny, slightly fragile but still hopeful smile as she once again sets off towards the next town.

02:08 Wicked ods Smoldering_Ember, seemingly supressing to cry, and stands up shaking. He looks for the others to follow, as he once again sets direction the town.

02:15 Ruzeth bites his lip, not saying a word and begins to follow the rest of the group, soon striking back out to his position in the lead.

02:16 Fiery_Cider sighs and lets go of Shadelow, kissing her softly on the forehead "Ruzeth, I'm...sorry for not thinking you meant it another way, I'm just....coming to terms with alot of things all at once, not an excuse but yeah, lots and lots of life changes in a very, very short time

02:21 < Shadelow> Shady scrambled back onto her legs and waddled off, attempting to move her fastest, but only able to keep up a slow walk with her emotions.

02:21 Ruzeth gives Fiery_Cider a nod of acknowledgement and his face softens slightly but he still doesn't respond, still finding himself irritated with the mare.

02:24 < EdenGM> After a few minutes, the group reaches the edge of a very steep hillside heading downwards, the tops of buildings showing through some trees a little ways away

02:24 Fiery_Cider pulls up close to Shadelow, nuzzling her neck gently "I'm sorry" she whispers softly to the other mare

02:25 Ruzeth hops up and down excitedly as he clears the hiltop, being in front. "Hey guys, look over there! Its the town~!" He calls back to them, with glee in his voice.

02:26 < Fiery_Cider> "Calm down there skippy.....I just....had a thought....the first other ponies we encountered here were canibalistic tribals....where do they come from?"

02:28 Wicked sighs. "Ahh... finally. Can?t wwait to get a bed, maybe some water... and I do need some company..."

02:28 < Shadelow> Shady stepped away from her, not traveling any further knowing she'd be. very likely to trip going down that way

02:30 < Ruzeth> "Oh...right...you did kinda mention that at first..." The zebra furrows his brow briefly before brightening back up again. "Still, I doubt cannibals would have a town quite like that. It looks too nice."

02:31 Smoldering_Ember hovers over the group asking, "Perhaps I should try a quick fly over? See if anyone acts strange or unfriendly?"

02:31 Wicked sits down with a gentle smile, far aay in memories or thoughts.

02:31 < Shadelow> "W..Well... We can choose to pass every town and just live off the land.." Shady let out, almost next to silent.

02:32 Fiery_Cider sits down "I...don't way one way or the other....to be honest, just...an idle thought, sorry"

02:33 Ruzeth shakes his head. "Cmon, it'll be nice to see some more ponies. Plus, one of us needs a bedroll, I mean not that I mind sharing with somepony, but sadly that somepony already has hers."

02:33 Ruzeth gives a grin and winks over at Ember.

02:34 < Wicked> "Well... I can go. You have quite some experience with rescuing me." he says chuckling, with a jokeful note.

02:35 < Fiery_Cider> "Well, splitting up is a bad idea, if we wanna go down...I could make a sheild sled and we could take the short way down the hill...."

02:36 Wicked shakes his head, politely. "No need to rush it now... I trust in my hooves to get me there the long way."

02:45 Smoldering_Ember rolls her eyes at all the dithering, instead turning in the air and gliding quietly over the town. If this place didn't have griffons, pegasi, or large airborne preditors, there wasn't a lot of chance anyone would look up, but she was definitely looking down, looking for any kind of clues she could see.

02:57 Ruzeth looks at Cider skeptically, but doesn't imediatly dismiss the idea. "Would you get all of us there safely? Have you tried anything like this before?"

03:02 < Fiery_Cider> "Remember the umbrella?" she asks in response chuckling some "And you didn't see the wedge I'd made to charge through the underbrush a day or so ago"

03:04 Wicked shakes his head again and pats Fiery_Cider. "L-let?s... Let us just ... walk, this time. I had enough action recently, a nice change if things were... normal, just for once. I have trust in your ability, but... please?"

03:04 Ruzeth glances around the rest of the group shrugging. "Well, Shadelow? Thats 1 against from wicked, and 1 for from me? Are you eager to get to civilization quickly?"

03:05 Fiery_Cider nods some "It was just an idea, I don't see any paths down though" she says scooting over to Shade and nuzzling her gently "You okay?"

03:06 < Shadelow> Shady took a deep breath, giving a soft lean away, "I-I'm just upset right now.. I just need to calm down somewhere safe..."

03:08 Wicked looks at her, ducking. "Eh... I still...I would like to help... and you and Cider can calm down then, I am sure we can afford a roo for you two..."

03:11 < Ruzeth> "Well...then..." The zebra takes a deep breath. "Lets go ahead and take the sled down I think Cider."

03:11 < Fiery_Cider> "Only if every one's okay with it, and, after Smoldering gets back so we can tell her the plan"

03:12 Wicked smiles politely. "I can walk on my own, Miss Cider. It is not that far. Wouldn?t dare to bother, really."

03:14 < Ruzeth> "Well...Wicked...we can't leave anypony behind...so by hoof it is I guess..."

03:15 Wicked waves at Ruzeth. "R-really, I would hate to be bothersome, i-if everypony else prefers..." He nods them. "Please, go ahead.

03:18 < Shadelow> "I-I'm not sure I can quite walk down it.."

03:21 Wicked smiles "Then for Shadelow, please Miss Cider, proceed. Else I would have to carry her, and I am well aware how uncomfortable this is."

03:22 Fiery_Cider chuckles and nuzzles Shade "How about I carry you dear" she says "I mean, if your okay with that"

03:23 Ruzeth shrugs and sighs. "I guess we've still got quite a trek ahead of us then..."

03:23 Shadelow blinked, "A-Are you sure you can carry me?"

03:24 < Fiery_Cider> "No, but damnit I will to help you out love" she says smiling softly and nuzzling the other mare again, crouching down infront of her

03:25 < Fiery_Cider> "Oh, idea, hmmm, describe the most comfortable seat you've ever been in, or a bed you like or something!"

03:25 < Shadelow> Shady took another deep breath and carefully and awkwardly climbed up, unsure how to orient herself

03:25 < Wicked> "I am quite sure I can, but I leave this one to Miss Cider."

03:28 Fiery_Cider smiles and with wobbling legs stands up getting her strength from inside as she nuzzles the other mare gently

03:29 < Ruzeth> "Alright well...follow my lead. I think I can pick us a pretty safe path down." Ruzeth begins to nimbly pick his down the mountain side, his hooves finding the safer spots to tread, making an example for the others.

03:32 < Shadelow> Shady just kept quiet and rode on her, blushing furiously the whole time

03:32 Fiery_Cider follows, albeits slowly, being careful not to wiggle to much, and looking down at the ground the entire time