001 || {Audio / Action}

[contempsi]

[Groggy and disoriented, Hope awakens in the middle of the forest—just as he'd left it.

Or maybe not so much. The air is cold against his skin, and that's the first thing he notices as he lifts a hand to rub at his eyes. His clothes are gone entirely; there's nothing on his person but a simple pair of white pants, and in the chill of winter, they aren't much help.

Never mind the fact that Pulse wasn't this cold in the first place, by a long shot.

There's also a stiffness in his back, and when he folds his bare arms around himself for warmth, feeling the bumps raise on his skin—the ache in his shoulderblades is almost excruciating. Wincing in pain, the boy automatically lifts a hand to touch the afflicted area as his eyes dart around in search of his tiny companion, who had accompanied him on his food-gathering expedition.]

...Chocobo...?

[The confused question immediately catches on a gasp of surprise as his fingers brush against something decidedly feathery on his back. Hope immediately twists his head back to see just what the heck is wrong with him, finding a pair of wings there, of all things—wings with silken feathers the same pale silver as his hair.]

What—

[His heart begins to race in fear and uncertainty, though he attempts to will it down. If he allows himself to become too stressed, after all... Hope lifts his arm, staring at the marking on his wrist. The crimson eye, slowly on the edges of awakening, stares back—and he immediately squeezes his eyes shut, turning his face away. As he lowers his hand again, it brushes against something. He snatches the object up: it's a book.

It doesn't take Hope long at all to figure out the thing—he's a smart kid. Clearly, with the marked buttons and everything, it can be used to communicate with others. But where did it come from? This doesn't look like anything they have on Cocoon, even with its advanced technology... and Gran Pulse is so primitive in comparison. It doesn't make sense.

No matter. Finding the others is of the utmost importance, before it's too late. Pressing the button that would enable him to broadcast his voice, Hope attempts to send out a message to the other l'Cie, in hopes that maybe they were able to locate a similar device, or that perhaps it would transmit to some kind of central beacon.]

...um... guys...?

[His voice is thick from sleep, slightly slurred. He clears his throat.] Can anyone hear me? I... I think I got lost, and I can't find Chocobo either. Someone... or something... robbed me, too. As... as weird as that sounds. So... it doesn't look like we're alone here after all.

Um... I'm going to try to find my way back, but... [He trails off, biting his lip, feeling a little silly.] ...if I don't make it back... just... go on without me.

Comments

[Voice]

[oncebright.livejournal.com]

[If this kid has managed to get lost, he's probably a New Feather. Mogget is in a relatively helpful mood today, so he decides not to ignore this one like he usually would.]

Where are you? Nobody can give you directions otherwise.

Oh, and you weren't robbed. Apparently people's possessions are taken from them when they enter this world.

And what in the world is a chocobo?

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

...w-what...? [The voice that comes forth in response... is definitely not one that he recognizes. At all.]

I... I'm in the forest... [He still sounds a little confused, and disoriented.] But we came down to Pulse a while ago, and none of us lost our things.

[Voice]

[oncebright.livejournal.com]

This place is called Luceti; I know not of a Pulse, but you're certainly not there anymore.

Are there any defining landmarks you can see? It's a rather large forest, you know.

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Um... [There's some rustling, a couple twigs snapping as he's clearly walking around a bit.] I just see a few big trees... and it looks like there's a river in the distance.

I—what did you mean... "this place"? How can I not be on Pulse anymore when I've been asleep the whole time?

[Voice]

[hallowedlight.livejournal.com]

You've lost a chocobo?

[That interests Cecil. He's only seen one or two around the village; they don't seem to be common creatures in this world. More importantly, though...]

If you're a new arrival, I can help you. Can you describe your surroundings?

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[Interesting... this man knows what a chocobo is, but the previous person he spoke to didn't.] Y-yeah, I did... um, it's just a chocobo chick, and he actually belongs to my friend. So I hope he didn't get lost.

I'm... I'm in a forest. I can see a river off in the distance... and a bunch of trees. Sorry, I guess that doesn't help much. [This is all so confusing...]

[Voice]

[hallowedlight.livejournal.com]

I see... Your friend's chocobo was likely left behind when you were brought here. I'm sorry.

If you head for the river and follow it upstream, it will take you to the village.

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Oh... [He breathes in slowly, exhaling in a sigh. The chocobo chick is smart, though... so maybe he found his way back to Sazh and the others on his own. Still, that does little to ease Hope's current worries, as he's still here and not there.]

Thank you. I'll follow the river. [Because really, what else can he do?]

[action]

[risingwinds.livejournal.com]

[Another New Feather? The forest sure seems like a popular place to drop them off, which sure isn't a good thing in this weather.

Obviously, the right course of action is to help! So, despite the fact that he's a total stranger, Ven approaches Hope with his journal tucked beneath his arm.]

Hey, you need some help?

[action]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[Glancing up at the sound of the voice, definitely coming from here and not his book, Hope blinks at the newcomer in confusion. It seems to be a boy around his age, which puts him a little at ease.

Going from seeing no signs of human life whatsoever to all of this is slightly jarring, to say the least. Hope rises to his feet, though.] Hi... um... you're not lost too, are you?

[action]

[risingwinds.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.]

Nah, I'm used to these woods.

[He takes a step closer.]

It's kinda cold, though. If you want, I can take you back to the village.

[action]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

That'd be great. Thanks. [Hope, at least, had been given some direction now—to get to this village, whatever it is, and what it holds. A traveling companion would definitely be welcomed, though, as he still isn't entirely sure what could stand between him and his destination. Monsters? Wild creatures? Would there be Cie'th here, too?

He outstretches a hand to the other boy.] My name's Hope... what's yours?

[voice!]

[thestormishere]

[ Well, today promised to be fairly normal for Lightning... full of sleeping in a while to shield off the early morning cold weather, getting in some exercise and/or training, probably trying to find something she's missed about here and her blocked Focus later on... all the regular things, really. As sad as it is to admit, the sort of things that have become the routine here.

And then, Hope Estheim shows up through her journal and blows it all to pieces. Even if he wouldn't notice it, cue in a full three seconds of shocked silence from the young woman as she finishes listening, comprehending the sound of his voice, the mention of a chocobo, the... melodrama? ]

Hope?!

[voice!]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[That voice... is definitely unmistakable. Hope sucks in his breath, letting out a relieved sigh. Between all the strangers, and being told he wasn't on Pulse anymore... he wasn't sure if he'd see or hear any of his friends' voices amongst the chaos.]

Light! I... where are you?

[voice!]

[thestormishere]

[ This is complicated. With a journal in hand and people all around who tend to be pretty quick to explain... just how much has he already heard? She thinks- most efficient thing to do at this point is to leave the potentially awkward explanation for why she's in 'the village' for later and get right to finding him! ]

Where are you?

[voice!]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

I'm in a forest... heading toward the only river I see. Light... what is this place? Is there really no way out? [He sounds tired, and despondent, at what he's learned thus far.]

[voice]

[infinitepath.livejournal.com]

You are in Luceti now. You're in a different world.

... Do you need any help?

[voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Someone else mentioned that name, too... [He sighs. Somehow, that just affirms how real all this surreality truly is. It's rather sobering.]

I... I got some information, and I'm heading for... some kind of village now. Thanks for the offer, though. Um... do you live in the village, too?

[voice]

[infinitepath.livejournal.com]

Mii. I do. I could show you around, if you'd like.

[Voice]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

...chocobo?

[Right, anyway....]

Wherever you were, you're in Luceti now. As for being lost, I might be able to help. Are there any landmarks nearby? River or lake or such?

[Voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

There's a bunch of big trees... and a river, though it's kind of far away. I was told to go there, though... and follow it to... some kind of village. So that's what I'm doing right now.

[He pauses then, because she had also reacted to the word "chocobo".] ... um... by any chance, did you see a small yellow bird anywhere?

[Voice]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

That's right, follow the river upstream. You'll find the village that way, though I can try to look for you. I don't want you getting cold out there.

...as for the chocobo, no. At least, no free-roaming ones. The only one I know is black and belongs to someone else.

[voice]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll make it back. Eventually.

[/helpful]

[voice]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Th-thanks? I... I think I will, too.

[voice]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

Might take a little while, though. But the people here can be pretty helpful when they want to be, so it shouldn't be too bad.