The Mana-Verse

[Blue Valkyrie]

Aya sighs "Of course I do but I hate just sitting here, that ninja could be anywhere!"

((Just a case of Cabin fever!  ))

[Phi]

"Mm-hm, I kind of understand what she's talking about," Pema nodded, "I hate staying still, too. But... you just have to trust us and be patient, Ms. Aya. I don't want you to get hurt."

She turned to Sakura, "Ms. Sakura helped me understand that. Oh, and Salem, too!" She said happily.

[Quickman]

((More like Stuck In Car Fever.))

The Professor only half-heard what everyone was talking about, as his mind was elsewhere.  He and his master didn't install any sort of windshield on their carriage, and thus the rain was beginning to spatter his lap.  He moved his maps out of the way and half-folded them, sticking them in his cloak so that he could peek at them when needed.

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Alright alright, I'll be good." Aya sits back down.

The carriage/car manage to navigate the old roads pretty well with only a few terrifying moments as the road occasionally gives out. Eventually they do make it to first of three old bridges and as the professor feared it had been damaged by landslides caused by the constant mining.

[Fxeni]

"Hmm... not sure driving over this is such a good idea," Fxeni states as he examines the bridge from its edge.

[Quickman]

"Oh, no, no, no, not in this state, not in this state, no, no, no..."

The Professor stowed his maps and climbed out in order to better survey the damage.  The bridge crossed a large creek, which carriages and wagons had driven through prior to the construction; at least according to his notes and maps.  One of his older maps didn't show the bridge at all, but showed the road.

Poking around in the brush, he found a large stick and walked around the bridge and down to the water's edge, where he lifted his robes with one hand and waded into the cold water.  Using the stick, he checked the depth, waded farther into the creek, checked the depth again at a different point, and then finally sloshed back to shore.

"It's quite shallow, quite shallow.  The landslides dammed it, yes?  We could drive through it, but, but a path, a new path would need to be cleared."

[Sakura Leic]

(So what exactly does that mean?)

[Quickman]

((That they could drive down the slope and through the creek to reach the other side, because the water is shallow.))

[Sakura Leic]

"Okay then let's do that." Calien nodded as he motioned the Professor to get in so je could drive through.

"Epee I know you don't like water but you're fast so it would only be for a moment okay?" Sakura told the Rapidash.  After a bit of hesitation Epee galloped into the water and got to the other side.

(Because Rapidashes are badasses?)

[Quickman]

As the carriage chugged off the road and into the tall grass, it slowed as its wheels encountered thick underbrush and soft ground.  The slope to the creek was relatively free of any choking weeds, but it was a noticeable sandbar.  The carriage's heavy chassis sank into the soft riverbank and it slowed to a complete halt in the muddy water.

The other side of the bridge didn't offer a better path, as it was a rocky pile of boulders and old logs, with trees overhanging the water.  Their only feasible route was the sandbar, and the Professor had miscalculated how soft the ground actually was.

The back wheels rotated impotently in the thick, sandy mud, and the rear of the carriage sank even deeper with each attempt to force it out of the mud flats.  It was stuck, and the increasing rain was not helping matters.

[Sakura Leic]

"....Looks like we need to wait for better conditions." Calien sighed.

[Blue Valkyrie]

Aya braced herself on the handrail as they came to a stop. "Oh great the rain is getting worse too!"

Meanwhile high above on the cliff a figure watches the group get themselves stuck in the mud, Doll Master stood casually under a umbrella held by one of her doll constructs. She giggles while adjusting her mask. "Well-well-well---looks like our little "heros" have gotten themselves stuck! Be a dear and help them loose." She extends her arm slightly and a large Golem doll raises it's fist above his head and brings them down hard on the mountain cliff over and over.

It's not long before the rain, and the punches begin to disturb the already unstable mountain side, the group barely have a chance to look up before they notice a avalanche heading their way, a torrent of mud,rock and water. The group realize they have two options, jump across the bridge or slide down the cliff and hope they can out race the avalanche. Either way there is no time to move the car, merely grab their gear as fast as they can.

(Interesting to see how you all react to this. And yes I'm evil.  )

[Sakura Leic]

(So what do you guys want to do, I think Epee would be able to do either.)

[Quickman]

The Professor climbed through the carriage and grabbed his bag.  Crawling back behind Calien, he grabbed the other's arm and pulled him along.  He would have grabbed Aya's arm, but he didn't want to risk hurting her, so he motioned excitedly.  "Come, come, come!"

Splashing down into the water, he slogged through it and scrambled toward the bridge, pulling himself up onto some of its fallen pylons.  Carefully, but quickly, he worked his way across the creek, his toes gripping the wet wood while his shod left foot slipped a few times on its slimy surface.

[Blue Valkyrie]

Aya hopped down herself, hurrying to keep up while the creek made a point to try and trip her up. As the professor began to stumble she used her good arm to keep him steady. "G-Go, I got you!" she yelled digging her feet into the mud to steady herself as the noise grew louder.

[Sakura Leic]

"Wouldn't it be better if I carried you?" Calien asked the Prof as he only barely managed to get his supplies at the Prof's pulling while Epee once again crossed the body of water.

[Phi]

Pema pointed her finger forward, "Now, Salem! Fly like the wiiiiiind!"

"You could've just asked me normally..." Salem groaned as he hovered.

"Ms. Sakura, the staff may not seem that long at a glance, but it can hold two people," Pema motioned to Salem, as she latched onto the front of the staff, "Hold on tight to the end of the staff, and Salem should be able to float us across that creek thing."

(Cheating, maybe? )

[Sakura Leic]

"Epee make it across!" Sakura shouted as she grabbed the staff. 

Yin in the meantime carried Bianca across the creek with careful foot work.

[Quickman]

"Wouldn't it be better if I carried you?" Calien asked the Prof as he only barely managed to get his supplies at the Prof's pulling while Epee once again crossed the body of water.

The Professor gave a meek nod as he realized his lame leg was slowing him down considerably.  Thankfully, his small size made for an easier carry.

[Sakura Leic]

"Alley Oop!" Calien said as he scooped up the Prof in a piggy back position and continued crossing the creek.

(I never thought he would say Alley Oop.....)

[Phi]

(I'm glad he did. )

[Sakura Leic]

(Calien, star quarterback and expert at carrying people who can't keep up.)

[Blue Valkyrie]

Aya is able to pull herself up onto the other side outside the avalanche's range. lying on her back for a moment cold and soaked she suddenly sat up to make sure the others had managed to cross safely. However something suddenly caught her attention, the sound of footsteps; from behind her up the path. "Huh?"

[Sakura Leic]

(Monster, creepy Doll lady, Dwarf?)

[Protoman Blues]

"Humans. I should have known." the tall figure standing behind them said. "Surround them. They will answer for this atrocity!"