Expedition Log: 14th Day of New Blooms
Recorded by: Explorer Verdant-Trail
We departed from the Highnest Lifts a day-phase after dawn, to prevent the morning sun from blinding those among us with more sensitive eyes as we traveled directly dawnward. Well-rested and in high spirits, we made swift progress. The trail is well-worn from previous expeditions, and there were no unforeseen obstacles to delay us. We made camp for the night where our path diverged from previous expeditions and discussed what would come next. We were to travel slightly to the left of dawnward, cutting through the heavy jungle until we confirmed the border of the Lost Lands, and then turn right and follow the border for the rest of that day.
With any luck, we would come across the ruins of an old trading settlement that was marked on several recently rediscovered maps. It was a hub of trade between the Highnests, Darksoil, and Deepcross, before it was Lost. While the settlement itself was just outside the Lost Lands, fear of it expanding and the fact that it served little purpose with Deepcross gone led to it being swiftly abandoned. If it is safe to do so, we will make camp there to prepare for the survey.
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Explorer Verdant-Trail always drew attention to itself whenever it entered a new settlement, it was hard for a lizard of its size not to. Darksoil, however, was a far more intense experience than it would have expected. It had expected a lot of noise, possibly an overwhelming amount, but even with its poor sense of hearing it could tell that people were falling silent as it walked by instead. It knew why, of course. It was pulling a wagon that was clearly not made for it, the harness hanging loosely around its neck and angled far lower than it was meant to be. It was strong enough to handle it, but it was exhausted, and everyone looking at it could tell.
I can not rest. I will not rest. Not until they are safe. Not until we have answers.
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Expedition Log: 15th Day of New Blooms
Recorded by: Explorer Eager-Horizon
I hate rain. I hate this jungle. I hate having to spend time scraping the mud off of everything. I hate that these ruins do not have any intact roofs. I hate being on Log Duty.
Right. Log Duty.
Everything was fine until the rain started. There were no signs of bad weather when we left, but I cannot fly to assess the air when we’re near the Lost Lands, it would be too easy to accidentally fly over the border and begin to lose myself. The downpour hit without warning as a result, turning the remainder of the trek into slog through mud and ever-thickening undergrowth. Our Transporter had to turn back only a day-phase into the storm. Its narrow hooves sunk much farther into the mud than anyone else’s feet, rendering it incapable of pulling the cart. Verdant-Trail has taken over its duties, as its claws give it far better purchase in this terrain. However, it moves much slower, and we did not reach the ruins until after sunset. We erected temporary shelter within the ruins, staking a canvas tarp between a few of the still-standing walls. With Verdant-Trail suffering from exhaustion and also being blind in the dark, Log Duty has fallen to me.
Overall, the prospects for the expedition are not looking good. My feathers are too damp to fly, while Verdant-Trail has already pushed itself to the limits of its stamina; the weather has prevented it from properly warming itself. I managed to start a small fire, the spark-maker and spare fuel thankfully remained dry, so if we are lucky, we will be warm and dry enough by morning to not be completely useless. The only one of us who is not miserable right now is Valiant-Claw.
I continue to be astonished by its physiology and just what it is completely unbothered by. Water and mud might as well be a pleasant breeze to it. I can only hope it can turn that energy towards the survey tomorrow. We need this to be successful. There is no room for any more errors.
I hate surveys.
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Concerned citizens must have brought Verdant-Trail to the attention of the local authorities, because it was soon confronted by a Guardian, who immediately sent for a proper Transporter to take over and escorted them all to the College the moment the Explorer explained why they were here. Unfortunately, it was upon reaching the College that things became far more chaotic.
“Quiet-Dream, slow down!” A frustrated squawk from the front gate preceded their arrival. “You don’t even know what condition they’re in!”
“Exactly!” A much higher-pitched squeak just barely reached the lizard, right on the edge of what was audible to its simple ears. “Do you think these up-tight authoritarians are going to have any idea how to treat a [Member of Our Species] without causing more stress, or worse? They sure didn’t for us!”
The mention of this unknown species sparked something within the recesses of Verdant-Trail’s sleep-deprived mind. Recognition. An alien thought roused by something familiar to it.
Not yet, Invader. The Explorer tensed as it pushed the feeling back down. Not. Yet.
“Excuse me!” Another barely audible chirp drew its attention to the ground in front of it where a squirrel was looking up at it expectantly. “Are you one of the… new arrivals?”
“I am here to get help for my companions,” Verdant-Trail replied, waving a foreleg towards the small covered cart. The squirrel opened its mouth to say something else, only for the lizard to raise a claw to cut it off. “They need medical attention, and I have been traveling for too long on too little sleep. Please leave me be.”
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“You heard the [Big Island Lizard]. We can just follow them to the infirmary and see what needs done.” A crow landed next to the squirrel and nudged it out of the way, though Verdant-Trail barely noticed as the expression the bird had used to describe it also rang familiar to the Invader’s sleeping mind. It was not native to any sort of island, but these entities seemed to think that it was. The Explorer failed to make any sense of why.
It knew that it would find them here, of course. Others infected by foreign thoughts and minds. It had just not expected them to be so… forward, or excitable. News of Darksoil’s “containment” of them had reached the Highnests five days ago, and Verdant-Trail had left as soon as it was able to. If anyone could help them, it would be an institution of learning and research. If nothing else, those two being in good condition bode well for the prospects of itself and its companions. That was all that mattered. It could put up with some minor indignities for their sake. It would be far from the first time.
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Expedition Log: 16th Day of New Blooms
Recorded by: Explorer Valiant-Claw
Strange day today. Everyone is tired. That is to be expected after yesterday. But this is a strange tiredness. Exhaustion of the mind, not the body. I am also affected, even though I ended yesterday in good condition. We did not wander into the Lost Lands. We checked. So we are safe. Verdant-Trail made the decision to delay our survey by one day. One full day of rest and sun should help us recover. We have more than enough supplies to do so without the Transporter to feed.
I am not used to recording the Expedition Log. Or recording anything. My claws and eyes do not suit most writing tools. Combined with the exhaustion, I can only express things simply. But I am the only one who can record at all. Verdant-Trail and Eager-Horizon already fell asleep. The day is barely half-over. I have roused them several times, but they fall back asleep quickly. I am going to sleep soon as well. No stopping it. So I have to make the log now.
Why am I tired?
I should not be this tired.
None of us should be this tired.
Something is wrong.
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“This is Explorer Valiant-Claw. It has been comatose since the incident.” Verdant-Trail gestured at the cushion upon which one of its companions had been placed. The coconut crab lay in a tangled mess of legs and claws, rigid and unmoving, save for the occasional twitch. Its red and blue mottled carapace was partially obscured by the wet cloth that had been draped over it to moisturize it after the long trip here.
“Have you been able to feed it anything?” Lead Physician Pensive-Pace grunted as one of its claws tested the rigidity of a leg. It gave a bit, and then remained at its new position.
“Force-feeding it was at least partially successful. Thankfully it does not need to eat as often as most, but…”
“Understood. Able-Heart, you may begin your assessment.” The wombat nodded to a nearby serval, who immediately approached and laid a paw on the crab. It was probably Attuned to something useful to medicine. “Verdant-Trail, please follow me.”
Pensive-Pace led the Explorer to another part of the infirmary, an isolated observation room of some sort. Everything in the infirmary was bright and clean, but not this room. The normally white stone walls were painted with dark earth tones, and the lamps were covered with thin cloth hoods that diffused and dimmed their light. Inside was a large, round bird, perched on a carved wooden rod affixed to the walls of the room. Its deep brown plumage blended into the background somewhat as its normally bright and attentive eyes stared at the new arrivals vacantly.
“This one is of a naturally nocturnal species, though obviously it had practiced a primarily diurnal sleep schedule prior to all of this.” The Lead Physician stared up at the bird, its expressions tinged with more unease than it had shown earlier. Whether it was Eager-Horizon’s condition specifically, or simply something it was more willing to show when its subordinates were not present to see, Verdant-Trail couldn’t tell. “Still, a dark, quiet place should help reduce stress. It clearly is not feral, as it obeys simple requests, and it readily eats when provided with food. Has it shown any other signs of awareness?” It took a bit for Verdant-Trail to answer. Combing through the past days was difficult, doubly so when it was this tired. “Explorer?”
“Apologies, I…” The lizard shook its head, trying to recompose itself. “I am told that it has, though I have not witnessed it myself. It seems to react more to… Whoever is here when I am not. But even the Invader cannot get it to converse.”
“I see.” Pensive-Pace stared at it for only a moment before dropping all pretense. “Explorer, when was the last time you slept?”
“Over two days ago.”
“Then it would be prudent for you to rest before we do anything else. You are in no state to answer questions.”
“But-”
“Please do not argue with me. I remember what you told me. But you will not be of use to anyone like this. Besides…” The Physician huffed, dropping its professional facade just enough to show that it was truly sympathetic. “This ‘Invader’ will need to be interviewed and assessed as well.”
“If you are sure, then fine.” Verdant-Trail hissed, resigning itself to this fate for the time being. “...Can I have something to record a message with?”
“Of course. Who should I have the message delivered to?”
“No one. This is for the Invader.”
“Understood. I will have someone fetch the materials for you.” The wombat placed a supportive paw on the lizard’s shoulder. “You may pick from any of the beds here in the infirmary in the meantime. Please rest, you have earned at least that much.”
If you can call it ‘rest.’ The lizard simply nodded in the affirmative, its ability to complain having long faded by this point. The state of its two companions was evidence enough that things could have been much, much worse.
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(Scrawled by shaking, unfamiliar claws below the final Expedition Log entry for the failed Border Ruins survey.)
I’m sorry.
I don’t want this anymore.
Send me back.
Please.
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to kill.
I’m sorry.