Unto Old Mountains
Thread Topic: Unto Old Mountains
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Although Liam would certainly love the opportunity to spend more time with Connor, he recognizes the validity of Keziah's explanation. With a playful pout, he nods in agreement and turns to the other man, offering a casual shrug. As she meticulously reiterated the plan, Liam's mind wandered to the items he had carefully stowed away in his pockets. His fingers brushed against the cool metal of the flashlight clipped to his waistband, the reassuring weight of the map and knife nestled in his jeans, and the compact radio resting in his jacket pocket. He pauses for a moment, weighing his options, ultimately deciding that everything else will stay safely in his backpack. With a determined grunt, he shifts the other strap of the bag over his shoulder, feeling its weight settle against him, and begins to tighten the straps.
As the young man mentally gears up for what lies ahead, he slowly rubs his increasingly clammy palms against his thighs, the rough denim bunching uncomfortably under his touch. His gaze follows Keziah as she strides purposefully toward the tree and he retrieves the radio from the depths of his jacket pocket. Throughout their friendship, Liam has come to place his trusts in her instincts; he knows she would never intentionally lead them into danger.
The moment she halts and signals him, he instinctively reaches for his walkie-talkie, his finger hovering over the button. A sharp wince crosses his face as the device crackles to life, emitting a piercing high-pitched whine that momentarily overwhelms him, prompting him to hold it away from his ear until the noise subsides. It dawns on him that he is still standing right next to Connor, which could be causing their radios to interfere with one another. "Oops." He quickly jogs a few feet away, creating a more suitable distance between them. As he takes those last few steps backward, he glances over his shoulder, ensuring he’s far enough to avoid any further feedback. Finally, he comes to a stop and brings the radio to his lips.
"Testing? Testing.. Um, over? I think. Hey, should we give each other nicknames like they do in the movies?" He pauses. "Over." -
"Ooh, yeah- gimme somethin' cool, like Viper Fang or something," Connor said after he turned his walkie on, holding it up to his mouth. "Also, I still think splitting up is a s--- idea- maybe we should have some sort of meeting place if our walkies stop working? Or if-" He paused, not wanting to speak into existence the possibility that something could happen to one of them. "Anyways, y'all can here me fine, right?" He added, looking at the directions Liam and Keziah had gone.
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Keziah heard Liam loud and clear over the radio and chuckled at Connor's radio name and nodded. She hit the button on the side of her walkie and spoke into it. "I think it would be cool to have nicknames, and I'm down for at least Viper for you Connor." Keziah said chuckling at Connor's input. She thought for a moment about what Connor said about splitting up. He was right after all; there was safety in numbers. She fiddled with the straps on her backpack. She was also worried about covering as much ground as she possibly could. She felt torn. It was like the logical side of her screamed to stay with her friends and they could cover the ground together, but the hopeful part of her knew that if split up at least one of them was bound to find something in regard to the people that had gone missing in the town.
She kept the walkie held up to her mouth and pressed the button again. "I think I'll go with Sunshine for my nickname. How does that sound? Over." She grinned as she looked at Connor and Liam. "Also, what about you Liam? Over." She held the walkie-talkie away from her mouth and waited for a response. While she was waiting, she couldn't help but shift from side to side for a moment. She was ready to go out and see if she could find Glenn, or her dad; but also, at the same time she felt selfish. She had already dragged two of her friends out here, not knowing if something was going to happen to any of them. She took a deep breath as her thoughts jostled around in her mind.
If something happens to either of them, I'll never forgive myself.
She shook her head for a moment, trying to clear out the self-doubt. It would be okay. Even if anything did happen, she knew that their bond was irreplaceable and inseparable. -
Liam smiled as he listened to his friends' nicknames crackle through the walkie-talkie, nodding in both acknowledgment and agreement. Each moniker seemed to capture their essence perfectly. Connor, with his enigmatic charm and cool demeanor, truly embodied the spirit of a Viper. There was something captivating about the way he moved through life, effortlessly weaving his way into Liam's heart in a manner that was both surprising and delightful. In a playful gesture, the young man stuck his tongue out at Connor, mimicking the slithering motion of a snake. Meanwhile, Keziah radiated warmth and kindness, aptly earning the nickname Sunshine. Her gentle nature and uplifting presence brought a sense of comfort to those around her.
Liam pauses for a moment, allowing his thoughts to wander to his own nickname, a playful glint sparking in his eyes. A sly smile begins to form on his lips as he glances back and forth between his two friends, his head tilting ever so slightly in a 'you-know-what's-coming' sort of way. If he gets to pick his own nickname, then he's going to take this opportunity to give himself a rather self-affirming title. He laughs to himself before bringing the walkie-talkie up to his lips.
"You can call me... Gorgeous!" The man gasps as he poses, framing his face with his hands in an attempt to look artistic. "No takesie-backsies, that's my nickname. Over!" His laughter could be heard in the distance between them. -
Connor laughed softly as Liam relayed his nickname. "How did I not see that coming?" He said with a chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Viper, Sunshine and Gorgeous- great nicknames~" He paused, looking around for a moment. "I guess we're parting ways now?"
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Keziah smiled at the nickname, then nodded. "I think it would be best to start the search. Over." She stated through the walkie talkie. She was beyond nervous about then separating, but the sooner they scouted their areas the sooner they would be back. "I'm going to go ahead and head off. I'll catch you two later. Over." She stated, clipping the walkie talkie to her pants. She had the volume raised slightly so she could hear anything if Liam and Connor tried to communicate. She gave both of her friends a small wave farewell, then started her trek north, deeper into the mountains.
The further Keziah went north, the more clustered the trees seemed to be. There were fallen leaves scattered across the ground, along with broken branches and various parts of natural debris. She smiled, admiring the sunlight filtering through the trees for a moment. She took off her backpack and took the knife out, slipping it into her pocket. She filtered through the bag to see if there was anything else she might need for the time being, but she decided against it. She tossed the backpack over her shoulders and kept trekking forward. -
Liam offers a gentle smile and a wave to Keziah as she departs, his gaze lingering on her figure until it fades from view. Once she is out of sight, he turns his attention to Connor, giving him a friendly wave as well. Although the moment alone presents an opportunity for playful banter, Liam ultimately decides to set aside any flirtation. The time for that has clearly passed. He hadn’t anticipated encountering Glenn or any trace of him right away, so it was probably wise to get a move on before the sun went down. With a sense of purpose, he slips the walkie-talkie into the pocket of his jean jacket, ensuring the volume is sufficiently turned up. The faint crackle of static resonates against his chest, creating a soft buzzing sensation against his skin that he ignores.
As the young man ventured further west, he reached into his front jean pocket to retrieve the map, glancing at it occasionally to confirm he was still on the correct route. The map depicted a sprawling, dense forest with not much surrounding it. With each step closer to the forest, the dirt path beneath his feet began to narrow, transforming into a slender trail that barely accommodated a single person. Despite its constricted width, Liam found himself intrigued by the remarkable absence of debris. There were no fallen branches or scattered leaves to impede his progress. This pristine condition led him to wonder if someone had been here recently.
Approaching the first large tree he finds, the man tucks his map away in his pant pocket and retrieves the carving knife from the opposite one. He decides to etch a noticeable 'L' into the bark of the tree in an attempt to create a landmark of some form. Satisfied with his work, he leaps upward, grasping a low-hanging branch and yanking it free with a swift motion. "Perfect." he mutters to himself, landing gracefully while twisting and shaping the wood in his hands. Continuing along the trail, he methodically breaks off small fragments of the branch, letting them fall to the ground behind him. -
Connor watched them leave before turning, mentally preparing himself as he started heading south. He hummed quietly to himself as he pulled out his map, trying to get some sense of where he was. He really didn't think this through- he's really not much of an outdoorsy person, so it's not like he knew most basic survival skills or anything- but he wanted to pull through for Keziah and help her with this mission of hers. He kept walking, making sure to keep track of where he went in hopes he wouldn't find himself walking in circles.
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As Keziah made her way through the thickened woods, it started to get dark, and fast. She unclipped the flashlight from her belt and turned it on. It did make her a little uneasy to be out here so late at night, but she had a goal, and she didn't care what happened to her as long as she could get to the bottom of this. She looked around her and noticed a small path to her left-hand side. "Hmmm...' She thought for a moment. As many times as she had trekked these woods when she was younger, she had never known a path to be here. She looked at her watch for a moment, taking note of the time. "Might as well." She spoke to herself softly. She walked over to the small path and started the walk.
It looked as if the small trail hadn't been there long, and for all she knew it could be just a small trail that someone had made for hunting. She used the flashlight to scan the terrain in front of her, and nothing seemed out of place. She looked toward the areas where Connor and Liam would be, taking a brief moment to look for any signs of distress or a flare signal. Thankfully, all seemed clear and that made her feel a little better. She stepped over the small rocks and pebbles that seemed to frequent the ground she walked on. The further she progressed, the smaller the trail got. Eventually, it looked like it took her to a dead end. "What the hell?" She muttered. "There has to be something here."
She stepped off the trailed, heading further up into the mountains. So far, the only thing she had found was this trail. There wasn't a sign of footprints, clothes...anything. What if she had come out here on a wild-goose chase? -
As Liam methodically snapped off small fragments of the branch, casting them onto the path behind him, he became increasingly aware of the sun's descent. A lump formed in his throat as he swallowed hard, glancing back to ensure that his makeshift trail was still visible. Just as he broke off the final piece, the sun began to sink behind the mountain, its warm orange hues spilling across the dense foliage and casting elongated shadows that danced around him. He let out a heavy sigh, feeling a wave of self-pity wash over him for still being out here, making no progress in his search for Glenn. And to think he once believed they'd only be out for a couple hours at most. With a frustrated grunt, he unfastened the flashlight clipped to his waistband and flicked it on, illuminating the darkening path ahead.
In this moment, the young man thinks to himself that it might be a good idea to create another landmark. He retrieves the small blade from his pocket, gripping it awkwardly in an overhand position while balancing a flashlight in his other hand. With a determined focus, he attempts to carve a clear 'L' shape into the surface before him, the beam of light illuminating his efforts. After scrutinizing his work, he secures the flashlight back onto his waistband, the metal clip clicking into place. He then takes a moment to manipulate the handle of the blade, applying a firm pressure to close it with a satisfying snap, the sound echoing softly in the stillness around him. "Huh." Liam rolls his tongue on the inside of his cheek. "What now?"
Liam, determined to avoid the hassle of juggling a flashlight while breaking off tree branches, scans his surroundings until his gaze lands on a cluster of small larch cones nestled at the base of a towering larch tree. A faint smile crosses his face as he compares their size to that of typical pinecones. "They're like baby pinecones." He says to himself thoughtfully. He kneels down, scooping up several handfuls of the cones and stuffing them into the pocket of his jean jacket, feeling a twinge of regret for not having a proper apparatus to carry them. He didn't want to have to unnecessarily dirty his clothes. However, the thought of simply dropping them instead of having to keep breaking tree branches does provide him some comfort. Just as he prepares to stand up once more, the man notices a gaping cavity stretching from the bottom of the tree. "How do trees.. just do that?"
As Liam peered into the dark recess of the tree cavity, a sudden flurry of movement erupted, sending a swarm of bats flying out in all directions. The unexpected onslaught startled him, causing him to lose his balance and tumble backward onto the ground. His hands instinctively shot out to catch himself, but instead of the solid earth he anticipated, they sank into a slick, muddy patch. The cold, wet earth squelched beneath his fingers, and he felt the dampness seep into his pants, a grim reminder of his misstep. What began as a startled yelp quickly morphed into a groan of dismay, echoing his frustration as he sat there, defeated. "Nooooo! f---!" His cries echoed. -
Connor froze and stifled a laugh when he heard Liam's shout off in the distance, laughing softly. He grabbed his walkie talkie, pressing the talk button. "You good, Gorgeous?" He asked as he looked around, trying to remember which direction Liam was in. "You fall or somethin'~?"
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Keziah heard the radio copy from Connor and grabbed the radio from her belt. "Everything okay? Over." She said, holding the radio to face level. The air around Keziah felt still. She looked around her, realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere going this direction. Not much was up this way anyway, and she could always head toward Liam or Connor. She had this feeling that something was going to happen. She didn't know what, or when, but it was like she could feel it in the air. She awaited a response on her radio before she made up her mind.
(Sorry for my short response ;w;) -
Liam feels an overwhelming urge to cry at this moment. He struggles to hold back the tears that threaten to spill from his eyes, while a wave of bitter self-pity surges within him, tightening his chest. Taking deep, shaky breaths through his mouth, he can feel the heat of embarrassment flushing his skin a deep crimson. "Ugh!" With a frustrated tilt of his head, he throws it back, letting out a low grunt as he presses his palms deeper into the mud beneath him, using it as leverage to push himself up. As he finally stands, he raises his arms, surveying the damage. His fingers, caked in mud, splay out as he curls his lip in disgust. He can feel the wet patches left behind on the back of his pants.
"Ohh god. What do I do now?" Liam says to himself defeatedly, looking around. By now, he was definitely in the heart of the forest, with nothing but trees as far as the eye could see. They stretched tall and wide, their leaves creating a canopy that blocked much of the day's remaining sunlight, creating a dim greenish twilight around him. However, he could still make out the makeshift trail he left behind. The thought of returning to his car nagged at him, especially since he was almost certain he had left some gym clothes in the trunk. As he wrestled with his indecision, the sudden buzz of his walkie-talkie jolted him from his thoughts, the device vibrating against his chest like a lifeline, pulling his attention back to the present.
Hearing Connor's voice, Liam can feel the butterflies in his stomach start to flap their wings at being called his chosen nickname. The heat in his chest spread to his cheeks, causing a slight smile that was impossible to fight off. It quells slightly at the sound of Keziah, but he's relieved to know both of his friends are okay nevertheless. He very carefully removes the walkie-talkie clipped to his jacket, holding it in a way so that it won't be dirtied. "Ugh, yeah... I fell. But I'm fine." The man takes one final glance in the direction of his car. "Over." -
Connor let out a relieved sigh, nodding a little as he held the walkie to his face. "That's good- maybe watch your step next time~" He teased with a smirk, chuckling softly as he continued to walk.
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Keziah felt relief hearing Connor and Liam over the walkie. Knowing that they were both safe eased her mind. She looked around the area where she was, and realized the mountain steeped up significantly. If someone was able to make it this far, this would be a deterrent. She started to back-track toward the beginning of where they started. She didn't see anything within the area where she was. Little did she know, maybe trekking back to where they started was a good idea.
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There were at least four figures that Connor had yet to see. The first two were far ahead of him, they were cloaked in black robes, bear skulls placed atop their head. The robes were perfect to hide them on the now darkening sky. The second pair had been trailing Connor for a minute. Their robes were flush red, deer skulls atop their head. In their right hands were two lamps, with wicks trimmed. It didn't look like they had been lit yet, and the lanterns looked ancient. There were runic-like symbols carved into the top and bottom.
As Connor kept walking, the figures closed in. All four were dead set on capturing the young man and taking him back to the church. Beneath the one of the black robes, and bear skulls; there was one individual who started to have second thoughts. He knew how this would end, and it wasn't pretty. What none of the cultists anticipated were the two other people that were searching through the woods that night.
Before anyone had time to think, the two cultists in the red robes approached Connor, quickly and quietly from behind. While that was happening, the two cultists that wore in the black robes and bear skulls hopped out from behind the trees to make a distraction. At this point in time, Keziah had made it back to the spot where they all had gone their separate ways. The feeling she had earlier of dread was even stronger now. She kept trying to think of other things and distract herself, but it seemed there wasn't anything that could help.
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