Kristen hesitated slightly before briefing Olivia on everything that had happened since she had blacked out, rambling on and on about the scene of the tentacle.
She described it in great detail, perhaps a bit exaggerated due to the fear.
Olivia originally planned to listen and figure out what had actually gone on, but as soon as she heard Kristens recap she became instantly baffled.
Herself and Lucia went unconscious for no reason?
A random, gross tentacle attacked Kristen?
And it wasn't even near the ocean, where all octopus live.
Confusion took over her thoughts as she tried to make sense of it, coming to a halt every time something unexplainable happened. When she tried to form a image to summarise it, she was shocked by how many gaping holes there were.
Kristen started pacing back and forth as well due to stress from before, because Lucia hadn't even woken up yet and she was usually the leader of the group.
Olivia didn't even distinguish this as she was currently pondering how to comprehend the information dump that Kristen had given her.
Since both of them were distracted or stressed out, they failed to notice that Lucia had actually started to stir.
Lucia's breathing subtly shifted first.
Shallow inhales deepened into something steadier, though faint tremors still rippled beneath her feathers. A thin thread of gold pulsed once beneath her chest like a heartbeat out of sync.
Kristen continued pacing and began to voice her thoughts out loud.
"I'm telling you, it was HUGE. Like-like if the river had decided to grow an arm and slap me out of the sky. And slimy. Disgusting. Violated several natural laws."
Olivia pressed her wing to her forehead. "You were exhausted. Your stamina was nearly depleted. Seeing hallucinations under stress is common."
"I KNOW what I saw."
"I am not saying you did not see something," Olivia replied, choosing her words carefully. "I am saying the scale may have been misjudged."
Kristen spun around. "It missed me by this much."
She snapped her talons for emphasis but Olivia did not look convinced.
Behind them, Lucia's talons twitched.
Kristen resumed pacing, muttering. "First the creepy forest pulse thing that knocks you guys out, then the tentacle from hell, and now Lucia's still unconscious which is not normal because she's literally the scariest thing in a five-mile radius-"
"AHEM." Lucia's voice cut through the air.
Kristen stopped mid-pace.
Olivia's head snapped toward the sound.
The first thing that they saw was Lucia, very much NOT unconscious. Kristen, for once in her life, had nothing to say, however, Olivia did.
"How do you feel?" She asked, scooting a bit closer.
'I...feel a little shaken, but otherwise fine." Lucia replied hesitantly.
"Good."
Now that their unassigned leader had come back the tension in the air had deflated by several times.
Just like in the cave from before, they gathered round in a little circle.
Kristen took the initiative to debrief once again and explained to Lucia everything that had happened. When talking about the tentacle Lucia's eyes narrowed slightly in interest, or was it recognition? It was hard to tell.
"Do you have any idea of what it was?" Kristen asked after finishing her story.
"No." Lucia replied. "But I think that the tentacle is related to what rendered me and Olivia useless. Either way, the best choice now is to keep going as far away as possible."
Olivia nodded at her words while Kristen internally groaned at the thought of doing even more flying. The night was basically over and she hadn't gotten even a wink of sleep.
Kristen stared at Lucia.
"…Keep going?" she echoed weakly.
Lucia rose fully to her talons, stretching one wing at a time. The motion was slower than usual, weakened..
"Yes," She said calmly. "If something attacked us once, it may do so again. Staying creates unnecessary danger for us, so we will leave in ten minutes."
Internally crying at these words, Kristen envied the other two who basically got a free rest this entire time. Olivia immediately began scanning the sky, calculating wind direction, sun position, and likely travel paths.
Kristen, meanwhile, stared at the sky like it had personally betrayed her.
"The night is basically over," she muttered. "I slept for, like, zero hours. Maybe less, if thats possible. I was emotionally attacked. Physically attacked. Spiritually confused."
'WHY DOES THIS ALL HAPPEN TO MEEEEEEEE!!
I seriously need some coffee or something to keep going or I'm literally gonna die. For real this time.'
"We can glide once we gain height. We will not push speed unless necessary." Lucia began.
Kristen perked up slightly. "Gliding I can do. Gliding is elegant. Gliding is peaceful. Gliding does not involve exhuastion."
Olivia ignored her and asked Lucia quietly, "Do you feel alright? You were out of it for a lot longer than me."
"Yes."
There was no hesitation in her reply.
Whatever had happened earlier, she looked clear-headed now. The other two took that as a cue and left to stretch and prepare for the long flight ahead.
The ten minutes of rest passed by like Christmas and the time came to depart onto their journey.
Lucia leapt off the ground first.
Her wings caught the morning air cleanly, black feathers slicing upward through the thinning mist.
Olivia followed smoothly, her ascent controlled and efficient.
Kristen remained behind for half a second longer, then she launched herself skyward.
The three black birds rose above the cliffs, silhouettes against the growing light, leaving the nightmarish forest behind them as the sun finally cleared the horizon.