Step 1: Cracks of Darkness (Zero)

Location: The Muggs
Time: 12:00
Weather: Cold and gloomy

Rain…

It had come through Standasen Island as it always did, leaving behind mud and sometimes destruction in its wake, but despite all this, the people of the island survived and pushed through all the troubles the weather could bring. Just like now, many folk living in the low water areas were already shoveling out water from their slightly raised homes and drying out items that had been soaked when the waters had came rushing in. Others milled around in the ankle deep water on the streets trying to collect what they could of valuables that had not been washed into the large river that rested in their backyards. To look at the bloated monster that floated like a wild dragon down its deep path, one would wonder why people even bothered living by such a dangerous thing or why some were eagerly getting fishing poles and hurrying to the bloated river with smiles or looks of determination on their faces. Clearly these people lived by a different law than the rest of the world, finding joy in even the most miserable of situations.

While the town by the river picked itself up, a few miles up stream a girl in jeans and a nice jacket was standing on a pier like rock that jutted out into the rushing waters. The wind pulled and tugged at her clothing and loose strands of dark hair that hung from under her pink beanie. Her round glasses were slightly fogged over from the cold mist caused from the rushing water, but the girl did not seem to mind as she remained standing on the rocks that vibrated under her feet as they withstood the water that slapped against them. The girl had her eyes closed and appeared to be contemplating something as she kept her hands tucked in her pocket and listened to the rush of water. She would appear to be alone, but a careful look around the what little land was left untouched by the bloated river, one would find another dressed in all black standing at the  opposite end of the rock pier the girl was on. Unlike the girl that appeared in a state of meditation, this other figure, a male, was very alert as he scanned the area and kept a careful eye on the girl at far the end of the slick pier.

He didn’t seem concerned about where the girl was located as dark eyes scanned the world carefully from behind almond shaped glasses. He appeared to be a guard of some sort barring the way to the girl that appeared to be mediating, but for what reason?

The mystery of the pair would remain in the air and unbroken by the beings of the normal plain. These two were not natives of Standasen Island. They were quite far from their luxurious and safe home, but the why of the matter would remain unknown to the world of the preseny lest the dreamer be woken from the dream and forced to face the reality of the false world.

Today would be written down in the books as a unique adventure for Etsuo, as he found himself traveling on an island that had more water and rain flowing into the river than it ever needed. However, it was more so that the pure and clean rain water was being wasted as the water never changed apparently, from it's dirt brown color, that meant unsanitary and especially undrinkable without consuming dangerous bacteria. It was a good thing that he did not find himself thirsty in his travels, reminding himself that the area of Standasen Island was The Muggs. He had come here for a glorious time of adventure and exploration, however he seemed to have stumbled upon a storm and more rain than one could ask for, he had been forewarned about this, however, he didn't picture it as this severe of a flooding. Even now as he moved closer to the river, a small amount of water, ran by his feet, but he continued forward with little discouragement shown yet, the source, the river, was his goal for this adventure of his. The only disappointing part was that he wasn't able to share this victory with anyone else, as he had not mad any friends of the sort that would be willing to go traveling with him.

"I can only imagine that storm like these last forever here." He stated to himself as he drew even closer.

Etsuo eventually reached a point in which, he could start to make out the various things that were around the river that he saw before him. From what he could tell there were many rocks that were large and one even seemed to make up what appeared to be a pier, with which it seemed that there were somethings or someones resting on it, in this storm. From what he could tell, neither of them appeared to be moving, and as such it drew in his curiosity for what they might be up to. So steadily, Etsuo made his way up river until he reached that part of the river, as he grew closer, he took note of the closet person to him, which appeared to be a girl, the biggest sign was her dark hair flowing in the wind. He didn't seem to have a good enough view of the other person, from the distance that he stood and so he proceeded to move and approach onto the pier. With nothing less but an introduction to be said and the knowing of his presence on the pier to the girl before him, he stated a single word that would travel in the wind. "Hello!?"

The storm that had caused the river to bloat still lingered in the air. The scent of rain was heavy and the clouds grey as a chilled wind blew through the area; however, for the time being no droplets fell from the sky as instead a fog from the rushing and bloated river hung in the area. In the middle of this fog on a pier made of rocks stood Hyacintha. She had her eyes closed as she listened to the world around her and found a sort of peace within the dampness that surrounded her. It was not every day that she allowed herself to come so far out of her territory and comfort of the dream she lived in; however, as some things begun to occur in her life cropped up, Hyacintha found herself more and more willing to leave the her own dream to face the cracks of reality that was seeping in.

She couldn't explain it. This change, but something within her had shifted. She was still her bubbly self, sure…but her mind had begun to heavily consider the dreamers around her. She needed to do something about them and yet had not quite figure out what that something was. She needed guidance in the matter and while she had a particular man in mind that could probably handle the job with ease, for the time being Hyacintha did not know how to find him. So turning to the next best thing, Hyacintha had come out into the middle of nowhere to mediate and find her path in the world. The process was slow and took patience….and absolute concentration. Concentration that could not be held when a foreign voice was piercing the thoughts.

As Hyacintha heard the simple word drift across to her on the wind, her dark brown eyes would open as she narrowed her eyes to see better through the mist on her glasses. There was a male approaching the pier from the other side of the river. While he indeed traveled across a pier of his own as Hyacintha looked to where his path ended, she wondered how the other would even make it to her.

The pier she was on ended where she stood, a gap of raging water flowed by before the pier rose up again on the other side where the boy was coming from. There was no connecting rock between her pier and the boy’s and while it was true they could yell across the water to speak, unless the other planned on jumping across, it would take quite a trek to get to a spot where they could speak more normally.

Looking from the dangerous gap back to the approaching boy, Hyacintha’s blank expression would turn into a bright smile as she tilted her head innocently and waved at the other.

“Hello there! How are you today?” she would call being sure that she was loud enough to be heard over the roar of the water and the wind. Even if they couldn’t exactly get closer to each other at the moment, Hyacintha would not throw away her manners because of the issue. Besides, she was curious as to who this guy was. Unless he was native to this place, no one was as crazy as herself and Snow to get this close to the river at this point…were they?

As Hyacintha talked, Snow's attention would turn from the land to his master and to whoever she was speaking to. A bit curious, he would step further onto the rock pier taking only a few paces forward before settling in a spot where he could peek around his master. As his dark eyes landed on the other across from them, he would make no sound or movement to get attention as he instead simply watched the other cautiously. He had no issue with his master speaking to others…provided they didn’t do something stupid to prove he needed to act in hostile manners.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Note: Hyacintha is curious, but friendly while Snow is cautious, but has currently decided not to interfere with the conversation.

Etsuo was still completely surprised to be honest to find people here at the river during this bleak weather storm. It added a rather unusual twist to what Etsuo was expecting to experience at the river, but it didn't really bother him that much. Things did seem to be cooperating with him however, he took note that the rock pier that he was on, didn't reach the other side of the river, as he would of liked. The same could also seem for the person that he was trying to speak with through rushing water, winds, and of course a wondrous storm of great power. Not to add that there was a slight fog, making it harder for sight as well, which could lead to other problems involving this rushing river.

He was rather glad that his greeting was received by the other individual, which lead to him getting a response and a question from them as well. If it wasn't for the storm and being in the middle of it on the river, things might have been much simpler, he heard a hello from the other person, next they asked how he was doing. Etsuo was doing fine in this weather to be honest with himself, the fact that he was here was a statement for the adventure that he had placed upon himself. "I'm doing fine! How about you?" He would respond back to the girl that was on the other side. Afterwards for a moment, he would look down upon the river and notice how dangerous this was. It gave him a great deal of amusement none the less, having been in other dangerous situations, it wasn't a surprise that he felt such a way, this was however, his first interaction on his own little adventures into unknown territory with a raging river.

He also noted another thing about this river now, it was indeed a very brown color, a color that for one reason or another was his least favorite color. To reach such a river was his goal, but to think it would hold such a color, he might of reconsidered this one. But, he was already here, so the task has been done, he didn't turn back from it along the way. He then remembered that he had a purpose in being here, he wondered if the other person that was here would mind sharing that with him at all. "Hey, what brings you to this river?" He would ask her. After that, he would look up into the sky, it truly didn't seem to be backing off in his opinion, it would be quite a sad ending for the people gathered around the river to be stuck on other sides. Thinking back a little, he also noted that there was one more individual gathered with them at this river, curiosity was starting to eat at them to know why that person was here as well. The story of how three gathered around the raging river, each for their own reasons, sounds like a good book that he would very much appreciate being made.

"Hello over there. What brings you to this river?" He would ask to the third individual. Hopefully, Etsuo would get all of the answers that he wanted from his questions, even if they were in such a unusual situation.

It seemed that the figure on the other side was indeed a real and quite daring fellow. The mist was not playing tricks and it seemed that Hyacintha and Snow both had just found another that was daring enough to step up to a raging river with the threat of a second downpour linger above. It was amusing on one hand and shocking on the other. Why would anyone come to a place like this at such a time? Three someones to be exact? Was Fate playing a twisted game, or was this meeting a coincidence?

The questions came, but Hyacintha would not search too long for answers as the other approached the end of the pier on his side. The mist kept the pair from fully making out each other, but Hyacintha didn’t seem to mind as her eyes remained on the male figure as she stayed in her spot for now. She was curious if her call was heard and was quite pleased when the other responded back.


“I am wonderful! Thanks for asking!” Hyacintha would respond easily enough before pausing and taking note that the other was eyeing the water. Was he planning to jump over? She hoped not. That would indeed be a foolish thing. The current was super strong and the water was the sort of brown and angry that no one in their right mind would challenge. It was no telling what was beyond the brown surface of the water, but Hyacintha couldn’t help to think it was death from the things she had seen rush by when she first arrived. As for trying to save someone from such an angry river….well that would be quite difficult considering she didn’t think to bring rope or anything of that nature with her when she came. Sure, Snow had a bag of useful items and some food nearby, but still there was nothing in the bag geared towards rescuing anyone from something serious much less a raging river.

Hyacintha would frown lightly as she watched the other for a moment before relaxing slightly. The guy didn’t take a running leap. Good. To his question, Hyacintha responded back in friendly tones.

“I came to clean out my head! A crazy place to do such a thing, I know, but it works!” Hyacintha said with a light chuckle to herself before becoming quiet as the other seemed to address Snow….and surprisingly Snow answered.

“My reasons for being here are my own! And while I would love to see where this conversation goes, perhaps yelling across the river isn’t the best idea. There is a pathway to your left that should lead you to a small clearing. We can meet you over there to continue the chat, yes?” he would say calmly enough before he was falling silent as he looked over at Hyacintha who was giving him a pleased smile. Hardly returning it, he held his hand out to the young woman who took no offense at his seriousness.

Hyacintha nodded before turning to the boy on the other side.

“I’ll see you in the clearing, okay?” she said and then not waiting for an answer she turned and hurried away vanishing into the mist for the time being. Hyacintha would take Snow’s hand and allow him to guide her off the pier. Grabbing the bag from the ground, Snow would sling the hefty item onto his shoulder as he led the way through the maze like area taking the small pathways that led to the clearing he spoke of. While the river was still very close and roared loudly at least Snow was feeling a bit more calmer now that his master was on solid ground.

While he had allowed her to stay on the pier for a while, the arrival of a potential chat mate for her got the young man quite concerned with what might have happened if he had not suggested meeting on land. It was true the other could’ve been put off by this and simply walked away to do whatever he came to do, but at least Snow would not have to worry about his nerves being ruffled any longer if something insane was to follow their departure or their stay on the pier.

Despite the possibilities that those train of thought gave rise to, Snow would give the other a window of time to arrive if he liked. If the male did not show up within 15 minutes, Snow would assume he had left to do his own thing and then he and Hyacintha would move elsewhere. However, if the other did show up, then Snow would allow whatever was going to happen happen and adjust from there.