DATE: June 29, 2001 CAST: Basil, Holly, Percy and Willow Small Clearing You come off the trail and too a small clearing. There is a small path to the side that leads somewhere...you notice a few bird feather there. You also see that you are standing on the edge of a canyon...Riverbed Canyon. There is an Island on the other side. Feeling the soft blowing of the wind does not seem to keep Holly's nerves within easy control. Additionally the rustling of the foliage only causes her to feel more anxious. "Oh, I hope he's in a good mood." She asks to herself, attempting to swallow the ever growing lump in her throat. "He's gonna be really ticked when I don't have anyone with me." She sighs exhaustedly Standing near a dense forest of grass, where the wagon for holding more slaves is currently hidden, is the form of a large stink bug. A bright green stink bug with a yellow underside marked by black stripes, to be exact, who does not appear to be in a very cheerful mood. Far from it. Percy folds his arms and frowns darkly, glowering as he waits for one ant in particular. "Darn that girl, what's taking her so long?" Holly looks around and suddenly notices the stink bug she agreed to meet here at the designated time. Her heart nearly leaps out of her thorax as she calls out to him with a very shaky voice. "Ahem, uh Percy? Percy, I'm over here!" She calls out and then very quickly heads toward him at a rapidly accelerated rate. "Oh, I, I I'm so sorry, I apparently misunderstood where you wanted to meet me." Holly comes up to him and stops immediately at his feet. "I hope I didn't keep you long," she calls out with more of a high pitch then she intends. Percy sharply looks in the direction of the approaching ant, and his humor doesn't visibly improve any. "Hmph," is his only remark, his frown deepening as he taps his foot impatiently. "Well? You didn't come empty-handed, did you?" Holly swallows hard as she is asked about 'coming empty handed.' No, he's not in a good mood at all. "Okay, uh, I, uh. Please, let me explain. I'm on the verge of having someone out here right now, but I need to go back and get him. He knows me well, and you see, he will believe me when I go back for him." She pauses fearing what kind of response she will receive. "You just need to give me a few more minutes, an hour at most. I, I, I promise, I'll come through!" A new color seems to be moving into the stink bug's green and yellow complexion: red. Dark brown eyes flash menacingly as Percy just about loses all patience with Holly -- not that he had much to begin with. "I told you to bring someone! And we're being more than generous just to let you turn in one this time, because one measly ant is hardly worth this excursion when I *could* be raiding anthills at this very moment!" Apparently he was one of those slavers who did not approve of this 'ant agent' thing. Now his fury has risen to the point where he's starting to smell worse than usual. "You'd better get back here with an ant in less than thirty minutes, or else!" To emphasize his words, he aims a backhand at the ant. Holly trembles considerably at the anger expressed by the stink bug before her. "I, I know, I'm I'm sorry. It's just that this colony knows about the slavers, and, and uh. It's been harder since this colony has been on the alert." She calls out in her personal defense, "And this one is smarter than most, it's taken more effort to fool him!" She nods at Percy's request but is unable to anticipate his next move as his hand graces her right cheek, causing her to fall and strike the ground violently. This however does not stop her long as she quickly get up and begins running for the island. "No more than half an hour, I promise!" She calls out in total uncontrolled panic! Percy folds his arms, leaning into the shade of a curved blade of grass as he watches the panicked ant flee. When she's out of sight, he allows himself a faint smirk. Ants. Most of them are so easy to intimidate. That's probably why he likes his job so much. Center of Ant Island You come to the center of the island. This is a large clearing with the ant hill mound nearby. There is also a banquet to one side, the tree to another, and the offering stone. On a sunny day in the summer you can usually see a line of ant coming through here with all kinds of food. Other places: [A]nt [H]ill, [C]rawl up the [R]oot, [C]limb up the [O]ffering Stone, [B]anquet, [B]ug [P]ath ... Ensconced in the shade of some grass, and thus partially hidden, is Willow. Lying on her stomach, she studies a partially-filled page of her leaf notebook, her filament pen held in hand, poised as if to write. She frowns faintly when no further inspiration comes, however. Basil has decided to take a little nature hike, a little jaunt around the island. He's had another busy day, and is looking forward to getting a little fresh air. He notices Willow looking into her notebook, and as he comes closer to her, waves. "Hey Willow!" He calls to her with his usual cheery voice. "Nice to see you again, how are ya?" Willow lightly rests the tip of her pen on the page again, beginning to write down yet more strange symbols in dark purple ink, when the unexpected sound of Basil's voice causes her to jump slightly, leaving an unsightly streak of ink on the page. Biting back a sigh, she pushes herself up and waves languidly. "Hi. I'm doing okay. How about you?" Suddenly out of the brush and up the pathway, a horrified ant makes her way to the colony. 'How in the world am I going to find him in the precious time I've got left, little alone get him to come with me on a moments notice!' Shaking her head, Holly pants heavily, feeling the ever growing dread inside her. "I'm as good as dead, if that jerk isn't right outside the anthill... and with my luck, I'm history!" Basil smiles widely and returns the young ant's question. "Oh, I'm doing really good, really good, thanks." He stretches before her as he comes to a stop hearby. "Had a really good day at work, now I'm off to get in a little fresh air. Would you like to come with me?" he adds. "Mm." That's probably an affirmative reply to Basil's response to her question, akin to 'that's good.' Willow glances down to write something more, when Basil's question stills her hand. Although she, too, had come out here to get fresh air as well, she had also somewhat hid herself in grass for a reason... to get some writing done. Whatever it is she's jotting down. Now an uncertain look passes across her face, uncertain as to how to reply to Basil's invitation. "Well..." Holly quickly notices Basil and Willow having their conversation by the blade of grass. Still in a panicky voice she calls out. "Oh Basil! Oh, I'm so glad I found you!" Holly is clearly out of breath, and has to stop to catch wind. "I just found my sister on the other side of the island, but she's terribly hurt, I need both of you to come and help me, I can't go by myself, I need more than one person for help." She squeals out loud. Basil looks up and notices Holly approaching. "Holly, what's wrong?" He answers to her initial call, and then listens intently to what she says. A panicked look crosses his face, and he immediately tries to calm her down. "Okay, Holly, it's okay. We'll go and get help!" he begins to turn and head for the anthill. Willow slowly closes her notebook even as Holly approaches, and puts the pen back in its place in the holder. It doesn't look like she'll get to finish that paragraph within the next hour. Then she gets up with more haste, blinking as Holly tells them about injured sister. Holy cow-killer. Would this had been one of her own family members that came about like this. But of course, it isn't. She glances at Basil as he starts running for the anthill, but for her part stands in place, uncertain of the next course of action. "No! Basil!" Holly's voice is nearly to a scream, as she tries to get his attention. "It can't wait, I need for you to go with me now! She might be dying, and it can't wait." She suddenly lunges forward, grabbing Basil's hand and pulls him off balance to the point of nearly falling over. After hearing Holly's panicked cry for help, Basil is suddenly pulled off balance, but is able to get his ground and keep Holly from leaving, just yet. "Holly, please calm down." He tries to calm her but to no avail. "Of course I'll help you, but you need to keep a level head, or else things could get worse." Suddenly he notices the rather nasty bruise on her cheek. "Are you all right? It looks like you got hurt. Maybe Willow and I can go help your sister. You just to go the infirmary and get checked up." Willow's eyes widen as she watches Holly's frenetic behavior. She then scrutinizes the fresh bruise on Holly's face as Basil points it out, eyeridges raising in surprise. For some reason, the sight of it is unnerving. If bruises, rather than cuts wind up on the face, it's more often than not stamped there with a fist. So why would -- she shakes her head, squelching back her thoughts of suspicion. 'Nah. I'm just overreacting.' "If it's not too bad, maybe you and Holly should go on ahead. She knows the way. I'll find someone from health and ant services and try to reach you." "Good idea!" He calls out to Willow. "I'll go with Holly, and you go and get help." Basil looks back at Holly and tries to calm her down again. "Okay, you lead the way, and please don't worry, it'll be fine." He then waits for Holly to take him in the correct direction. "I'm sure your sister will be fine." He forces a warm smile. Holly looks back at Willow, giving her a very quick look of irritation, then smiles at her, a little too late to hide that first expression. "Oh, uh, no, no, Willow, I think Basil and I will be fine, but if we don't show up in an hour, go ahead and try to find us, okay?" She tries to ask as politely as she can. 'Stupid kid!' She calls out in her mind. 'Oh, what am I worried about? She won't be any trouble as long as she doesn't see anything. "We'll, be fine.!" She then grabs Basil by the hand, and leads him off the island. Willow nods, mildly taken off-guard by that briefest look of irritation on Holly's face. She turns and begins to walk toward the anthill, doubt preying on her mind with every step. This isn't right... first Holly comes along in a panic, practically yanks Basil off his feet, telling him that her sister is dying? And now she tells her to delay finding professional help for an hour? The teenager pauses at the foot of the anthill, casting a brief gaze over her shoulder as she watches them leave. She takes one step forward... then stops. She waits until they are some distance ahead, then whirls around and follows them at a discreet distance. [END LOG] Next Log: True Colors: Part II Return to: Muted Identity logs.

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