Originally Posted by
grampagen
Zaofan's mind was as slow to process as the globular panacea that sat like a lead ball in his gut, and before he knew it, he felt the cup bounce off his crown and the confection run slowly down one side of his head.
He'd yet to completely grasp the situation. Where are we? Despite the howl of the wind through the ruins, the remainder of the toxin captured and working through his body left him feeling half awake. Only the wind howled in response, snowflakes carried upon its icy gob. ...why are we...?
But he'd picked up preternaturally that there was somehow food involved. Wasted food. "Rex...?"
By the fire's light reflected against the white of the now, it seemed as if an unsightly gash had spread over his temple and bled out over his ear. Swiping a fingerful, the wind cooled it to a crisp shell; dabbing it into his mouth, tears slowly spread to the corners of his eyes.
"Charco."
Ochazuke pressed his hand against the snows. Any return to this forsaken continent will always come far too soon. So would be the reemergence of that damned saurian and the hoary veil he left in his wake. "So long as the vessel still can draw a breath, so there remains a chance." Yet even as he spoke the words, his eyes only hardened, and his frown deepened.
In an instant, he threw his ki to augment his sense; Kyokushin Keiihatsu, the expansion of his meditational sense-awareness, traced the energies gathered about the blasted tundra. The subtle skill, resonating with the spirit that stirred in the Earth around them, reached deep into the environs, and with Muhen Seikai Keihatsu Ochazuke increased the breadth of his surveillance.
After some time of popping frozen pudding under his tongue, Zaofan groggily stood to his feet, stretching with a great yawn to pull himself out of his fading cognizance.
"I...ah...never really got to thank you. For saving my life, I mean" he stumbled as he looked over to Shochu, a loose, dopey smile spreading under his glassy eyes. "So, thank you. I'll whip you up something nice..."
Zaofan's eyes drift as he spoke, looking past the ruin archway at the stalking figure.
"Once... once we get..." Yet it seemed as soon as that shape appeared, it brightened. Then faded, and slowly moved outside of the ruin. Zaofan's jaw slowly dropped, his voice falling to a whisper.
"...ghost?"