As the battle plans continued, within the obelisk, three figures made their way toward the Plains of Nasfa. Enclosed in the tough fibers of the foliage from the west, their cart, unlike his previous encounter covered them from the elements as the terra god crested above them, baking the landscape with its harsh presence.

Wrapped in the bindings of the Vior, two of them watched through the opening of the moving vehicle as a mid-sized tulac pulled them forward. The third, a member of the Clathor rested as the cart rocked side to side. Lulling him to sleep, bored, assigned to the keep the Vior safe, he tired of his duties, allowing his body to enter the death state, uncaring of any reprisals he may encounter due to his dereliction of duty.

Excitement swelled within the scales of the larger Vior, returning here, after a few cycles, he hoped to understand the mysteries within the Nasfa. Tormented in his death state of his previous encounter with them, Dorn studied the pathway before him as his mind took him to the potential findings he may encounter.

"The thorns." Dorn thought as his body trembled with the vibration of the covered vehicle. "Let the ancestors watch over us if I am incorrect about them."

"Where does your mind wander to?" Optis inquired as his orbs briefly passed over Dorn to examine the surrounding region.

His, once, crazed smile faded as the burden of cycle after cycle of no death sleep in order to discover a method to defeat the Torsons lifted from him. Rewarded for his involvement by discovering a potential solution to this conflict by allowing him to return to his personal chamber for his, much needed, deathstate as well as spending many moments in slumber after embarking upon this expedition, Optis' mind slowly returned to him.

His appearance, no longer ragged, his presence calm without his previous frantic nature, Optis' orbs appeared measured and present. As Dorn took his time to respond, his orbs turned toward Optis and their Clathor member of their adventurous trio. Glancing downward, he measured his words as he considered the change evident within Optis. Watching Dorn, Optis stayed quiet as his comrade gathered himself.

Whispering, Dorn said, "I am unsure what we will find once we land. My hopes is that we will find some answers, however, I don't know."

"What answers are we to discover in the Plains of Nasfa?" Optis asked impassively.

Glancing up, Dorn's orbs widened as he noticed lucidity living in the orbs of his fellow Vior.

Smiling, Dorn said, "I am glad to see that you are much different from our previous encounter. I have to say that I was concerned that you were assigned to this journey with me."

"Rightly so," Optis said waving his talon dismissively. "I was not myself. My mind seemed to slip more every cycle. With no deathstate cycle, I felt close to the edge of an endless abyss. Drowning in the acrid sea of my own consciousness, every scale seemed set aflame."

"I noticed." Dorn said as a loud clack struck against the cart.

Shifting their attention to the noise, Dorn broke the silence first as he said, "The answer to your question is not easy to announce. There is a suspicion I have about the Plains. There is dense life there."

"You mean the thorns?" Optis said.

"Yes, there is more life in them than people suspect." Dorn replied.

"I've heard of the lights they emit. Is that what you mean?" Optis inquired with his orbs fixed upon Dorn, taking every nuance exhibited by his scales, speech and mannerisms.

Dorn's orbs caught Optis' gaze before slowly saying, "You are observing me for any fault in my tale. You believe me spinning tales?"

Taken aback, Optis said, "No, merely being careful. I am far away from my home now and my mind is finally coming back to me. Everything is causing me to be alarmed. No offense, comrade."

"It's fine. We will just have to see if what I believe is true." Dorn said as his orbs turned to the opening of the covered cart.

"I swear on the head of the Imperial Legate, if you two do not shut your holes, I will drive my talons into your throats!" The Clathor accompanying them spoke through gritted teeth.

As the two Vior turned their attention toward the Clathor as his body shifted with the moving cart. Returning their gaze to each other, a slow smile crept up on their face before riotously erupting into laughter. Gritting his teeth, the Clathor pulled a bundle of tightly bound fabrics and proceeded to pull it over his face, obscuring the pair from view as their laughs muffled to a dull roar.

"Calm yourself comrade," Dorn called out to him. "We mean no ill-will. Your introduction just seemed too focused on quiet as we sit here discussing the impending battle. Look out these port holes." Dorn said pointing to the closest opening to the Clathor. "We are nearing the Plains now. Its beauty is unmatched."

Peeking his orbs out of the bundle covering his face, the Clathor watched as the Plains of Nasfa neared them as they ventured closer. The terra god's brilliant rays shimmered throughout the massive mounds of foliage in the distance. Glittering, shimmering as the light passed over the beaming objects as the seat of the gods rested here.

Optis craned his neck as his orbs grew in astonishment at the spectacle. The Clathor's biolight flickered amazed as he took in the magical sight as Dorn watched over the two. His frame too large, awaiting his turn to see what they witnessed, he mused to himself.

"Now they seem interested." He thought smiling.

Shortly after their first discovery of the proximity to their final location, the trio disembarked the covered vehicle as the tulac snorted loudly. Jumping at the sound of the large beast, the Clathor's biolight flickered nervously as he said nothing. Carefully avoid the glance of the others, he bowed his head as he focused on grabbing his material possessions from the cart.

Optis' orbs remained on the large thorns before him. Twirling, braiding into each other, with a massive spectrum of widths, they spread far passed their viewpoint. Turning round, Dorn inspected the landscape around the Plains. With few hills, he quietly surveyed the best location to dig a temporary pit for the darkness, which threatened to meet them soon.

"Ie! Get your things. We need to move." The Clathor said grumpily.

"Indeed." Dorn said. "Let's go there. We have the best chance for a viewpoint."

Pointing with this talon, Dorn assigned the nearest mound, away from the thorns. Following his talon, the Clathor grunted in acknowledgement as his face appeared content.

Thinking to himself, the Clathor ruminated, "Just where I was thinking too. Shrewd fellow, this is."

Optis remained in place as the other two gathered their things, a few bundles of objects, as well as a grey container housing a dark miasma, the necessary object to produce plasma for their protection, for their light.

"Optis!" Dorn called out over his shoulder. "We need to move. I placed your things next to you."

Making his way toward the mound, the cart started its return journey as the driver flicked the tulac's bindings twice to initiate the command. Optis' biolight hummed then steadied as he continued to watch the massive thorns. Slowly, he stepped forward as his attention moved down to the base of the closest thorn.

Everything quieted as Optis focused intently upon the foliage. His hearts thundered in his head as he moved ever closer to the thorn. Straining his hearing, Optis thought he heard whispers careening off the living structure. Attempting to step even closer, a tight grip squeezed upon his forearm. A forearm, which extended out to the thorn, nearly touching. Unaware when he lifted his arm to reach toward the thorns, Optis' jaw dropped in amazement as the grip tightened further, as the shadows of the waning light spread far. The darkness nearly upon them now.

To his left, a sharp whisper said, "Fool! You make to startle this land."

Turning, still taken aback at his behavior, Optis said confused, "How long have I been standing here?"

"Too long. Come now. We still need to create plasma to surround us for the darkness." The Clathor said.

Shaking his head, Optis acquiesced. Turning, the sky flowed with pulsing light, smearing with pink and purple, hues of orange and gold melted above as the terra god worked to sink into the horizon. Blinking hard, Optis shuffled up to the mound, as confusion flowed into his muddled mind.

"How much time did I lose? What happened back there?" Optis said as he turned around to the thorns.

His orbs widened, as a soft reverberating glow shimmered from within the fibers. Tendrils, which previously braided to one another shot straight into the air as a soft breeze caused them to dance. The Clathor grunted as he reached their landing sight. Kneeling he manipulated the grey container to start the process of converting miasma to plasma. Clearly unnerved as he continued to grumble to himself, he avoided meeting the gaze of the other two as they focused upon the thorns. Hearing movement next to him, Optis glanced up at the towering Dorn as he stood next to him.

"This is only the second time I have seen this." Dorn confessed. "Marvelous, isn't it? This has entranced me since I've encountered it."

"There's life there, Dorn." Optis said quietly, uncharacteristically. "You don't know what I just saw, what I just heard." He said, turning his orbs toward Dorn as they misted slightly, tears lingering, awaiting to careen down his face. 

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