The Cephalo Diaries 2017

WOW WHAT A CRAZY FIND
in all her time at the Library she was convinced she had read every book. But apparently not! When she was putting away equipment from the movie night, she spotted a dusty leather bound book in the corner of the store room, and of course she took it. Once she finally had time to look at it properly she found the pages inside were hand written with detailed field sketches of a subject she knew of, but struggled to believe in as any more than just stroies meant to ward off squids from trodding where they shouldn't.

Cryptids

Creatures widely believed to exist, but with inconclusive evidence as to their actual existence. However in this dusty journal was a collection of encounters of all sorts, ghosts, lake monsters, eyeball bats and rainbow barfing gnomes! Whoever had wrote this had clearly been through a lot..."a lot of drugs maybe" Tria thought to herself as she flipped through the pages.
But still she grew curious, could some of these creatures actually exist? She wanted to go looking for them, perhaps if she could even discover one? Her mind raced. She could go from working at a museum, to having her own wing in one, all because she caught a gnome or a fairy.
She wouldn't bet her money on it, this was most likely a journal written by an insane squid. But still, it'd be a fun adventure to look? The more eyes the better, and the company would be fun, so she sent out messages to a few others that might be interested in a cryptid hunt.

MESSAGE CAUSE I'M TOO LAZY TO TWEET "cryptid hunt, meet at the library if you're in."

No message was needed, in fact, he'd been watching her read the book the night after the movie instead of sleeping, no that Alfred could blame her, it was an interesting topic to say the least. The octoling even suggested that perhaps, instead of looking for Mothman, it'd be easier to start somewhere closer, with a creature that may be more 'local' perhaps.
Now he stood beside her with a backpack that contained a digital pink camera and more than a couple boxes of popcorn, just in case, and perhaps a clean pair of socks, he didn't bother to check, but the camera was there out of usefulness. It was just a thing of waiting for the rest that were joining them.

Tria hears a cell phone bleep come from under her chair, then some interested grumbly noises

bzz bzzt
Oh. Well she was in the area anyways, just a walk y'know? so one look towards the library and Victoria was off to find the shelled squid.
Upon finding the small group, she quietly made her way over with a small smile. She's pretty amused by this idea, "so.... a hunt?"

Yes, Dylisi is under Tria's chair

A cryptid hunt, eh? Out of the ordinary, but it seems exciting. Why not? The squid packs up her violin, pets fuego on the head, and exits her house witha  bag on her back. Gotta stay prepared for the unknown, yo.
Upon seeing the small group, she gives off a wave, and trots right on over. "H-hey, guys!"

Tria was sitting on a bench outside the library as she waited excitedly with Alfred, hearing the phone and grumbling underneath, she looked down to see Dylisi and jumped up from her seat. "how long have you been under there?"

"Three or five and a half." Dylisi shrugs, crawling out

-"Hopefully not long enough, maybe the skirt wasn't that good of an idea after all, there are some things I'd rather no one see"- Alfred shrugged.

Dylisi points at him, "You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Tad was waiting for something to happen, anything, he was mildly obsessed with twittert.  As soon as Tria's tweet went out he rolled into action like a transformer but without transformation, he rolled up to the library on his trusty bike and then threw it into a dumpster nearby, nobody wants garbage.  he RAN into the library "I'M HERE, HELLO" he yelled

"minutes or hours?" she asked, but then shook her head. "I don't want to know." She looks to the others, impressed by how quick they all showed up. "yes! yes cryptid hunt." She said with a smile, holding out the journal she had found and flipping it open. "I found this after the movie night, it's a detailed account of a ton of different cryptids and the author's encounters with them. There's even some right here in Cephalo! Thought it might be fun to see if we can find some of these things."

-"Got a camera, so if anything interesting happens, we could end up in a documentary style film, you never know"- he added showing the device.

"Days." Dylisi whispers. I don't think she's got that right but whatever.

"Cryptid hunt huh?" Perfect, maybe it'd lighten Aiden's mood. The tall squid walked into the library with a somber face, clutching his backpack by the strap. It had all his equipment, camera, snacks, first aid kit, batteries and flashlight, as well as a voice recorder and a few ghost things. He was totally ready. It's almost as if he'd done this before. As he walked up to the table he faked a smile. "The expert," Aiden announced with gusto, "has arrived."

Tad walked over to Torch and put a hand on her shoulder cautiously, "Yeah this is going to be great Torch, Hi by the way, look at these guys.. look at our team..Tria, Alfred? Alfred.  Dylisi!" he turned when Aiden showed up "OH MY COD, THE EXPERT!"

"We all need stereotypes to fill, Okay, okay, Tria is the scientist, alfred is the..uh... the mad scientist, Aiden is the investigator, Torch is the athlete, I'm the goofball, Dylisi is the stranger everyone loves." Tad rambled, not really minding if anyone was listening or not

"Heh, yeah we have quite the team here," Torch commented with an awkward -but still happy- smile, not sure how she felt about being deemed as 'the athlete'

"Yeah that fits. We should record this, good thing I-" Aiden rummaged around in his bag and whipped out a camera- "brought my camera."

"Also I brought snack. And Tad I brought you cookies." Aiden shook his bag lightly for emphasis.

-"Same"- Alfred added holding his own as well. -"And popcorn, but that's mine"-

Dylisi tries to grab a cookie from Aiden

Aiden smacks Dylisi's dirty little paws away  no cookies for her.

Tad nodded towards Dylisi "They're for ME," he pointed at himself

Dylisi slowly falls backwards and hits the floor, then rolls onto her stomach with her face on the floor and makes a sad sound

Tad walked over to Dylisi and nudged her with his fOOT "If you ask I'll share them, and I might even be able to mooch popcorn from Aiden." he snickered

Dylisi bites his croc-adorned foot, but of course doesn't inject any venom

Tad pulled his foot away and jumped back "HEY.. " he looked down at his CROC ADORNED FOOT, and laughed, then jumped back towards her and stands on her feet.

Dylisi pauses, then snorts and snickers

Alfred takes a picture of whoever and whatever is standing in front of him just to be able to check the time instead of possibly asking for the time. -"Wherever we may be going, it'd be a good idea to decide soon, if a bus is needed, there should be one here soon, I think..."-

Luanne stood by nodding. A bit grateful for everything's she packed up.  Just gotta wait on everything to unfold.

"So what are we searching for? Sasquatch? Or maybe Tessie?" Aiden asks, stowing his camera in his backpack and tapping Tad on the shoulder to give him his cookies.

Tria flipped to a specific page in the journal, now that Tad had given people their proper titles. "I'm thinking we go after this guy tonight" she pointed out, on the page was drawn a sketch of a tall broadly-built creature, with long tentacles protruding from its limbs, head, and torso. The only things exposed were a large crooked nose, and large bare feet. "It says the squidsquatch is a forest right at the edge of town."

Dylisi looks up from the ground, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, sorry I forgot, LUANNE IS ... THE.. Trouble maker.  start causing trouble, Luanne." he nodded towards her, as he stood on Dylisi's feet and grinned wide, as he took his cookies from Aiden. "Thanks, I can't believe you got me cookies..... I never thought it my life.." he lifted them to his face and pressed his cheek against them. "Let's gOOOO THEN!" Tad made a popping sound with his lips and pointed towards the door, marching forwards.

Luanne playfully gave off some finger guns to the crowd around her.

Aiden laughed gently as he watched Tad goof around. Boy howdy did he love his boy watch him go what a silly what a good silly boy. Aiden was quiet as he listened to Tria, leaning over to see the cryptid in question. Squidsquatch, what a classic. Maybe they'd spot the cephalopodish behemoth. All this cryptid talk was giving him ideas... What ideas you ask? Climbing trees probably. He couldn't help but think back to nights spent with his brother, sitting in little blanket tents discussing cryptids and monsters. Brendan's favorite was the Gryphon. Brendan would say he only liked it because it looked cool but nah, Aiden knew better than that. Brendan really liked it cause it was a noble beast, and fierce as hell. Aiden smiled fondly at the thought. Aiden liked aliens better, but he'd settle for a good cryptid. He then strode after his Tad, his long leggies giving letting him catch up to Tad in a few strides.

Dylisi stands up and grabs Luanne from behind and whispers in her ear "would you still love me if I had a burlap sack of skin."

"Stop being tall, Aiden." Tad turned around to look at everyone, walking backwards, he pointed finger guns back at Luanne and gave her a sup nod, stumbling as he did on someone who had crouched down to look at books on a lower shelf "WoOPS, keep your feet on buddy. HAHA." he motioned for everyone to follow, slowing down to make sure they would come, "I don't actually know where I'm goingGG.." he sung

"You'd have to chop my legs off for me to be less tall." Aiden pauses to glance down at his legs, "I think I like them this long though, hopefully no one threatens to cut them off." He mutters with a dull laugh. Aiden paused at the door and glanced back to watch for the others.

Well, suppose they're off! Maybe once they do get the group moving they'll know what to do.. "a bus, yeah? We should um.. catch the next one soon.." Torch began catching up to the others.

A bus pulls up to the bus stop out front of the library, and thankfully the one they needed. Tria begins to head over to it, closing up the book and tucking it under her arm. "This way guys." she calls out, waving at the stopped bus to make sure it doesn't leave without them, she then dug for her bus pass in her pocket so she could have it ready.

Alfred follows after her, gotta use that buspass for something other than going to work after all, already holding a bag of premade popcorn.

Aiden doesn't have a bus pass oh no... He glances at his bike leaning against the building. "Think i can bike fast enough to catch up to the bus?" He asks aloud to no one in particular. He undoes the kick stand and gets on to wait for the others to get on the bus. its bike time

Luanne ponders a bit. Does she even love her now? Would burlap skin even matter?  COuld it also result in less licking. Did she leave the lights on at home?
There is a lot on this poor girl's mind.
"U-um....about that, Dylisi. W-welll...I'd still be friends with you regarldess!" She said scratching at the back of her head.
Never be nice, Lulu.

Torch pats around her pockets before swinging her pack around to bring out her own pass -whew, good she didn't forget- and followed awaaaaaay.

Dylisi reaches over Luanne's shoulder and makes a rockfist in her face , then runs over to Torch and follows closely behind her. Very closely.

"Oh, cod no. Don't take her too." She says under her breath seeing Dylisi get so close to the poor, unsuspecting Torch.

Torch and Luanne are Dylisi's favorite victims

Too many experiences like these teach the orange squid to turn around often.
Of course that was on the battlefield, not so much irl. And it was only a few moments that Torch felt the presence and had turned her head quickly to find Dylisi following closely behind. She shot an awkward smile cue anime sweat drop "um.. hello again.."

Tria showed her bus pass to the driver and noticed other than those about to get on, the bus was completely empty. Probably better this way, with how rambunctious these squids can be

Dylisi grins at her, fangs splaying, "Tooorrrchhh. Do you have a cat?"

Tad looked over at Aiden "You can try, I'll cheer you on from the bus." he saluted Aiden and snickered "If you suceed, you'll be a legend." he whispered, saluting him, then spinning around and climbing onto the bus "I also have some wads of cash if you need it." he called over his shoulder at Aiden, sitting down in the most open area on the bus so that, he could sit near a bunch of people he knew

Dylisi grabs Torch's hand and enters the bus, hopefully dragging her with her

"Oh, uh, no I don't. I do have a slaaAAhH!" Whoops bye torch.

Luanne lunged herself forward after orange squid being dragged.  Aquick showing of her pass, and she made sure to be by them.

Aiden laughed and saluted back at Tad, sitting back on his bike seat to consider it. He wondered quietly if he could just get on the bus. It was late enough maybe the bus driver wouldn't care? Aiden sighed and hopped off the bike. Screw it. He glanced at the bus driver who was obviously tired as shit. Poor dude. He set his bike over in the bike rack and locked it up then hopped onto the bus. Fishing around in his pocket he handed him enough money for a seat and walked to sit by Tad. Yay.

"Dylisi, DYLISI SIT HERE!" Tad called at Dylisi, "SIT IN FRONT OF AIDEN AND ME," he yelled on the bus even though they were all right there

Dylisi flips Tad off "NO." she sits accross the aisle instead

Luanne sighed, and happily obliged to sit in front fo the two. Her eyes remained on Torch and Dylisi however.

Gosh the bus was eerily empty.. pretty good mood setting for the hunt they were about to do. Of course still being dragged along, Torch sat with the octopus.

Tad's eyes widen and he purses his lips, squinting at her "You rebel." he whispered

Dylisi makes a heart at him with her hands

Tad points hand guns at her

Aiden snorted and sat back in his seat, eyes trained on the ceiling.

She points rockfists back like handguns so it looks like weird phazers

Alfred makes sure to get a good shot of the empty bus as everyone takes as seat with his camera, you know, for future film purposes.

Dylisi makes a face at the camera

Torch gives a little wave at the camera.

Tad tries to give Aiden a noogie for the cameraa

Aiden is too tall so he leans down slightly for Tad and laughs.

Luanne smiled over to  the camera giving a tiny wave.

Tria pokes her tongue out once the camera turns her way. She pulls out the book once again and opens it back up to the Squidsquatch page. Reading the author's notes on the creature

"LUANNE!!" Dylisi points at her lap, "Seaattt."

Alfred finds a seat close to Tria to get a closer shot of the book and the page.

Her pupils shrunk immediately. "Oh, no." She said as she slowly turned to Tad and Aiden ot whisper. "Help.....me."

"Luluuuuu" Dylisi calls

Aiden pitied the poor squid. there's no escaping now

She gives up and puts her rat on her lap instead

It looks dead

It twitches.

"SIT ANYWHERE! SIT HERE! BE A REBEL!" Tad stood squished against the window and urged Aiden closer to make room

Luanne stares at it clearly screaming internally. The horror on her face something that can only be replicated in movies.

Aiden scoots closer to Tad and pats the seat next to him. Aiden has already pulled out his camera and recorded some of the situation.

Dylisi pets her rat that's just on her lap and stares out the window, slooooowwwly leaning back onto Torch's shoulder like * *

Torch blinks upon seeing the rat on her lap, she wanted to gag
But for the sheer sake of peace she pulled off the smile, "o-oh.. still sleepin, huh?"

"Nah, he's dying." Dylisi answers

"He's still ALIVE?" Tad made a confused and concerned face.

"Oh... I'm.. sorry to hear.." she says solemnly. Okay, it's gross, but it's dying and that's so sad :c

-"Aren't we all, kind of ? or will eventually..."- Alfred adds deciding on just taking a sit for now, maybe record a bit of what can be seen through the window.

"If you can call this living." Dylisi replies to Tad, then looks at Torch, "It's okay, I'm not a huge fan of it anyway."

Tad pointed at Alfred "I'm not I'm just getting stronger every day."

Aiden zooms in on the rat then to Dylisi. "Im immortal." He mutters with a deadpan look on his face as he records.

Dylisi stares at Alfred and mouths NOT IF YOU GET THE PLAGUE

I have no idea if he would be able to read that on her lips though

"Luanne, sit in the seat in front of us." Tad gestured to the open seat in front of himself and shrugged.

-"What ? "- He asks because he legit has no idea how to read lips.

Dylisi starts making choking, sounds that turn into gurgling, then she vomits on the floor a little and wheezes, then plays dead

As an explaination

Tad stands up and blinks, staring at her "Oh cod she's dead, is she dead? I've never seen someone die before." he breathed

"What the fuck." Aiden scrubs his face and puts the camera away. Aiden's seen someone die before. "I've seen someone die in other ways. But i don't know someone check her pulse." He sighs. He pats Tad's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him

-"Do you need help getting up, cute ? That was fairly good acting"- Alfred said offering his hand in case she did want some help.

"OH GEEZ." Torch squeaked and hopped UP on the seat. All bus safety precautions out the window as she saw the vomit, "I UM UH ARE- AHem are you okay??"

Dylisi accepts, "Thankyou! I practice every night."

Luanne averts her eyes trying to pretend that none of this is happening. That is the truth right?

Once all the squids are on board, the bus driver pulled away from the library and they began on route to their destination. He was an elderly squid, very short, his seat was elevated so he could see over the dash, and had pedal extensions so he could drive. His head was bald save for one stray hair, a round rosy nose. He had three grey tentacles dangling from his chin, and a unibrow. He wore red pants, a jean jacket, and fuzzy slippers. His old man eyes tired from a long day of driving.
"You squiddos sure are out late!" He chimes in, not sure if they'll hear because they're so chatty to each other.
"Are you trying to catch somethin?!" he asked with excitement. "I tell ya old hobo me knows a thing or two about catchin critters."

Seeing it was all an act, Torch sits back down. Pretty darn dumbfounded really. Too speechless for words.

Tod slapped his hands on his face, "HOW DARE YOU!" he laughs agressively. "I WAS GOING TO CROSS THAT OFF MY BUCKET LIST!!" he cackled.

"I promise I'll die in front of you later." Dylisi says

Aiden laughs but it's a very uncomfortable laugh and he stares at his hands. Aiden decides to elect himself as the leader™ and address the buss driver. "Yessir, we're off to go find Squidsquatch, or something of the like. Know anything 'bout that?"

He plopped back down on his seat, he clutches his heart "Thank you, Dylisi, that is the nicest thing you could ever do for me," he laughs "Other than, eating all the cats in the world." he snickers "I'd rather you do that."

"Oh, I'm working on it." Dylisi says under her breath

Tad nods towards Dylisi, then turns his attention to five dollar hobo.  who was, very fascinating and had a interesting voice

Dylisi passes up a $20 bill towards five dollar hobo, "HERE'S A TIP FOR DRIVING US."

Tria just watched on with interest as all the squids conversed, not quite sure how to jump in, so she returns to her book like a nerd X'D

"BOY DO I EVER!!!" the bus driver shouted with excitement. "A cousin of a friend, of a friend of mine used to go to the forest on the edge of town all the time. One day he met this awfully big fella, tentacles everywhere. Not just his face. Anyways so he follows this Squidsquatch for a week, studying him and drawing him. Quite the obsession! Even kept a book about it. Anyways this guy was so crazy about this squidsquatch that one day he came to my castle, handed me his book, and then left to live in the forest with this creature! Apparently it accepted him as a mate. I forget where I put that book though...ah it wasn't much of a read anyways! Just a bunch of rambles about spooky critters."
He saw the 20 dollars out the corner of his eye. "Now you lissen here squiddo, they don't call me Five Dollar Hobo for nothin, now if you have a five dollar bill I will happily take it, but you can keep your twenty dollar devilry to yourself. I don't trust no 20 dollar bills"

Dylisi bursts out laughing

"What about ten dollars?" Tad called from the back

Tria finally perked up at the mention of a book, then looked down again. "Mr. uh... Hobo, sir? do you know anything more about this guy? Before he went to...live? with the squidsquatch?"

"NOW DON'T YOU GO YELLIN ABOUT NO TEN DOLLARS SONNY!" shouted Hobo

Luanne blinks seemingly quiet over the antics of the old man. It's quite hypnotic.

a small sniffle came from his round nose. "Ten dollars remind me too much of my love that ran away."

An old woman with a V-front dress and a purse flags down the bus

Tad glanced around, trying to make eye contact with the other squids, he snorted in amusement "Who's your lost love, old man?"

"Maybe you'll find her one day." He shouts to the old man.

Hobo begins to slow down the bus to let the old woman on.
"Ten Dollar Granny." he said with a shake in his old voice. "I loved her more than all the five dollars in the world!" a small tear welled up in his eye. "But she left me behind. She raised her own family, WITH SOMEONE ELSE. But I can't be mad. She did what she needed to do. We couldn't agree, she wanted me to give her ten dollars, but I just couldn't do it...I tried to give her two five dollars!!! but she just couldn't accept it. I'm a five dollar purist you see, and she was a ten dollar purist....we just couldn't find a common ground with how we managed our money. So she broke it off, and left town. I never saw her again....DON'T LET THE GOOD ONES GET AWAY KIDS!!! Or you'll end up sad and alone like old hobo me..." he sniffled once more, he missed his sweet granny so much.

Tad nodded along to his story, "Old man there is something I need to tell you," he paused, looking at Luanne "Luanne, this girl right here" he pointed at Luanne "is ten dollar granny's grandchild, and she has something to tell you..." he nudged Luanne's shoulder and whispered "You got this,"

Dylisi grins and watches Luanne

Aiden couldn't help but smile. This was something alright. "You got this Luanne, be as confident as you were when you were when you were climbing that ferris wheel."

"U-uhhhh.." Luanne stared dumbfounded, and witha  huff she face ol' 5 dolla hobo. "W-well...she lived life wanting you to be happy regardless!  Wiht a ll the five dollars in the world!"

"LIVED? So she's dead?" Dylisi tilts her head to one side

Tad puts his hand over his mouth to hide the fact that he's smiling.

"She said that?" the Hobo asked
Tria was getting annoyed, he still hadn't answered her question about the guy and the cryptid.
Hobo sniffled loudly as he did his best to hold back tears, he smiled widely, only his bottom tooth and one of his top ones still left in his mouth. "Why how sweet...she was always so kind. That sounds like something she'd say." tears began sliding down his cheeks. "You look like a good kid there girly. She did well then."
"I just need to know one thing..." his voice cracked as the tears flowed even more. "How'd she die? My poor sweet ten dollar angel... snatched away not just by life, but now by death."

Torch watched the conversation go. It was... interesting. Though she was pretty happy the hobo seemed to be getting some closure.

Aiden sat back in his seat, looking at the worn leather seats with a frown. He hoped Ten Dollar Granny wasn't dead. That'd be sad. Tonight was sad, he kept thinking about his brother and then the hobo said his exwife was dead and jeez anymore sad stuff and Aiden would cry.

Dylisi pets Torch's 'hair'

Torch stiffens up for a moment at the contact, her eyes darting to where she had felt it... but eventually relaxed. Just petting her tentacles, it's all gucci. She decided to pay attention again tot he conversation.

She sighs out deeply. The gaze now turning low as she twiddles her thumbs in her lap. "I-I was really young when it happened..I remember she got really sick for a long time. One day she just....went. Peacefully, and a smile remained on her face as she was clutching...$10."  Her eyes shut as she finishes up her tale knowing the lady went out how she lived.

Tad leans forward and nudges Luanne's shoulder with his fist, "Your quest is complete." He nodded solemnly, glancing up at the bus driver to see if he was buying it.

Luanne let out a sigh of relief. Looks like that "acting" may have succeeded.

Hobo did his best to compose himself again, "I'm so..so glad she died well and peacefully.....my sweet granny...."
The bus finally pulled up to their stop. "Thank you kids, thank you so much." hobo smiled through his tears. "I really hope you find your squidsquatch, tell him he owes me five dollars from our last poker night." he flipped the handle near his seat to open the bus doors for the passengers.
The stop was on a dead-end street, at the end of the road stood a forest, dark and full of thick brush. An ominus cold breeze rustled through and shook the branches of the many trees

Aiden was the first to leave the bus, clutching his backpack straps. "And the hunt begins. Let's go team." He jumps off the bus, landing on the gravel with a cronch.

They were here and she hadn't gotten  an answer to her questions.. Tria sighed and stood up. She thought about asking again but the old man seemed pretty shaken up by the whole ordeal... She decided to leave him be instead of prodding further, and making her way off the bus. Holding the journal in her arms tightly

This whole time, Alfred had been silently recording as much as possible, every single bit would work, I mean, editing was definitely a thing. He made sure to have a spare set of batteries just in case it extended for too long, never bad to be prepared.

Torch followed behind, boarding off the bus and looked around her surroundings. It seemed rather wooded..and desolate... should they really be out here? Hopefully they can get back without much trouble..

Once the rest was off the bus, Hobo waved a final goodbye, 'such good kids they are' he thought to himself.
"Don't get eaten now kids! I'll be back in two hours for my last run. If ya don't make it back here by then you're on your own!" He then closed the bus doors and drove off.

Tria's heart started to race. "Okay, cool. We have two hours to search a massive forest for a creature that might not exist, and then make it back here without losing any body. Sounds doable...right?" She hoped for assurance as she set a two hour timer on her phone, and tucking the phone in her pocket.

Tad waved goodbye to five dollar hobo "Geez Luanne I didn't think you'd lie like that!" he grinned brightly, watching the bus dissapear with his hands on his hips.  he then turned to Tria and patted her shoulder "Yes, it could be possible." he nodded solemnly, "If you believe in magic." he bounced forwards into the forest "Watch out for ravines! don't want to fall in and die!" he laughed

Tria shook her head. "I can't say I believe in magic, Tad. It's a cool idea, but I have my doubts on its existence." She headed towards the forest opening, pulling out a mini flashlight out of her other pocket and switching it on, it was surprisingly bright for something so small, she saw a flat rock a bit smaller than her palm and picked it up off the ground, approaching the closest tree and scoring an X into the bark with the rock. "If anyone gets seperated, try to find the marked trees and follow them back here." She said before taking a deep breath and heading off into the forest. "It's now or never I guess!" She said to the others. Marking every few trees along her path.

Somewhere out in the distant an owl hooted, and the tree branches shook gently in the wind. The light from Aiden’s flashlight, as well as Tria’s casted shadows that created clawed hands and teeth. All in all, the atmosphere was creepy, and held an underlying tension and the feeling that someone… no something was watching the squids. Aiden pauses in his tracks to watch the red tail lights of the bus retreat out of the woods, perhaps back into town? Or where ever buses went at night. Aiden hummed and continued to trail after the group, camcorder held up to survey the area and capture anything that he didn't notice. When the group stopped he dug around in his bag and pulled out several sets of walkie talkies, two sets of some sweet princess themed ones and another set of three which were halloween themed. The halloween ones were scuffed and the paint was chipped from obvious use, Aiden offered them up anyways. “I brought walkie talkies for emergencies, like if someone finds something and wants to inform the group.” He handed them out, secretly proud of himself for thinking this far ahead. “And,” he dug around in his bag some more, “I have a first aid kit so if anyone needs it just radio me. They're all set on the same frequency already. I think that about does it, let's head out team.” He announced, and made his way into the woods with a grin. Boy Howdy was he excited to find himself a squidsquatch.