Trinity/FreakAngels AU: A Heart as Cold as Ice.

[aeons_crackshot]

Time has passed, as it tends to do. The Æon Society has recently received word of people going missing in Greenland, and not the kind of people you'd expect to go missing, either. Natives and experienced trackers and wilderness experts have simply gone missing for no readily discernible reason.

That's why Annabelle Newfield and Connor are here to investigate. Mysterious disappearances tend to be their kind of trouble, one way or the other.

A friend of Jake's has dropped them off in a remote village with his plane before haring off on another errand.

Comments

[leadinghome]

When you are an emphatic, it is impossible to not notice those things, but he will keep focused on the real reason why they came. "When it did start?"

[aeons_crackshot]

If it's any consolation, Annabelle is attracting her share of attention too.

"Three months ago," he explains, solemn. "Thomas Erikson was the first to disappear, and we just lost Karl Thorinson last week."

"That makes eight that have gone missing, all men who were experienced at surviving out there," he says gesturing to the wilderness. "No sign of a struggle, nothing stolen, just....gone."

[leadinghome]

"And all went missing in the same area, or...?" Connor will not comment on the attention Annabelle is getting, either.

Even if he understands, his girlfriend is hot and awesome.

[aeons_crackshot]

Thorin shakes his head, "No, they were all taken from different places. Some from their cabins outside of town, some out in the woods, and one down by the stream."

His expression turns bitter, "We wrote to the capital to request some assistance. They sent a few fellows down alright. Wandered all over creation and didn't find a damn thing," he growls. "The day after they left, we lost another man."

And faintly terrifying. There's an undercurrent of nervousness in the male population. They're not quite sure what to make of her.

[leadinghome]

Silly people.

"Hm... show us the spot by the stream, please."

And then he reaches for Annabelle mentally. It stopped when investigators came. It seems to me it is something intelligent.

[aeons_crackshot]

He nods. "Certainly. If you'll just follow me, I can show you easily enough before it gets too dark to see."

He'll lead the way to the stream, which is a couple of miles distant.

So do I. Which means it's either some strange creature, or a human. Possibly one of us, if they're covering their tracks so well.

That last is not a pleasant possibility, not at all.

[leadinghome]

Connor follows along, silently most of the way.

At least it's better than another otherworldly thing we can not even understand what is...

Once there, e will try to feel the place, a talent he has been practicing with: residual emotions, sensations, anything of possible significance.

The actual chances of finding something useful are slim, but it is worth the trying.

[aeons_crackshot]

I suppose. I just wish....well, that there wasn't cause for that thought to immediately spring to mind.

The traces are faint by now: whispers of fear, worry, and near panic. There is, however, almost no trace of physical pain.

Thorin watches the proceedings curiously, standing at a respectful distance. Annabelle is likewise standing back a bit, so as not to contaminate the scene too much with her own emotions.

[leadinghome]

Connor gives Annabelle a gentle, comforting mental 'touch', then sits down where the emanations seem to be the strongest.

A soft glow wraps around his body as he focuses, then reaches out to track an origin, search for a trail left by those distress signs.

[aeons_crackshot]

The glow is going to provoke a certain amount of surprise from their guide, but he doesn't say anything.

There is a faint, sketchy trail to be followed, leading almost due north. Alas, about 10 miles away, the trail disappears into the 'background'. Still, it's a place to start.

[leadinghome]

Once they have more information. "What there is, that way?" Connor points the heading he got, getting up.

[aeons_crackshot]

Thorin blinks, puzzled. "Not much of anything, so far as I know," he explains. There was an old cabin that way that a hermit used to own, when I was a lad. I don't know that anyone's lived there for years."

He struggles to see if he can bring anything else to mind. "I think there might be some caves up that way too, now that I think about it."

[leadinghome]

"Hm. I guess we will have to take a look that way." He looks back at the man. "How far? We will probably need some supplies."

[aeons_crackshot]

He nods. "Too far for you to get there before dark," he replies, giving the position of the sun an appraising eye.

"I can have my son take you that way in the morning with his sled and dogs, if you'd like?"

[leadinghome]

"Works for me." He nods, glancing at Annabelle.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle nods in agreement. "That sounds good to me too. Is there anywhere we can stay tonight?"

Thorin nods. "Mrs. Edelson has two rooms, what with her children being grown. She's offered to put you up for the night."

Once they're alone, Annabelle will ask Connor what he found.

[leadinghome]

Once they are back, and alone, he will share what he tracked, just in a softened way.

No reason to make his girlfriend uncomfortable with a full exposure.

[aeons_crackshot]

"It sounds like it's not hurting them where they are, but taking them somewhere," Annabelle replies quietly.

"I just wish we knew more about what we were dealing with, and why its doing what its doing..."

[leadinghome]

"There are many reasons for whatever or whoever is doing it, to be doing it. None of them good..."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Not in the least," Annabelle replies, eyes dark. She's seen enough to know the kind of things people are capable of doing to each other.

"But knowing why would help us figure out how to approach the problem."

Annabelle stretches and yawns. "It would probably be best if we got an early start tomorrow." Since they don't have company...he won't mind if she kisses him goodnight, right?

[leadinghome]

"True. But we will find out." And stop it.

No, he will not mind a kiss, specially if she does not mind a hug too. But Connor will stay up, sensing the area, watching for the creepy feel.

[aeons_crackshot]

"We will," Annabelle agrees. It's what they do, after all.

The hug is gladly received and returned, and Annabelle calls it a night. Some people have to sleep.

His vigil over the night is fruitless, alas. There's nothing to sense but the wind and the sleeping presences of the people and animals in a small town.

Eventually, morning comes and after a quick breakfast they head to the edge of town to meet up with their guide and transportation.

[leadinghome]

Connor will eat with appetite: a night up means he needs some extra energy.

After thanking their host, he will go meet the guide with Annabelle.

[aeons_crackshot]

Their guide is a cheerful man who isn't, quite, as large as his father. "Morning!" he calls out, waving at them from where he is harnessing dogs to a sled.

Some of the dogs, who are part husky, part malamute, part...something else, sniff inquisitively at the new people.

He offers a hand, "Please call me John. It's good to meet the both of you."

[leadinghome]

Connor shakes the hand, firmly. "I'm Connor. I picked up a trail, northwards from the stream."