This time, he was geared up. This time, he was wearing armor. This time... actually, the first time it was personal. This time, it was practical.

With his team assembled, Yul was flying back to where he'd gone on his all too exciting skydate with Mumei. He skillfully guided the craft through the mountains, keeping it steady in the face of the winds.

"How's everyone doing back there?" He called back over his shoulder.

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D7LA, Highlands Piloting roll TN10: 5d10o10k3+6 33

Joo-Woo was sitting in the back, smiling. "Fine so far Shinjo-san. So you met...something here? A big lizard?" That sounded quite concerning, especially for someone who was freshly new out of the hospital.

"Mmmm? Peachy." Hayato replied glancing towards the cockpit from where he had been staring out the window. He was garbed in his armor, though the camoflauge color patterns of it didn't exactly match the current terrain, and he had his rifle cradled aganist his chest almost like a lover.

"Think we're going to see this monster again?" He asked to follow up the Iuchi's question.

Koseki was inspecting his combat gear as usual but looked up with a grin. "Preparing to keep you out of trouble Yul-san."

It was the first time he had been out for a flight over this landscape. Much better than trudging through the mud and spores. He looked over at the Iuchi and the Mantis then back at Yul. "Drifter by the sounds of it. Guess it depends on whether it was a chance encounter or Yul-san found its nest."

Yul grinned. "You know, if it's all the same, I'd rather not run into it again. We can take a look around, though." He gave a nod. "Thanks for coming, though."

It wasn't too much of a challenge to find where they'd been before. The Ornithopter passed into a valley in the mountains, a lake dotted with rocky islands in the middle. From there, Yul guided it down to one of the larger islands, setting it down a modest distance from the shore.

He unbuckled his straps. "A drifter, huh?" He glanced at Koseki, even as he went through the powerdown sequence. "Anything you can tell us about those? I can say they've got a nasty bite."

Hayato for the moment kept quiet, unbuckling his harness and keeping his eyes on the windows as he kept and eye open for movement, It was a pretty spot private too, though the Mantis would need help if he ever wanted to return.

"I'm more curious as to who Shinjo-san was on a date with here, though I suppose the information on what we might be facing is slightly more pertinent."

The Firefly nodded his agreement. "That's a good question Tsuruchi-san." He raised an eyebrow at Yul then readied his rifle.

"Well, Drifters are big predatory reptiles that cruise around rivers and lakes. They've got a big sail like thing on their back, claws, sharp pointy teeth. Usually hunt alone and can be dangerous, although they probably eat fish and otori more than anything. Seems like this one has a taste for Unicorn."

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D7. LA. Intelligence/Lore: Nature. Fluff roll for knowledge about Drifters: 4d10o10k3 15 Basic knowledge achieved!

"That sounds...lovely, Hotaru-san." He smiled nervously. "Date? Oh, now I'm interested Shinjo-san."

Yul hesitated a moment as he secured his own gear, then he grinned, shaking his head. "I was here with Nakauchi Mumei. And she's the one who dragged me back to the Ornithopter, got us both to safety, and healed me. It was really something." Better to risk a rumor of impropriety than not give her the credit she'd earned. Besides, he was pretty sure no one here would cause problems for him.

He grimaced, glancing at Koseki. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Well... let's go see what we can find." Readying his own rifle, he opened the pilot's door to the copter, stepping warily out...

"Ah, Nakouchi-san?" The priest asked as he readied his densai/holoslate, ready to invoke the kami as needed.

"She seems nice."

Hayato smirked as he climbed out of the chopper, his eyes continously scannign the waterline, for any signs of movement. "Really something?" He mused after a moment. "Sounds like who owe her your life Shinjo-san."

"Guess that means I'll be crossing a pair of names off my list then." His eyes flicked to the Unicorn. "Unless I'm reading something wrong here." He Started checking over his rifle. "I could be assuming a little much after all."

Koseki smiled but kept his eyes on the water and his rifle up. "She is nice. Great dancer too. Suppose I could put in a good word for you at the next Minor Clan gathering. Assuming you don't get yourself eaten before then."

Yul smiled. "You're a good guy, Tsuruchi-san." Yul said, giving the other man a nod. "I owe you a drink after this. In fact, that goes for everyone."

There was a trail of dried blood leading up to where they landed; in fact, Yul had landed on it. And then a huge splatter of dried blood closer to the waterline. And then another a bit beyond that. There had clearly been an awful lot of bleeding happening.

Hayato offered the man a smile, no need to tell the man that if he had been interested in the Osprey or Unicorn that it'd like be a different story. As it were the were both low on his list of possibilities so it was no real loss. "I'll certainly take you up on that sometime."

A moment later he was striding to a open patch of land with a wide view of the water and the area covered in blood. "I'll post up here." The Mantis said as he took a knee marksmans rifle held in the low ready.

A small pack of flying furry lizards circled above the beach, occasionally diving into water only to swoop back up with a small fish between their needle sharp teeth. With their wing span perhaps three feet or so, these local critters seemed rather harmless...

Joo smiled at the flying flock. He ztepped besides Yul, looked to the dried blood and then to the Shinjo. "You still have blood?"

"Now I do. At the time..." Yul grimaced.

He looked around. "Okay. Most likely, it's somewhere between the copter and the first big bloodstain there." He pointed. "But it might have been knocked farther. There was a lot going on."

Yul began to walk along the bloody path, keeping his eyes peeled.

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If you guys who are actually good at investigation could roll first before I throw my 2k2 untrained at it, that would be great

Joo took a look around.

OOC:
D7 LA Inv/Per tn ???: 4d10o10k3 18

"I don't see any giant monsters." Hayato offered a note of disappointment in his voice, as he continued scanning the area for signs of danger. He likely didn't spot anything of interest from where he was kneeling but you never know.

"Maybe they are subtracted by pheromones or something though?"

perception/investigation Day 6 LA just in case: 5d10o10k3 25

Koseki also looked around for the weapon. The flying bird things were probably a good sign. "If those flappers start acting weird then something's probably coming."

D7. LA. Inv/Per for finding Yul's sidearm: 4d10o10k2 15