Bridget
Without her mask but a hood over her head with a scarf to hide her lower face, Rai walked out from her dorm wearing her oversized leather jacket, a simple T-shirt, cargo pants and bootss. It look like she is sneaking out some time at noon to go explore. She'll text Evan if he wants to go check out some abandon buildings for their exploration? The girl would be waiting outside by the entrance.
Harold
Evan arrives, almost late, the same stern expression on his face. And same the parka, pants, and boots combo he always has. It doesn't look like he has much other clothes, with the only exception being the shirt Rai bought him. That one he has underneath the parka.

He raises a brow when he spots her as he examines her face closer. "Warming out of the mask, huh?" He says. "Changing it out for a scarf instead, I guess?"
Bridget
"I stand out too much downtown when I wear a mask," Rai said, subconsciously tugging the scarf up a bit higher. "Prefer to wear it among people here and in the woods..." This might sound silly but she felt too exposed among rowdy people in Newton Cradel. Compare to Evan, she has a natural sad puppy dog look that she can't do anything about. "Let's go before it gets too dark? Brought some stuff in case we might need it?" Rai gestures for Evan to follow her as she head down to the woods. "I-I want to show you something cool. I-I think it might be faster that way."
Harold
"Sure," He says, as he starts to walk after her. "I'm not an expert on the woods, but I think we can both agree its a good idea not to stay after dark."

"Stuff? What kind of stuff would we need?" Evan asks, not even really knowing what her plan is, his eyes furrowing a little. Rai had always been a bit of a weird person in Evan's eyes, though that wasn't a bad thing. But it makes him wonder what she'd find cool that she'd want to show it to him.
"That way? Just lead the way then."
Bridget
"Like maybe a rope, flashlights, snacks, water, some money, face masks, gloves?" She was speaking a lot smoother with not so much of a stutter. When they got past the tree line, Rai's body shift into a 6'5 serpentine creature that stretches out to 9'6 ft long. It would look weird how her form suddenly morphs in front of him when she pulled off some crazy Harry Potter metamorphosis. Her mouth opens as if it is smiling while the end of her tail wiggles happily. Then the ground slightly shakes from her heavy weight when she goes running towards him like a happy seal.
Harold
"Doesn't seem like your average Wednesday night, at least." He muses in response to her choice list of items, but he doesn't refute it.

He startles a little. This was after all his first time seeing her undergo such a dramatic transformation, or see her use her power at all. He instincitvely backs up a bit and holds his hands up when she starts barelling towards him, only calming down he realizes.
"Oh, is this what you wanted to show me?" He says, his voice still tinged in surprise.
Bridget
"Yah!" Her voice sound slightly growly and deeper, yet still sound like Rai. She lowers her head to meet his with a gentle, cold nuzzle when she let out a hiss. It would be noticeable to see that she is much more energetic and happier being in this new form. Rai lowered herself towards the ground as she turns her glowing eyes to her back.
Harold
"Okay, I can see how you need to take me to the forest." He shoves his hands to his pockets. At least his concerns over safety has mostly went away after this display. "...Guess I shouldn't be surprised." He hums.

His eyes move with hers when she turns to look to her back. "See anything?" In the meanwhile, he starts to slowly walk up. Still a bit wary, but supposing he should try and trust Rai a little bit more.
He lets the tip of his boot lightly poke her side. "So... You let other people ride on you?" He can't help but ask.
Bridget
"Ride!" She chirped, nudging his back to move forward. "Once! We stole chickies!" Her words are choppy from not being too use to the structure of her mouth. She didn't complain when he nudged her wooden side.
Harold
"...Huh." He says. Carefully, he reaches up to find some purchase against her side he can use to climb up to her back, wobbling a bit the entire way.
It takes him a bit to balance on her back, but he gets himself situated. "...Why'd you steal 'chickies'?" He asks, once he was bit more confident in not falling off.
Bridget
"For eggs and students need chickie therapy!" As soon as he climbs up onto her back, Rai's ears perks to the side when she turn her head as she moves to the direction where the town is located. The woods is a place that she knows well enough to find shortcuts to get to civilization. Without warning, Rai darted forward on fours as she nearly glides through the air from her serpent's body wiggling like a snake over water. Gracefully her large form weave through the trees before leaping across the creek and then climbing up over the hill. It wouldn't take too long for them to make it to the edge of the forest that overlooks the town.
Harold
"What?" He says, but is cut off.
Evan immediately ducks down when she starts to move, if only to hold on and try not to be tossed off. He wrenches his eyes shut as the wind hits him, but he slowly opens it up and looks around as they move. "Wait, where are we headed?"

He immediately hops off once she stops, and the dirt crunches underneath his boots with a soulful smack as he lands. Evan blanches. "I definitely prefer to stroll." He murmurs, before he walks over to her front and looks up at her face in her monstrous form, and finally over the view of the town.

He silently eyes the scene for a few seconds, eyes furrowed.

"You prefer it here in the forest or in the city?" He asks, finally.

"Always found it kind of weird how you haven't ran away still." He says. "Makes me think you probably don't think this place is all that bad."
Bridget
Rai suddenly shifts back into her human form with her hands resting inside her jacket pockets. "I like the forest much more... But I want to understand the city better... And people so I can make less mistakes." Her ember eyes looked out at the bustling town where she scopes out the place that she wanted to explore. "I'm in Sweden... I'm not able to find my way home yet. I-I don't know... I don't feel ready visiting my mom's grave yet." And she begins to walk forward until she starts sliding down the hill on her feet. A trail of dirt was left behind and came to a stop when she made it to the bottom.
Harold
Evan watches her slide down the hill for a second. He takes a few seconds to find any other ways down- he isn't exactly thrilled with the dirt, but eventually slides after her.

"Oh," He says, "You're not from here?" He asks.
"How the hell did Cradle whisk you from all the way? Didn't know they bothered outside of Sweden." He murmured, but quiets down when he mentioned her mother.

He takes a few second to consider what to say next.

Eventually, he decides.
"Well, do you feel like you ever will?"
Bridget
"I'm from the Coast of Canada in BC... I was held in captivity before coming here?" And she pauses for a minute as she gave him an actual sad look. "I think I should... Just to make sure those humans didn't take her body away like they did to the other remains."
Harold
"Canada, huh." He hums.

"Good of a reason as any, I suppose." He says.

He hesitates for a second, but eventually decides to pat her on the back awkwardly.

"You're a better person than most, Rai." He says.

He falls silent after that.
Bridget
Rai felt her mouth twist to a pained grimace behind her scarf that slid down her chin. Evan's words echoed from the empty spaces of her mind that brought some memories back to life. Was she really a better person than most? Her ember eyes begin to well up until they look like maple syrup from the slight glow from her eyes. She blinked them away when her arms pulls Evan close into her embrace. Right now Rai wished that she had her mask on to hide her face.
Harold
"Oh, okay." Evan hadn't expected a full on embrace, but he awkwardly accepts it. He pats her on the back in his measy attempt to comfort her.
Unsure what to say, or if he even should at all, he keeps quiet and continues the very awkward embrace for now and lets her cry as much as she wants until she's ready to calm down.
Bridget
She didn't wail like most people would when they're grieving. She already done that when her mom died right in front of her. At the very moment, all she wanted is a genuine hug to have this pain fades away. "For a human you're not so bad yourself.." She said, now setting him free. "I don't know what's all that about... But let's say we continue our exploration?" Rai tried to smile but it is a sad one.
Harold
He raises a brow at her. "For a human, huh?" He says. "I'll take it."
"Just... A conversation between us." He offers. It was darker than usual, but it happens. Then he shakes his head. "Sure, if you're sure." He says. "That's still not all you wanted to show me?"

Between her monster form and the view of the city, today has already been pretty full of surprises.
Bridget
"Mhm..? I... Have a hard time talking about stuff... A lot of people make me nervous." Rai takes Evan's hand into hers with a gentle firm grip. "I'm sure? Its a house that is said to be haunted? No one lives there and the place is unlivable?" Rai was trying to lighten the atmosphere. Without looking at Evan, she gave the conversation bit some thought before finally replying back to it. "I... Don't mind if its between us... If you have any questions..?"
Harold
He looks down at her hands as she takes his into hers, brows furrowed. "...Yeah, I could tell." He can't help but poke a bit of fun at her. 
"...I feel like I've asked all I wanted to ask for now." A pause. "But I'll tell you if I have more."
Another pause. "I suppose... This means you can ask me if you have any questions, too."

He is quiet for a bit, but eventually swaps topics.

"Haunted, huh." He says. "I don't usually believe in those sorts of stuff, but... Well, powers a real."
Slowly, he pulls his hands back to his sides.
Bridget
Rai considers asking him a question but quickly changed her mind after thinking maybe its not a good time. "Of course hauntings are real! I use to haunt a village and intruders for disturbing the sacred grounds." She looked at him shocked. "Monsters and spirits are real! Oh my god! Have you been living under a rock!?" Rai now taking her turn to poke fun at him. When they soon reached the spooky abandoned house, she came to a stop to gesture it with a faint smile. "Here we are!" Its little ways from the city itself that is somewhat close to the lip of the forest. The dismal grey walls stained from weatherworn signs of wear and tear, it stood alone with bare thicket growing wild around it,
Harold
He raises a brow at her small lecture, but doesn't comment further. "Never expected the monsters of myth would be like you, at least." He half comment, half refutes.

He looks up at the house with a squint in his eyes, before he looks back at Rai. "Your idea of fun, huh?" He asks. "Where'd you even hear about this place?"

He shakes his head. "Whats the plan here anyway?"
Bridget
"I like exploring a lot... I mean a lot, alot!" Rai spread her arms out to gesture the entire area. "It gets a bit boring staying cooped up at the school, so I prefer to wander until I find something neat!" Rai's mood seem to shift towards excitement when she thought of the neat things that they could find. "Its a whole sense of adventure and discovery... And I am hoping to find something neat here." Her ember eyes seems to twinkle at the thought of finding more animal bones or some small antique trinket. "We'll go in to explore and see if we find anything neat there? I like finding old stuff it has some sort of history to it!"
Harold
"Guess it makes sense." He says.

He looks back at the house. "Well, you certainly have history down pat." Old and weathered as it was, it made him wonder who used to live in it.

He's never shied away from the chance to loot a place. This was mildly less bad even, as abandoned as it was. Probably.

"Well, lead the way. You're the expert here."
Bridget
"On it!" She was happy to go ahead to push open the creaky door before saying,"Helloooo... Anyone who lives heeere?" Almost in a singsong voice. When there is no answer, Rai counted in her head up to 20 before walking in. With each step the old wooden floors creaked beneath her weight. The hallway appeared to be draped in cobwebs, black and white picture frames hung on the walls with faded images. And in that very hall there is a staircase leading up to the second floor where there is a door near the top can be seen.

From the front door there is another room that appears to lead into the kitchen, the second one further down the hallway is a closed door with rubble leaning against it.

"Do we split up or stay together?" Rai asked him.
Harold
Evan peeks his head past the door framewhen she pushes it open, before he steps inside proper. He's a bit more quiet in his steps by instinct as he looks around.

"We definitely don't split up." He says. He eyes the picture frames first and takes a closer look. "This is definitely one we should take if I've ever seen one." He points.
Bridget
"Okay?" Rai was more casual in her steps when she comes closer towards the picture frames. "They do look really old? Some of them are damaged... But maybe we could salvage a few?" As it appears, someone was into photography. As Evan takes a closer look of the pictures, these are definitely antics here.
Harold
Evan looks across the different frames. "Sure, sounds like a plan."
He eyes the one with the cat, before he steps up and reaches out to try and unmount it from the wall.

He stumbles with it a bit. A cumbersome picture frame may not be the most convenient to carry on hand, but he seemed pretty married to the idea he'd take one.
Bridget
Rai couldn't help herself when she smiled after seeing Evan take the black and white photo of the kitty. It didn't take long for her to pick the photo of the ships in the lake water. It was a kind reminder of coast in her homeland where she would sometimes watch ships pass by with shipment. Her hands gingerly removed the frame from the wall before wiping the dust off with her gloved hand. "I have my backpack, we can place it in there so we can have free hands?"
Harold
He sends her a look, as if hesitant of the idea if only for a second. Then he lets out a sigh. "Yeah, okay. Fine." He offers her the frame.

Then he looks to the door with the rubble, further down the hallway. "Guess we should look deeper in," He murmurs. He doesn't wait before he starts to walk down.
Bridget
"Don't worry I won't keep it, its for safety." Rai tag behind Evan like a lost puppy. She was careful to avoid stepping on anything dangerous like sharp rusty nails, glass or anything that look like its going to poke into her boot. When they got to the door with rubble, it didn't look like the hatch was fully closed. So Rai pushed it open to reveal the entirety of a mostly empty room. There was a broken bedframe, vandalized end table, broken mirror, broken window, rubble displayed on the floor... And there's cat shit on top of the hill. And Evan would know its cat shit because he cleaned Toaster's litter box. This could indicate something here...
Harold
"Huh," Evan stares at it, not put off. He looks around the room, before he starts to climb up the rubble by the door, and into the room proper. "I'm not surprised some animals have been here."

"Think its new?" He asks Rai, and he obviously refers to the poop.
Bridget
"It looks like fresh poop," She says bluntly, covering her mouth and nose behind her sleeve. There are tears specking from the corner of her eyes. As Evan look around the room, he could find dirty pawprints on the wooden floor.
Harold
"Sure," He says. "Guess we should leave this room alone. Don't know if a cat is open to the idea of two strangers stomping around its home."

"Unless you see something you like in here, I guess." He says. "Then we can just swipe it real quick."
Bridget
"Do you want to keep the poop?" She asked, giving him a weird look. "I think I am good?" There is a second closed door next to what appeared to be a kitchen, a living room and a basement.
Harold
"Definitely not." He shakes his head. Evan takes one last, cursory look at the room, before he starts to climb back up the rubble by the entrance, and exits the room.
He considers the decision for a second, but ultimately decides to open the door to the basement. 
"You brought a flashlight, right?" He asks.
Bridget
She already pulled out her flashlight to hand it over to Evan. "Mhm.." And her eyes lit up with an eerie white glow when she stared down at the old steps that lead into the darkness. There was a sign that there is probably a window down there that offered some light.
Harold
He accepts it, fiddles it with for a second, before he switches it open and pointing it down the dark. He eyes the steps, before he carefully starts to make his way down deeper.
Bridget
Rai made sure to keep a good 4 or 5 steps behind knowing that her heavy weight could cause a step to break under her. It groaned with each complaint as she carefully descend down the steps. As Evan scan the dark room with his flashlight, the first thing he would find is a large washtub, a clothing strainer, an empty shelf with some broken and empty jars, a moldy clothing line laid unattached from one side of the wall. "Careful, its flooding over there near the tools." Rai was looking at a holding rack that kept a shovel, a rake and with a couple other tools on the floor. She nudged at the hammer that laid next to the old crowbar.
Harold
Evan points the light at the spot she mentioned with a wince. "Ah." Overall, he doesn't look very impressed with the room. "This place is gross," He says. "I don't think we'd find anything good here, and I definitely don't want to get wet with stagnant water."

"Who knows how long it's been sitting down here."
Bridget
Rai jumped when something dark skitter across the floor passed her foot that ran underneath the shelf. "I-I would agree..." Her mouth wavered in a nervous squiggly line. "Where to next?" There are two rooms that they haven't explore yet, the kitchen and the other closed door.
Harold
He sends her a weird look when she reacts, but doesn't comment. Instead, he starts to walk back up to the hallway. "Kitchen first, then." He says, non-commitally. It doesn't look like he expected much else from the house as his enthusiasm ran low, but it didn't matter. He was already pretty satisfied with the pictures.

"Ugh. I swear, if we find rotting food. That'll be the grossest thing yet." He murmurs his thoughts, as he made his way to the third spot of interest.
Bridget
"Oh god, no... I really don't want to think about it," Rai said, following behind him. When they reached the kitchen it look like its in better condition that the turd room and the basement. There are Broken plates, old dining table and chairs, old jars of food, old can food, melted candle on an old candle holder, faded black and white photos of two elders and grandkids, old fashion dial phone, empty bottle. It didn't look much to find anything interesting. As for Rai, she was checking out the cupboards and had found a slingshot that look like it belong to one of the grandkids from long ago. "Ah-ha! Check this out!" Then something rustled inside the cupboard near her.
Harold
Evan lets her look around for the place a bit, as he idly picks up one of the broken shards and flip it around his hands for a bit to examine it in relative disinterest.
He walks over to check on Rai when she called for him, but he only raises a brow. "A slingshot? Do you even know how to use one?"

Then he suddenly eyes the cupboard when it made a sound. He stares at it for a solid second. "Wait," He says, "One second?"

He walks over, and carefully opens the cupboard.
Bridget
"Nope... But I can learn... But... I prefer using a real bow, it shoots further." And just as she is about to give him it, Evan walked past her to open the cupboard. There was a scruffy black creature with bare paws and a naked wormlike tail sitting before him. Without warning, it shoot out to come land on his face.
Harold
Evan immediately pack pedals into Rai behind him as he raises his hands up to try and peel it off his face. "Ack," He cries out, "Rai, a little help?" He says, his voice louder than it usually is.

"Fuck." He hisses under his breath, as the initial shock slowly turns into annoyance and anger at the thing.
Bridget
She grabs the back of the rodent that was clambering on Evan's face with a firm grip before whipping it onto the corner of the room. Thunk! It bounced and laid there stunned with its leg kicking. The thing wasn't cute. Its scissor teeth are yellowed, one eye is missing and it has some patches of fur missing. "Are you okay?" Rai asked, fishing out a water bottle and rag to wet it before giving it to him. "Wash your face, don't know where its been."
Harold
He wordlessly accept it, his mood obviously bad as he uses it to wash off his face. He mumbles under his breath, before he places the cloth down on some random surface in the room and reaches up to examine his face closer with his hand, to see if he'd been bitten anywhere.

"Ugh." He says, before he takes a deep breath. "I'll be fine, I guess."
Bridget
There were some scratches but no bites on his face. Rai gave him an apologetic smile with a sorry look. "Hey, if you want to go back we could?"
Harold
"Yes, I do." He says, his voice a little hard. He closes his eyes for a second. "Just... The pictures frames. They should be enough, I guess."

He shoots her a questioning look. That was a questioned aimed at her more than anything else.
Bridget
She felt bad that he had to get his mood ratted that ruined his fun. "Yeah... I'm sorry." This was her gesture of apology when she hugged Evan to try make him feel better. When she caught on with his last sentence, Rai lets him free as she turns her eyes at the stairs. "I... Sort of want to check one more room but I think you're right." Raizel turns to him again. "We should get back before it gets dark." Raizel gave him a gentle smile.