For several moments, Prometheus continued up the hill in silence, his thoughts scattered.  Perhaps This relationship between Neff and Celris would slow them all down, but that seemed unlikely.  If anything it would probably lead to some juicy revelations later in the adventure.  The prospect of it all made Prometheus' little mouth moisten.  Boredom seemed ever-present to him, so it was natural to love information as it came.<br/><br/>Approximately fifteen minutes or so into his walk, he came to what appeared to be the top of the hill.  As far as he could see, stretching from either side of him, were a range of hills and plateaus.  This seemed strange to him, but they served as what seemed to be a natural wall from the Badlands. Outsiders would only see what appeared to be an unforgiving hill-side, and think nothing more of it, but the truth was far from it.   In fact, once over the hills, and small mountains, one had a perfect view of an infinite and desolate valley below.  In the far distance, a volcano spewed scorching chunks of lava and ash into the air, coating the skies in darkness.  Beneath it, a single, twisted stretch of hardened magma stained the murky ocean around it with it's presence.  Billowing smoke clouds, and searing flakes of ash flowed freely through the vast air, adding to the surreal feel of the place.  More than once did Prometheus doubt the likely-hood of a successful trip, now more than ever.<br/><br/>"Well, guys... once you get up here, you may as well take a look at what you signed up for...  It's going to be one hell of a walk..."  Prometheus' small adam's apple bobbed nervously.  Perhaps he could make it after all... perhaps....<br/><br/>****<br/><br/><br/>Crane stood over the crumpled piles of twisted metal and machinery.  In one hand he held the obsidian pole, in the other he held the mangled head of a Highbreed soldier, the first of the two he killed.<br/><br/>"You are a vile creature, and I promise to kill you all..." He whispered.  He was speaking to himself of course, but even as he said it he could feel the ethereal eyes of his father upon him.  Blessed, or not he would destroy the forges if it meant annihilating the entire mountain.  Hephaestus was a monument of glory, a soaring height of glorious splendor.  Crane had not been alive when it was created, but his father told him that in the early times, right after the creation of the world, Shelune first touched down on the planet where the mountain once stood.  Her sheer power and glory ripped the earth's land upward, forming around her like a protective shell.  When she left it's warm embrace, the lava from below the crust filled the cavern she created, forming a monstrous volcano of epic proportion.<br/><br/>Crane wished he was there, wished he could've warned his father, but no... It was too late for that, and his only priority now was riding the world of the Highbreed scum.  With pole in hand, he left the archive, flying through the hot tunnels in search of the forge's heart, where he could find and kill the hammer-lord.