The Systems Challenge

Jonas didn't understand why Kim was so resistant to merely checking to see if that narrow trail led anywhere. He himself didn't expect anything, but even if it didn't help them with this challenge, there wasn't a guarantee that it wouldn't help them with another.

Or even lead them to a secret challenge. They just didn't know enough to say for sure either way.

However, Jonas was counting on Elin and Elmo being curious as to what was down that path. As such, he was looking forward to the vote. He was rather surprised when Kim suggested it, which also made him wonder if Kim really cared or if she was merely wanting that subject to get dealt with so she could focus on something else. If so, it would explain why she'd been so quiet since.

The day seemed like it was trying to act all innocent about the weather from the night, and possibly day, before. Like the heavy downpour hadn't occurred, despite the signs of erosion in places and remaining rain water drying in others.

The sky was clear and promised to be a warm, if not hot day.

Maybe it was the fact that he'd been in caves for the past few days, but he couldn't help but feel better than he usually did. Part of it was definitely the clear and beautiful day, but he was also certain that part of it was from how he'd been away from the sun for so long. There was something about it that seemed to lift his spirits somehow, even though he hadn't really cared that much to be in sunlight that he could remember.

While the day seemed to be trying to pretend that the thunderstorm hadn't occurred, but Jonas didn't care so long as it wasn't leading up to another. At least not any time soon.

While he had imagined that things would have settled back down to where they had been before they'd been forcibly separated, Jonas had to acknowledge that things had changed. With Elmo, it was hard to say if he had decided to remain or to leave the group. He had been clearly moving in that direction before he had joined Jonas in the river and in that cavern network. While now Elmo seemed like he was more comfortable and wasn't looking for a way or time to leave. Then there was what had happened between Elmo and him. While he didn't think much about it, especially since he didn't promise anything and wasn't sure if he'd want anything more than what they had done, he couldn't be sure if Elmo had taken as a promise or that he would want more.

Elin was a different matter. Not only was she rather withdrawn, which could just mean that she was tired, but she also seemed to be where Elmo had been and looking for a way to quietly leave the group. She would still sound cheerful and full of life when someone spoke to her, but other than that, she didn't initiate conversation, nor did she move with the same energy.