The Systems Challenge

Jonas couldn't say that he really cared for dealing with the rain while trudging through the bog. Not so much because of any increased hazard, but largely because he didn't care for how cold the continuously falling rain was making him.

He knew that he needed to catch up to the others, but the rain had already washed away the tracks of the others and he couldn't say if they hadn't started to veer off in a different direction from them. It was possible, but he couldn't be sure until the rain ended and he could see normally again. As it didn't matter how good his vision was when obstacles, like sheets of falling rain, were in the way.

Not that he really objected to the circumstances that had separated them. Not that he planned on ever telling anyone that. Even Elmo seemed content in not knowing what exactly was going on in Jonas' head. Even as Elmo moved behind him in the bog.

Jonas could only tell that the sun was going down because of the fact that his vision was getting better with the failing light. He wasn't sure if that would affect their progress any, since he was able to see the dangers just as well as when the sun was up, but he suspected that they'd need to stop since Elmo probably would need that more than Jonas himself.

However, Jonas had something in mind to try hat he couldn't say how well it would work, but thought that it was at least worth a try. Which was to try and move through the shadows.

Jonas figured that he'd be able to carry Elmo and they'd be able to move without being encumbered by the suction of the mud in the bog. Which in turn would allow them to make better time. Plus, they'd be able to avoid any hazard that they'd have otherwise come across through the usual method.

However, Jonas wanted to wait until the sun had full gone down before he began his attempt. He was also thankful that it was just a heavy rainstorm rather than a thunderstorm. As he was pretty sure that the lighting would affect his ability in ways that he probably wouldn't care for. As the lightning did provide at least a brief flash of light which would at least hurt while he was in the shadows, if it didn't shove him completely out of them to begin with.

The downside with his ability to see in the dark was that in this instance he couldn't really rely on his vision to tell if the sun had gone down. As for him, it merely seemed just as bright form one moment as another. Or at least once the sun started nearing the horizon and the light through the clouds began to worsen.

"Uh, Jonas?" Elmo said, pulling him out of his thoughts. "If we're going to continue, is there something that you could do to keep me from wandering away from you?"