Hisa Momoi
Location: Old Train Yard
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Ash did not say immediately anything in response - instead he simply stared at Hisa with those intense eyes of his. Eventually, a somewhat forlorn smile appeared to his face, and he simply nodded. It was hard to say if he had seen through the lie and sensed Hisa's actual feelings of the matter or not... but if he had, his face did not betray it. Instead, he shifted his position on the bench a little bit, leaning slightly back and directing his gaze towards the ceiling.
"Hmm, well then lass... let's start from the beginning, shall we?" He replied, stroking his beard. "About how I recognize you. It's a weird feeling, ain't it? Not knowing someone but them knowing you. But, again, I can hardly blame you, young'un! You were more or less conked out during the whole time."
He took a drag off his cigarette and let the cloud of smoke billow towards the ceiling.
"--- 1988. You were unconscious for six days in total, after Jack found you. Physically, mentally and spiritually, you were like a candle that had burnt to the hilt," the old man continued. "While he and Angelica treated you for the latter two, it remained for me and my apprentice to treat the former. Well, I was a qualified doctor back then, and I knew a little something something when it came to medicine. So, since we were around, we helped how we could - and later Jack told us that you had made more or less a full recovery."
A slightly self-sardonic smirk appeared on the old man's face.
"Unfortunately, I was dealing with a teensy weensy problem of my own at the time so I couldn't stay behind, though my daughter - that is, my apprentice, did. She sent me occasional reports of your recovery too, though eventually we lost contact," Ash concluded. "And well, then things happened and yours truly became what he is today - on the run from the IRS and hiding in the woods the best he can. Eventually I heard that the Pinefall High had started up operations again, and well... here you are."
His eyes once again focused on the girl.
"So. That's all there is to it. I'm just the old fool who happened to be visiting the manor at the time, and who did what he could while you were stuck unconscious," he said. "Not much more to it, I'm afraid. Though I did know Jack for quite a long while before our paths crossed."
He gestured with his hand for Hisa to take the reigns of the conversation and ask any questions that she might have.
Prushka?
Location: St. Diane Cemetery
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Ahti nodded quietly.
"Alright. Let's start there, see if that name pops out anywhere."
Having said that, the boy heaved couple of the shovels up to his shoulder and started towards the row of gravestones that ran parallel to the edge of the pine forest itself. The trees softly swayed in the chilly wind, and Prushka could see the boy's ears twitch in response, as if he was listening for any and all suspicious sounds. However, all that they heard was the crunching of leaves, their own footfalls and the aforementioned wind that showed no signs of stopping.
Meanwhile Alpa, still clad in her ridiculous costume, shook her head. As in, she took a hold of the owl-head and vigorously twisted it left and right.
"N-no, that's alright! I'm quite comfy here, inside this head! P-plus, even if we can't see anyone, there might be someone here...!" She said, looking around the area as if expecting to spot someone. "Hmm... looks c-clear for now, but you never know..."
Then, having calmed down her nerves somewhat, the girl started talking again, but this time about the other question Prushka had asked her.
"And, um, yes... it was empty. Very empty. Just me, Arya and the mountains... my house was built on the cliffside, near the old sky burial site," the girl explained. "Everyone else had been tak--- had moved away, so, w-well, naturally it ended up being empty. But I didn't mind. I had what I needed. I found my company in the flora and the fauna. And since I was so high up, if I wanted to see people, I could always just gaze down the mountain and spy on one of the smaller villages down below..." Alpa explained, sounding somewhat wistful. "And in spring, the clouds came down so close you could touch them, the trees bloomed, rivers unfroze and the hot springs welled up and steamed in big, cozy pillars across the vista..."
The owl-head flopped back to gaze up at the sky.
"Here the sky seems so far away, doesn't it...?"
The girls, having been so focused on their conversation, found it rudely interrupted as they managed to walk straight into Ahti who had stopped. The boy let out a grunt and turned around, gazing down on the two of them.
"Sorry to cut your talk short, Imp, but..."
He pointed his thumb towards the row of gravestones right next to them.
"... Isn't that it?"
And as Prushka looked into the direction he was pointing at, she saw it. A gravestone that had seen better days, but where somewhat old flowers could still be seen decorating the ground before it. A gravestone that was simple, both in the make and in the text.
A gravestone that read:
- Nevada -
May Time Never Keep Us Apart
And nothing else.