Enigmatic Book of Mystery-Chapter 3(OPEN)

Both digimon that were aligned with Makiko heard Kshin's question, and both for the first time since meeting, had a silent agreement. Not that anyone could get them to ever admit it. They would both nod towards Kshin, so that he knew that they both had answered, even if they had acted like neither knew the other's input. Makiko was quite the girl when it came to things, seemingly always stepping forward, and being awkwardly in the wrong place at the right place, or the right place at the wrong time. It was almost like a talent if they had to guess, but it was not really a good thing. She also seemed to be a little in the way of thick headed, and always willing to take the first step forward, even if it is rather reckless. The Lilymon and prairie adventure alone proved that, but even now she was proving to be moving faster than anyone else could really count.

The girl in question would make sure that she had everything, before moving up onto the deck. She would take note of the look of the Bakemon, and had a concerned look. They really did seem to be in a rough state, and she hoped that they would all get a chance to recover. Still, she would acknowledge right now that the ability to rest and recover would not likely be for the moment. They would need to verify how CaptainHookmon was doing first, or they would not be able to recover at all. She would be silent for once, and instead sit back somewhere to stay out of the way.

Grimm would follow his General, but would do so via flying, instead of walking/slithering. It was only because it would not get in the way of other ground based traffic. "This ship looks like it is lacking some life." The digimon equivalent of the Grimreaper would mutter, noticing how many undead digimon seemed to be on the ship, and he had to wonder if this was normal or if something had forced them all to evolve into these forms.

Gazimon would walk behind Makiko, almost deep in thought. He felt bitter that he and the giant metal lizard actually agreed on something. He also started to consider why he was following Makiko? Why was he going along with everyone? What was the purpose? He felt a longing, and he did not know what it meant. His claws felt weird, and so did his core. Could the food have been poisoned? No, he would have noticed in the taste. Something in his code felt off, maybe he had spent too much time under Lilymon's thumb, and doing banditry. He felt bitter, and it was not something he wanted to stay with. Maybe he could get better, maybe this human's recklessness... never mind, he did not want to become like that.

The travel was relatively short. It was still on the boat, and there were still things that happened, but the ghost ship, or was it still a living pirate ship? Either way, it was active for all the ship based obligations. People manned the sails, and the crows nest kept active, the steering wheel and navigation comity was kept on their active side. That left Makiko and her partners in a more inert position though. None of them were exactly functional for boat maneuvers. That did not mean that Makiko did not try to cheer people up, or ask questions, just largely, those were not very effective, as she could only bring so much luck to them. It was more apt that the Gammamon would likely be the one to make things more lively, and that was fine. Still, this lead to Makiko taking notes, and studying the ship in detail, and the crew's mannerisms, even getting so far as to start seeing trends and disparities between the various ghosts.

Grimm and Gazimon on the other hand would on case during the trip get conscripted to help with various things, to mixed results. The more nimble or dexterous needs found Grimm to be inept, but Gazimon to be quite proficient. On things of Strength or that required more direct prowess, Grimm would succeed, while Gazimon would find himself not as apt. This did not help their bickering, but it did at least help the crew, and help ascertain how they were functionally different for those who did not know.

Once the village came into view, and the jungle beyond that, was when questions would arise. Why would the Zombies not be able to go through the Jungle? Was it as surmised by Kshin that magic or occult abilities kept them off? Or was there something even the Zombies instinctively feared in there? Makiko would not know, but Gazimon knew that due to travelers there were plenty of Predatory plants in the Jungle, and not all of them were as pretty as Lilymon. Grimm knew that there were plenty of things non undead that could be far more scary to deal with as well, and as such, both of Makiko's buddies would know that there were things that could likely be there. Though for know, it was a big question mark.

"Soulmon, Kshin, Mona, do we wish to try to use the ship as the forward base, or the village itself?" The violet haired girl in the coat would ask. It was not that there was much of a distance between the two, it just meant more or less where they would have to make a return point for if they needed to back off for what ever reason. The village provided a defensible position, but also provided a shorter distance. The ship was likely more secure, as there were plenty of numbers of Bakemon, and the water itself could be used as a protective barrier, but it is a longer distance run from the ship to the jungle. Makiko had asked the question while trying to figure out the distance difference. Plus a large ship like this was not likely to come aground, or be locked to the shore eternally, or until something big and strong was able to move it physically.

Grimm was thoughtful for a second. "I vote for the ship, if we want full security, then a big floating fortress would be the best way, if only we could reinforce it and add cannons." The metallic dragon would offer. He was definitely one for the superiority of machines and metal.

Gazimon was not having any of it though. "If we have to go, the village is at least on ground, and we could make plenty of fortification and dig around if needed, you big idiot lizard." He would state, his normal rudeness slipping in.

The fallacy that Makiko had made had opened up things for her and Gazimon to become a little closer, it seemed, but the wisdom in using the ship, especially with the proper information put forth. The ship would have to be their base, unless they clear out the zombies somehow... though that did give her an idea, as she pointed to the air. "Grimm, I want you to fly above the jungle, and take note of the village, and anything else you can see as landmarks, also see if you can gather information on the zombies, bring someone with if you think two eyes are better than one." She would offer to him, who after preparation would fly up into the air, and seek the sky, looking for various bits of information.

She would then turn towards Gazimon, who was with the rest of the group, even if a little sluggish. "I do not know if you can do it as well as the others in that prior team, but could you monitor tremor sense?" She would ask, getting a mixed response of indignant and prideful glare from the Gazimon, before he started walking on all fours.

Grimm would be looking for anything of information worth taking in, paths through the jungle, bodies of some sort that stick outside of the foliage, or even villages and statues. He would also be flying carefully to allow anyone on his back to have a better view, and taking note of any Zombie activity. It made more sense than to just sit there, and not do something, plus his metallic armor would likely protect him against initial attacks.

Gazimon on the other hand, had started working on paying attention to any movement that was not their group, it was not easy, but it was something he could do, and it also distracted him from the magical questions. When they got to the pendant, he would be weary to keep his distant from it. The response from the team earlier still had him thinking. If he was bigger, he might have the ability to dig a tunnel that would protect them, but he was rather small, and they did not know how many Zombies exist, nor what they were. This was assuredly more Magical dangers. He started feeling something in his paws though, something that felt odd...

Makiko stood close to the pendant, unafraid. She would then take a look in every direction from it, pen out as a pointer, looking for potential directions it could have come from, and then before it got picked up, looking for any signs of it having slid, or once it was picked up, any indentation in the jungle floor. She would report her findings, if any sign of any of the above was fruitful, or state clearly that it seemed more likely that it was dropped instead if there were no signs or feasible ways it could have landed. None the less it was a pretty pendant. "Any chance the captain left it here, as a way to give guidance towards those looking for him?" she would offer after any resolution. She was curious as to that, as well as if there would be any information provided by Grimm from above and anyone who went with him.

Grimm noticed that though from his vantage point, he had barely any information to relay for a time. Seeing the village he would take note of the numbers, but also what the village was made of, and anything that would stand out, be them symbols, be them data degradation, or anything else that seemed out of place. He would do a circle around the sky above the village, to get various angles, looking for either an alternate route, or maybe more information before returning to the group. It would take him a bit.

The Gazimon on the other hand, had been taking note of the small animals scurrying, and how they did so. It may not seem like something most would note, but when you spend your time preparing to ambush people on the road, or trying to steal from others, you learn to take note of how things move either to conceal yourself, or to blend in so that you can strike with out worry, it was honestly a good feeling to use it nicely like this. When the odd thing sticking out of the ground was found, he dug it up, looking it over and noticing it was a golden handheld compass, and the way the dirt fell from it, he realized it was important. "Soulmon, Human, look at this!" He would state, rushing to where everyone else were at that moment, and showing them the compass. "This was barely in the dirt, and has not been there long, is this familiar to you, spook?" He would ask.

Once the compass was brought up in conversation by the soulmon, it made things even more interesting to figure out. The fact that these were also connected to Kshin through the Piximon grandfather. This meant that there was more connection, and that lit up Makiko's eyes. "I wonder, if this is in a way, why the book showed you what it did, Kshin?" she would suggest, as she would look over her notes. "A trope in many tales, include magical artifacts calling out to each other when the owner of one, is in trouble or need." She would add, holding back her excitement. It was just a theory.

Still, the pendant did not get brought up at this point, so all Makiko knew was that it was a Magical. Still, three magical items were in this area, and they also still lacked sight of anything to share where CaptainHookmon was. The more things connecting themselves, the more the mystery deepened, as they lacked the true question. If these were here, where was the captain? What caused the Zombies to begin with? Why is it that they had not seen any non zombies aside from animals? Were animals immune?

Grimmon taking note of these oddities and novelties, would return to the group, able to provide the information to the group as a whole if nothing happened on his way back. The fact that the skies seemed safe, could mean that various other means were also safe, he would also try to note digimon species that stand out among the zombies. Still, Wood and Stone buildings, ground based zombies, seemed easy enough to state to the group once he flew back.

Meanwhile, back at the group the dealings of Mona and Soulmon were going on. Gazimon was hit by a fast ball of an offer. "W-wait, why should I hold on to it?!?" He would ask with start. A magical artifact, in his paws seemed like someone just asked him to hold on to a chainsaw, by the saw. He was sweating nervously as he held it. Finally he would just acquiesce, "F-fine, I will, but only because it is best to keep it out of danger...I think." He had thought about how the human would be a bad idea to carry it, and most of the rest would likely be fighting so him holding on to it would be better.

"The more interesting the mystery, the more thrilled I get to be here." Makiko would say, with that odd sleepy eyed look she has, but the smile on her face told a story of someone who was enraptured. "A mysterious magical artifact of a book that guides you into things to help grow, it may be cultivating you, guiding you towards some form of legend in the making. It may also want you to find and solve things, possibly to help cultivate you further." The Violet headed human would state almost drooling at the side of her mouth over the potential, before composing herself. "Speaking of Grimm, I see he has arrived, Grimm, what did you find?"

"The Jungle is thick and hard to see the ground with in it, The Zombies have slow movement, ground based, and seemed to lack awareness above them, the buildings are largely untouched, made of stone and wood, rather large." He would start, before adding the oddity. "None of the non digimon lifeforms have been zombified." He would finish, his mechanical voice seem confused by that. "No sign of Captain Hookmon, and none of the Zombie digimon stood out by much to me." The serpentine body of the dragon curling up on itself.

The Gazimon looked at Grace for a moment with a wonder if this small digimon had forgotten their earlier conversation, and then finally relented to just express the grievance. "This thing is magical.. You know, the thing that is dangerous." he stated with a mix of annoyance and matter of fact. In reality, he was just mistrustful of such things, not aware of the subtle changes in his own code at this point. Even if he tried to drop it at this point, something in his unconscious would not let him. Would it be duty? Would it be some sort of greed? Or was it something else? Hard to say. "C-can never be too careful." he would add, trying to recover some of his bluster. None the less the twitch of his tail was enough to show he was not certain how he felt about holding it.

Makiko would shrug. Motives of magical objects were ever really clear until the end of a journey, and at this point there was not enough information to go off of. Likely though, it was aiming for a heroic route, at least that was her mind space on it. Makiko would acknowledge that the Zombies smelled, but would mostly stay quiet with them so close. She just did not want the smell to get closer to them until they had a plan of action.

Grimm on the other hand was ready for action, even in the weakened state of being equivalent to a child stage, he was still an impressive frame, and made for combat. Scouting was good, but the dragon form grim reaper was not content with the lack of action, he wanted to get this over and done with. Still, with a look from Makiko, he stayed his impulsive action, none of them were able to take on hordes of Zombies, and this would make things much more rough on them, if he drew them all here, even if it was not helping him stay calm.

Makiko would look to the rest of the group. Mona, Soulmon, you two know the Captain, if he was hiding or trying to survive here, where would he likely go?" she would ask, just getting straight to the question. The book might have hints, but the book was not her's to read or search. The compass? Hard to say what it could do here at the moment. They were no closer to getting this zombie mystery sorted, and it was starting to be known that there were more mysteries attached. Then a question came to mind...

"What would happen if a Zombie interacted with a Zombie?" This was spoken aloud to the group. "It does not effect non digimon digital life form, but what about a bio form?" she would follow up, not quite regretting the thought process. If there were things safely in the village, hidden in the buildings, if a human could get in there safely, then they could find out. It was all conjecture though, and there was no proof to support the hypothesis, but depending on the answer, she might seek to fulfill the experiment to make things easier, though if it is deemed too dangerous, another situation could arise from the questioning.