About the Crystal part 3

While it was good to meet up with Ember already, Jonas had to acknowledge that with how surprised Elin seemed to be, that she wasn't quite ready to speak with her. Even despite the new backbone she'd discovered.

However, Jonas did wonder how far that backbone would extend. After all, it's not like she can just cast off who she was before all this happened so easily. With or without the aid of anything magical.

While Elin was surprised, it didn't take her long to recover, at least. "We were going to talk with the others about the subject we were talking about a moment ago."

Jonas waited for Elin to elaborate, but after a minute, it became clear that was as far as she planned on explaining her statement.

"So, you were going to leave me out of the loop, huh?" Ember asked, though Jonas couldn't tell if she was actually hurt by that, if she was merely going on with what little Elin had said, or if she was getting ready for a verbal assault. "And all because of what you won't tell me, huh?"

Elin blinked. "Why wouldn't I tell you?" she asked, nearly making Jonas laugh in amusement at the whole situation. A situation she was exacerbating without even realizing it. All over a few words that she could explain and let the whole problem dissipate.

"Well, because you didn't bother telling me when you had the chance just now to fill me in on what you and Jonas had been talking about. I can't rea minds, no matter how magical I am."

Elin didn't say anything and Jonas took that to mean the words were starting to sink in. Which meant that she'd likely be able to take care of the explanations once she'd fully had those words sink in. Although, he knew that would happen eventually, when it occurred was anyone's guess.

"So, how long did you have to wait for her to come out?" Ember asked.

Jonas merely shrugged. "I left the pendant where it was on the branch and then waited. Eventually the sun started shining through the pendant and Elin came out. There wasn't much else about it."

The falcon nodded, as if it understood completely. While Jonas still was skeptical about how much the bird knew, he felt confident that Ember did understand what he had been saying.

"Okay, I got it," Elin blurted suddenly, nearly making Jonas jump in surprise. "Yeah, I did forget you didn't hear all that we'd said."

While they didn't know that Ember was nearby when they were talking, Jonas had a feeling she'd heard more than they realized. Especially if she waited. However, he also couldn't rule out the possibility that she wasn't listening to them talk. That she had been more focused on other things as she had approached.

"So, what were you talking about?" Ember asked, sounding more impatient than Jonas could remember the bird sounding before.

Elin then explained about what she knew was in the crystal, how to get them out, and how some felt stronger than others. Not to mention how some seemed more like Ember while others didn't at all. Then Elin finished up with how she wanted to let all the creatures out, even the one that she was the most nervous about: the orc.

"Wait, there were only three others like me?" Ember said, sounding more alarmed than Jonas had expected. He had a feeling there was a story there and they'd need to hear it out before long.

Although, it was possible that he'd let it go by the wayside as they continued on. While it'd be nice to know, it wasn't really that important to know. Especially with how they couldn't say that they'd ever get time to listen to it.

"Yeah, there were only three," Elin acknowledged. "Should I bring those out first?"

"Before we decide on that, how did you manage to get in there?" Ember asked, sounding like the bird was trying to get enough information that would allow Elin to be knocked out of the equation, though Jonas wondered if it was in the event Elin got stuck that they'd be able to get her out as well.

Elin nodded and explained how she first turned the crystal until it was the correct color she wanted, then she hung it up on the branch so it'd get hit my the sunlight which allowed her to enter it through the shadow it cast. Then inside the crystal, there was a space that allowed her to return to the world outside the crystal. Though, there was enough food and water inside that she was able to eat until she could leave if she got stuck.

"What if the crystal got moved out of the sunlight?" Ember asked, making Jonas wonder if she was trying to poke holes in what Elin had been able to accomplish.

Elin looked at Ember at first like she didn't understand the question. Then she sighed, looked away and slowly shook her head. "As far as I can tell, I'd be stuck inside the crystal until it could be put back up as well as turned to the color I'd be currently in." Elin stopped, but then her eyes flashed with alarm as she clearly thought of something else to add, "Uh, that is if it doesn't stay the same regardless."

Jonas felt like there was more to hear about that subject, but he didn't really feel like pressing the matter. Not when Elin looked like she was nearing her limit on getting asked questions about the crystal.

She looked like she was ready to either start bringing creatures or to take a nap. Either one seemed like it'd be best for her. Though, Jonas suspected that Elin would prefer to pull out some of the creatures out before she took a rest. After all, she tended to be like that, regardless of how much she needed to rest herself.

Jonas wasn't sure if bringing out any of the creatures right then and there would be a good thing. Even if they were like Ember, or even part of her family, it wasn't like they had a place where they felt like they could either defend or be safe in general. Although, he wasn't sure if they'd find either of those two in any reasonable amount of time anyway.

As such, he planned on staying quiet if it came down to a vote. He felt that he didn't really have anything worthwhile to say about it. Or at least nothing that would be coming from someone who had been affected by all of that, if not through Douglas personally.

Jonas listened to both of them talk about all the details about the crystal that Elin had learned about it so far. Not that he considered that it had really helped that much. Not where it really mattered. Such as how to clear it out effectively and efficiently. As he had the feeling that even if they started getting the creatures out right then, that they'd likely take a few weeks, a most, in order to get them all out.

It wasn't like there was anything that seemed overly complicated about it, but at the same time, it hardly seemed that simple to Jonas as well. Especially since it had taken Elin an entire day to get all of herself from the crystal and leave.

Maybe she'd have been able to leave earlier if she really tried, but Jonas had a feeling that that was likely to be the 'best case' scenario and that the other creatures probably would need more time to convince to leave. Even the ones that were likely 'friendly' towards Elin, even without having met her.

Others, like the giant bird, Jonas had a feeling that it was probably going to take much longer to get out. Partly because he suspected the area inside the crystal was likely larger for that bird itself. That the crystal probably would have created a larger habitat for that bird to live in. Which in turn would mean that it'd take that much longer to reach the bird, assuming it even noticed them in the first place.

If they decided to let even the other birds that were supposed to be more like Ember, then he wondered if he should take them back to the others first. That way they'd have more there to protect the creatures that needed it, though he couldn't be sure if that really was the best course of action.

"Jonas?" Elin asked, startling him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?" he asked, wondering if he missed something important.

"We were thinking of releasing a couple creatures. Two of which we think should be able to fend for themselves and won't be a problem, but since I can't say how long it'd take, I was wondering if you'd help make sure that the crystal remains either undisturbed or only moves as we need it."

Jonas nodded. He could accept that, though if the creatures could fend for themselves, he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to release them in the first place. Or even send Elin in there to 'collect' them.

However, he knew it wasn't his choice to make. Though, he also couldn't help but wonder if any of this applied to the set challenge they'd been given. Especially since it wasn't clear what the challenge really was, since he still hadn't been able to figure out the clue that they'd provided as to what creature they were supposed to capture.