Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.41 Smelly and Scary

Luca checked the view in the south and found the butterfly sitting on a window box garden with Help beside it. This was their exit direction so they couldn’t do anything over here that would impede their people escaping. Which meant that whatever they did in this area couldn’t attract too many people. It would be best if it was something that just discouraged people from being in the area for the night. it was the residential area. It had been a toss up between exiting through the residential area and exiting through the docks. The issue Luca had had with the docks was that from Ghosts description it was a largely open their was no where close that they could hide their own ship. It might have been possible to just let it blend in with the other ships so long as they weren’t spotted on the approach.

That had seemed too risky so in the end Luca had them fly around and stash the ship in the rocky outcropping behind the residential area. With that in mind Luca let his butterfly take flight to go check the path.

“Ah? I’m coming to. Lucky said it needed to be a subtle deterrent, but I really can’t find anything.” Luca fluttered on the spot while Help caught up before he headed off again. Luca kept low to the ground. For the people being rescued the lower and more cover available when they moved the less chance there would be for the Harpies to locate them. There was a winding path among the broken rocks that was just large enough for an adult man to fit through.

There was complete cover for the majority of the trip if a bit claustrophobic. Still claustrophobia was a fear that would get you kicked out of competitions, so Luca expected people to be able to deal with that. At least their people anyway. If they rescued others that was on them at this point Luca wasn’t going to spoil a good plan for strangers at this point, he just didn’t have that in him. Luca fluttered through the last crevice and found the ship settled carefully in a small overhand surrounded by brilliant orange flowers.

“Oh ewe. That smell.” Luca shifted the butterfly’s view to look at Help to find them pressed against the stones with a hand against their nose. Luca looked at the flowers and then back at Help. Now that was a good idea. Luca fluttered down and picked up some of the seeds from the flowers scattered on the ground. As he then circled around back towards the residential area Help muttered to themselves before they followed. When Luca planted the seeds in several of the window boxes and gardens Help seemed to realise something.

“You don’t want me to sprout those here, do you? The smell…” Luca fluttered the butterfly up and down in agreement while Help made a disgusted face.

“Fine, but I’m not staying that close once they have sprouted.” Luca fluttered in a circle.

“This is going to be so gross.” Help muttered as they raised their hands and a faint green mist washed out and settled on the seeds. As soon as the seeds started to sprout Help took off. They headed deeper into the Aviary well away from the main residential area. Thankfully though they stopped and found a good position to observe from at the entrance to the area. At the very least they would be able to monitor they people coming and going from the area. Luca settled the butterfly beside them for Rӓv to help keep watch.

[Lucky: Rӓv can you keep watch here and show me the South.]

[Rӓv: No problem though Aram has the south well in hand.] For some reason that was actually a more concerning statement than if Rӓv had said that Aran was having problems.

Luca checked his surrounds again as he waited for the change in visuals the water had now created a solid pool across the grounds and was lapping at the doors to the buildings. If the Harpies hadn’t strangely chosen ground level doors Luca suspected, it would have taken them even longer to notice the issue. As it was some people who seemed like shop owners exited the buildings.

They shouted at each other before they moved off in a group towards the colosseum. Luca hoped that meant they were headed for the equivalent of their governing group since they would be the ones directing the gladiator matches and so where the ones Luca wanted nice and distracted. In a safety precaution Luca shifted around the far side of the tree that faced a solid wall so that there would be no reason for anyone to approach his position and accidentally spot him.

[Rӓv: Patching you through.] Luca got an uncomfortable twitch in his right eye as he looked over the docks. The butterfly was perched on the mast of one of the larger ships and had a clear view of the entire area. Unfortunately the place looked like an abandoned house, that had previously been a haunted house where the owner raised exotic spiders. Suffice to say there was cobweb everywhere.

[Lucky: what Aran run out of the web chemical?]

[Rӓv: Nope I supplied it with plenty, plus stored the raw materials for it to make its own in the chest. I also have more here.] Luca suspected that Rӓv had developed a weird taste from recent experiences. Though at least Luca wouldn’t need to put up with her continued teasing about him, the rope and the faceless masks.

Harpies ran and flew all over the place in a chaotic tumble orders were screeched from one group to another as they chased around trying to deal with the webbing. More harpies arrived like military units from the inner city even as Luca watched.

It was actually a bit comical watching the harpies fight the webbing. Luca was particularly entertained when a Harpy would accidentally touch the web and be promptly caught. This in turn caused the other Harpies nearby to be increasingly cautious even as they tried to free their friend. Luca could confidently say that the entire area would be an excellent distraction for quite a while. Luca had the butterfly fly around for a bit trying to find Aran. However he had no success.

Luca contemplated for a bit but decided if he couldn’t find Aran despite knowing what he was looking for than the harpies would have no chance. With one last circle Luca found a building corner that was shaded by a large tree that offered a good vantage point to settle the butterfly. He no sooner had the butterfly settled when a long pair of fangs appeared in the few Luca flinched and then froze. While Aran settled beside the butterfly Luca tried to determine if his movement had been detected by any of the people trying to deal with the water around him.

[Lucky: Rӓv cut the connection to the butterfly please.] Luca looked around him alertly and listened, but all the talk and movement seemed focused on the water. From the discussion it seemed they still hadn’t realised that the dam was open. Luca shifted slightly to look around the tree and found a group of well-dressed official looking Harpies directing activities. Good at least they had gotten some of them out.

[Ghost: Lucky they are setting up for the arena they are saying it is something the keep the moral up.] Luca bit back a curse before he checked around to find a way through the people working to get to the colosseum. It seemed he needed a distraction a bit closer to home.