Chapter 12 Scene Preview

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The Guide doesn't join us. Instead she breathes out, and a green-tinted steam flows from her mouth, resolving in the shape of

*if strongestStatName = "expressive"

*set ch12_mc_animal "rabbit"

 a rabbit. It stares at me with big, expressive eyes that tell me [i]follow[/i] as clearly as if it'd spoken, then hops just to the side of the tunnel. It's careful not to enter the dead landscape, skirting lengthwise down its edge instead. It waits expectantly.

*elseif strongestStatName = "tranquil"

*set ch12_mc_animal "owl"

 an owl. Its head spins to face me, and something in its gaze feels like calm amidst this storm. Its tranquil eyes blink once before it takes flight, alighting in the branches of a tree just to the side of the tunnel. It waits expectantly.

*elseif strongestStatName = "intuitive"

*set ch12_mc_animal "fish"

 a fish with long, graceful fins and shimmering scales. It swims out through the air, carefully avoiding the edge of the tunnel to glide along its edge. It hovers there, turning until one of its swirling eyes can see me. I get the sense intuitively that it's waiting for me to follow.

*elseif strongestStatName = "methodical"

*set ch12_mc_animal "crow"

 a crow. It hops closer, then begins methodically pecking at the heels of my boots, only stopping when I've moved a few paces forward. It lets out a [i]caw[/i] then and takes flight, alighting in the branches of a tree just to the side of the tunnel.

*elseif strongestStatName = "genuine"

*set ch12_mc_animal "songbird"

 a songbird. It alights on my shoulder, singing a sweet tune that feels like home, too genuine to be anything but comfort amidst this chaos. Then it takes off, landing in the branches of a tree just to the side of the tunnel.

*elseif strongestStatName = "crafty"

*set ch12_mc_animal "jackal"

 a jackal. Its crafty eyes take me in, evaluating me like it's deciding whether I'm friend or foe. Then it turns deliberately, loping to the edge of the tunnel. It turns to glance back at us, waiting expectantly.

*elseif strongestStatName = "carefree"

*set ch12_mc_animal "fox"

 a fox. It takes me in with a look that feels mischievous, but not threatening. After a second it trots to the edge of the tunnel and looks back expectantly, like it wants to go forward, but we're too interesting to leave behind.

*else