The captain wasted little time -- after returning to town, regaining her bearings, and learning that Jim was nowhere to be seen, she was quick to deduce that he had been replaced by some unnatural means (later to be defined as a monster's invasion). What had moved her after losing consciousness was still a mystery to her, but she now knew well that this land was home to many an unnatural thing.
Only one day after returning to Kokkinport, Sara Purcrux set out, weapon in hand and armourclad. Both had been cleaned since her little incident, and she was ready to travel, refusing the insistences of the townsfolk to stay, or at the very least to not travel alone. The explorers knew well how dangerous the land could be, and wished not their captain to stumble upon an ill fate. In the end, the captain would not leave alone, instead joined only by her first and second lieutenants, both of which ignored her demands to stay behind.
First Lieutenant Naomi Willow was a woman almost exactly like the captain herself. Of noble descent, skilled in just about every field, proud, and highly respected. She preferred hand-to-hand combat over bladed duels, but that by no means meant she could not handle a blade. Her quick temper was all that held her back from a captaincy of her own -- that, and a lack of the patience required for the difficulties of management. However, First Lieutenant Willow desperately aspired to attain the rank which Sara Purcrux held, and in secret would be just as happy possessing it as Purcrux' replacement as she would be to possess it as Purcrux' equal.
Second Lieutenant Autumn Kumar was an old friend of Captain Purcrux', from the same high school as the lead cartographer. Her combat skills were adequate, and greater than the average footsoldier, but her calm, rational mind was what gave her the position that she held at the time of this story. Her kindhearted nature meant that she didn't have the bite nor assertiveness required for a captaincy, even if her battling ability was greater, but she was contented with the rank she held. All that Autumn wanted was to stay near to wherever Sara found herself, and keep her from horrible mistakes and danger both. Second Lieutenant Kumar was a licensed (and skilled) surgeon in addition to her rank.
This band assembled and heading out into the yet-uncharted forests, following in the direction of Captain Purcrux' encounter, would travel many days before at last they came across something of importance -- a cave system, with Jim's shoes at the mouth.
"You're sure these are his, captain?" Autumn asks, turning over one of the shoes in her hand. "It looks fairly standard issue. This could certainly be the footwear of one of our explorers-"
"They're his, Autumn." Captain Purcrux confirmed through gritted teeth. Whatever had taken Jim had better not hurt him, or she'd-
"What are we waiting for, then?" Asked First Lieutenant Willow, stepping towards and through the cave's entrance. "Christmas?"
At that, the three women all followed Naomi's lead deeper into the cave, the way lit by a torch which Autumn brandished from the back of the group. Every drip of water from the cave roof startled her, and the entire passage was spent by Autumn running the flame near to the walls to analyse what could be either a strange natural formation, or long burrows from large animal claws...
Unbeknownst to both the Sara and Autumn, the first lieutenant's intentions were not entirely pure. Her usual brashness was exaggerated by the sudden chance to bump the good captain off. She had seen the state she was in upon her return to Kokkinport -- either she was unfit for service, or the threats in this land were dire. In either case, the issue would be solved quite simply on this expedition, and the result would be Naomi's ascension in rank. Quite likely, should something happen to the famed and indomitable figure that Captain Purcrux was, the expedition would be called off entirely. Captain Willow would live the cushy life for the first several months of her promotion.
The cave came to a split in pathways. Seeing this from the front, Naomi grinned widely and took a torch of her own from her pack. "Autumn," First Lieutenant Willow spoke, refusing her peer her rank, as she put her unlit torch to Autumn's so that it may be ignited. "Take the left passage. I've the other torch -- I'll escort the captain through the right passage. We'll meet back here in ten minutes."
Autumn was used to Naomi making the orders even when Captain Purcrux was so nearby, but did not complain as normal on this occasion. Her friend had been flushed and preoccupied for their entire journey, and now was no different. Whatever had happened to Sara in her last outing, there seemed a chance that it may have ruined her entirely -- perhaps permanently. As much as Autumn would prefer to travel with Sara, to ensure her continued safety personally, she knew that the captain was in capable hands with Naomi. And besides that, arguing with the first lieutenant over matters of anything less than the utmost importance was a habit that Autumn had rid herself of early on into their business relationship.
With a curt nod, Autumn simply spoke "As you will it." and stepped past the pair to walk down the left passage. Her torchlight followed the winding tunnel of nature for a good distance, and once it had grown small, First Lieutenant Willow held forth her own lit torch and signalled for her captain to lead the way down the right.
