Next Day, Right After the Banana Chip Break
Sun dipped low like it knew somethin' was comin'. Trees whispered louder than usual. You know that feel before a storm, when even the bugs shut up? That.
Squad was on deck. Tools prepped. Sky Scout in hand—busted but breathin'. Echo hovered nearby, glow soft like a firefly on chill mode.
Tam squinted at the drone's interface. "Gimme two hours and a miracle."
"You get forty minutes and a snack," Yen replied, tossing him a roasted grub wrapped in leaf. Gourmet in survival terms.
Meanwhile, Arka and Mira ran comms from the lookout tree. High up. Real high. Wind up there wasn't just wind—it was memory. Old, silent, deep.
"Scout needs to move quiet," Arka said, watching the jungle sway below.
Mira nodded. "We wrap it in silkleaf. Camouflaged. Light. Won't spook the birds."
"Or the other things," Echo added, voice barely a whisper. "Unmapped lifeforms have altered patrol patterns. Proceed with calm intensity."
"Bro did not just say 'calm intensity,'" Tam muttered, chewing.
🛠️ Crafting Moment – Sky Scout v1.1
The team got to work. Jungle gear meetin' busted tech. Duct leaf. Thermal wire. AI core that spoke in riddles. Sweat drippin', bugs vibin' in the background like nature's lo-fi playlist.
Kiki chirped from a high branch, eyes locked on the treeline.
"He's watching," Mira said. "Smart little tank."
They clicked the final piece in place. Drone whirred, blinked, hovered. Stable. Almost smug.
Tam grinned. "Let's take this baby for a vibe run."
🎮 Scout POV – Aerial Drift Mode Activated
The drone zipped up like it missed the sky. Cut through mist like butter. Below, trees looked like green oceans frozen mid-wave.
It scanned. Heat signatures. Motion. Faint trails.
Then—it paused.
Ping.
A faint glow near the valley. Bright. Not fire. Not animal. Looked like... tech. Blooming.
Squad saw the footage on Arka's tablet.
"What is that?" Yen whispered.
"Something new," Arka said.
🌘 That Night – Fog Incoming
Camp was unusually still. Scout was docked, recharging. Data uploading in fragments.
Kiki sat curled near Arka, eyes open, tail twitchin' like it heard whispers no one else could.
Lina traced the map with her finger. "Tomorrow we check the ridge."
"Yup," Arka said. "And if that bloom's real—we find out who planted it."
Echo blinked.
"Verdant Core proximity confirmed."
Everyone froze.
"What'd you just say?" Tam asked.
"Verdant Core," Echo repeated. "First confirmed signal since landing. Time to remember."
🌀 TRIBE STATUS: UNLOCKED VISION PATH
Sky Scout Active 🎥
Fog Valley Marked 🗺️
Echo's Memory Reactivating
Jungle Watching (???)
Team Morale: Steady 🔥
Kiki's Vibe: Alert & Ready
Mission Update: Explore the Glow Zone