h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well lets go then! Before the source of that smoke dissapears!
*Helps Vip into her saddle and mounts up himself*

Pandora has been unwell lately, so I'll just make her tag along for now...


*Pandora, who hasn't even waited for assistance, has in one flowing motion jumped up on the third horse*

*the party had better start moving before they lose sight of that smoke*

...*makes a clicking sound...tickels her horse with her toes and
races past the others...hair and skirts flowing behind her...as she laughes...*This beauty must be feeling it's oats! Wheee!
Bet the horse is feeling spunky too!
...*the smoke becomes nearer...her traveling partners are nearly catching up...as a matter of fact...Myst is running along side her horse!...*Oh, now you're jusss showing off! LOL!!!

*her hands clasping the horse's mane, the Princess leans along it's neck, whispering encouragement*

*the horse draws level with Pandora, keeping out of the way of Myst*

I do wonder what that smoke is? It looks like it's only over the brow of the hill...

*Myst sniffs the air, and holds up a hand. The company slows to a stop, and he bends down and examines the ground.*

The air smells like... burning...

*Myst grimaces.*

I don't know how it could have got here...

*Vip's hair, usually long, flowing and shining, has taken on a dull lustre*

There's something wrong in the Garden. I can feel it too!

With haste!

*whispers to her horse, which sets off again in the direction of the smoke*

More trouble? Uh, we'll be right behind you. I don't want my horse to tire or sumthin'.

*Passes a sickly green root to Pandora*
Feed it this, it won't tire today - but we'll need to rest him well tommorow.
*Feeds one to his own horse and gallops onwards. Miko sits on the horses head the wind blowing its fur back into its face*

...*takes a bite out of the root...*...*gives the rest to her horse...wonders what that lil' 'growth' is on Sir Override's horse's head is...catches up...giggles as Milko SMILES at her...wonders
what the root was...doesn't care...*

*as our brave adventurers draw closer to the source of the smoke, they discover that the air becomes less clear, less fragrant and less healthy*

*the smoke grows thicker the closer they get, wrapping everything within sight into a sickly grey haze*

*the smoke seems to eliminate the memories and images of sunshine and blue skies and chirping birds and basket weavers that might still be lingering in the minds of the courageous ones*

You ATE it? Well, you'll probably see a few interesting things in the next few hours. *looks around* some of them might even exist.

*Withdraws a branch from his pouch and strikes it hard, it flares up and emitts an eerie green glow cutting through the smog allowing our heros to see at least a few feet ahead of them.*

Far out!

*A thought strikes him and the old man suddenly looks worried, glancing towards Pandoras pack. Muttering something under his breath he spurs his horse to greater speed. Miko bounds off his horse and onto Vips as he passes*

*The Princess' hair, now grey, whips at her face. She looks older now, far older, with wrinkles around her eyes and lips*

*as Miko settles under her chin she whispers to her horse, urging it still faster and they quickly reach the brow of the hill*

Oh. O-oh.

*she stops abruptly and sits bolt upright*

By Tana... my Garden! What's happened!

...*Pandora is now walking beside her horse singing:' Smoke On The Water'...*...there's fire in the skyy-y-yy...

*On the ground there is a strange trace - a wide path where something has passed, burning everything in its way*

*the burnt grass and the black skeleton-like remains of a tree present a sorry sight*

*slowly, she follows in it's wake*

What is this? It's to deliberate to be an accident. This is someone or something's doing. We must find it.

*Dismounts and places two fingers on the tree*
Still warm, whatever did this can't have gone too far. It went that way, see how the damage is worse on the east side of this rock? Whatever burned it must have been moving west.

We've got two options. Go west to whatever caused these fires, or go east to find out where it all started. And why.

Coulda' been a or sumthin'.
So, Sir Override? How long will I be feeling this way?
Her Royaly likeness is looking a bit tattered or sumthin'.
Oooo charbroiled flutterbies.

You'll see things for another few hours, also you'll be faster, stronger and more tireless than you ever were before. The downside is that you will fall asleep for almost a full day when the effects wear off and they can be addictive. Really these herbs were designed for horses, just like when Aunt Abigale ate a bowl of blackroot. It took months to get her to stop eating anything that looked similar. The charcoal was particularly bad, you really can't be....

Where was I? Oh yes, the burning! Why would a dragon breath a constant stream of fire as it flew? Why not scorch the general area or breath in balls of fire rather than a stream? I think the best course....

*Notices the princess fall from her hourse*
Dear lady, are you okay?
*Runs to her side, makes a few quick checks*
Whatever is damaging the land is hurting her, I don't think she'll regain conciousness until sometime after its dealt with
Or Laura gets back from italy
That does it, we need to head after whatever caused this and put a stop to it before its too late.