Save the Earth

Lyall was less than pleased about the group decision to head out to this mine and explore, but as there was no way to forbid them all from doing it, the only option was to make sure it happened as safely as possible, and under supervision. So here he was, showing up at the site, making sure everyone had a flashlight with spare batteries, a bottle of water, some sturdy climbing rope, and a walkie talkie in case they got separated, plus a first aid kit or two. And making sure nobody went too far from the group, with any luck.

"All right, we don't know how safe it is in there, so everyone stick together and don't go exploring off on your own, all right?" he said, standing just on the outside side of the rusty, broken fence so ineffectively blocking the mine entrance off. He'd already passed out all the supplies he had, and looked a bit dorkier than usual in jeans, jacket, a Firefly t-shirt instead of his usual teacher-like clothes. "If you see something that interests you, let us all know, and we'll all look. If you do get separated, don't keep moving. Call on the radio, and someone will come find you."

He eyed the mine entrance with mild misgivings, then sighed and gave in to the inevitable. "Everyone ready? Come on, then."


((note: this is not for finding the Sage, this is just for the High School Numbers Club to bumble around together :) see comment threads below for different scenarios!))

As promised, there are snacks on a couple of the lab tables in Lyall's classroom when school gets out that Monday afternoon. Not much of it is chocolate, though, mostly because Lyall had been pretty sure he'd have been tempted to nibble and then he'd have regretted it. It's not all healthy, though, considering the appetites of teenage boys: next to the cheese and crackers and celery with ranch and peanut butter dip on a platter, there's chips and pretzels and an open box of cookies.

And on the other tables, there are decks of playing cards, small pads of paper, and plenty of pencils, plus a couple science and math books. Hey, Lyall has to make it look like a school event for anyone who wants to poke their head in, after all, right?

Lyall himself is sitting at the counter in the front with his laptop open, though he's paying more attention to the door than the screen at the moment, waiting for students to come in. Stella the ferret is in presence, too, though she might be anywhere in the room at any given time. Lyall has given up on wrangling her, ever since learning she was sentient.


((open to high school students, middle school students, and a couple college students that Lyall actually knows personally ^^ if your character is in the high school but didn't get an on-screen invite, feel free to assume an off-screen invite if you want to show up! multiple threads for mingling and/or planned Magic games are welcome))

[Lyall's been meaning to get on the network again for a while, and now that he's finally got a few things to say, it takes him a minute to actually get started. He does finally, though, after a couple false tries.]

Lyall here. I've been in the gallery, and I think a lot of the rest of us have, too. I've even been by that forum, though I didn't post anything. I find it a little disconcerting that whoever was replying kept referring to people as "humans", as if he or she was not one. Given what we've seen thus far, I do not think that is impossible.

Also, I know at least one other person has heard howling sometime at night. I heard it, too, Wednesday night. It wasn't those mutant dogs, the smell was entirely different, and no one else around me seemed to have heard it or even noticed something was wrong.

[He isn't sure whether or not to mention the dream, but he does say:]

I keep thinking it's something connected to all this. That howl, and the feeling of being watched a few others have mentioned, and that wolf statue, with all these visions and changes we're all going through.

Has anyone else heard it or felt anything strange?

[Private text to students, pre-students, and former students:]

I know a certain one of my students has been joking about a club. I was thinking of making it official, if you really wanted to have an after-school club of some sort for those of us on this network. All age ranges, so long as you're still in school of some sort?