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.