She doesnt even respond. No hissy comeback, no passive-aggressive retorts, nothing. She just quietly follows.

More tunnels. They rested infrequently. The pack rats gave them some strange mushrooms to chew on, tiny white things that glowed in the dark and, if they were brave enough to eat them, tasted like mold, but allowed them to see in pitch blackness as if it were twilight. This was a good thing, because Lise's flashlight eventually flickered and died, and no one offered fresh batteries.

Isiea doesnt sleep. Or eat. She doesnt say anything or try to interact with them.

Lise ate the mushrooms, and kept the flashlight for herself. She didn't sleep very often, but she did sleep when she needed too.

All the caverns and tunnels seemed to meld together into one giant, impossible maze. Even if they did get into Machina's fortress and rescue Ethan, they wouldn't be getting out the same way.

The tunnel fell away, and suddenly they stood on a stone bridge across a vast precipice, jagged rocks spearing up from the bottom. Around them, on the walls and ceiling, hanging precariously close to the bridge, massive iron gears turned and creaked, making the ground vibrate. The closest gears were easily three times their height; some were even larger. It was like being inside a giant clock, and the noise was deafening.

She covered her ears, wincing softly as she looked around.

Isiea still doesnt speak.

There was a tug on their arms, and the lead pack rat point across the bridge, his jabbering lost in the grinding noise of the room. They had taken them as far as they could go. Now the last part of the trek would be on their own. He beckoned to his pack rats, chattering at them. Two waddled forward, reaching back for some item on their huge pile on their backs.

Lise handed them back the flashlight, assuming thats what they wanted.

She waits quietly.