After a jump into the ocean, Isao was brought to Cricket. Isao was still wet from the plunge and the water was dripping off of him, onto the floor of the house. Shoujou spoke, stating that they had found Isao in the forest, and that he was talking about the Knock Up Stream. Cricket, sitting down, looked over his shoulder, speaking before even really getting a good look at Isao. Cricket called Isao's thoughts and ideas stupid, just about denying the existence of the Knock Up Stream and the land in the sky. After looking closer at Isao, scanning him up to down and down to up a couple of times, Cricket sighed.The apes were an interesting discovery. They apparently had always been able to talk. This would be an interesting story to tell everyone back home one day. Isao was surely impressed. They posed an interesting question to the ninja. Who doesn't know how to speak? I know right? What a weird guy. At first Isao hadn't thought of it, but it made sense. He wondered if the giant insects or giant pink hippos could talk. It made him wonder if this Cricket was a giant cricket that could talk. It definitely made sense to him.
Honestly being around animals was a lot more comfortable. Animals weren't as quick to judge appearances. Being at ease with this, Isao began to finally realize how warm being in a jungle could be. He was feeling a bit overheated. Over time Isao began to take off articles of clothing. First was his mask, then his shirt, and even his pants. It turned out that bandage wraps made your body warmer as well. Compelled by the heat, Isao unwrapped his spines and wings from his body. Sweat slid down his body with ease, his breath was heavy as he tried to keep stride with the apes.
Whew... I don't know how you two manage to keep so cool with all that fur. This place really seems to get hot...
If Shoujou or Masira reacted to his nakedness, his venomous spines, or the small pair of wings on his shoulders, was unknown. The group would have cleared the forest and come to an opening. Clear coast line with a cutoff lay before them, with a relatively cozy house that had a large wooden plywood cover behind it. This wasn't exciting as being back near water. Letting out an excited laugh, Isao sprinted towards the water, dropping his clothes near the cliff as he dove off the edge into the water below. It cooled his body and seemed to rejuvenate him a bit. He swam deep down into the water before arching back up and racing towards the surface. Oddly enough he would notice that the plywood cut out seemed to look somewhat like a castle as he neared the end of his dive. Using his speed and momentum, Isao would jump out of the water up onto the cliffside once more. He was dripping wet but his gills were flared up from being in the water, making them quite easy to notice. He would rejoin Shoujou and Masira as Shoujou knocked on the door and opened it up.
Oiiii, Cricket-san! We found a strange guy in the forest! He's talking about the Knock Up Stream and the land in the sky!
Huh? What land in the sky? What kind of stupidity is that? Who are you?
Isao's left eye twitched at first when he heard the brushing off of a Sky Island. His attitude changed when he saw who had said those words. His eyes almost bulged out of his head as his mouth was agape. He cupped his face with his hands as he let out a surprised scream;
A HUMAN IS GOING OUT OF THAT CHESTNUT!?!? HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!?
Why is this guy dripping all over the floor? Who's gonna clean this up now?
Cricket said, annoyed that Isao had come into his house all wet.
And where did you hear about this Knock Up Stream story and the land in the sky? Don't you think that's too childish of a story for an adult to believe?
Cricket said, before firing the last few dagger words.
Plus you look like a fishman... why would a fish want to go up to the dominion of birds?
Cricket clearly wasn't cooperating at all.
A drop of sweat rolled down the backs of the heads of Shoujou and Masira.
He sure is playing tough, Masira.
I know right?