( Sephiroth isn't the only one who's beginning to think that this feels a lot like work. She'd thought it would be a fun way to spend some time together — how bad could a festive scavenger hunt really be, right? — and while it's definitely scratching some kind of enjoyable science itch? It's not exactly what she'd had in mind. )

Seriously?

( Although on second thoughts, the Neeklur chatter has definitely been getting louder again. For a getaway driver (kind of) Nico's sense of direction isn't actually that great — or rather, it isn't great when she has to actually pay attention to the rules of travel. While she and the highway code somehow manage on an incredibly loose relationship, there isn't much she can do about a potentially magical maze. )

Don't you have ... I dunno, enhanced bird senses or somethin', so we can be sure?

( Nico knows nothing about birds. Can you tell? Fortunately, her avian ignorance doesn't hinder them in reaching their left turn. All of a sudden she thinks that Sephiroth might be right: this spot doesn't look familiar at all, and— )

Hey, did you see that?

( She's pretty sure she just saw a hairy, skinny little black tail flit around the corner of a turn up ahead. )

C'mon!

( And because Nico is nothing if not reckless, she immediately sets off at a run in the hops of catching up with the creature. )