[ Istredd has a deep fear that there definitely will not be any other choice. This is a stop gap at most, although if it proves to be fruitful, who knows what that will tell either of them. He still doesn't know when that call will have to be made, but every day it's getting worse in there.

Istredd doesn't think anyone is going to stop them as they break off, and people know to blame him if anything goes wrong at this point. He'll accept that burden because it would be his fault. He really misses the days when he didn't have to talk to anyone, only do his research. ]

There are only two of us who haven't gone through the ritual. We may just end up being last.

[ Thus even more of a reason for them to consider this time wasted. Istredd thinks he has an idea of how to help the others, he heard from the natives who have been trapped longer, but he can't get to that yet. In a way, his deadpan and emotionally distant mindset has helped him stay a little saner in this situation than he thinks many would be. But only barely. ]

I've done the calculations with the rations and the deterioration of people. [ He's saying this now that they're separated from the others. Because Steve is the leader, in his mind. ] We're running out of time.