In between panting breaths and jostling sounds as Merle scurries his way to the mana pool, he gets out as much as, "Plants! Owls! They're here!" before leaving that cryptic message up for interpretation as the Stone fizzles out.

Within the next few minutes, Merle comes barreling into the camp and absolutely trips over a rock or something and faceplants right in front of Lup. He just sort of lies there for a while, inhaling dirt probably as he takes beleaguered breaths.

"There's a sign," he says, lifting his head up and trying his best to whisper hoarsely, "from God, on that island."