[ Steve doesn't mind going first, and he takes a few steps back to earn himself a running start before he sprints forward and leaps to clear the gap with ease. He turns to make sure that Geralt does the same, but isn't expecting a simple jump like that to trip either of them up.

He nods at the name, because it's one he recognizes. ]

We got to know each other while all of us were on that island. [ Now that Steve thinks of it, Istredd was the one to come to his aid when Geralt attacked him in a frenzy, but he doesn't bring that up now. ] If he's an expert, then does he have any guesses about what could be causing this? Or... maybe we need to ask someone who has a special connection to the Singularity.

[ Steve knows that there are people among the Summoned who have become particularly close to the monolith, like those who received some kind of warning about the monsters from the rift. Maybe they would have some sort of special insight?

Though as they continue upward, Steve hears a sound different from the howling wind. It's hard to tell what it is with so much other noise, but he pauses to really key into it. A steady beat — like that of flapping wings? ]