As they continue on their journey the next person they'll encounter is Spinel. They're fishing as usual.

"Hey, Spinel! How are the fishing biting today?"

"Fishing song, fishing song... Geez, I think my bait is wrong."

"You got to bribe the fishes better."

"I suppose I might. You're leaving the crater? Guess we'll all be a little busier without you around to lend your hands."

"Less mouths to feed. But I am sure you will adapt," Heli fidgets a bit.

"You know, if I was going up, I'd go to Giant's Deep."

"Oh, any interesting sights to see?"

"One time, after the rest of the village had left to sleep and it was just the two of us sitting around the campfire, Gabbro told me about their first trip to Giant's Deep.

They landed their ship easily enough in the waves, but couldn't see too far down, on account of how murky the water was, I guess. Too dark.

Gabbro wanted to see what lay beneath the surface, so they decided to travel deeper. They traveled down, and down... But suddenly, Gabbro couldn't go any further."

"Huh, did Gabbro hit something?"

"I was getting to it be patient. As though exercising a will of its own, the water was refusing to let Gabbro go any deeper. It held Gabbro back. ...Almost as if it were trying to protect them from something.

And then, in the terrible darkness, Gabbro saw it...!

The tentacle of some hideous beast!"

"How big was the beast?" Heli asks, this sounds like a tall tale, but he doesn't want Gabe to say anything improper.

"You know, Gabbro didn't say. Whatever it was, it freaked Gabbro out pretty good. Everyone wants to hear new stories at the village campfire, you know. Make sure you bring some back with you!"

"We will stay clear of any beasts but will do our best to report any. Thank you, Spinel."

"You're welcome, do stay safe out there." Spinel never stopped fishing but they turn their full attention back to it.

The path continues up behind the waterfall and onto to ledge near the top of the cliff.

Moraine, one of the people about their age, is out on a platform with their signal scope out.

Arkose, one of the hatchlings, is throwing rocks into the fenced off ghost matter.

Gossan, their flight coach and trainer in the space program, is standing in the entrance to the Zero Gee Cave.

There's a note nailed to the ramp leading up to the observation deck.

And of course the observatory beckons very close now.

Oh, Heli will go talk to Gossan.

Gabe (in a rare occasion where he and Heli split off) goes to inspect the note.

The note reads as follows: "I saw smoke coming from Youngbark Crater up north and figured I should go check it out. You can use the scout launcher, just please don’t break it while I’m gone – Tektite"

“Hey, I thought I might see you before the big launch. Nerves getting the better of you?”

"Oddly, not. I think I am trained enough. I think I trained Gabe enough. Do I look nervous?"

Huh, he will go up to Moraine then.

“Not particularly, but most of the explorers were before they launched. Don’t get yourself killed out there, you hear? And don't let Gabe get themselves killed either. Not after I’ve put this much work into training you. ...Haha, go on, go make Outer Wilds Ventures proud.”

“Hm? Oh, hello, astronaut. This is good weather for your launch, right? That's lucky!”

"It is. What are you looking at? Spying on someone?"

Grin. "I will. And don't worry, Gabe is... himself, but he is more competent than anyone gives him credit for."