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SKYWARD - LATE MORNING
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Louma was making a beeline for Respite from the ruined caravan, her anger over the situation bubbling as her stomach was while exploring the wreckage. It made little sense to her, looking like pointless violence with how most of the goods were still intact. They didn't have too many problems with bandits, but even the ones who were so violent usually looted as much as they damaged. There was also the problem of the apparent kidnappings. Not something that happens too often, and there wasn't a name on the manifests that Louma'd recognized as notable... Her mind on the evidence leaves the swans eyes tracking along the horizon with little focus, though her speed is still up.
Narrator: With their own speed, something from above and behind Louma begins to close in, dive-bombing her with force. A large Petrosaurs, more commonly referred to as a Petrodactyl, slams into Louma, aiming mostly for her back and one of her wings.
Louma catches the sound much too late, letting out a shout of surprise as she feels the impact, both on her tail and left wing. Her first instinct is ingrained from training, her right hand unhooking the mace at her side as she twists around, swinging at whatever has struck her. The change in position of course makes it impossible to fly, beginning a freefall at flight speed.
Narrator: The Petrosaurs doesn't follow up on their dive bomb with further physical contact, pulling up and stalling themselves the moment of making contact. Their goal, to temporarily stop Louma from flying, has been accomplished. The mace doesn't manage to make contact, though Louma can now see the bow the Petrosaurs is wielding in one hand, an arrow in the other, a quiver slung around their neck to rest infront of them. Lastly, are the crude blades affixed to their hind legs, bladed talons so to speak. As their wings are attached to their hands, they cease flying themselves in order to bring their bow and arrow together, nocking the arrow. "Greetings, ignorant one!" They taunt while doing so.
Louma grunts in displeasure at her missed swing, only taking a moment to soak in the appearance of her attacker. She doesn't have time to question them as she spots the bow, though gravity is her most immediate enemy. "Bastard..." Her tail lashes under her, flipping the hybrid guard over in the air as her wings spread and beat to gain air, then bank left. "The hell..."
Narrator: The arrow is fired a moment later, missing the target as they bank around it. They quickly move back to flying themselves, letting out a burst of speed to get ahead and above Louma again, such that their bladed talons are at the ready.
Louma cranes her neck a bit, tracking the target now. She lets out a grunt, dropping her tail under her and rather rapidly slowing, then shifting direction to the right. She's trying to keep her distance with eyes on the stranger, though a twang of pain from the already tired wing he'd hit tells her she wont be able to keep it up for long. "The caravan. Did you attack it?"
Nyzai: "Yzzayt honoured another with that pleasure, ignorant one." Nyzai replies, tracking Louma. They dash around again, repeating the process of trying to get ahead of Louma and cut them off, though without actually getting into melee range. Their goal is to drive Louma lower and lower to the ground, to the canopy below. She's happy to continue talking as a distraction to this end.
Louma recoils again, indeed moving groundward with her slowed flight, dipping to the left again. "More of you, then? And pleasure? In murder?" She grimaces at Nyzai, pointing her club in their direction. "Out of my way or I will remove you from the sky."
Nyzai: "It need not have been so, if Ignorant Ones had not forced it." Nyzai moves to continue cutting Louma off again. "I am of Yzzayt's Chosen. Nyzai The Clever. I would be a disservice to let you pass, but we need not fight."
Louma narrows her eyes at Nyzai, stopping her immediate attempts to get around the petrosaur and instead remaining relatively still in the air. "You struck first, Nyzai."
Nyzai: "But not with blade." Nyzai replies, now slowly circling Louma. "Ignorant One would be much hurt had Nyzai done so."
Louma shifts her grip on the club, turning slowly with Nyzai's circling. "True. Waste of the opportunity, honestly." She lets Nyzai get partway around before her tail twists. She beats her wings hard before folding them against herself, turning away into a short dive to build speed, spreading them to skim along the treetops. She knows he's better equipped to fight in the air right now, and she'd rather try to lose him through a race than fight. If she can ust get close enough to town, she'll have the support of wall archers, but that is hours out yet...
Narrator: Curiously, as Louma dives away close to the canopy, Nyzai does not immediately give chase, instead immediately releasing a series of melodic clicking noises from their beak. From the canopy around Louma, a hail of arrows suddenly break through the leaves and rain upwards at Louma. After the initial volley is complete, the aggressors reveal themselves, taking flight. Pterosaurs of various different subspecies, ranging from large to small, leathery reptilian-like to feathered bird-like, all begin to surround Louma, about two-dozen strong in total.
Louma hears the clicks, quickly realizing her error but stuck too low to the trees to do much about her momentum. She would swear she could feel the wind from the arrows, though within seconds the adrenaline rush from initial scare wears off and she feels the sharp pain of three shafts lodged in her wings. She doesn't go down with no effort, the short club swinging one way and her heavy tail swinging the other before she collides with the leaves with a furious cry.
Narrator: The initial contacts that swoop at Louma with their own bladed talons receive sickening cracks to their bones while attempting to get their own hits in, the blunt forces at play effective at disorientating and disabling those hit by it. Still, the sacrifice of the few is in pursuit of the goal is acceptable. The group, Nyzai included, pursue Louma through the canopy to locate their falling prey.
Louma tucks her wings against her back as best she can, the thinner top level branches thankfully giving way. She's less grateful to the trunk her tail near the edge of her feathers collides with, stopping her rather suddenly. She loses the club somewhere in the branches on her less-than-voluntary descent, arms and tail managing to grab enough easily-broken branches to slow herself before reaching the ground with a painful crash.
Nyzai and the group quickly position themselves around Louma's fallen body, both on the ground and the branches above, drawing their bows and arrows once more to train them on Louma. Nyzai herself lands somewhat closer. "Ignorant One." She taunts in a high and narcissistic tone. "May you learn that Nyzai The Clever should not be underestimated."
Louma lies on her back, breathing heavily and only barely moving as her body reacts to the different hotspots of pain everywhere. Two of the arrows in her wings had snapped off in the fall, though plenty of short branches tangled themselves in her feathers in their place. If she could move a muscle, she wouldn't, her only chance now is hoping they'll take her prisoner. She opens her hands, palm up as she sighs in surrender.
Nyzai grins wickedly. "Good. Ignorant One already learning." She carries that that tone. "Eozys!" She calls out. One of the individuals steps forward, beginning to secure Louma's hands and wings tightly with rope.
Louma is bound, a bit of a turn for her, and she is painfully led off by the assailants. She silently observes the ground for a short portion of the trip, making a silent prayer to the ancestors in thanks for sparing her life for now, and praying for the safety of the others. After that, she silently observes the surroundings as she's led on to wherever they are going.
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PORT CITY OF XALISCO, ORELA - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Gareth makes his way out from one of the Snake military surplus depots, a beautiful hooked spear with its head currently wrapped in a protective wrap in hand and against his shoulder. No doubt, the fact that a wolf is carrying one of those spears is drawing curious looks here and there, but no one pipes up about it, since he's carrying it as though he owns it, which... really, for the amount of money he had to use to bribe the depot officer, he bought it fair and square.
Narrator: In one of the quieter twists and turns in the city, a lithe figure clad in a shadowy cloak is daintily sprinting, looking behind themselves. Without realising it, they bump head-on into Gareth, though should Gareth actually side-step the figure, the figure comes to an abrupt stop once they take note of Gareth, turning around properly to face him. In either scenario, the figure, panting, speaks. "Please, sir! You have to help me! Please!" The decidedly young and feminine voice pleads. The bulges in the fabric of the cloak head indicates that this figure has horns of some variety, but only the lower part of their porcelain white face is visible under the hood of the cloak.
Gareth happens to be looking off to the side as he rounds the corner, only to stagger back a bit as the cloaked figure runs straight into him. He straightens up quickly enough, then tilts his head as he gets his first look at the figure in front of him. "Uh... help ye? What's the trouble?"
Jackle: "I-I was mugged! B-but after they took my money, they. . .They. . .They said it wasn't enough, that I should. . ." The figure shakes their head rapidly. ". . .So I ran! Please!" They look back at where they just came from. Two figures have entered the street, clad in heavy coats, poorly concealing their daggers. A Blue Jay and A Brown Squirrel. They're not that intimidating compared to Gareth, but certainly intimidating to this young girl, clearly panicked by their arrival, "Ah! There they are! You must help me!"
Gareth hums and nods as he sees the two distinctly non-Snake, non-uniformed figures entering the street. He adjusts the grip on his spear and steps forward, shielding the figure from view. "Oi. What do ye two think yer up to, hm? If ye know what's good fer ye, get out o' here and leave the lady be, ye gods-damned animals."
Jackle: "This is none of your concern." The Blue Jay replies, the squirrel following suit, "Yeah! Best be off if you'd like to live!" The pair continue to advance. Meanwhile, the girl clutches one of Gareth's biceps.
Gareth makes a bit of a show of pulling one of his pistols and cocking it as he aims at the approaching duo. "I suggest ye don't take one step closer, friends, if ye like havin' yer blood inside yer bodies."
Narrator: The pair of figures suddenly freeze, staring at Gareth momentarily, beginning a battle of resolve between the two sides begin through nothing more than facial expressions and body posture. The pair seem unsure of themselves, testing and gauging Gareth to get an idea of if he'll actually fire.
Gareth stares evenly at the two, his eyes (blind and not) shifting between the two, making sure neither of them make a move. He seems quite serious about firing if they do move forward from the way he subtly adjusts his grip on his pistol to better brace against a discharge.
Narrator: The confrontation seems to drag on, though after mere seconds the Blue Jay resigns. "Alright. Fine. Keep the girl." They almost venomously spit, putting his dagger away, the Brown Squirrel following suit. The pair begin to back off slowly, until eventually turning around and leaving. Then, whenever Gareth's guard seems weakest, the girl strikes, attempting to steal the spear right out of Gareth's hand. Whether successful or not, the figure handstands backwards away from Gareth, quite flexibly even.
Gareth is only slightly distracted by ensuring both the jay and the squirrel are staying in place, such that when he feels the spear slipping in his grasp, he reflexively tightens his grasp, tugs back, then gives the spear a full, arcing swing to make his assailants back off as he tucks his pistol back into his belt and spins to get all potential attackers in view. "The hell do ye think yer doin', huh?! I'll gut the lot o' ye if ye don't back off right now."
Narrator: The girl comes to a stop several paces back from Gareth after a second handstand, graceful as a gymnast in returning to her feet, drawing a flintlock pistol in each hand seemingly out of nowhere as she does so. A large, Cheshire-cat grin forms under the hood, revealing the figure's shark-like interlocking teeth, laughing rhythmically and with a hint of mania through it, "Ha ha ha ha he he he. You're faster than I gave you credit for. Suppose I'll have to take it another way."
Gareth shifts his attention more towards Jackle, noting the two pistols now in her hands as he flips the spear around so the point is aimed towards her, and the shaft between him and the two accomplices, in case he needs to shove them back. He frowns a bit, clearly not liking his chances right now. "Faster than you figured, but obviously I'm goin' soft to fall fer this kind o' ruse." He wiggles the spear a bit, "And yer after this, hm? Why not just steal one from the depot yerself?"
Narrator: The Blue Jay and the Brown Squirrel draw their daggers once more, moving back in but mostly acting as bouncers for now. The girl has the floor. "The snakes care for themselves. But you? I'm sure they won't mind."
Gareth keeps the duo in his peripheral vision and raises a hackle, growling low and quiet as he comments about their approach. "I might be blind in one eye, but I can still see ye approachin', ye blasted idiots. Great way fer me to put a hole in yer heads if ye keep it up." He then comments to Jackle, "Fair enough reasonin', I suppose. So instead o' riskin' the ire o' the Snakes, ye decide fer a mark less likely fer Snakes to come to the rescue fer, eh, Jackle?"
Jackle:'s grin grows even wider at the mention of her name. "Hear that, boys? Even in Orela we have a name for o'selves!" Another bout of laughter erupts from Jackle, prompting the Blue Jay and the Brown Squirrel to simply look at one another, not feeling the excitement apparently. Where they named? Of course not.
Gareth snorts a bit, the girl's overly jovial attitude at least making the corner of his mouth quirk into a bit of a smile of his own. "Who else could put on a performance like that? Especially with yer helpers bein' a Blue Jay and a Squirrel? Let me guess, the rest o' yer cadre is layin' in ambush somewhere on the rooftops in case I try to bolt fer it?"
Jackle: "Oh, I could think of a couple of people. . .Wait. . .Am I that predictable?" Jackle tilts her head, losing her grin momentarily, looking past Gareth to the other two. "Boys, am I that predictable?" She questions them. The pair kind of shuffle about, not really wanting to answer the question. Jackle's hidden gaze returns to Gareth. ". . .Just hand over the spear." Jackle grumbles.
Gareth takes his turn to chuckle at the question, answering in the stead of the jay and squirrel. "Only predictable because yer talkin' with someone that thinks similarly. Figured me clothin' would have given it away, honestly." He eases his stance just a bit, knowing it'd be stupid to surrender a weapon while still surrounded by drawn steel, "Why're ye so interested in this thing, anyway?"
Jackle: "I mean, I suppose? Honestly, looks are deceiving." Jackle pauses. "What is this, 21 questions?" Jackle questions. "None of your business. Now hand it over before I shoot you." Jackle threatens, though the Brown Squirrel speaks up, "Eeehhh. . .I don't know, boss. He's got a point. Why are we trying to steal this?"
Gareth smirks a bit, taking the opening. "I mean, performance like that, ye could easy snag stuff from someone less attentive. Rake in way more than what a single spear and a good chance o' injury would get, aye?"
Narrator: The Blue Jay now chimes in. "Jackson's right. . .It's not exactly a good deal for us. In fact, this entire. . .Orela thing hasn't worked out very well for us. . ."
Jackle turns to face the Jay, "Eddie! Really? Now is not the time for that conversation!"
Jackson chimes back in, "Then when is a good time? You've been ignoring us for weeks. Why'd we even leave Sarn for this mess?"
Gareth tilts his head a bit, nodding towards Jackle. "I could guess why. Might have gotten a bit too popular up that way, all o' ye."
Jackle nods to Gareth in thanks, then turns to her cohorts. "See! Thank you! Even the stranger here knows how much pressure we were under up there! You'd have rather stayed there and ended up in jail, or dead?" Jackle questions.
Eddie: responds, "And a single spear is going to feed us? We're going to starve to death anyway at this rate, and you refuse to steal from the snakes. Guess what? We're on a continent of fucking snakes!"
Gareth rolls his eyes a bit. "A good bit o' caution, really. Snakes are vicious fighters, and all o' them serve or served in their military. Lizards might be easier marks, just a bit o' advice from a... former pirate to a fellow thief."
Jackle lowers her pistols. "Huh?" She tilts her head. "S-Stop helping us while you're being robbed!" She raises her pistols again. "It's confusing!"
Gareth shrugs a bit. "I don't see why I can't give some friendly advice. I know that today's mark might be tomorrow's ally or enemy." He smiles, equal parts actually friendly and dangerous, "Trust me. I've been on the other side o' this whole situation before."
Narrator: The threat unnerves Eddie and Jackson further. Thinking on it a bit, and combined with the points already raised, the pair put away their weapons, beginning to walk off.
Jackle: "W. . .Wha? Where do you think you're going!?" Jackle now points her pistols at the pair, instead of Gareth.
Eddie turns back briefly to answer, "Look. . .The boys and I have been talking. We're gonna go back to Sarn. The bounty there is much lower on us than you, so we figure we can. . .Be successful without you. I quit." Eddie sighs, continuing to walk.
Jackson stalls for a moment, speaking, ". . .Uh, yeah. What he said." Soon, the pair disappear from the alleyway, leaving Jackle and Gareth alone.
Jackle, despite the hood, now looks rather sad, lowering her pistols.
Gareth raises an eyebrow as he breaks his attention away from Jackle for a bit to look towards the departing pair. After a few seconds, he glances back towards Jackle. "Uh... either this is a really convincin' ruse to make me lower me guard, or... er... sorry? I could put a bullet in their legs if ye like."
Jackle: "What?" Jackle turns to Gareth, "Nooo. . ." She lets out a defeated whine. "They've been like family. . .Or so I thought. . ." Jackle speaks in a melancholy tone. ". . .What am I going to do now?"
Gareth lifts the spear up and taps the bottom of the shaft onto the ground, settling it into an at-ease position as he relaxes his stance. "Yer somethin' o' an acrobat or a performer, right? At least, ye've got the skills fer that sort o' thing, thievin' aside?"
Jackle: Jackle moves to the side of the street, sitting down on the ground with her back against the wall and her pistols in her lap. "I mean. . .I used to be. . ."
Gareth idly leans the spear against his shoulder again as he leans back against the street wall he'd been almost pinned against earlier. "Well, not sure if ye've heard about this town called Respite Falls, but I've been there fer the past several months, and there's a distinct lack o' performers and entertainers there. I know o' like... one guy that performs in the marketplace, most days. If ye need somethin' to do, maybe that would work, aye? Go back to yer roots or somethin'?"
Jackle: "Eh. . .I don't know. . .I stopped that life because I wanted something more." Jackle sighs. ". . .Where is it? Not in Sarn, I hope. . ."
Gareth shakes his head. "Out south, pretty far from Sarn. There's this newly settled continent folks have been goin' to as o' late, Aephix. I think Respite's been around fer about maybe twenty years or so, now, and Bairnell's Folly, the port, fer only a little while longer. Plenty o' wilderness, wild life and the like if ye want excitement."
Jackle: "Well. . .Not like I'm getting anywhere here in Orela. . ." Jackle stands. "Why are you suggesting this to me? Better not be a ruse to bring me into Sarn. . ." Jackle grumbles. "The. . .Reverse-ruse."
Gareth barks out a laugh. "Hah, don't worry. I'm not goin' back to Sarn fer a bit if I can help it. I just came from there and me group has plenty o' reason to not want to bother with the place for now, especially Glaushire."
Jackle: "Eh. . .Guess I don't have much to lose. Ah. . .What do you mean by group? Do you have your own crew?" Jackle asks.
Gareth shrugs. "Eh... not really a crew so much as just travelin' companions, in this case. A close friend o' mine, plus a couple o' tagalongs from Sarn that are headin' to Aephix as well." He pauses, then amends, "Though I guess me huntin' partner and I make fer a two-person crew, but we're bounty hunters, if that matters."
Gareth lifts a hand after a moment to forestall Jackle, just in case. "And no, I'm not lookin' to haul ye in fer a bounty, so don't worry about that, either."
Narrator: Gareth being forthcoming about his profession does cause Jackle some alarm, though she doesn't act on it. ". . .Explains why you knew of me then, heh. ." Jackle sighs once more. "Look, maybe I'll look into Respite, and maybe I'll see you there someday. I'll. . .Have a think about it."
Gareth hums and nods. "No rush. Just a suggestion for ye if yer ideas elsewhere don't work out." He flashes a little grin, "And if yer wonderin' why I'm bein' so helpful, it's just how me old crew used to pride ourselves on, takin' in new deckhands."
Jackle nods. "Well. . .Thank you. For your offer and kindness, I suppose. And, um. Sorry, I guess. I'm. . .Gonna go."
Gareth dips his head. "Well, take care o' yerself, Jackle. Hopefully ye find somethin' that works out fer ye."
Jackle: "You too, um. Mister." Jackle bows in response, beginning to walk off.
Gareth watches as Jackle walks off, then hefts his spear again and resumes his own walk back to the inn he's staying at with Sammi and the others, feeling confident that he won't wake up with a knife to the neck from this.
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RESPITE FALLS - NORTH GATE - EVENING
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Maybelline sits over near the side break room at the side of the gate, sipping a cup of hot chocolate on her turn at the 'vigil' she's shared with Plume and surprisingly Vix the last few days. This time, she's waiting alone, with Vix off and Plume having to deal with a sudden patient. She's become somewhat well known by the other guards, chatting a bit whenever they take their breaks, but otherwise just working on some random notes while she waits.
Narrator: Off in the distance, tiny blobs of light start to appear as the evening gloom begins to settle in over the land at large. Over the next fifteen or so minutes, the blobs draw closer, resolving themselves into the lanterns of the scouting party as they approach the northern gate of Respite. Judging by the tone of the group, it's easy to see they're rather foot-sore and tired, since none of them felt like sleeping during the previous evening's hike back, a certain wariness and prickling feeling of being watched hovering over them through to the next morning.
Maybelline feels jostled by one of the guards, prodding her with a point towards the distance. Her notes forgotten, she's quickly standing up to eagerly await the returing hunting party. She watches them enter in, most checking in to report, some just walking straight through the gate with little more than a non-commital grunt. She seems a bit confused at first, then spots the frilled lizard, waving, "Nesseth!"
Nesseth spends a few seconds confirming everyone in the group has come back, as well as delivering a really short report to the guards on station, with the intent of giving a more complete report to the Commandant along with Louma later. He finishes up and looks around towards the voice calling out to him, and manages a tired wave as he walks over. "Evening, May."
Maybelline grins, "Plume's waiting. Well, sorta. They're back at their office, a bit of an emergency patient called them away. But they'll be glad to see you're back." She glances around. "You seem exhausted... where's Louma?"
Nesseth yawns a little, covering his mouth before giving his head a bit of a shake. "Mmh... duty called for Plume, hm? Hopefully whatever it is isn't too stressful for them. Guess I'll find out soon..." He trails off, then pauses, frowning as May's question processes, "...Louma's not back yet?"
Maybelline nods, "Vix has been around too, but she sorta comes and goes as she pleases. I dunno. It's good to have company when waiting like this..." her smile fades as she watches Nesseth's expression, a sinking feeling in her stomach, "B-but no... she's not? She's not with you all?"
Nesseth lifts a hand to grasp onto the strap of his crossbow, which is slung securely over his back at the moment. His gaze sharpens, even if the rest of his face still shows signs of exhaustion as he shakes his head. "No, she took off into the air and flew ahead of us. Considering our route on the ground, she should have been back way ahead of us." He turns and looks back out to the north, trying to scan the darkening skies.
Maybelline follows Nesseth's gaze back out into the unknown and tries to swallow the lump in her throat. "She didn't..." the rest of the words die in her throat.
Nesseth stares out for a few more seconds, then curses under his breath and strides back over to the guards at the station. Muttered conversation floats over to May, which shows Nesseth's just asking if anyone saw Louma return at any point during the day. When he gets a negative response, he turns, glances towards May and gestures for her to follow as he starts to stride into town.
Maybelline quickly scampers over to Nesseth, fear plain upon her face, "Nesseth, she's okay, right? Sh-she just... took a detour, or... hit some bad winds or something, right? Nothing to worry about..." She swallows once again, trying not to break down right here. "Right?"
Nesseth moves through the street as he makes his way towards the guard barracks. He neither confirms nor denies May's questions. "I don't know, but the fact that she's not shown up yet despite flying ahead is enough reason for me to gather whoever I can and get right back out there to see where she might be. Maybe she did just get blown off course, but I don't want to take a risk, considering what we found out on the road."
Maybelline takes a few deep breathes, but the tears remain in the corner of her eyes, "Do I even want to ask what you found? I..." She lets out a rather terse curse. "I just... want her to be safe, Nesseth. What can I do to help?"
Nesseth turns a corner on the way towards the barracks. "Unless you've got a strong stomach, no, I think it's best we just leave it at "it wasn't pretty". As for helping... anything you can do to help us scout would be ideal. Telescopes, signalling devices, things like that."
Maybelline 's mind immediately grabs onto the solveable problem, something she can create a solution for to try and distract her from her fears. Her voice is filled with determination. "Signalling like lights, or communications? One is way easier than the other. Discreet sound over distances is still tricky without some very powerful magics. But lights I can manage in whatever colors or patterns you want. Telescopes aren't too hard, but I'd need mirrors, or lenses of some kind. I can build the mechanisms."
Nesseth nods. "Lights would make for easier signalling at night. If you're able to direct the light so it doesn't shine all over the place, though, that'd be ideal. Just something to catch attention if we're spread out a bit. As for the mirrors and lenses... I don't know, maybe the marketplace has some for sale. Considering the time, I doubt I'll be able to gather up a good search party tonight, but tomorrow should be easy enough. At the very least, we'll be needing the gear anyway when we mount a bigger party for the caravan."
Maybelline frowns, "The whole caravan...?" She shakes her head. "I... I'll do what I can tonight. I... I don't think I could sleep tonight anyways. Come to the generator tomorrow morning and I'll give you what I can."
Nesseth looks at May again, thinking. "...I'll have to make the report anyway, since Victoria went off on her own once we got in view of town, and Louma's not back yet. But... the caravan that was due to come in got attacked. Everyone in it was either dead or missing." He slows down to a stop and turns to look at May a bit straighter, "Don't work yourself to the bone, but a prototype or two would still be helpful in looking for Louma."
Maybelline sighs, "I don't know what else I can do. So I'll do this. I... I gotta do something." She clenches her fists, "Frecklemeyer's don't just give up on family."
Nesseth nods. "Then I should let you get to it, then. I'm just heading to the barracks to deliver the report and see if I can set up a search party first thing tomorrow morning." He sighs, then bends over to give May a soft hug, "Sorry about making you worry, bringing back this kind of news, though."
Maybelline starts a bit at the hug, but quickly returns it tightly. "I... yeah. D-don't worry about it. It... it's better that I know someone I can trust is searching for her... besides... Louma knows what she's doing out there. She'll stay safe so you can find her. Go make your report, and then go see Plume."
Nesseth gives May a gentle squeeze before releasing the hug and standing back up. "Will do, May. Thank you for keeping Plume and Vix company the past couple of days." He smiles a bit, "I'll do my best to get Louma back home safely."
Maybelline reaches up to wipe tears from her eyes, nodding. "I... I know you will. I... I'll go and get to work. If... there's anything I can make that'll help find her, then I have to do everything I can. I'll... I'll see you in the morning. And... thanks, Nesseth. I... Thanks."
Nesseth hums and nods again. "I'll see you in the morning, then, May. You know where to find us if you need to find me or Plume for any reason, okay?"
Maybelline nods back. "I do. I... y-yeah. I do." She turns away from Nesseth to look off up to the northern sky for a moment, hoping to see... anything. After a moment, she sighs, and gives Nesseth one last nod before she runs off towards the Generator complex.
Nesseth watches as May turns to leave, then sighs as he continues on his path towards the barracks. So many things are happening at once, now, he's barely even got time to consider how to handle the elemental that still inhabits Cavro's forge, much less dealing with figuring out how to help Melia and everything else he's got on his plate at the moment. After the near-break he'd had from thinking Melia died, though, his resolve's gotten stronger.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - LATE EVENING
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Narrator: True to her word, Annika had gotten herself a change of clothing, more suitable to the "Wilds". She had taken simple tight leathers, complete with leggings, all of them in a dull russet colouring. It was practical, and while it wasn't in any way revealing, the cut of them had certainly been made with a definitive eye to how she looked. All three tails had also been been kept in check with small green ties of cloth, so that they wouldn't catch on every single thorn bush in the region.
Victoria trudges in, perhaps just a touch less gracefully than she usually would. The leopard looks tired, as though she's just returned from a spontaneous trek across the badlands or something. Beneath the tired there's also a degree of 'pissed off', as thuogh said spontaneous trek didn't go as planned or something. She gets to the Barkeep and makes an unintelligible growl that seems to translate into a 'Beer, please and thank you'.
Annika: "Hey Vic!" Annika waves over brightly "You're back!" She considers the leopard "You've looked better. Why not sit down. Talk about it a bit" She pats the seat beside her "Come on. Keep me company" She leans in, and adds in a stage whisper "There's some people here who keep looking at me"
Victoria blinks and looks up, giving a slightly surprised smile at the fox: "Well hey there." She gets off the bar with her drink in tow, walking towards Annika: "You look pretty different yourself. What's up?"
Annika: "Well! You wanted me to get something proper to wear for going hunting, so I did!" She taps the jacket "I wanted to get comfortable in them a bit before I started out. What do you think? Are they rustic enough for you?" She smiles, just a little "I still think that I was fine the way I was, but you're the expert after all"
Victoria gives a soft chuckle as she sits down: "So that's what that is. I guess it works. The less there is to get in the way, the better." She shakes her head slightly: "Still remains to be seen if you can keep up with me, though."
Annika: "I'll be fine, I'm sure. I'll make sure to brush up on my archery a bit. Unless you expect me to get close enough to take it down personally"
Victoria flexes a claw and looks at Annika slyly: "Being at range is the coward's way I always tell Nesseth, but since you're new at this, reckon that shall do. Just don't shoot me in the back."
Annika: "Hmm" She give a smile herself, equally sly "A fox is always exactly as brave as they need to be....the brave man always shows his back eventually" There's just a little hint of menace there..just for a moment "That's what Father said. He always taught me and Ollie to run away if that was the smart thing to do. A fox never fights fair"
Victoria smirks: "I do like the way you think. It's not like the birds I hunt really think I fight fair, but who's asking them?" She takes a sip, grinning: "I merely make sure the odds are in my favor."
Annika gives a small shrug "It's how I've gotten this far. I'm a little girl, with lots of big scary people around" She considers the gem on the back of her hand, rubbing it. She's not stupid, she's worked out something about what it's been doing...she snaps herself back to the matter at hand. "The odds haven't really been in my favour, but I'm starting to turn that around a bit. It's nice though...things starting to go right for once"
Victoria nods surprisingly quietly, musing a moment. "I can see that. Took a lot of work to turn... turn my luck around, coming here." She then takes a drink and the grin is back: "Besides, size has nothing to do with it. I can wrestle a guard twice my size to the ground."
Annika: "Well. I can't do that..but.." She twirls a very small knife in her hand for a moment, before it vanishes "..I'm able to look after myself. I have to be nice though. I do deliveries, and stuff like that, and people expect me to be pretty"
Victoria raises an eyebrow, then smiles appreciatively: "I guess that's fair. I have no need for any of that stuff, no one to 'look pretty' for or anything."
Annika: "And yet, you look pretty anyway. How about that?"
Victoria blinks, caught off-guard: "I... huh? I do. I mean..." She summons a smile: "Of course I know I do."
Annika: "That's the spirit! We'll get some of that vanity going eventually"
Victoria chuckles just ever-so-slightly still shaken: "Heh. Good luck with that."
Annika perks her tails up "Oh! Don't worry, I'm very lucky"
Victoria raises an eyebrow once more, looking the fox over: "Are you now? Guess we will see, out there."
Annika: "I'm sure it will be great" Actually, maybe not "So, where do you plan we should go?"
Victoria hums for a moment, looking at her glass: "Well, don't know yet. We'll see which way the wind goes at dawn. Probably somewhere a bit South, that's been the best lately."
Annika nods "You're the expert. Dawn?" She considers "I'll get Olly into the Babysitter for the day. He's being an 'apprentice' in the shop below" She makes the air quotes with her fingers
Victoria looks at Annika curiously: "Olly? Who's that?"
Annika: "My little brother!" She smiles softly "I'm his guardian"
Victoria pauses at that: "Well... good luck with that, I guess. Don't know anything about any of that, myself."
Annika: "Nobody ever really does, until they're doing it themselves. But we manage"
Victoria gives a laugh at that and takes another gulp of her drink. "Well, you do you. But yes, at dawn. Or before it, really. Got to start before the birds do."
Annika: "There we go~" She nods, with satisfaction "You're back up in a proper mood. You're much better when you're laughing, then when you're grumpy"
Victoria pauses, then with a shrug admits the point: "Fair enough."
Annika: "I make lots of points! Most of them fair" She gently nudges VIctoria "But hey, if you have anything you want to talk about, I'm all ears" She wiggles them, they're quite fluffy
Victoria considers for a moment, then her mood darkens just a bit. "The last caravan was attacked. Don't know who, or why."
Annika: "Oh" She considers that "That's not great..but, I'm sure they'll be caught. There's always bandits, and they always get caught fairly quickly"
Victoria nods slowly: "They are... though, they did not take any valuables, it seems. Something is off." She pauses: "People are in danger."
Annika: "Well..people are always in danger, but..I understand. We're just going to go hunting, and not worry too much about it, The Southern Caravan will be fine, I'm sure" She was never told that it was the Southern Caravan..but..well, she's astute
Victoria nods absently, not catching Annika's insight: "...hunt first. I will wait for Louma to arrive to a decision, but if not sometime soon..." She flexes her claws.
Annika: "Well then, maybe the hunting trip will be good! Get your mind off things"
Victoria looks at Annika, then nods as she chews on this thought: "...yeah, maybe. Maybe it will."
Annika: "But until then. What do you think of the hunting outfit?" She shows it off "I though Russet would work better than greens, because of the climate"
Victoria nods appreciatively with a grin: "I reckon it'll work. You look good."
Annika beams at the flattery "That's what I was aiming for!"
Victoria winks: "Well, seems you succeeded. That outfit will do just fine, now the question if you will."
Annika: "Hmm? Ask away"
Victoria smirks, finishing her drink: "Do you have any experience in hunting wild birds?"
Annika considers "Hmm, a little. I used to go hunting with Father...but really, he did most of the actual shooting"
Victoria: "I guess we'll find out. They can be fierce if you're not prepared."
Annika: "Yup! We will find out! I look forward to it!"
Victoria laughs a bit at that. The two continue to talking about other topics, Victoria feeling oddly relaxed at the company of Annika. They talk until late into the night 'til they part ways several hours (and drinks) later.
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A CAVE BEYOND RESPITE'S WALLS - EVENING
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Zayzzes settles himself back down into position amidst this hidden hovel, a place close to the rivers of nature's essence. A somewhat slender for his species figure, the reptillian figure remains large, bulky, his head topped with a shield-like frill and three curved horns. He digs his fingers into the dust and dirt beneath him as he sits.
Zayzzes begins to whisper once again, his words dripping down into the essence, the river, bitter words that tell of excess and abuse of those within the wall, and the glories that Yzzayt will bring. Restoration and power, the Chosen of Yzzayt shall retake what is theres. The poisons of his words begin to flow down from the cave into the earth, into the flows of nature, carrying them out towards the interlopers settlement, where they spread to their targets.
Zayzzes has already done his first tests, the first wave of sickness poisoning the crops. Now the true work begins. The illness will spread, weaken those within the walls, and they will not fight the inevitable.
Zayzzes continues his whispers long through the night and beyond...