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TARBIN'S HUT - MID-MORNING
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Tarbin sighs, running his fingers up the underside of a wilting carrot leaf, orange scales coaxing Nature's breath into the little plant. His small garden is beginning to suffer the effects of the Flow's choked power. He stands back up, scales returning to blue as he pats soil from his palms. "We'll need to talk with the guards today. We'll need an escort to start looking for the source of all this."
Melia directs some of her magic through Tarbin's palm, strengthening the Flow ever so slightly. [I know. With how busy everyone seems to be, can we get one?] She lets out a bit of an inward sigh, her desire to solve this problem and heal the Flow definitely not lessened at all in the last day.
Tarbin shrugs, looking toward the North. "I think so. The strain on our food is a major problem, too. It wont help anyone find a solution if they are hungry." He sighs, recalling the discussion with Plume the day before, the vision of those stacked coffins bothering him despite them being nothing he could have helped with. "And Doctor Plume has enough to worry about without tainted crops making more people sick."
Melia hums a moment, then goes quiet. After a short moment, she manifests again, seemingly with less effort despite the strain on the Flow around them. She looks at Tarbin with a soft smile on her lizardine snout: [Well, then we just have to find a solution. With or without Guard help.]
Tarbin smiles to himself as he feels Melia's magic shifting, turning to look at her. "I owe it to them." He pauses, tilting his head a little. "You are taking the point of finding your own identity seriously, hm?"
Melia blinks, tilting her head: [What do you mean? None of this is about my identity, is it?]
Tarbin chuckles, shaking his head slightly. "No, but that form is. Your own shape, no longer borrowed from Erika."
Melia looks down at her slightly ephemeral, but unmistakably lizardine form: [Oh. So it would seem. When did I do that, and how?]
Tarbin tilts his head a bit, humming. "You didn't notice? Hm. Well... I think I caught a glimpse of it yesterday morning. You were definitely in that form at the clinic."
Melia pauses, humming quietly as she looks at the form that's definitely not one of okapi's, even if the overall shape has similarities. [...I did not plan this, but I like it I guess?] She swirls a cloud of magic towards Tarbin, smiling.
Tarbin smiles back at Melia, the magic washing over his scales leaving a light tingling for a few seconds. "I like it too, it's more 'you' than someone else. And a bit familiar." He grins, chuckling quietly. "I hope being stuck with me isn't affecting you too much, though."
Melia shrugs with a smile: [I mean, obviously it's affecting me, but it's not like I have a lot of comparison points.] She giggles, stepping closer to Tarbin as she does. [While I don't have options, I also enjoy working with you.]
Tarbin nods, his smile fading a bit as he thinks, turning to look in the direction of the farmlands again. "We're going to need all the help we can get, I feel."
Melia sighs, looking down. [I know. There's something behind this, something bending things the wrong way and I need to get to it.] She looks at Tarbin: [But I need you, obviously. I can't do this alone.]
Tarbin shakes his head, looking back to her with a reassuring smile. "Even if I could, I wouldn't leave you by yourself."
Melia gives a happier sigh, then leans to hug Tarbin, her magic making his scales light up as her Flow touches him from the outside this time.
Tarbin blinks at the odd sensation, returning the hug after a moment of hesitation.
Melia doesn't really hug tight since she can't, but the emotion is obvious. [Thank you, Tarbin. I know this means a lot to you too, but... thank you.]
Tarbin nods sighing a little over her shoulder. "It does. It's not so good that we don't have time to celebrate your progress, but at least we have something grand to really look forward to once this is all over."
Melia lets go of the hug, smiling weakly: [It's not that grand... I mean, just doing what I can.]
Tarbin rests his hands on her shoulders for a moment, nodding. "It's more than enough. Come back inside, and we'll head to town and find a guard or two."
Melia giggles: ['Come back inside' sounds so weird when you put it like that, but... yeah. Don't know how many in there can see me.] She gives the smallest of sighs, then lets go of her manifested form and flows out of sight and back into Tarbin. [You know most would not invite a voice to their heads, right?]
Tarbin chuckles again, shrugging as he turns toward the West gate. "I don't know, I'm getting used to having you around. Besides, it's good practice, but we might need you as rested as you can be."
Melia hums: [You're right there. Gotta be together to make sense of all that... ill.] She sighs: [Not sure what we can do, but it's pulling me to make clear of it.]
Tarbin shrugs once more. "We'll cure the ill when we find the root, I suppose." He passes through the gate, nodding to a very nervous looking guard, though he's waved through without issue.
Melia flows about Tarbin as he walks: [I know the root of it is out there, it's... well it's doing the opposite of calling me but it means I feel exactly where it's coming from.]
Tarbin hesitates slightly, considering this. "You feel it that strongly? I hadn't guessed. I suppose that makes you our compass then. I mean, following the lines would eventually lead me to the root, but your connection is impressive, Melia."
Melia gives a mental shrug: [Been honing it yesterday and today. I can focus on it, and it... abhors me and my magic. It's getting honestly hard to ignore for long.]
Tarbin huffs, not liking the idea of it opposing Nature so much that Melia feels it as a threat. "Well, we will not take a single detour then. Can you get an idea of what is causing it?"
Melia hums and is otherwise quiet for a second: [No... not really. But it is done on purpose, Nature does not bend like this...]
Tarbin nods, turning down a street and settling his gaze on the guard barracks. "That much we both know." A shadow crosses his expression, "Whoever is hurting the Flow will have much to answer for."
Melia: [That we agree on, no doubt. Getting to the bottom of this. Not sure if anyone else even really can the way we can, Tarbin.]
Tarbin relaxes a little, nodding. "You're right, of course. The way folks reacted to how I could turn the Flow when I arrived here, I think many of them had never known of Nature's power. At least, not the way it is." He can't help but chuckle.
Melia flows upon Tarbin once more, warming upon his chest: [You're pretty unique, it seems.]
Tarbin grins, putting his palm to his chest. "As are you, Melia."
Melia giggles: [You're just saying that. I'm just an elemental.]
Tarbin scoffs, shaking his head. "You're more than that. A living piece of Nature, with a will of your own. That makes you special." He frowns slightly. "Most elementals... They never get their own will. They do the task they were created for and then... Well... They're typically destroyed. You are certainly not just an elemental. You're Melia."
Melia: [You're making me blush.] Tarbin feels one of his tails wrap around the other: [...I certainly don't want to be destroyed. I think with the ritual... you saved me, in the long run.]
Tarbin feels his tail twisting around the other, smiling as he completes the twist. "Perhaps. I would like to think so, but I can't forget the mistakes. They exist to learn from." He slows on nearing the barracks, looking at the doors. There is a pair of guards posted outside, which he's pretty sure is unusual. "Well, we're here."
Melia sighs: [Mistakes are to be learned from, but it's not like you can just 'unlearn' me being right here. Stop beating yourself over it, okay?]
Tarbin chuckles, shaking his head. "One day I will. Not yet. Ready to head inside? I certainly wont be able to answer any questions in the presence of all those guards."
Melia gives a mock sigh, lightly swatting Tarbin's neck with her magic: [Ready as I'll ever be. Let's get us some protection.]
Tarbin takes a breath, smiling to the guards as they enter the barracks. It turns out that his hut's visibility from the wall has let enough guards see his abilities and also keep a general eye on the lizard, even if word of his travel companion hasn't spread much. That bit of credibility and his explanation of their intentions nets the 'pair' a two-troop escort, and they immediately head for the North gate.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S PROMINENCE - NOON
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Narrator: It has been a long, slow journey for Louma. Far south to avoid Respite, then further west into the harsh and unforgiving desert, then into the alpine ridges on the western edge of the continent. The hot days and cold nights of the desert simply become the cold of the mountain. The climb up the mountain takes another day, but soon, the destination is at hand.
Narrator: Small shacks of log and stone litter the outside of the mountain. Guards and soldiers are present, though the majority of folk here are unarmed and appear much more civilized, with primitive clothing of furs mostly. The civilian dinosaurs look forth onto Louma's form, murmuring at both her and her convey. It's a town of some sort.
Narrator: But they continue, further into the mountain. As they enter the caverns, homes have been carved into from the very mountain itself, firelight leading the way. Deeper still. Eventually, Louma is given a place to rest for the night - A rather damp, cold oppressive stone cell.
Narrator: The next day, Louma is brought forward to a ceremonial throne of sorts, a raised platform and chair carved from the stone, with a winged figure sitting on it.
Narrator: The figure is shrouded by fur and bones, and their face is obscured by a large raptor-like skull, giving them a unique and fearsome appearance, torches around the platform giving him an eerie glow. He is adorned by diamonds set into his bones, metal bands and trinkets, as well as his staff, which bears a much larger, perfectly cut diamond to feature as it's centrepiece.
Louma certainly does not appreciate being dragged around for nearly a week, though she has been mentally tracking their direction the entire time, and believes she has a vague idea of where they've gone. Despite the conditions of the cell, the guard captain certainly prefers the cold cell to the netted sled. She'd managed to dislodge the arrows from her wings over the trip, though the wounds throb painfully in the damn dampness, and worse so every time she stretches her wings. Rather than sleeping, she spends most of the night slithering in as big of circles as she can manage in the cell, stretching every sore muscle and casting glares toward her guard, but never bothering to speak up to them. Despite her glares, she freely offers her wrists when they open the cell door, preferring to not coax her captors into pointing those spears and blades in her direction. What she's less pleased about is the rough binding of her wings, being tied down to her back with ropes around her torso, sending out searing shocks of pain from the wounds. She takes in as much of the surroundings as she can, but on arriving at the platform and being presented with the well-decorated figure, her eyes lock to them with a somewhat defiant look and stiff stance.
Xeilzrus: "Greetings." The figure commandingly booms. "I am the Will of the great Yzzayt himself. It is through me that Yzzayt speaks to his people. It is through me alone that Yzzayt entrusts his voice to. And it is through me that he leads of these people. I am Xeilzrus, The Whisperer." Xeilzrus introduces himself. "I wish to extend to you Yzzayt's apologies, though it was necessary to get you before him on this day."
Louma tilts her head ever so slightly as Xeilzrus speaks, her tail curling casually under herself to rest in a stable manner. Internally, she's boiling venom at his words. Apologies for slaughter? Kidnapping? Slavery? But her years of maintaining the proper, commanding facade of her station is proving useful here and now. She bows respectfully, though her eyes remain locked on Xeilzrus, as she replies. "Greetings, Xeilzrus. I'll thank you for the apology, if Yzzayt would grace me with why you extend it."
Xeilzrus: Xeilzrus bows with equal respect in return, despite Louma being his captive as of this moment in time. "It has oft been rumoured that there was one of us living in that town, in our great lands. And it is true. You are her. You are unaware of your heritage. You are one of Yzzayt's children. It is a great honour to have you here." Zeilzrus bows again.
Louma blinks, her facade a little shaken by this. She was expecting... Well, not that. "Ah... I am?" She takes a moment, recovering slightly as she thinks back on various conversations during her involuntary trip. "Mh, my apologies Whisperer, living in the town has made me ignorant." She bows her head slightly again. "Please explain."
Xeilzrus: "I apologize, Yzzayt, for how little know of your greatness." Zeilzrus speaks to no one in particular, sitting down in his throne. "It is said long ago that Yzzayt made several in his image, and spread each kind to a different Great Land. We, the Saurs, are descendent of those from this Great Land. Our history long tells of the others, but for you to be here is proof that Yzzayt's word is true."
Louma hums quietly to herself, feeling a bit of relief at the moment. When Xeilzrus takes his seat, Louma settles in her coil in turn, though when her wing tips press against the curled tail, she flinches and lets out a quiet hiss of displeasure. She relaxes, looking to Xeilzrus after a moment. "I see. In that case, I may know more than I thought of Yzzayt. At my true home, not Respite, we have a similar history. I never knew any of our scalekin lived on this land, though." She manages to force a polite smile. "It is good to know."
Xeilzrus: "Perhaps, then, it is only us that Yzzayt entrusted with his true identity." Xeilzrus reasons. "Or, his name may simply have been lost to time elsewhere. Either way, I find this news. . .Both fortunate and not, though I am not one to question Yzzayt's Will." Xeilzrus nods. He takes note of Louma's discomfort, seeming to soften a bit. "Please, Sister. What is your name?"
Louma nods. "I am Louma of Orela." She bows her head again after introducing herself, closing her eyes for a moment this time. Her bows are half to placate Xeilzrus, but she's also enjoying the ability to move her neck in any way after the travels. "Yzzayt's name may be lost at home, but the idea and reverence still exists."
Xeilzrus: "Greetings, Louma. That is most good to hear." Xeilzrus responds. "Louma, of Orela. Sister. You are a beacon to those here, and I want nothing more than to allow you to freely live among us." Xeilzrus hesitates, indicating a 'Buuuut. . .'
Louma can't help but smirk, knowing exactly what the 'but' would be. "I understand, you do not trust me as I lived among those in the town your forces have attacked." She sighs quietly, the smirk falling off as she thinks for a moment. "If I may not be free, may I at least ask you something?"
Xeilzrus: Xeilzrus nods. "Correct, Sister, though my people would not be happy to see you in a cell for too long." He sighs. "Are you going to ask why we attacked the town? We do so only to protect Yzzayt's Will and ourselves. Yzzayt intended this Great Land to be only for his children, and too many not of Yzzayt are settling here. Yzzayt is wise, and knows that if we do not act now, we will be without a home."
Louma grunts, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I see. So those people in the caravan are seen as invaders." She straightens up, levelling her gaze at Xeilzrus. "I see." The fire in her gut is trying to flare up, and her silence in the moment might hint at anger that a neutral expression barely hides.
Xeilzrus: "I see you are angry, Sister. This is. . .Unfortunate, though not unexpected." Xeilzrus replies, saddening himself. "Very well, Sister. I will let you go. As a sign of good will, you are to be allowed some freedoms." Xeilzrus might come to regret this, but he'd rather deal with a single Coatl rather than his annoyed subjects. "I can only hope that in time, you will become one of us."
Louma turns her head slightly, unable to keep from speaking up. Inner voices conflicting, one saying to keep solid, accept what he says, and just wait. The other howling louder in outrage. The result of the two is a barely measured statement coated in venom. "I am not angry for my treatment, I am angry you would kill without cause. Without sending someone to voice Yzzayt's desire. Cowardly and barbaric!" She stops short, grunting.
Xeilzrus' eyes narrow under his skull shroud. His voice drops lower, annoyed at the response, yet seeking to answer it. "Our old rulers were soft, weak, disconnected from Yzzayt's greatness. If they had been wiser, stronger, we would not be in this situation. I am Yzzayt's Will, his Voice. His Chosen his instruments of retribution." Xeilzrus replies, with agitated fanaticism. "You misjudge my kindness for mercy, Sister. Unless you wish for me to revoke this kindness and throw you into the mines, you would do well not to speak to me like that again." Xeilzrus' ego snaps on a hair trigger, it seems.
Louma glares for a moment in defiance, but relents, bowing her head low as she can bear. "I... Please accept my apologies... I have been bound and dragged for a week, my mind is clouded by a sore body. I appreciate your kindness, Xeilzrus."
Xeilzrus takes a rather nasally displeased breath in. If he were not fearful of his own people turning against him and questioning his loyalty to Yzzayt, he would remove Louma's wings here and now to be better safe than sorry. But that is sadly not an option for him right now. He nods, sourly, in acceptance. "Very well, Louma of Orela. I accept your apology and will overlook this." Xeilzrus' tone indicates that he doesn't truly believe in his own words, such is the situation he's in. He calms down, dropping back into his more polite, civil tone, "Please, follow my brothers to your new living arrangements. We will provide you with what we can to ease your body as much as we are able, of that you have my word."
Louma looks back up to Xeilzrus, the moment of her anger bubbling over given way to an instinct to remain as free as possible. She nods, hesitating to speak too much before finally quietly replying. "Thank you." She turns to follow her escort, tail uncoiling in place for a few seconds as she slithers along with them. Her clenched fingers relax, imprints in her palms from talon tips buzzing numbly at the relief.
Xeilzrus: Xeilzrus nods to the guards.
Narrator: With that, the guards move Louma to her new living space. While it still has a locked entrance, and it's a far cry from the comforts of Respite, it's still a quaint little abode and a vast step up from the cell she'd spent the night earlier in. As per Xeilzrus' word, she is well fed over the coming days, as well as has doctors tend to her, who also find themselves fascinated with her.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - LOUMA'S NEW HOME - EVENING
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Louma slithers through the door of the abode she's been provided, sighing as she shakes off the admittedly comfortable shawl and wide leather belts that have replaced her leather travel armor. That outfit was confiscated while she bathed, which was also not necessarily a willful activity. To their credit, even though she's been escorted most everywhere she's gone, there hasn't been much other pressure around her. The healers even proved skillful and gentle when dealing with her injured wings and other minor cuts and bruises, and the food provided to her is much better than prison gruel. Of course, none of this matters, being prisoner is being prisoner, no difference is made by how Xeilzrus worded it. Even if she's not confined to a room, or bound by ropes, Louma knows that she couldn't coax her bandaged wings to take her very far. She knows that even if she tried, archers or pterosaurs would intercept her readily. That her friends and fellow guards are likely worried about her. She knows that May is sleeping as alone as she is tonight. Closing her eyes and clasping her hands together, Louma makes another plea to nobody in particular, begging for everyone's safety. The sound of her door locking breaks her out of the prayer. Louma slithers through the rooms, dragging the blanket off of the too-small bed and onto the floor again, curling up on it and laying her head on folded arms, shrouded under a wing. She had forgotten how silent it could be without a bundle of warmth quietly breathing among her coils, and instead she only has tears to wet her arms. She doesn't sleep until exhaustion forces her to rest a few hours.
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MAY'S OLD HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON
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Vix strolls up to May's old house, carrying with her a fragrant knapsack. She peeks through the dusty window, checking for any sign that the stoat is home.
Maybelline is currently sitting at the kitchen table, although the house has been mostly abandoned the past few months she's been living with Louma, most of the furniture was provided by the town, this being an attached living-quarters to the Generator complex provided by Respite. Right now, she's fiddling with some parts, trying to get pieces that should fit together to... fit together. But her hands are shaking slightly, making the task harder than it should be as she's reaching that point again where if she were smarter she'd get some sleep. She looks fairly terrible, exhausted and unkempt.
Vix taps on the window with a claw and waves!
Maybelline starts at the noise, dropping one of the two parts. She glancese at the window and tilts her head before getting up to go open the door. "V-Vix?"
Vix rummages in her knapsack and pulls out a fresh loaf of bread, then points to the door.
Maybelline unlocks the door, creaking it open to glance at the cat. "C-can I... help you?"
Vix smiles at May and shows her the rest of the bread. "I thought I'd stop by to check on you. Can I come in?"
Maybelline still seems a bit confused, staring at the bread blankly, but she eventually nods. "Sure... come in, yeah."
Vix makes her way inside and closes the door behind her. "I uh...got really nervous and couldn't stop baking. Woke up surrounded by bread and thought you might be hungry."
Maybelline walks back to the table, picking up the dropped part along the way as she pulls herself up into her seat. "I... n-no. I'm not... I'm just not all that hungry really. I appreciate the thought though."
Vix sets the knapsack on the table and takes the extra seat. "Oh, had a big lunch? I usually just snack through the day."
Maybelline lifts the pieces she'd been trying to fit together out of Vix's way, turning to piece them together once again. "I... yeah. Big lunch. Don't need to worry about me. I'm... fine."
Vix sets a soft, fluffy-looking loaf of bread in front of May. "You're definitely not fine. That's what the bread's for."
Maybelline hmphs, not looking up. "Bread isn't going to help anything, Vix. I know you're just trying to help, but I don't think-" She pushes the pieces together, but her shaking hands slip, causing one piece to break apart in May's hand. She swiftly drops the pieces and swears loudly, clenching her eyes tight. "DAMNIT! Damnit..."
Vix sighs and scoots her chair closer to May's, then gives her a gentle hug.
Maybelline slumps against Vix, leaning into the hug but not reciprocating. "Damnit, Vix... I... I'm trying as hard as I can." She opens her eyes, the tears quickly welling up once more. "It hurts. It hurts so damn much."
Vix gently holds May, hoping to keep her from falling apart. "It hurts a lot more if you try to bottle it up. I'm here to listen, May."
Maybelline starts to sob in Vix's arms, "I... I just want to go home. I want to go home, and I want her to be there, but it's so empty. It's so quiet and cold. A-and I just... I can't."
Vix pats May's shoulder. "I'm really worried about her, too. It's...a lot to deal with."
Maybelline looks up at Vix, tears flowing freely now, "I want to be strong so she doesn't have to worry about me. I can still help! I... I..." She swallows, "I've... never lost anyone before, Vix. I can't lose her! I just found her! And I love her so much."
Vix is quiet for a moment as she remembers something. "You just have to keep up hope right now, May. You haven't lost her yet."
Maybelline takes a deep breath, setting her jaw with a fierce look, "I can't- I won't let her go. The past few days, I've wanted so bad just to go to the bar and drink until I forgot the emptiness... but I don't want to forget her. I don't want Louma to come home to find me like that. S-so here I am." She laughs a little bitterly, "And hope is all I have. She just... has to be safe. She has to be."
Vix hugs May a little tighter. "She's strong. She'll be okay."
Maybelline sniffles, continuing to cry, letting out a whole lot of pent up tears. "She is... She will be... Th-thanks, Vix."
Vix offers May a handkerchief. "I know it's hard to process, but you're doing well so far. I mean, look at me, I ended up baking, like, forty loaves."
Maybelline takes the handkerchief and wipes her face, somehow managing a laugh through the tears, "I built Nesseth like, a dozen signal lights. I just... hope they help him."
Vix smiles. "They'll be the key to the whole operation~"
Maybelline breaks into a small smile as well, wiping more tears away with a hand. "I... very much doubt that. But a girl can hope she made a difference." She slides away from Vix just slightly to look at the bread. "I haven't eaten since yesterday when Plume stopped by..."
Vix slowly splits the loaf in half, revealing the fluffy, golden interior. "Feel free to help yourself~"
Maybelline shakily reaches up to tear off a piece from the half closest to her. "You know, for the official town greeter, you're awfully full of surprises." She pops the piece into her mouth.
Vix tears off a bit of bread for herself. "Oh? Why do you say that?"
Maybelline chews the bread a moment before she swallows, looking away in a bit of embarrasment, "Just... you're a good friend, that's all."
Vix hums and leans against May. "I guess I just have a good sense for when folks need me."
Maybelline sighs, "I... I may need you more for awhile too... sorry for being such a mess. I just... w-well, you know."
Vix: That's what I'm here for. I brought plenty of bread~
Maybelline nods, looking at the loaf and slumping down. "It's good... I'll eat some more... A-and... I think... I'm just going to cry until I can't anymore." She pauses. "...to whatever gods, ancestors, or whoever the snakes of Orela look to... just... please keep Louma safe and help her come back to me."
Vix nods. "Yeah, I think I'll join ya. Take it up with whoever's in charge!"
Maybelline turns towards Vix and with still shakey arms wraps them around the cat to give as good a hug as she can manage and she just lets herself cry.
Vix warmly embraces her stoat friend, quietly praying for Louma's safety.
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OUTSKIRTS OF RESPITE FARMLANDS - EVENING
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Victoria is walking back from the hunt with Annika, carrying a big bag of bird meat on her shoulder. The leopard is obviously in a good mood, having enjoyed both the hunt and actually having company to it that shares... more of her moods and opinions than she would have thought of the polite fox walking next to her. The story about how the gem got embedded into an ordinary fox was also intriguing to Victoria, although she did not know enough about magic to really ask any pertinent questions too much.
Annika hefted the backpack a little, getting it more comfortable on her shoulders. They've been walking for a short while, and Annika has slowly been getting a bit more on edge, before finally commenting "Hey, do you think that the road is..I dunno, a bit empty? I don't want to sound like a bad novel but..it's too quiet"
Victoria looks around, nodding slowly: "It is quiet. Not that many move around here, but we should be seeing folks on their fields at least... far as I understand that's a neverending job." She looks around them, the farmhouses in visible distance not as lit up as they usually are when she comes back from her hunts.
Annika: "Right, there should be something going on" She frown a little, she doesn't want to check it out, but now that she's noticed, she feels like she can't just let things lie "Want to see what's up? Maybe ask around. We can pretend we're selling some of the meat"
Victoria chuckles: "Or actually sell it. Although most of the farmers lean on the veggie side." She then nods: "But something is up."
Annika turns, to start heading towards the farmhouse...before she stops, all three tails twitching, and ears up. "Wait.." She grabs Victoria, and drags her into the underbrush. A scant few moments after she did so, the front door of the humble little farmhouse they had been heading towards was knocked out, and a pair of rather well build lizardmen burst out, each having a pack full over them, and having acquired themselves a hostage, a husband and wife pair one would assume. Two rabbits, (or hares? Annika could never tell the difference) obviously terrified out of their wits, were tossed in front of the farmhouse, and begun to be 'interrogated'. They had children..but none could be found inside the house. Curious that.
Victoria is surprised by Annika's strength as she's pulled, but doesn't object as it very soon becomes obvious something's happening. She lets out a low growl as she sees the lizardmen. "What are these jackasses doing?" she whispers to Annika as she also unsheathes the jeweled machete without really thinking about it.
Annika: "I don't know" She frowns a little "But I don't like it..." She looks down at the machete "..I..I can't say I disagree" She draws her own bow, and readies an arrow and..."Too far, but..I think they'll have enough time to see us if we just try to charge in.." She winces as the lady of the house got slapped "Okay, okay..Victoria? Just..hold, a little bit..please" She takes off her bow, and backpack "I'm going to try and distract them..give you a chance to go in..do your thing" She takes out her knife, and quickly sliced a cut into the side of the torso of her hunting leathers, before grabbing some of the more 'gooey' bits of the meat in the back, and sticking it to the wound. It..looked..not terribly convincing "Only needs to work from a distance.." She then takes herself out of the bush, and starts 'limping' forward, leg dragging a bit, clutching her side, and making..rather pathetic mewling 'wounded animal' noises.
Victoria pauses, but lets Annika go at it. She hides herself in the brush as the lizardmen turn and take attention to Annika. Victoria sneaks closer as she's able, unsheathing her other blade as well. She's not sure if she's attacking to kill but these guys do not look like asking questions is the first thing to do with them either.
Narrator: Once Annika 'sees' the lizardmen, she lets out a gentle squeak, and starts trying to limp run away..she's hamming it up just a little bit, but it's enough to pull one of them away, and..once the second takes the time to properly 'secure' the rabbit family (read, tying them down), he takes off after Annika as well. She's wounded prey after all, and young and cute. She's much more appealing than the two older people they'd had already. They were swiftly bearing down on her, as she starts 'fleeing' towards where Victoria was stalking towards.
Victoria crouches down, tail swishing. Whether or not she admits it, this is her sort of enjoyable to her. Once the first of the lizardmen is close enough, she pounces without sound on top of him as he turns to look at Annika. She falls down with the bigger Saur, pulling her machete on his throat and glaring at the other: "Not a word or step further or your friend bites it."
Narrator: The second Saur, with a smooth motion, pounces down on Annika, who for all her acting..still hadn't expected such a swift motion from him, and was toppled over, with his on front of her, hand over her head, which is almost large enough to cover her entire face, Annika always have been rather on the small side... "And a move from you, and your friend goes squish."
Victoria growls at the other lizard, but doesn't move, just makes sure her temporary victim does not either. "It seems we're at an impasse, then."
Narrator: "Seems so." He starts to back up, still holding Annika, who was 'helplessly' pawing at the arm holding her up, before she gives it a gentle tap, and makes a stabbing motion at his hand, hopefully Victoria getting the signal of what she was going to do next, which was to pull the knife that she holds up the sleeve, and stab it into the back of his hand. The Saur snarls, and pulls back, the small dagger still stuck there, giving Annika a chance to scramble back, and free... and to lose Mr. Reptile his hostage...
Victoria hesitates for a second, then gives her knife a pull in a motion generally not recommended for good health of hostages, although not quite killing the guy, definitely making sure he's not getting up easily either, not with the leopard's full weight on top of him. She glares at the still-standing lizard: "If I were you, I'd start talking right about now."
Narrator: The second Saur makes a decent attempt to regain ownership of the fox he'd lost, but Annika had miraculously healed from her limp and was able to scramble back to behind Victoria. Instead, he snarled, and pulled the knife free, tossing it aside "We were collecting for Yzzayt what is ours" He looks to his "friend", nose curling in disgust, for one so weak as to have been beaten by a mere cat. "They did not have the strength to defend their lands, and so, they do not deserve to keep them"
Victoria squints at the lizard: "Yzzayt? Who's that?" She shakes her head slightly: "Nevermind. The heck are you attacking farmers and caravans? Cowards."
Narrator: "You fight with deception, the weapon of the coward. We fought fairly. It is not my fault they were weak" He hissed gently "If they had been stronger, they would have kept their lands, and they would have deserved them" He gestures over to the pair of rabbits (still cowering helplessly) "They have not even freed themselves. Pathetic"
Victoria growls as she leans her weight on the lizard, no doubt making him feel his partner's 'loyalty' about now in his back. "It's not my fault you can't defend yourselves. I still have one machete free." She glances at Annika, glad that she's okay despite the slight gamble: "Kindly fuck off before I decide to use it." Victoria is a good head shorter than either of the lizards, but you wouldn't know from the way she's talking.
Narrator: "Psh. Walldwellers. You're too soft" The Saur considers matters... before moving to tackle Victoria off his 'friend' right then and there. There's no subtly here, just a large mass of scales, and flesh attempting to slam the smaller Victoria into the ground.
Victoria jerks back to take the hit, enough to throw them both into a wrestling match from on top of the other lizard. She loses grip of her machete that's under her previous victim, but cat's got claws and is now done being polite. She claws at her attacker's chest and neck with sharp claws, clearly causing him pain of not slowing him down much. After a few turns of them attempting to get on top of each other, the larger being wins... until Victoria thrashes from under him and bites him in the throat, channeling her inner feral beast that she literally was not that long ago.
Narrator: Perhaps if he had gone into this expecting to face a whirlwind of claws and fury, he might have been able to leverage his extra mass, and height, it's not like he was unused to claw and fang combat, but his fighting had always been about matching strength, and overpowering, not trying to pin someone down who refused to get pinned down. Victoria would get a few light scratches, and bruises along the way..before she gets the (hopefully unpleasant) taste of dinosaur as he tenses. It's...really quite hard to do anything when your windwipe gets pierced, and the creature goes down flailing, gasping out his last, desperate breaths. The other one, upon which they were fighting is also dead, effectively trampled into the dirt.
Victoria bites long and hard enough to be certain she's done killing, her mind flashing back to the numerous times she did in the jungles near Mean Peak. After a way too long moment, she lets go and just to be sure, looks at her hands... that are actually hands and not paws. She shudders, then looks at Annika with a shocked, weak smile.
Annika takes a long look at all that. "Ahuh..uh..good job!" She was shocked herself, but manages a small encouraging smile, before "oh!" Her tails go up "The farmers!" She dashes off towards the farmhouse, to go and help them! Also go give her a moment to process all that. It was pretty intense after all! Once she arrived beside them, she would give them a warm smile, a little bob of the head before untying them "Hey! I'm Annika, my friend back there is Victoria, and we're here to help! She might seem scary, but don't worry. She's a softy at heart, now. We'll just need to get you free, and we can see what we can do from there, okay?" Her tone was upbeat, and chipper, as if everything was fine, and the lizards raiding was just a mild upset for the day.
Victoria slowly rises, still a bit shocked at how feral her mind went there despite this having happened before. She looks at both of the lizards, making sure they're not getting up despite mangled throats. Satisfied, she walks towards the farmers but stays a few steps behind Annika, knowing she's not terribly not-horrifying right now.
Annika was placating the two, and would nodded to them, as they went in to fetch their three children from hiding, and turns to Victoria, with a slightly frowny expression "Victoria.." She reaches into her pocket, and takes out a cloth, rubbing it over her nose "Your muzzle, it's all bloody! You'll scare the kids!" She lifts the frown, she'd been just low key screwing with the cat "You should get yourself cleaned up, before the littles come out" Annika's eyes go out to the mangled bodies "You did a good job there. I don't think they had anything good planned for these guys"
Victoria blinks at Annika, but again fails to really object much, if only from sheer surprise. "Good job... should have gotten more out of them, but clearly they weren't in the mood to talk." She glances at the farmhouse: "Let's make sure these folks get towards Respite safely. There might be others than need our help, I doubt these dorks were on a solo mission..."
Annika: "No, they're not" She gives one of the small buns, probably 4 at the most, a rub on the head "Okay, you and your Mom, Dad and the family are gonna come with us! We're going on a trip to the town~" She gives the parents a significant look. While Victoria might be able to threaten people credibly with de-windpipeification, Annika was threatening to be Disappointed if there was any backchat about 'not being able to leave the farm'. Don't make Annika disappointed. You won't like her when she disappointed. She picks up the smallest and keeps the child in her arms "You're right, we need to get these moving...probably check other farms. ..I doubt these were the first, and..well, there's lots of hidey holes" And so, stashed children, whose parents did not get rescued in the nick of time.
Victoria nods at Annika understandingly, starting to scan their surroundings. This was going to be one of those very long nights, wasn't it. After cleaning up her snout, she picks up her machetes and starts going through her mental map of these parts, figuring where they might find more stragglers. The situation is clearly worse than just one caravan attack...