Completed [Pavi Lake] Chasing The Salt Thief

[Kaie]

Timestamp: 58th of Summer, 513 AV


Kaie had been moving steadily and at a quick pace. Guiding the ragtag group through the Cobalt Mountains she had spent the last three years residing in. She knew where each spot was...The Bronze Woods, Hot Springs, Geysers, and all the other lakes, caves, and what not that were of interest and use. She was confident within these woods regardless of the hour. Whether the sky was dominated by Syna or Leth it hadn't ever mattered to the Myrian. This was the closest thing she had to calling anything home.

Half the time she was jogging, keeping a rhythmic gait for the others to follow. She did her best to choose clearer paths and less treacherous areas for her allies who didn't know how to navigate as well as she did. The Myrian was like a predator in the forest, never stopping or resting unless someone requested her to. Slower in the pack than alone, they arrived at their destination an hour or two later than she projected. Nonetheless, they were there where the suspected thief had originated. Pavi Lake.

Kaie broke into the clearing first, naturally. Stepping forward with her head on a swivel, she eyed the area for trouble. Used her senses. When all seemed clear enough she made a motion with her hand for the others to enter. They filed in one by one to join her. To take in their surroundings, wondering where to start.

"Well. Here we are. I do hope one of you had a plan on where to start once we got here," The Myrian said with a smirk, looking from the group to the lake. She spread her arms out as if accentuating the expanse of their surroundings. The sky was an odd color of blue with white sheets of cloud coating it. Oddly enough, the salt lake mirrored above. The surface was the same weird blue but more notably, large stalagmites of salt rose like towers from the surface. It was an eerie sight. One that had caused plenty of rumors to fly around about the place. Kaie had heard about them and brushed them all off as ridiculous. Just foolish barbarians plagued by starvation and dehydration in the woods. Lost probably. Then again she had just seen a person made out of clay, so she wasn't so sure skepticism was working out for her.

"Let's just get on with it and find the Pycon. Maybe it would be most efficient if we split up?" She said casually as if they were playing a game of Hide and Seek rather than searching for a kidnapped person. Really, she was just waiting for an opportunity to lay the guy or girl out.

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis let out a small shiver at the sight of this place. He'd expected some sort of salt flat but this place was creepy. Salt stalagmites burst from the surface of the lake like the jagged teeth of some monolithic beast intent on devouring the world. Still this is were Opala was, so he shook off the creepiness of the place and steeled himself for the fight to come.

Kaie said with a smirk "Well. Here we are. I do hope one of you had a plan on where to start once we got here"

"Aye Sir. Be they Stone, Clay, Flesh or bone, We pound the fiends and bring our friend home." Jervis said with a small laugh and pounded his left fist into his right hand again. Though unnoticeable before he his left hand seems slightly larger than the right which was highlighted by there mismatched coloring. Jervis knew the reason, he'd been focusing on that arm for the last half hour shaping it and adding to it's strength and size. He could feel the biceps on his left arm ripple and tighten under his bulky cassock. He focused on holding his changes, his left arm was about half again bigger than his right and shaped like an Adonis's fantasy.

"Let's just get on with it and find the Pycon. Maybe it would be most efficient if we split up?" Kaie said casually as if they were playing a game of Hide and Seek rather than searching for a kidnapped person.

"I'm okay with whatever you all decide, I just want to find her quickly." Jervis said with conviction but not knowing the others skills were, he wouldn't make them go alone if they didn't want too and besides with Izzy on his shoulder he always had a companion so he was okay either way. Though if the others suspicions were right and they came here to meet up with others it might be wise to stick together, but Jervis decided he couldn't focus on possibilities for all he knew there was only one person and splitting up was the best way to find that person.

[Ardea]

Ardea's pace never slowed nor faulted as she pursued the fearsome woman with natural ease. Every now and then she would cast a brief glance over her shoulder to check that Vanari was keeping up. There was a decidedly animalistic quality to the way she paced, more efficient and graceful than most humans, her footfalls almost silent as they contacted the undergrowth. The kelvic found herself rolling her eyes irritably as the Myrian stepped forwards into the clearing and then motioned for them to come, as if she should be the one to face the danger. Feeling significantly undermined, like Kaie saw her as nothing more than a young, defenceless woman, Ardea stepped out into the clearing.

Her steady, seemingly unblinking stare brushed over their surroundings, although she concealed her distaste, the place made her skin crawl with unease. How could anyone ever live here? Shaking her head to clear any minor disbelief that had formed in her mind, Ardea found herself rather determined to prove that she wasn't just deadweight. But that could easily be proved if she just shifted... Once more her blazing amber eyes fixed themselves onto Kaie. There was something about her that made Ardea reluctant to reveal her bestial form where the tactical woman would witness it, to keep it as an unpleasant surprise she should need it. Twisting her mind back to the mission at hand, Ardea surveyed the glistening surface of the lake; where would they even start?

Splitting up did not seem like a good idea at all, particularly as Vanari seemed to have a habit of getting herself into trouble wherever she went. Wasn't the most important thing to ensure that no-one else got kidnapped, thus worsening the situation? With a stifled sigh of frustration, the lithe woman shifted her bow against her back, silently making a decision just to go along with whatever the group decided and avoid conflict. This was not an appropriate time for an argument, no matter how short a temper Ardea possessed. Jervis' rhyme surprisingly lightened her mood a little and the kelvic warmed to him slightly. Peering at Vanari, she awaited her verdict on the situation.

[Vanari]

Summer, Day 58, 513AV

She had no idea how long they'd been trekking through the wilderness, as her mind was mostly focused on not slowing everyone down, but the Vantha almost preferred their grueling march to standing around a place as unsettling as Pavi Lake. And that was saying something, because the picnic basket was petching heavy.

"I suppose that would help us cover more ground, though it may be a bit risky, being as ignorant of the situation as we are..." Vanari set down the basket and scratched her chin, thinking furiously. Kaie was competent, there was no doubt about that, but she seemed less interested in their well-being and more so in kicking the snot out of someone. All in all, her belligerence was probably a good thing, especially if it turned out they were outnumbered. Though, Vanari made a mental note to stick close to the others should they find themselves in a fight, as the Myrian did not strike her as the babysitting type.

"Well, not much of a choice," the Vantha sighed. "I should probably go with Ardea, as I'm not much of a fighter, and she's used to putting up with that."

Silently thanking the gods that she had splurged on her Tamo daggers just hours before, Vanari unsheathed her weapon as she pulled out the picnic cloth. It seemed a silly luxury in such a bizarre, otherworldly place, but it would serve them all the same. Stabbing the center and slicing up, she split the cloth into four sections. Then she quickly partitioned their rations onto each piece and tied the ends firmly before flipping the empty basket over, wedging it into the salty ground with her foot.

"Alright, here's our marker. Let us convene here in two hours if no one finds anything. That way we'll know if the other group is in trouble and to start looking for them as well. Give a holler if you find yourself in a rough spot--it's the best we've got at the moment, unless someone happens to be conveniently toting a horn."

She grinned at the Kelvic before adding, "At least there shouldn't be a problem hearing us on our end, though Ardea will try her best not to let me get into trouble."

Scooping up one of the four bundles, which was a bit heavy from all the smoked meats but fortunately no bigger than her head, Vanari pulled out a slice of bacon before slinging the rest over her shoulder.

"Go ahead and take your picks, I thought it'd be best not to literally keep all our eggs in one basket. I split up the clay, too, just in case one of us finds Rada and she's..." The Vantha stopped, brushing away the morbid idea. "Ahem, yes. Well, any ideas where we should start?"

She looked around at the group, taking a liberal bite out of the delicious, greasy bacon.

[Jervis Hill]

"Okay then, See you all in a few hours." Jervis said, grabbing a parcel and heading off along the shore of the lake, looking for some sort of clue. Sensing Jervis intensity Izzy moved up on top of Jervis' head eyes looking outward for anything unusual. Jervis was glad to have his little friend along in this creepy place as he was sure to warn him of anything he deemed dangerous.

He wandered for a half hour or so along the shore looking for some sort of track, stopping every once and awhile to skip a stone along the serene surface of the lake. He wasn't moving fast as he was trying to gain some sort of direction as to where to go. Where would I hide if I were a kidnapper Jervis thought to himself, Somewhere like a cave or something with the amount of salt that was on him but he hadn't spotted any so far.

He spotted what looked like a rotten building frame covered in ivy where the forest had grown in and decided to try his luck and see what he found inside.

[Kaie]

The Myrian shrugged her shoulders as she listened to each speak, stretching her muscles a bit. The Isur's phrase was clever and brought an entertained gleam into the savage's eyes for a moment. Yet she was simply just listening without looking. Instead she had been focusing her line of sight on their surroundings. The place was rather open and, being a woman raised in thick jungle, it made her more aware. At least the tall salt towers provided a bit of cover if she decided she need it. Just as she was observing the location's value, she felt eyes on her. A tense stare. Kaie immediately turned her head back to the group, finding Ardea's gaze on her yet again.

It seemed that their distrust of one another was mutual. Hers fueled by natural disdain for barbarians born outside Myri's light, the copper woman's perhaps stoked by the savage's appearance and personality. Fearlessly, Kaie held her gaze for a moment, tilting her head some as if piercing directly into her soul. Searching. The Myrian knew her ways of doing business alone was enough to keep the others on their toes, the red haired woman especially. After all, with one of their group already missing it would've seemed unwise to divide everyone further. The truth was simply that Kaie was reckless. She wasn't concerned about trekking alone in the woods. She was comfortable with her fists and just as capable of murder as her kin. Her previous team outing had resulted in mass blood shed. She was prepared to participate in another bloodbath if the opportunity arose. She was confident, young, and careless to the furthest degree.

Her thoughts were again broken when Vanari began speaking. Kaie felt she could find her way back to their current location the way they were, but considering the oddities of the land, she decided a marker would be a good idea. The Myrian paced forward lightly toward the divided parcels and took her pick. After slipping it into her pack, she nodded once in Ardea and Vanari's direction, agreeing to the terms. She couldn't help but allow a curiosity about the fiery haired woman to return to her again. So she was a fighter? Kaie had gotten that much her how she behaved. Yet was it really that much skill that caused Vanari to remain close to her side? Kaie made a mental note to challenge her to a spar later. Still, she couldn't shake one thing Vanari had said. What had they meant about having no trouble hearing on their end?

"Sound plan. If I find nothing before time is up, I'll continue around the perimeter and find you," She said easily with a ghost of a grin before fading into seriousness, preparing for the work ahead.

The Myrian shook her head, removing any lingering questions to focus on her current task. With only two directions to choose from and one pair already going one way, Kaie decided to sweep the same area as the Isur. Not the same route though. The Myrian enjoyed the shadows of the forest far more than the open path around the lake. The moon's glow rebounding off the salt towers was too bright for her taste. She preferred not to be seen by her enemy. Not until she found them first. Stealthy flitting between the trees was how her clan operated. How they were known by their enemy. The shadows they saw for only a moment between the gaps in the foliage. Figures rushing by, armed to the teeth. Quick. Lethal. That was how she'd do her own end of the hunting.

Kaie withdrew her gladius slowly, making sure the metal against the sheath would be silent. She faded back into the trees they had come from to become one with the forest. Only when she was well hidden from the others in the shadows did she begin her hunt. Crouched low in a predatory stalk, Kaie moved through the forest as quietly as she could. She didn't just reply on what was ahead of her though. She was aware and searching her every direction. The hunter would stop every now and then to observe an odd mark on the ground, working to find a trace of an unnatural occurrence. As Jervis was moving, Kaie was at his flank within the forest though he couldn't see her. Perhaps the primal hunter in her even thought of his being alone out there acting like a sort of bait. Like as soon as he was jumped, the predator could lunge from the thickets to take down her prey. Of course the civilized mind she put on was simply watchful and only expanding their range to follow potential leads.

The woman ran parallel to Jervis until he approached some ivy covered contraption. With one of them checking that out, she moved on through. Growing impatient but always observing. Watching. Waiting for that stray noise or a billow of smoke from a fire to rise over the trees. She hoped the other pair was finding more than her end. Yet, she didn't. Who would want to miss the action?

[Ardea]

Ardea felt a slight twinge of joy at the prospect of not having to spend another chime in the Myrian's company, scrutinising her every move as though the kelvic were afraid the woman would pull out her weapon at any moment. There seemed to be some sort of unspoken message of distrust between them, not that Ardea particularly cared what the human thought of her, but it was somewhat reassuring to know that the human wasn't actively trying to break the kelvic's guard down. She rolled her eyes at Vanari, a slightly amused smile crawling onto her defined features as she split the cloth. I think I can manage two hours without food. Besides, she had her bow, she could always shoot herself some dinner.

Instead, she retrieved the piece of clay from the bundle that was left and slipped it into her pocket, leaving the rest of the food in case any of the others needed it later. She was already burdened with clothes and weapons and wasn't particularly fond of the idea of having to take another thing that she would just have to rip off when she shifted. Before she set off, she cast a sweeping glance at the sun's position in the sky. It appeared that they had spent the entirety of the morning in Syliras and a large portion of the afternoon getting here. Now the moon hung low in the sky, the largest orb of light amongst many weaker ones that pierced the ebon fabric of the night, illuminating the surface of the lake.

The kelvic gave a mused chuckle as Vanari mentioned not having any problems hearing them, recalling the time when she had unleashed a bone-shattering roar rather too close to the Vantha's face. However her face quickly regained its solemn expression, as if no other emotion had ever happened upon it in all the time she had lived. Let's go. With the given silent command, she strode forwards, an air of confidence bubbling around her. Angling slightly to the left of the eerie lake, she focused her mind onto the task at hand. Although not entirely certain what they were looking for, the lithe young woman was confident that they would recognise it once they saw it.

Each of her strides were measured, rhythmic and silent. After a certain number of steps, she would pause and hasten a glance over her shoulder to check on her companion, then continue onwards as if nothing had happened. Alert eyes scanned every ripple on the surface of the lake and every rock on its shore and soon enough, she began to notice odd shadows under the lake's surface. These were no ordinary shadows, they were abnormally shaped and distorted. Hair prickled on the back of her neck and the kelvic veered away from the edge of the lake, the unearthly shadows testing her nerves. But, just to be certain, she removed her shortbow from her back and gripped it tightly in her ivory hand.

Crunch. Huh? The noise startled her slightly and though she would never admit it, it had caused her heart to thump about ten times faster, already on edge from the abnormal- things- under the lake. Lifting her foot, she discovered salt on the sole of her shoe. In fact, there was salt covering the entire shore in front of them.
"Vanari?"
Although it might have been nothing, it was all they had apart from- the kelvic didn't even want to think about those seemingly deformed creatures. Shifting her weight uneasily from one foot to the other, Ardea was overcome with a suspicion that they were being watched.

[Vanari]

"I'm here," Vanari whispered, her skin prickling with unease and the strange feeling that they were not alone.

A moment earlier she had followed Ardea's gaze, making out some rather disturbing shapes swimming about under the dark waters. Even beneath the pearly moonlight, it was hard to tell just what exactly they were. Not, the Vantha admitted, that she was likely to know even if she did get a plain view.

Something crunched under the tigress's heel. Looking around, they saw that the entire place was covered in salt, the tiny grains reflecting the white moonlight from above.

Her sense of unease heightened as something splashed in the water.

"What the petch was that?"

Vanari tried her best not to panic, her heart hammering itself ruthlessly against her ribs. She held her daggers shakily before her, readying herself for evil in the most fearsome of its forms.

Splat. Something landed in front of her feet. Slowly bringing her gaze down, she was fully prepared to wail in fear at whatever monstrosity lay before her.

"Ardea," she all but whimpered, then scowled as she blinked twice to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks. "What the..."

It was a cat. No wait, it was a fish. What the gods?!

[Tessabelle]

Once again Tessabelle found herself discovering new places. And what was a better time than being under the sky of Leth? The benshira look was gone and the heavenly beauty of an Ethfael appeared.

Under the moon she felt most comfortable moving away unlike the day which made her feel trapped in a form she couldn't call her own. Her hair was in a
tight braid and her horns we're gleaming with beauty. This moon skinned Eth wasn't going to let the day take away her energy. For this day, she slept during the day so she could come out at night.

The Pavi lake was a beautiful sight to the Eth. The structure of it, the heavy concentration of salt. All of it, was just beautiful and the lake had some kind of meaning to it.

Tessabelle had mounted Talla'doe. She had no special equipment for the horse but held on to the horse's neck with her left and with the right, she steered her around by her long white mane.

Tessabelle came at the Paving lake with a mild gallop. Once she thought they were close enough she tugged on the mane for Talla'doe to stop and hopped off.

"It's even better looking up close!" She let out a giggle. She watched the lake for a moment while patting her mare. It was inspiring to here.

"Let them see your beauty, your strong features, everything. Let them see what I see; don't be afraid. Your time has come and you can't hide forever, let them see." She sung aloud. But the mood she usually felt wasn't there anymore.

"Somethings wrong here. I feel it." Tessabelle whispered before looking at the sky for guidance."What's wrong?"

[Jervis Hill]

Jervis walked up to the ivy covered building through the moonlight, Salt crunching rhythmically with his steps. Compared to the tunnels of his homeland he had more than enough light to make out an open archway where it appeared a door used to stand. Why can't humans seem to build things to endure more than a decade, used to much wood for one in his opinion. Jervis thought as he entered the dilapidated building.

Most of the straw roof was gone allowing beams of moonlight to trickle down through the leaves providing plenty of light inside as he surveyed the interior. A rusted iron stove sat in the corner, near a termite eaten table that looked near ready to collapse, some clay bowls sat on top of the table coated in a thick later of dust indicating that this place hadn't been used in quite a while and was not the place they were holding his friend.

He gave a another quick glance just to make sure he hadn't missed anything but only saw dried leaves, Dirt and some rotten looking floor boards. I guess I keep looking Jervis thought turning on his heel causing the floorboards to let out a noisy groan.

A few steps and he was back at the door and wouldn't have thought twice about his exit but a hiss from Izzy changed that. It was a warning hiss and Jervis whirled around in the doorframe just as the floorboards creaked and snapped flying across the room stirring up dust and leaves in a blinding cloud. He'd known to turn around because that was the way his partner was facing and his senses were far sharper than his own. He'd long since learned to trust his little friend's natural instincts. He heard the scraping of heavy claws on wood, accompanied by a loud hiss as something appeared to be charging at him from inside the dust could. Jervis turned presenting his left side and extending his left leg behind him for balance and strength, He liked to call this Isurian Shield stance and whatever this creature whatever it was would soon learn why.