Quest Monstrous Surprises

[Meadow]

20th of Fall 516 A.V.

Water droplets fell to the ground hitting any one unlucky enough to be caught out in the weather. One such soul was a old hunter who was returning to Endrykas with a very small haul. The man looked around for his next marker to show him the right direction home. Until something strange caught his eye, tracks but these were no ordinary tracks. Kneeling down the old man used his hand to figure out the size of each print. They appeared to be in the shape of a human foot print, but were not deep enough to be a full grown man. A strange laughing sound in the distance caused chills to run down his spine. Quickly mounting back up he spurred the stallion into a gallop. The sound got closer to the man till suddenly he was taken down from a top the strider. Rearing and bucking the stallion raced off from the threat.

The creatures held the man down and began to devour him. Screaming in agony he made the strider go back to Endrykas, before it too became a meal. Neighing it raced off towards the city quickly skirting around the edge finding its home. A young woman looked out seeing the strider come running up without his rider.

“MOM!” The girl ran inside and fetched her mother in a panic.

Gasping the woman saw her husbands strider alone, fear welled up inside of her. Forcing a calm face the mother turned and told her eldest to keep all the little ones inside that she would return soon. Closing up the flap to the tent she mounted up her mare and raced over to the Watch tents.

***********************


Rain pelted the Watch tents making a constant drum that the heads worked to. Many walked around talking about different jobs that each Ra'athi will be sent on for the day. One name kept coming up, Weebly Rivergraze. The man had been on thin ice with Helena ever since the elder brother of the Starrun pavilion had to be arrested. She was furious with the man as he had made a fool out of her. Talking with a few others about what to do with the man a sudden burst of rain and cries of a woman pulled everyone from what they were doing.

Running over Helena caught the woman as she cried and screamed incoherently about something. Pulling her inside one of the others fastened the flap closed once more to keep the rain out. Finally able to calm the distressed woman down some Helena began to ask her questions. All the Watch member could understand was something about an abandoned strider, her husband missing, and a early hunting trip.

“Okay okay. Take a deep breath we will send someone out shortly to look for him. Return home and keep your children calm,” Helena said.

Turning she told one of the others to escort the woman home safely. Once the pair was gone Helena began getting things in order to send someone out.

********************************

~While the woman was speaking with the Watch~

Meanwhile another hunter was returning home happy with the large haul he had acquired. Singing loudly and rather badly the man stopped seeing how his strider became stiff and alert. Looking around nothing caught his ear, but he could see something ahead in the flashes of Zulrav's light above. Pushing on the man gasped seeing the dead man on the ground. Quickly dismounting he forced his stomach strong. Turning him over the hunter spotted the windmarks then the tracks. Laying him down the man quickly followed the tracks. Several times he double backed then continued on, it almost appeared as if a toddler had been walking, yet the tracks suggested it was a grown man of sorts. Finally the tracks stopped looking ahead the man knew whatever or whoever it was; happened to be following the horse tracks before appearing to lose interest.

“Come on big girl, we need to get back fast,” the man said.

Once mounted he pushed the mare on to the The Spitfire to turn in his kills. Entering quickly the man ran over to the clerk behind the counter bombarding him with questions. Laughing for a moment the clerk calmed the man down and made everyone go back to what they were doing. Looking to the young man before him, he spoke calmly trying to get the young one to calm down.

“Now, tell me your name and what you saw,” the clerk said making the man breath.

“My name is Trai'ce. I was returning from my hunt and saw a man, a drykas, who had been eaten alive and left out in the open on the Sea of Grass,” Trai'ce said panting.

“A drykas?” the man said thinking.

“Yes, I saw the windmarks on his back,” Trai'ce said trying to get his point across.

“Okay, okay. Calm down and we will send for a Watch member,” the man said.

[Khida]

Nothing signaled the end of summer so surely as the cool rains of autumn... and yesterday's downpour had been definite in that regard. Today's dawn, though still shrouded in clouds and dripping with rain, saw Khida attempting to make up for being camp-bound during the torrent. Though not a pleasant day for hunting by any means, the rain had lightened enough for such pursuit to be practical; and that was all she needed... as far as the weather was concerned, at least. Most of the small creatures she usually took as prey would still be sheltering from this lighter fall, which meant the Kelvic also needed a reasonable amount of luck. Luck, it turned out, shined about as brightly upon her morning hunt as did the sun. It took perhaps a couple of bells before Khida finally gave up and turned her Strider cityward, the horse cutting a direct path back across the region they had painstakingly canvassed just a short while before. Her bow remained in its case, securely affixed to one side of the yvas; likely just as well, as the man she had bought it from had said it should be protected from water. A brace of mist pigeons weighted her yvas bags, all she had to show for the morning's endeavor; the Kelvic had resorted to her falcon form to even manage that much success. Relatively small, they were most likely from this year's fledging, and definitely did not make up for the prior day's deficit. Such was the way of the world; some days a hunter came out ahead, and some days one didn't. Now she was tired of riding, and tired of the necessity for rain-damp clothes, the clamminess of rain-damp skin, the smell of rain-damp horse; Khida wanted nothing more than to see her kills properly disposed of in the city and retreat into the Dawnwhisper tent, the better to bake the rain out of her feathers beside their hearth. It was thus quite gratifying when the city's tents came into her view, rising out of the pale grasses in all their colors and ornamentations. She did not guide Sephra through the city so much as simply maintain her seat while the horse set her own path; what intentions Khida's body communicated to the Strider, were sent without conscious direction. The Spitfire sat out at the end of the city's Emerald arm, which would have been all kinds of convenient if they had actually returned to that side of the city. Today, convenience seemed about as much in supply as good fortune; thus, her Strider walked the breadth of the city just so Khida could sell off her two poor exemplars of autumn groundbirds. By the time that tailmost tent finally came into view, she had come to very nearly regret that choice; the birds could have gone into the Dawnwhisper stewpot and served just fine, scrawny or not. But neither could she depend upon having kills come the morrow, and the Kelvic did have a job to fulfill; mizas would feed their family nearly as well, but only fresh kills could be sold. Besides, she had arrived, so it was pointless to dwell upon alternative paths not taken. There seemed to be some commotion at the Spitfire's main counter, which drew Khida's attention before she reached the tent proper; sitting back, she cued her Strider to halt, the better for her to consider what was going on before actually getting in the midst of it. Probably nothing; almost certainly nothing that would hamper her own business; but avian instinct demanded an evaluation before she proceeded.

[Rufio]

　　　　" rain, rain, go way."
　　　　Asher hummed, and sighed.

He eased himself down beside Rufio, rubbing his bad leg with a faint grimace. The Wildmane-now-Stormblood had brought a few of her bondmate's furs to the middle of the pavilion where she sat cross-legged, wrapped up warmly in the soft pelts.

She buried her fingers into the soft fur that laid across her lap and pulled it over Asher's knees with a welcome smile. Across the rug before her, she had laid out a deck of tarot cards. Her fingertips brushed the stiff hide plaques, distractedly. Her ochre gaze peered at the faded painted pictures across their worn surfaces. The hearth crackled, softly.

"What are you doing?" Asher asked, curious and unobtrusive. The half-Drykas' brushed her ebony fringe from its tickling at her brows—sighed gently.

What was she doing with herself?
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　—this bell, in life.

After a few ticks of existential ruminating—"I'm dwelling—" self-pity celebration.
The herder "aahhhed" in that way he did—with quiet, wise understanding.
"I'm bored." Came Rufios truth, confession, without shame.
"Bored." Disbelief. Asher tossed his hands up in teasing exasperation—"what about tending to the goats you own, uh? Or gathering dung for the fire, hm? Or maybe mending the clothes? Or washing the pots? Bored, ack. There is always much to do." Asher scoffed with a smile, in a sort of grandfatherly way.

Rufio grinned like a coyote, feeling no shame in her laziness. "The goats like you better." She persuaded impishly. Asher chuckled, and shook his head.

"Here, let's play a game." Invitation, playful. Asher peered at Rufio with his striking blue eyes, and then at the tarot cards lying dormant and forgot. He waved his hands as if to ward off the magic of the cards as he declined. "Oh no, you play, I'll watch." Superstitious, no-belief.

Rufio shrugged a shoulder, not phased by his lack of faith in her craft. He was not the only Drykas that did not believe in fortune-telling. Her fingers brushed the cards affectionately before she picked up the deck and shuffled. "Alright, let's see what this day holds for me."—she mused.

When the cards had been shuffled well, she set the deck down, and lifted the topmost card off to the side. It was face-down. Rufio pressed her palm over 't, and let her eyes fall closed softly. She breathed, listened to the rains, felt the chill of Fall reaching into the gaps where the fur met the floor, absorbed Asher's calm aura beside her. It was ritual for Rufio, meditating before turning over the cards.

　　When she flipped the card over, she sucked in a breath. Asher leaned in, interest piqued despite himself.

　　　　　　"The Fool."
　　　　　　　　—Rufio named the card.

"Rufio fool?" Asher was stolen over by quiet, chuckling laughter and signed teasing, agreement. The short Drykas shoved the man's shoulder so he toppled over, though he just lay and chuckled a chime longer.

The superstitious Rufio was already up and moving to gather her things—leather backpack, tools, rope. She paused by her and Ixzo's bed a chime, gazing at her mother's journal, indecisive.

"What are you doing Rufio?" Asher had righted himself, and was watching her with mild bewilderment. The half-Drykas decided. Lifted her mother's journal to pack into her backpack, she answered distractedly—"Getting out." Excitement, adventure, unknown

"What does it mean?"—Asher gestured to the card, suspecting it the tinder to the sudden flame of energy that licked at the heels of his pavilion-sister. He peered down at it curiously—as Rufio slipped her feet into leather plaited shoes under her fur-lined, hide leggings.

"The Fool"—Rufio begun to tell him the card's story.—"it suggests the need to set forth on a new journey. It means, renewal, new-beginnings."

She smiled to herself as she shrugged into a heavy, fur-lined hide jacket. As she settled amidst the Stormblood pavilion, Rufio had felt her bones charging with a restless energy. Cooped up with the rain that had lashed down on the Sea Of Grass for days now, she was feeling it more so.

"He lives carefree, y'see, doesn't mind if he does not know what lies ahead." Free-spirit, courage, innocence, purity. Asher made an appreciative noise and summarized his thoughts simply—The Drykas way. Rufio shrugged a shoulder in loose agreement.

After shouldering her pack, she leant down to fix a feather-kiss to the gentle herder's cheek before she brushed past him. "Ohs tratche—just got to get out of this tent before I go mad."—she promised, reassuring.

When she stepped out into the rain without a second thought, Asher signed a quiet prayer of protection for her. He watched the rain for a few chimes after, thoughtful, amused.

When he turned to peer again at The Fool still sitting face-up on the rug beside him, the patter of rain and the crackle of fire lulling in the quiet. "Just us now, eh." he muttered. Then shook his head at wile younger-folk.

▵ ▿ ▵

　　　　 rufio didn't mind the rain.

Her woven shoes managed to keep the worst of the wet out, as did her coat, which she had reluctantly oiled a few days ago when the weather didn't seem keen to pass on by them soon.

The half-Drykas had barely trudged to the egdes of the Stormblood camp when a rider splashed by with the furry of anxious haste. Rufio's brow furrowed and her heart leapt a little in pace, wondering what might have happened.

Living among the Diamond Clan—Rufio had soon gathered haste oft equated trouble here.

Loha—her dark red-dun Strider—clomped up to greet her with a nicker and a nuzzle, she stroked his sodden hide, which was beginning to thicken-in for the season. When she clambered atop his broad back, the stallion neighed, sensing his rider's excitement, and raked the dirt with his fore-hoof excitedly.

　　Casting a gaze out towards The Sea Of Grass
　　　　—she hesitated.
　　　　　　Curiosity seeped into her bones, getting the better of her judgment. The half-Drykas leaned and squeezed her thighs against the sturdy, scar-marked flanks of her strider, urging Loha towards the commotion.

　　Innocently investigative, brimming with good-faith (even if the superstitious kind).

　　　　Just a bit, Foolish.
　　

[Brocton Firestone]

"Woah hold it girl." Cooed the hunter as he rode upon Jinx, his Strider. The two were tracking down a small pack of wolves that were invading his pavillions food. It took awhile to travel across the Sea of Grass and they've ended up in a few dead ends as the tall blades deceived them over and over. Eventually, they discovered another trail that led towards a large set canopy. This canopy was similar to all of the others that were dispersed throughout Cyphrus. "It's not right." He said to himself stroking Jinx's mane. She cocked her head, but she didn't look alarmed by any means. Brocton was unsettled, he was anxious to. Though he needed to track down those wolves before they eat all of his pavillion's food. It was something that needed to be done and he needed to go through those woods. "Them wolves have been tracking our food down for a long long time. I'm sick of it." He stopped stroking Jinx's thick hide and clenched his fist in the open air. "Well, I've had just about enough of it." He said aloud. Jinx whinnied in agreement. "Plus, we could bring back some nice fur to sell." He continued. "Come let's go." Brocton said as he slightly dug his heels against the side's of Jinx and she paces herself at a slow canter. It started to rain, cool fresh droplets of water trickled from the skies as the two moved along. "It shouldn't have to rain." Brocton said to himself, the tracks below were already beginning to wash away as it continued to rain. Cool winds mixed with the rain as the weather began to take its turn on the board. "Lets just go back." He said as Jinx neighed and slowed to a halt. "Come." He said leading Jinx around. --------- Discouraged, Brocoton headed back towards the Tent City as it was no use to follow a set of tracks that trailed deeper into the woods. He didn't want to risk getting lost. He was anxious to go back, but he wanted to go and check his Pavillion before anything else, maybe stop buy to see how things are progressing with the Tent City of Endrykas. Sure, his mother said curiosity kills the cat, but in this case Brocton didn't care at the moment he would rather do something worth value than do nothing. He was still upset about the wolf thing, but he can always find them later. It was odd, he hadn't heard any howls whilst he was in the Sea of Grass, he clutched tightly to his short bow. Brocton would most likely visit the Spitfire again though. He'll make sure to tell someone that he's going back out to hunt. The rain was just a minor impairment to his hunting, but it was only washing away the tracks. Plus, the tracks he was looking for... they didn't appear to be wolf prints as they were scattered around the Sea of Grass. Though, he could be wrong, determining the exact type of prints were not his specialty. Brocton was just about to enter the Spitfire. Brocton disembarked Jinx and he told her to sit where she was, but then he heard conversation. Something about someone dead... no a Drykas most likely, Broc figured that it would be best to wait outside, in the rain as he didn't want to interrupt anything important. He decided to wait and tend to his Strider.

[Meadow]

Helena was working on who to send out on the missing Drykas case when a young boy entered panting. With a sigh the woman walked over and got him to drink so water so he could catch his breath. Once the child had taken a deep calming breath he began telling her of a hunter finding a dead Drykas out on the plains.

“Whoa whoa, Say that again,” Helena said making the stuttering child back up.

“A hunter came in to the Spitfire raving about finding a dead Drykas on the plains,” The little one said again.

“Thrush! Go to the Spitfire and get the man to come in,” the woman barked at one of the other men.

Bowing some he walked out and hurried over the business, getting off his stallion the man stepped inside. Trai'ce looked over to see the Watch member walk in, nervousness could be seen in the young man's posture. The clerk waved him over and told the young boy to stay put, walking over to the edge of the bar he leaned close to the ma and told him what had been told. Thrush looked to the man again before nodding and walking over to him. Several of the patrons had left and started talking among the clans about the find.

“Trai'ce?” Thrush asked in a calm voice.

“Yes?” the boy asked scared he was in trouble.

“I need you to come and speak with Helena,” Thrush said in a monotone voice.

The clerk motioned Trai'ce to follow after the larger man. Nervously the younger man followed heading out to the horses. Mounting up the pair hurried off to meet with the female Watch member. Hooves pounded against the wet ground as many riders made their way around the tented city. Many wanted to try and beat the next rain shower. Zulrav sounded over head once more before the rain began once more. Finally the pair arrive at the tent and enter quickly. Before anyone can speak the woman is before the two wanting answers and preparing to send word out to all the hunters and the rumor mill.

“Explain,” Helena said once he told her everything the woman turned to Thrush once more, “send word out that all hunters and non-hunters are to stay clear of the area until further notice.”

Thrush bowed at the waist and walked out again. The man pulled his stallion to a halt and dismounted seeing Yantra. Looking up at him the elder smiled gently motioning with her hands for the others to quiet down.

“Word from Helena. All hunters are to steer clear of the hunting grounds to the south. Make sure all hear,” Thrush said.

“Of course,” Yantra said as he raced off to the Spitfire once more.

Helena worked on getting a group of Watch members to go with herself and the hunter. Looking over the list she spotted two names Weebly and Sparrow. Sparrow did not have the tracking that would be necessary and tended to be nervous around females. Weebly would have the leadership skills necessary to deal with any gender that would come to the aid of the people upon their return. Shaking her head the woman called everyone's attention with a strong voice making all go silent.

“Thrush, stay here and await our return. Once we know what is attacking our people, a call will be sent out for volunteers,” Helena said, “Weebly, Sparrow mount up, I want both of you with us. Move fast before Zulrav washes the tracks away. Trai'ce you will lead up to the body. Move!”

The big man nodded when the order was given. Both young Ra'athi jumped up and ran to get tack on and ready. They exited the tent along with the boy and the woman. Helena mounted onto her mare as the others also mounted up. Once the small group was headed out the hunter took lead and rode hard knowing they were raising the storm now. Hooves pounded against Semele's skin, it took about half a bell to find the body once more. Trai'ce pulled back on his yvas seeing the tracks sooner than the body came into view.

“What?” Helena called over a loud clap of thunder.

“They are closer to town than before,” he said and pushed the stallion faster.

Helena looked to the two men before racing after him as well. Shortly after the group spotted the body.

The three Watch Members dismounts and turn the body over seeing the marks. A sigh left the woman's lips recognizing the mark instantly. The body had the Wind Marks that the older woman had described to the female Watch. Looking to the men she set in motion the pair preparing a cot to return the man on. He could swing between two of the horses as the group rode back to town. As Weebly and Sparrow began working the dark haired woman and hunt began looking at the tracks.

“They are closer to town then before, but I do not know what is making them,” Trai'ce said looking at the woman.

“It's got the foot prints of an adult, yet the pattern is off,” Helena said looking at the prints confused.

The striders became restless with all of the lightening and thunder picking up above them. Helena made a face and helped to calm them. Looking over she and Thrush got their striders side by side, both making sure the yvas' were secured. Walking over they covered him properly and got the make shift sling hung between the two horses.

“EVERYONE MOUNT UP!” Helena called over Zulrav's cry above their heads.

Once everyone was mounted up they set back to Endrykas. Helena stayed bent over some watching the ground below her for tracks. Finally spotting them she watched their progression to town before circling back. Dread filled the Watch member, but she hid it well, there was no time for panic.

[Khida]

The man at the counter was harried, frazzled; he had clearly come in a rush, and spoke with an urgency to match. The distance from which she observed and the haste with which he communicated to the Spitfire staff rendered his concerns altogether opaque to Khida; it was evident to her only that something was wrong, and that something was not here.

Another of the business' staff saw her waiting, her and another hunter besides; waved forward to a space some distance from the agitated conversation, Khida dismounted and fetched out the reason for her presence. The sale went smoothly, being a matter of routine; paid the usual rate for a relatively poor showing, she had no complaints and no urge to dicker.

She was in the process of rejoining her Strider when another stranger came charging in, one who -- from his own demeanor and the attitudes of those he interacted with -- Khida guessed to be from the Watch, come to address the problem. He swept in, exchanged a bare sentence or two with the problem-bringer, and swept back out again with said boy in tow. The tide of gossip she could sense beginning to rise around the Spitfire was one thing; gossip was endemic in the city, and Drykas could gossip all day about things the Kelvic considered the very most inane of subjects. But the way those two hustled out... not running but not much shy of it either... the way their Striders leapt forth even though they headed deeper into the city proper...

It made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. It made Khida want to fluff her feathers and mantle her wings, actions her human skin was sadly unsuited for. She had not been able to pick out a single comprehensible word that gave actual explanation of the situation, but she did not need words to understand that something was wrong. The kind of wrong that might threaten their family.

That required attention.

A clap of thunder rang out above, and fresh drops of rain spat down from the sky. Heedless, now, of the things that had featured so strongly in her inward complaints before, Khida closed the distance to her Strider, sliding coin pouch and shoes and stockings into one of the horse's yvas bags. You, home, she signed to Sephra. I watch. You go, keep well. The rest of her garments followed after, and never mind that she was standing right out in the open, in the wet and the cold and plain view of anyone not on the far side of her horse; the Kelvic didn't care. She didn't just stand there either. Only so long as it took to close the last of her stuff into the bag; then her human skin fell apart in a dance of pale light, and was gone.

In its place, the falcon leapt up for the sky, seeking the far greater vantage height allowed. She saw nothing at first, nothing but the city going about its daily business; but the predator knew how to wait, and with concern for her family to consider, she would employ as much of that patience as was needed. Indeed, it was only chimes before a group of riders parted themselves from what she recognized as the normal flow of Endrykas activity; they rode hard out into the grasses, on a course Khida noted well. She did not follow them so much position herself between the direction in which they headed and the Dawnwhisper camp, rising as high as the chill air would easily permit.

The riders eventually passed from her field of view, leaving the falcon to spend a length of time wondering when they would return, and where from. A length of time over which she kept one eye on the horizon whither the riders had gone, and one on the environs of the Dawnwhispers... which did not, exactly, include her horse. No, the Strider had exercised her own discretion and ignored her rider's directives -- not an uncommon event -- in favor of grazing more or less below where the falcon herself circled.

No matter. From aloft, the falcon could watch them all; and watch she did, waiting to discern if her action would be required.

Khida space Common | Pavi
other space Common | Pavi

[Brocton Firestone]

Apparently, things have had some problems; Brocton wasn't able to enter the Spitfire by any time soon, something must've been going on by now, what were the others talking about, what was happening, what was Brocton supposed to do at this time? So many questions roamed through his head popping in and out; they all subsided when the boy waiting outside of the tent was called in, Brocton hadn't recognized him, but he looked timid almost, and the hunter was confused; had the boy done something wrong or... something must've happened to freak the boy out in this manner.

Then; a man calling the boy by Trai'ce, came out of the Spitfire and asked the boy to come in. Brocton didn't know what this could mean; he was curious, but he recalled his mother telling him about eavesdropping; it wasn't respectful to do so. It's been quite some time since a few members of the Spitfire decided to leave outside; there were about a handful of Drykas leaving the tent, Brocton knew they were Drykas because of the Windmarks streaks across the backs of their necks. With a group heading out; that large, something must be up, and the boy was a part of it, but Brocton knew better than to follow. It wouldn't be wise, but those tracks he saw earlier... they were strange.

The hunter mounted Jinx once again after some time and decided to head back to his pavillion, worried about the group of hunters from the Spitfire who'd set out from the tent no less than a few chimes a go.

"Maisa." Brocton announced still riding on the Yvas. Looking around almost frantically; he wasn't really sure what to say about what's going on. His mother De'anu stepped out and she looked worried almost. "Bosu?" She asked.
"What is all of this?" She asked striding up to her son, Brocton's father stepped out of their tent as well, the hunter was unsure how to explain it.
"Strange things happen outside of Endrykas..." Brocton informed. He didn't know how to add on.
"Weird prints engraved in the soil. Not like any beast I've seen." Brocton said.
"Hmmm..." Titus said slowly as he reached his son and wife.
"What could this mean?" De'anu said in a hushed worried tone.
"Not so sure hon." Titus replied. "All we have to do would be to wait and find out." He paused, "tell me." So Brocton explained all he knew.
"That's why I came back, not so sure what I should do next."
"Wait, that's all we can do for now, anyways."

BROCTON FIRESTONE

[Rufio]

　　
　　　　 rufio chased on the heels of Helena's squad, at a safe distance to seem not suspicious.

The (nosy) half-Drykas had urged Loha into a trot after they had meandered restlessly across Endrykas, weaving in and out of the outskirts towards the Emerald Clan, where the commotion had gathered.

Her stallion clomped loudly as he danced along after the small herd of investigators, just happy to be moving. As was Rufio.

Whether by intuition, observation or superstition, she fathomed that some trouble was afoot.

As the Watch squad rode out beyond the Wind-Knotted Gates, they halted though. Loha, reluctantly, skittered and grunted and tossed his nose out towards The Sea Of Grass in protest. C'mon, rider, the adventure's out there, it said. Rufio peered after the Watchmen and woman with a light flickering in that ochre gaze.

　　　　　　"Word from The Watch, stay clear of the South, m'dear." Yanka sat by the Gates, furs about her and a lean-to keeping off the light rain.
Rufio glanced down at this stranger with surprise and signed. Inquisitive.
The woman shrugged and stated matter-of-factly. "Watch says so," Protection, danger.

Loha had taken to munching on stalks of grasses that had escaped a trampling by the tent city. Rufio sunk her fingers into his thick, dark mane and looked out towards the grasslands. Curiosity played in her freckled features. Thoughtfulness puckered her lips as she sucked the inside of her cheeks.

Lightning flashed lightly amidst the gloomy day, distracting. Rufio started lightly, ducking as if to avoid Zulrav's voice as it cracked into the din.

Rufio reached down to her strider's thick neck and stroked his scarred hide there for comfort against the anxiety that was creeping in the wake of that thunder. The stallion lifted his head and snorted at the thunder, as if to greet the Wind-God. As if to reassure her fears—there's nothing to be afraid of.

With an impish grin splitting her jaw, she glanced at Yantra, and whispered to the horse. "No one's looking, let's go." Sensing the shift in her weight forward and the tension in her thighs, the stallion reached out his fore-hoof and set it beyond the Wind-Knotted Gates, onto the path of adventure.

　　　　Rufio and Loha went out towards the South, sneaking.
　　

[Meadow]

SorrySorry it took so long guys! If you will end your posts with your PCs making their decision on whether to return or keep going

Shortly after finding the end of the tracks the group made it back to the city. Slowing down the striders the four made their way around the edge of the diamond clan. Helena did not want anyone to see the body or the state of it at least and cause a panic. Stopping behind the tent to The Watch all dismounted from their horses, Helena and Thrush went between the two beasts and took the knotting loose. Keeping the tension in their arms the two took the body inside and laid it down in a side room. Sending off for the wife once more the dark haired woman needed to know that this was indeed her husband's windmarks. A Watch members job was never easy, but telling a mother and wife that her loved one was never coming home was a whole other level. The woman took a deep breath and sent for the newly widowed head of family.

Slowly the girl walked in shaking seeing the look on all the Drykas' face as they seemed to just step out of the way. Helena stepped into the room with the woman. Going around the body, she put a hand on the woman's to stop her from pulling the blanket back, shaking her head the girl turned the body to face her allowing just the mark to show. Gasping loudly with a look of horror on her face, the window screamed and broke down into tears again. With the obvious confirmation, Helena laid the body back down and calmed the woman.

“We will gather volunteers and find who did this. Stay here at the tent and try to calm down, if you go back now it will only cause your family to panic,” The woman stated quietly.

Stepping out the woman allowed the other to grieve in peace. Closing her eyes the girl centered herself before looking to the rest of the leaders and Ra'athi. Clearing her voice, Helena stood on a chest to get everyone's attention.

“Weebly, Thrush, and At'ria go to all the clans and Yantra. Spread the order three volunteers are needed to go after this thing,” Helena dismissed everyone to get moving.

Weebly pouted and left out not wanting to go out in the rain. At'ria mounted up along with Trush, and the pair raced across the clans quickly spreading word. Weebly stopped in the center of town and looked down at the old woman before him, telling her to spread word immediately to gather everyone towards the middle of the city that it was time to find volunteers. Thrush pulled to stop at the Dawnwhisper pavilion first. He dismounted and stepped close to the opening of the tent.

“Every able body man and woman is to gather in the center of the city,” Thrush stated.

He mounted up and raced off towards the next pavilion. At'ria went to the Stormblood pavilion in the diamond clan and pulled her horse to a stop delivering the same message as the other Ra'athi had. Asher looked to the group that was inside the pavilion stunned and assured the woman that the group would be there. Nodding the woman clicked her tongue and raced off to the next pavilion. Weebly of course was dragging behind the two others that had been sent out. Both had done informed twice the number of pavilions that the small man had. Pulling his stallion to a halt, he got down and announced his presence before stepping just inside of the flap.

“Every able body man and woman is to gather in the center of the city immediately,” Weebly explained to the group of confused faces before him.

Leaving the tent he moved on. Soon enough a good majority of the city had made it to the Wind Knotted Gates. Everyone appeared to be on edge at the sudden calling to gather. Even those who were too young to understand were uncomfortable in the giant group of bodies and horses. Helena stood up on a small chest taking a deep breath. Letting out a shrill whistle, the crowd quieted down looking at the woman before them.

“I have summoned everyone here because one of our own has been attacked!” She claimed and went silent as the crowd began to murmur and look around. “quiet! We do not know what this has done this. But it is getting closer to the city the longer we wait to act, the longer it has to kill another! We need three volunteers to go with one of our Ra'athi to kill this monster.”

She went silent and watched the crowd as everyone shifted and squirmed talking in hushed voices. Helena took another deep breath prepared to speak again when suddenly two females and one male emerge from the crowd. Looking down she took in each of their postures and looks. Calling for silence once more she addressed the three before her.

“This is a dangerous journey. Are you prepared to fight along side each other in the name of Zulrav, the Drykas people, and your families?” Helena asked and watched each face.

Once their answers had been given the woman nodded before turning to the people. She announced each of them and said that they would leave in half a bells time. That would give them plenty of time to prepare, pack, and say good bye to any loved ones. The Watch were unsure how long the journey would take the small group.

____ 30 chimes later _____

Helena looked up when the three people arrived at the Watch tent. Stepping in the woman motioned for them to follow her. Walking over to a small map that the more talented drawers had manage to sketch, she went over the position of the tracks. Looking up the girl told all three to approach and told Weebly to get over there as well.

“Okay, the beginning of the tracks are about twenty chimes outside of the city on the South side. We do not know how far the tracks lead away from town, but there can be no chances taken. Stick together and kill whatever has attacked our people,” Helena stated sighing gently the woman got a gentle look on her face, “all of you be careful and good luck. May Zulrav's strength guide you.”

Weebly put his fist to his chest and bowed his head to the woman before walking outside. He mounted up and waited for the others to follow suit. Once everyone was prepared the small group left out quickly trying to make up as much time as they could. The man clicked his tongue and called to his strider to push faster. He hated being out in the rain especially going after a foe he has no clue on how to beat. Weebly just knew he would never hear the end of it should the untrained end up saving his tail. Slowing down he leaned over looking for the tracks once they got close. Though something very strange caught his attention; there was no way the group had traveled twenty chimes yet there were tracks clear as day in the mud.

“Stay close, the tracks are closer now that she had indicated. Whatever it is may still be here,” Weebly seemed to growl at the others.

Keeping his strider close beside the tracks he followed them back towards the source. Looking around darting shadows caught his eye. Narrowing them he pulled to a stop and looked back at the group counting heads making sure all was present. Turning forward he continued on slightly closer to the group than previously. Soft crunching could be heard to either side of the travelers causing the horses to become nervous. Snorting with ears flicking the stallion under the Watch man stopped not wanting to go any further. He could smell something was very wrong though his rider did not listen. Weebly got down with a grumble and started pulling on the yvas making the horse take several steps forward. A loud snap made the man turn just before getting taken down by a wolf. He thrashed violently trying to get the creature off of him. Large fangs sunk into the flesh of the Drykas' arm. Screaming he grabbed his dagger and started stabbing at the wolf. With a yelp the creature jumped back and trotted off before letting out a howl that cut through the group like a knife. Suddenly yellow eyes emerged from the darkness slowly surrounding the man and strider.

Several smaller wolves turned their attention to the three riders that were still on top of their horses. Slowly they began to circle them watching, waiting for them to make a mistake and dismount. Weebly gasped before throwing his dagger at one of the animals. Snarls ripped through the others before they all pounced on the man. Weebly screamed and kept fighting to get free as wolves bite and snatched on his legs and arms. He was trying to get away, get some distance so he could fight back. Yet they seemed to know that as they kept him on the ground ripping flesh from bone. A few wolves branched off and attacked the horses and riders. The first to get attacked was the stallion of the man on the ground. Neighing the horse kicked them away and raced off from the scene. Landing with a yelp the wolf stood up and shook off some of the dirt before helping the attack. The wolves turned on the others, several dodged around attacks as the three tried to fight back. Stalking close enough the wolf jumped on the first horse it could get to which was a female strider with a male on top. The attack caused the mare great alarm. Sinking its claws into her side the animal bite on to the man's leg and began shaking furiously.

Weebly knocked enough away of the attackers to get a hold of a large rock. He stabbed into the wolves injuring as many as he could before they turned tail and ran. Weakly getting up the man got the attention of the last three wolves. He grabbed a dagger and threw rocks making them release the three riders. Releasing the three each wolf raced at the man and tackled him to the ground doing more damage than had already been done. Weebly killed them, but the damage was done. He could not force any more energy into his body. Laying there with large gaping wounds, he turned to look at the two women and one man waving them over.

“I won't make it back to Endrykas in time. You have to decide if you three can continue alone or if you will return home,” Weebly said with a wheeze, “it must be your choice. You are the last hope to kill this thing.”

With that the man's eyes slid closed and his heart beat its final beat. His lungs drew their last breath as he laid on the ground bleeding from everywhere. Now the three had the biggest decision of their lives, continue or not?

[Khida]

oocApologies for the triple-long post, but there's simply that much to cover in this latest round. As it is I didn't do as much as I would have liked.

Note to modBear in mind that Khida is a falcon Kelvic with maxed Observation. She should have been able to give more warning of a large pack of wolves setting ambush. As it is, I compromised.

Also, please try not to marginalize our potential actions so much, even when you have narrative events to check off. I'm sure it wasn't your intent, but your post all but wrote the PCs off as hapless victims, without even opportunity to set a defense or coordinate. This is because it encompasses the whole conflict, sidelines us as only "trying to fight back", and mandates that Weebly being heroic was required to both relieve the PCs and drive off the wolves. All that with Weebly being dismounted, armed mostly with random rocks, and never mind that he had received disabling injuries from being mobbed. Next time, at least give us a chance to actually react, please!

The falcon continued to observe, the grasslands below her deceptive in their mundanity. Only one aberrant thread of motion caught her eye -- yet another horse and rider passing out of the city, in the same general direction as the Watchmen. Khida didn't pay that one much heed beyond her initial evaluation; a single Drykas moving away without alarmed urgency seemed irrelevant to her own concerns.

Lightning crackled and water wept from the sky, drops pattering a consistent beat against her feathers. Khida appreciated the insulation plumage provided, better by far than the clothes she had worn prior; though it was not cold, the sensation of being wet had never been one she appreciated. Neither was being aloft in a thunderstorm, but this sort of huge, horizon-spanning cloud cover made for a very different storm than those which spun up out of the clear summer sky; the winds were not so capricious nor strong, and the lightning glittered between clouds rather than striking down. As storms went, it was far from the worst to fly beneath.

So her wandering thoughts mused, until another break in the rhythm of waving grassplumes caught the falcons attention; this one approached the city instead, surrepititious and slow. Four horses, two with a broad band of cloth slung between and the obvious form of a body borne within -- yes, she recognized the faces. These were the Watchmen who had ridden out in urgency some chimes before, the very ones she had been waiting upon to return.

The falcon tapered her flight to more closely parallel the group on the ground, though she did not pass immediately overhead; she shadowed their progress, rather than seeking to involve herself. Ultimately, they passed into a tent, and what happened within, the Kelvic couldn't see. What she could witness was the subsequent passing of three out into the city, progressing from tent to tent in turn. In their wake, a rumble of worried conversation rose to the sky, the whole of the city concerned and alarmed. Men and women, guards and craftsmen and herders all alike, streamed out and moved towards the city gates, collecting in an agitated crowd. Waiting.

An announcement of some kind would be forthcoming, clearly. After making two circuits of the area, Khida backwinged to perch atop one of the gate posts, one eye on the crowd and the other seeking familiar faces of those Watchmen she knew to be involved. In time, after the whole of the city had been gathered, her anticipation was rewarded; they appeared, the woman who had led the ride out asking for the city's aid in dispatching their beast.

The gist of the woman's statements came clear even through the language barrier. She admitted to not knowing the nature of the beast, which was more concerning to Khida than the fact it had killed one man. Or rather, it was concerning given that the predator had a mind to eat men. Such things were to be defended against, dangers to the family. And yet -- and yet, the people of the city were slow to step forward, to yield three who would answer that need. Khida was not good at Drykas things -- not at riding, not with her bow -- but that would never stop her from standing between her family and anything that might offer hazard to them.

The falcon dropped from the gate-post to the ground beside, shifting to human in a glimmer of pale light. I go, she signed, posture as emphatic and definite as the shapes of her gestures. The woman asked again, seeking certainty; Khida couldn't help but be faintly offended by her reiteration. She had volunteered; she would go.

Fortunately, the woman didn't belabor the point. Neither did they set out immediately, the woman directing them to assemble in half a bell and then herself departing. As the crowd muttered and whispered and gradually went about its own disassembly, Khida took a moment to regard the two other volunteers. They were vaguely familiar faces, in the way that most of Endrykas was by now; but not known to her personally. The Kelvic felt a brief pang, looking past the volunteers to the west; the hunter should have been here, standing with them, the other half of her strength.

He wasn't.

These two, and whoever else the Watch sent, would have to suffice. Together, we go, Khida offered by sign as she refocused on the people here and now, words brought forth on an impulse she could not name. Together, strength. Go soon. The Kelvic gave them a moment to respond, if they chose, then shifted back to falcon and removed herself from the gathering at the gates.

Returning to the Dawnwhisper pavilion was a matter of a short flight; Sephra reunited with her rider there, tossing her head briefly and seeming agitated, as much so as the city around them. Khida reclaimed her clothing from the yvas bags and ducked into the tent to ensure their wife knew she would be gone. There had been a time when Khida would not have thought to do so, but she had learned better since. Then the Kelvic set about affirming the gear she would need -- aided by the input of her family, who had ideas she would not have considered.

Travel food*1/4 lb dried meat from group inventory, to be returned if unused, her own waterskin, and flint-and-steel, just in case something happened where she might need them. The cloak, at familial insistence; Khida would not wear it now, but she would stuff it in a bag. Rope, too. Hunting knife, the bow in its case, her quiver of arrows; those attached directly to the yvas, in such a manner that she could access them from astride or afoot. It was a necessary consideration; even after gaining her Strider, Khida spent far more time afoot than seemed the Drykas convention.

All told, it took little time to finish her preparations; Khida simply had very little stuff, and even less of it with relevance to such an errand. It took less than ten chimes for her to leave the Dawnwhisper camp again, and most of that time elapsed in the fussing of their family. Now dressed, albeit lightly, she waited beside her Strider outside the Watch tent, giving the others brief acknowledgments when they too arrived. In due time, they passed within, the woman leader directing them to study a small map, which Khida did; though it did not say much. The marked position lay south of Endrykas, a fact she had already known from her own observations. Her words largely slid off the Kelvic, exhortation and well-wishing alike; so too did the man Weebly's chivvying, when the group returned outside. Khida had her own instructions to offer, and she would not be hastened along without them.

You on horse, she signed, the curve of her hand indicating all three Drykas. My horse with. I fly, I watch. Best. You watch, here you listen here; I there, I watch above, I guard.

The Watchman, already astride his horse, seemed harried and paid her little heed. He seemed none too sharp to Khida -- his manner too focused on himself, turned inward to his own worries and his own needs. Rain slicked her skin and plastered her hair to her skull and weighted her clothes, cold and clammy and confining; but it was not the time to be concerned by the weather. It was time to hone senses and talons, to sharpen alertness and caution alike, turning them all outwards against the dangers of the wilds, the threat of the beast they hunted.

Khida gave him a long, considering look touched with disfavoring reserve, before shucking off her clothes again and taking to the sky. The Watchman chivvied them into haste, but not into releasing the greatest speed of the Striders, which would have left the falcon behind. As it was, she had opportunity to foray aside and ahead of their progress, weaving a flight path of a kind honed back when it had been just her and the hunter, depending upon her ability to find game in the grasses. The falcon watched for motion, color, flickers against background norms that might signify dangers to their party; she did not see the tracks until after the Watchman had begun to slow, drawing her attention briefly to his action. He studied the earth; she left him to it, trusting he would share anything of import and maintaining her own self-assigned sentinel role.

The man warned them to stay close, warned of impending danger. Yet he himself seemed oblivious to a growing tension in the horses, even trying to push his stallion on when the Strider came to an unwanted halt. Stupid, stupid man. What Drykas did not know to heed his Strider's concerns? Khida witnessed this from the edge of her view, as she also observed the grass dimpled in other places, a gray streak striking forwards --

-- the falcon shrieked, strident war-cry too late to turn back the attack on the dismounted man. No more did his horse prove an effective defender, except after the first damage had already been done. Her own Strider mare had taken up a defensive position against a flank attack, standing in solidarity near the trailing volunteers. Khida herself dove for a wolf who sought to come up behind the trio, strafing attack tearing a great gouge from its ear. The beast yelped and darted back, daunted by its unexpected adversary; but the pack seemed to be a very large one, and they had taken the time to work themselves around the entire group.

It was odd; most predators were happy to cut one straggler from a herd and call it a meal. Just as those coyotes had done to Sephra's filly, the day she and the Strider had bonded. These, who rushed on in while Khida surged up and around for the speed to power a second attack, seemed determined to take all of the strong, and never mind the weak. By the time Khida dove again, one had sunk its teeth into another rider; it made a perfect target for her, as she bound talons in the folds of its neck and battered at its head with powerful wingbeats until it let go.

Releasing the beast in turn, the falcon surged upwards again, seeking whatever attack she could make to best advantage of the group. But the wolves had had enough of their desperate defense; the predators retreated into the grasses whence they had come, leaving four horses, three humans, and one falcon to regroup and address their damage.

Khida continued to fly tight loops above, watching the surroundings in all directions, listening to the discussion below. The Watchman now provided no aid to their collective strength; his own words acknowledged this. He bid them make a decision, but to her mind, it was a decision already made. She did not dignify it with an answer, all the more for that his breathing had clearly ceased; there was no mind behind his ears to witness her acts or care about their purpose. Rather, the falcon turned her gaze upon the tracks, easily seen now that she had focused her attention towards them, and the direction their maker had gone.

Khida turned her flight in the direction the tracks progressed, slow and cautious. Earthbound, her Strider followed, ears swiveling towards every uncertain sound, eyes and nose alike alert for nearby dangers.

Note to PCsKhida is more drifting than 'flying with speed'; she's not going to outpace you guys or even get much beyond reasonable calling distance, so feel free to summon her down for a tactics session or anything else.

Khida space Common | Pavi
other space Common | Pavi