The sky is now dark save for a scattering of stars, and that glittering band that cuts across the sky, known as the "Procession". But to one member of the crew, while he may be able to mimic the word in Rephidim Standard, and knows what it refers to, the word itself still conveys no real meaning. It is only "the word for that band across the sky". He is, after all, not of this world.

Chiaroscuro gazes out calmly over the rail. After a few days aboard ship, he has learned to balance his stomach, and enjoys simply gazing out at the new land beneath him… and the buzzing in his skull has grown fainter, the higher the ship goes.

The bat-like Eeee are busiest at nights like this, frequently shooting off from the deck to make rounds, scouting the area with their "sonar".

A wolf lumbers by, almost knocking the mongoose over. He snorts, turning to say a single word that the mongoose has often heard said in his presence, and apparently referring to him. "Kavi," the Jupani sneers disdainfully, and moves on.

Chiaroscuro sighs. .o( It would seem not all on this world are hospitable. Most of the crew treat me like some sort of fool. I wish I could learn more of the language, but the strange dog has no time to talk, and no one else will even consider me. )

Chiaroscuro mumbles to himself in Kitellian, "And I still don't know where we're going. Just 'Rephidim', is all anyone has said."

A couple of cheetahs finish tending to the ship-board lanterns, all well-shielded from the wind (and from the flame getting to somewhere it ought not to be). The spotted cats certainly have not taken the time to teach Chiaroscuro any words – In fact, he has never once heard them utter a single thing, even when one is beaten or whipped for some misdeed (the exact nature of which is never clear). They seem to get far more discipline than any of the other crewmembers, and seem especially subservient in posture when others are around – even to the mongoose, to some degree, but, yes, there's something different in the way they act. Maybe he's just imagining it, but it almost seems as if, when he's the only one around, they give him no notice at all…

Below … the shadowed land gives way to an ocean that reflects the lights of the Procession. The ship seems almost as if it is following the Procession, now a path below as well as above, bearing eastward to this unknown land.

Chiaroscuro sighs, out at the ocean. "To think I should see the ocean on another world, before I saw even the midland sea… Rik's path for me is long indeed."

One of the bats flutters in, landing on the deck. He's screeching something in barely audible tones. Some of the bats tend to do that when they're excited, it seems. The wolves seem especially disturbed by this, covering their ears in pain.

The other two bats who were out on patrol land as well. Several hands come up from belowdeck, and the ship is suddenly a flurry of activity, where but moments ago, all was, for the most part, rather quiet and still.

Chiaroscuro turns around to look at the bat, and then at the excitement… .o( Something's up. I'd best get out of the way… ) He starts heading carefully towards the entrance to belowdecks.

Ahead, the mongoose can see something floating in the air – something dark, but with something shiny enough on it to reflect even the faint light from above. It's drawing closer.

Chiaroscuro pauses before entering the hold. "Curious… what could that be?"

If not for the mongoose's amazing agility, he would have been bowled over a couple more crewmembers who come barrelling out from below. They sneer, and that word "Kavi" comes up again.

Chiaroscuro stays clear of the entranceway for now, it seems as if soemthing very important's going on. He gaze up at the strange object…

Whatever it is, it passes by overhead, slowly drifting by. It looks perhaps like a tree that has been uprooted and decided to float in space – a tree with very long, dangling roots, or else vines that have intertwined it and now hang free.

Chiaroscuro watches it attentively… .o( A tree in the air? With no soil? How can this be? )

That must not be the cause for concern, however. The object floats by, and the crew is still in a flurry of activity. Some more objects of similar appearance can be seen floating along, and more below. They are visibly rising, though so slowly.

Then – there's another one that escaped the mongoose's notice before. Or … no, this is somewhat different. This "tree" has dangling vines like the others, but it is almost invisible … in fact, it's translucent. Chiaroscuro can faintly see bits of light that hint at the stars it passes in front of. The vines wave around in a way at first that appears natural … but there's something that hints that they are not merely hanging there. This something is alive.

Chiaroscuro thinks of Rik' writings… .o( And there shall be for you a Garden in the sky, beyond the clouds, where never shall there be hunger or thirst. )

Several crewmembers cry out "Waashu!" As if answering their call, there comes a noise from this new object. *W-SHOOO!* There is a stench in the air, akin to sulphur … or perhaps related to the smell of a barnyard sty.

Chiaroscuro hears the word… and notes the smell. .o(Rik's Teeth! It smells more like the Garbage-Heap.)

Chiaroscuro covers his nose with his paw, and gasps for air.

The ship moves to avoid the strange translucent entity … and crashes into one of the floating trees. There is a loud *POP!*, followed by a few more, and bits of shrubbery land on the deck. A number of orbs roll along the underside of the gas bag, then slip around and escape into the sky, shooting upward more quickly now that the "tree" does not weight them down.

Chiaroscuro dodges the tree expertly, keeping balance, but grows worried. .o( More of these might tip us over, or damage the ship… )

The "tree" apparently had no bark at it at all, but was a dangling collection of vines and leaves … and then, nearby, there's a bit of foliage tangled in some rigging, with a single purplish melon growing on the vine.

Chiaroscuro hmmms, looking at the melon for a moment… pondering whether to touch it, or leave it to the crew members to deal with. But his curiousity wins out in the end, and he taps it lightly with a clawtip, looking closely.

*POW!* The purplish melon explodes, the thin outer skin collapsing. Apparently it had nothing in it but air … or some sort of gas. Meanwhile, the translucent being off the starboard side is moving … and keeping up with the ship. It runs into one of the "floating trees". Immediately, its shimmering tentacles wave and wrap around the floating foliage, drawing it into its large, bulbous body. From this angle – and distance – it is much more clear now. The creature looks like a gigantic, floating jellyfish, more than anything else. The rushing sound accompanies contortions in its body … and is accompanied by a strengthening of that awful smell, the closer it is.

Just now, the mongoose realizes that all the lanterns are out. At what point they went out is unclear. No one seems to be making any attempt to light them again.

Chiaroscuro looks at the utterly alien thing, shaking his head a bit to try and clear it from the ever-present skullbuzz… .o( Blood and Bone! is that alien… monster coming after us? )

The monster appears to be trailing behind now, apparently focusing on entangling the "tree" which it encountered. As it passes further behind, the horrid scent begins to fade away as well … or else the mongoose's nose is becoming desensitized.

Chiaroscuro thinks of re-lighting a lantern, but had best not… the crew dislikes him as it is, should he act wrongly, he might get tossed over the side.

Some more forms float ahead. One of the "floating trees" passes under the lower sail. Some shimmering light ahead hints at more of those … beasts. And they seem to be getting closer, despite the attempts at evasive maneuvers put on by the crew. The smell, still, diminishes. The lanterns are not lit again, but some of the bats gather on the deck, and appear to be lighting some sort of strange lamps they are carrying. They are also equipped with crossbows. A couple of the horse-bird-lion creatures are similarly equipped.

The fliers take flight from the deck, shooting out and away from the ship, and break into flights that appear aimed to flank the approaching monsters.

Chiaroscuro stays abovedecks, watching unobtrusively. .o( Looks like we're in for a fight against these. I wish I could help, a mongoose's place in battle is at the front, fighting with tooth and claw… )

Specks of light shoot out from the fliers … flaming bolts? As they get close to the monsters, there are bright flares that erupt, and the bolts burn even more fiercely.

One of the monsters abruptly bursts into a great ball of flame, its body quickly shrivelling into a limp form that smokes and flickers as it drops toward the sea below. The other, however, keeps approaching, its tentacles waving menacingly.

Chiaroscuro's tail starts to bristle up, as he looks around. Maybe there is something he can hurt that thing with, in case the fighters fail…

One of the bright bolts of light arcs this way!

A flaming bolt, apparently fired from one of the fliers on the far side of the monster, hits the deck, skidding along, flames trailing in its greasy wake. For a brief instant, it seems that only the mongoose has notice of it … the mongoose, and those spotted cats who are up in the rigging, and who even now do not raise a voice to cry out.

Chiaroscuro moves fast, grabbing the bolt, turning, running, and tossing it over the edge at the monster, in one quick and fluid movement.

The bolt goes flying off the edge. Its arc takes it nowhere near the monster, unfortunately, as there simply isn't enough strength to manage such a feat. But at least it is free of the ship. That horrid smell begins to build again.

The flaming grease-marks on the deck begin to flare more brightly, rather than dying down. Meanwhile, the fliers have ceased their barrage of fiery bolts. Now, they do nothing but circle at a fair distance from the creature… which is still approaching, now at an even level with the airship.

For a moment, the buzzing in Chiaroscuro's head gets much, much louder. There is a loud howl, and he can FEEL the ship moving to one side for a moment … and then the buzzing subsides. Perhaps some time has been bought … but there's another *WSHOOO!* and the creature jets closer more swiftly. It is undeniably closing in.

"Fire!" Chiaroscuro cries in Kitellian, as he notes the flames on the ship. He runs swiftly about, looking for water, or some way to put out the fire…

There are several sandbags to be found, readily at hand.

Chiaroscuro grabs a nearby sandbag, seeking to snuff the fire. He pours sand over the flames…

The mongoose's yelling is almost lost amidst the clamors and cries of the crew as they work furiously to try to avoid the approaching monster. Fortunately, the mongoose's efforts prove successful. The flames are soon snuffed out. But that stench – oogh! It's getting to be unbearable.

The inevitable is about to happen, it seems. The huge creature looms ever closer, its tentacles lifting up and reaching out toward the ship. The crewmembers brace themselves, wrapping limbs into ropes and grabbing onto anything sturdy at hand.

One of the lupine guards yelps. In his eagerness to wrap an arm and a leg into the rigging, he drops his chitin blade, which clatters to the deck.

Chiaroscuro sees a chance… a slim chance… but what choice does he have? He grabs the sword quickly. He taps his rikkorel on the left front paw, and the teeth, and then… jumps for a tentacle, and begins to run across it, right to the creature!

In that brief instant, the remaining tentacles reach out and begin to entwine the riggings of the ship, and the bulbous body collides with the gas bag. The whole ship lurches, crewmen crying out and hanging on for dear life.

Chiaroscuro runs as qucik as he can, onto the body of the 'Wshoo' itself. He takes his sword, pulls it back, and stabs into the creature's skin, with all his might!

*BOING*

The rubbery skin sinks inward, at first appearing to be pierced, then bounces right back out again. What IS this thing MADE of?

Chiaroscuro grrrs… sinking into it with teeth and claws, anything to kill it…

The mongoose can see THROUGH the creature now … to the starry horizon beyond … and the ocean so far below. Meanwhile, on the ship, frenzied crewmembers attempt to hack at the tentacles, but they are meeting with little to no success. Every once in a while, one of the tips strikes a crewmember – causing cries of pain, and convulsions.

The mongoose manages to rip small chunks out of the skin of the creature, but it's slow going, and it's not clear just how thick it is. Still, there's more to show for this method than poking with the blade.

Chiaroscuro chews and slashes, eyes red with a furious rage…

The tranlucent membrane begins to turn bright pink in the area near where the mongoose is clinging and ripping. Some of the tentacles pull away from the ship … and appear to be turning back toward the monster itself … or, more precisely, toward this more immediate threat that is perched on its own hide.

Suddenly, through the thick hide that the mongoose is gradually ripping to shreds, a small section begins to bubble outward, swelling and bulging.

Chiaroscuro catches the motion of the tentacles out of the corner of his eyes, he opens his jaws, and takes one lst, big jawful, rending it out, and then running shipward…

*POW!* That last jawful pops outward, filling Chiaroscuro's mouth with the most odious, noxious vapor he has yet to swallow. The force throws him backward … and, as it would be, shipward.

However … as the mongoose hurtles in open space … it occurs to him that he should have hit something by now…

As the mongoose regains his bearings, he can now see the ship … above him. The big monster has slipped away from it, and is rapidly deflating, a jet of air pushing it away from the vessel.

Chiaroscuro SCREAMS! as loud as he can, desperately flailing his arms…

A high-pitched ringing fills the mongoose's ears. It's not the same as that infernal buzzing. No, this is something just on the edge of being audible… or just a step beyond.

The stars are blotted out by many fluttering, shadowy, screeching shapes.

Chiaroscuro utters an insanely fast prayer… "OhRikremembereyourservantasImakemyfinaljourneyletmeinthroughthegardengatetobeyourservantthere… "

Several claws grasp at the fervently-praying mongoose, and his descent slows … though, unfortunately, he has no way of KNOWING that for sure.

Chiaroscuro says, "… LordRikletmysouldbedeliveredstraightLetyourgoodnessshineforeverAmen."

*thunk* The mongoose lands almost softly on the deck of the airship.

There are many cries and calls, and the word "Kavi" keeps occurring. But it's being said … differently.

Chiaroscuro feels solid wood beneath him, and looks up suddenly…

Currently, the mongoose is surrounded by a bunch of bats and those two lion-horse-bird-creatures. Soon others are pushing their way in, shouting and hooting. Before he can react, the mongoose is soon hefted up into the air and bouncing along several pairs of shoulders.

Chiaroscuro .o( I'm… not dead? I… we… I did it! )

More shouts involve the words "Kavi" and "Waashu". Judging from the expressions … it would seem that moods have changed considerably … as well as attitudes. Even that grumbly wolf who sneered at the "Kavi" earlier is making a lolling-tongue smile.

Chiaroscuro starts to smile widely, and even laughing a bit… even with the foul taste of 'Wshoo' in his mouth, it seems things have gotten a bit sweeter for him.

The mongoose is finally set down, better able to regain his composure. As this happens, he notices a faint pain in his belly. There is a tear in the cloth … something must have stabbed him? A faint recollection hints that it must have happened some time ago – before he landed on the ship again.

Chiaroscuro feels through the open hole in the cloth, touching the fur beneath…

There's a faint welt there. No blood. Just a faint tingling sensation when he touches the spot.

One of the bats notices the welt as well, and looks alarmed. He calls over to some others. An older bat – who has often shown up whenever someone appears ill, and seems to have some sort of knowledge of medicines – comes to examine. The word "Waashu" is mentioned again, but the rest is still gibberish to the mongoose's ears.

Chiaroscuro starts to worry. "Wshooo Did. Bad?" he says in the little Rephedim Common he knows.

The older bat simplifies his query. "Hurt?"

Chiaroscuro holds his fingers open a small amount. "Hurt… not Hurt", and he opens his fingers wide apart. he closes them again to a small amount. "Hurt."

The doctor pauses a bit, then seems to understand. "No big hurt," the doctor says, holding his fingers wide apart, "{unknown word} little hurt?" bringing them back together.

Chiaroscuro nods, trying to note how 'Big' and 'little' are said. "Lit-tle hurt. Yes. No big hurt."

Some of the crewmembers look at Chiaroscuro which what could be interpreted as looks of … awe? Meanwhile, the old bat looks taken aback a bit himself, and digs into his pouch. He applies some sort of salve to the wound – It seems this is the same salve he was applying to the convulsing crewmembers who were hit by the tentacles while the mongoose was being paraded around just a bit ago.

A wolf slaps Chiaroscuro on the back. He proclaims, "Waashu {unknown word}" emphatically. It is repeated by several others.

Chiaroscuro lets the doctor work, the salve cooling the stinging. He smiles at the wolf, and the other crew.

One of the bats manages to remember Chiaroscuro's name, and reminds the others. Or … sort of. "Cheeskeeree {unknown word} Waashu {unknown word}!"

This is repeated heartily by the others. More back-slaps, howls and hoots follow.

Chiaroscuro says in his limited Rephidim, "Chiaroscuro Tired. Big Tired. Wshoo Dead, Good! Chiaroscuro Sleep!" He returns some of the back-slaps, grinning widely at the crew, and walks belowdecks… where he collapses on his bunk, and falls asleep quickly.

The crewmembers seem almost shocked as the mongoose retreats from the impromptu festivities, but they respect his need for rest. Nonetheless, several cheers go up above deck for "Cheeskeeree the Waashu Biter".