Kaela quietly makes her way along the docks, looking about at the different airships and trying to work out which one is the "Freedom's Dream". She doesn't have all day to find it, and the healer who's supposed to be around… she'll be missed if she's gone for too long… She redoubles her pace, moving along the docks briskly.

Several bats in exotic garb catch Kaela's attention. They work around a docked airship that is undergoing some repairs and refitting. A worker is slowly painting letters on the side of the ship. "Freedom's … "

Kaela pauses a moment, then moves in that direction. She moves over near to the bats and hopefully signs, "Know Savanite?" in their general direction.

The bats don't give any indication that they can understand Kaela, and largely ignore her.

However, Kaela catches sight of some golden fur and spots nearby. Now there's a better chance…

Kaela doesn't even hesitate. She hurries towards that spotted fur.

Some Savanite workers haul some material up a gangplank onto the ship. Coming back down the plank, the Savanite men notice the little kit. One signs, "What's the rush, little one?"

Kaela quickly signs, "Is there a healer on this airship?"

The Savanites all nod. One signs, "Yes. Roho of Himaat, friend of the Prince."

Kaela nods quickly. "Does he know sign? We have need of him… " She doesn't specify exactly who 'we' is.

The other workers mill along, but one remains, signing, "I am sorry, but he does not know sign. He is blind."

Kaela swallows hard. After several moments she signs, "Is… there no one who understands sign who can speak with him for me?"

A whistling, alien tune drifts across the docks…

The Savanite sighs, then shakes his head. "I am sorry. There are only Eeee, ourselves, and the blind fennec for now. And none of the bats know Savanite."

Envoy skips along the docks, swinging a covered basket under one arm and whistling the tune to 'Puff, The Magic Dragon' as she goes.

Kaela lowers her gaze and nods mournfully. "I'll… try to find someone… and come back," she signs, halfheartedly. This is looking a lot less likely to turn out well.

The cheetah worker nods and makes a gesture that would translate roughly as "Good luck," and then he returns to moving materials onto the ship to be used in reinforcing some of the damaged sections of the interior.

Envoy slows to a walk as she approaches the berth of Freedom's Dream, and glances around at the repair activity.

Envoy asks one of the Eeee workers, "Is Master Roho aboard?"

An Eeee warrior-turned-worker does a double-take at the odd alien addressing him, then squeaks, "Roho the Healer is on board, yes."

"Thank you," Envoy replies, and reaches into her basket for something, which she then offers the bat. It appears to be some sort of baked fruit covered in tempura and frosted with chocolate.

Kaela turns, and heads back towards the main part of the dock, nearly walking headlong into Envoy before glancing up far enough to recognize her. With a quick smile of delight, she waves to Envoy.

The bat looks quite pleased at the offering. "Mmmmm! Thank YOU!" He pauses in his work to hungrily dig into the munchie.

Envoy's smile turns up a few more notches, "Hello, Kaela! I was just about to come and visit you after I met with Master Roho. What are you doing down here?"

Kaela pauses. After a moment she signs, "Mother has gotten worse. I… was coming to ask if the healer would see her… "

Envoy smiles and signs, "I have already asked Roho if he will examine your mother, and have just come from Lord Titus' secretary with permission for it. Will you come along and meet the healer?"

Kaela smiles a little bit and nods. "He will help?" After a fraction of a second she adds, "We don't have any money left to pay him… "

Envoy shakes her head, and signs, "Don't worry about it. You can carry my basket. I've noticed that nobody questions a Savanite that is carrying something."

Kaela smiles at Envoy and takes the basket. "Thank you," she signs.

Envoy heads up the gangplank.

Kaela follows close behind Envoy, holding tightly to the basket.

A short, tan fox appears from belowdecks, followed by a young Eeee. He walks towards the Gangplank, "This way, you say?" He stops halfway there, and smiles, "Oh, hello, Envoy! Strange, they said the visitor was Savanite. I was wondering if I'd meet you again."

All about the ship, Eeee and Savanite workers are diligently tending to the structure, bringing the ancient airship back to serviceable status once more.

Envoy smiles, "Hello Roho! And yes, I do have the friend with me that I mentioned to you. I also brought some lunch."

Roho sniffsniffs in Envoy's direction quickly, then turns and smiles in Kaela's direction, "Yes, I heard about the problem… "

Envoy says, "I have gotten permission for you to examine Kaela's mother when it is convenient. This is Kaela with me now."

Kaela smiles tentatively.

Roho extends a paw in Kaela's direction, "Glad to meet you… Roho of Himaat."

Kaela tentatively takes Roho's paw.

Roho clasps her paw briefly, then turns back to Envoy, "Shall we head below, to talk about this and have lunch? Or would you rather go elsewhere?"

Envoy smiles, "Yes, we should go below. I can translate Kaela's answers for you, as I'm sure you'll have questions about her mother."

Roho nods, "Of course… " He smiles at both, then heads back belowdecks, winding his way to his quarters.

The young bat, seeing he has done his duty, flutters off to assist with his comrades.

Envoy follows along with Kaela.

Kaela follows anxiously. She really doesn't want to wait too long…

Roho's quarters are in significantly better shape than when they were first discovered. The lab is nice and orderly, and free of dust and such.

The furniture is definitely antique, though the seating arrangements have been given new cushions and upholstery.

Envoy reclaims the basket so Kaela will be able to talk easily, and offers both her and Roho a choice of a baked-and-dipped apple or pear.

Roho sits down at a clean table, offering seats to Kaela and Envoy. He selects a pear, but doesn't eat yet. He leans forward, "So… what is going on, if I can be quite broad?"

Envoy turns to watch Kaela's hands.

Kaela pauses a moment, then begins to sign. "Mother is sick. I… think it is a magical illness. Her joints swell, her fur falls out, and beneath the fur is turning gray."

Envoy repeats Kaela's signs out loud, using what she thinks the kit's voice would sound like if she could speak.

Roho listens to Envoy, then asks, "Does she run a temperature?"

Kaela pauses a moment. "I don't think so… " But her signs are uncertain.

Envoy speaks the signs, adding a waver to the voice.

Roho takes a bite of his pear, thinking. "I really can't do anything until I've seen her, anyways… when can you bring me to her?"

Envoy says, in her own voice, "At your convenience."

Roho chuckles, "I'm not, at the moment, the world's busiest healer. My convenience is yours… "

Envoy says, "Now would be a good time then, I think."

Kaela pauses a moment, looking between the two. "Sooner is better," she signs, "I think she's getting worse… "

Roho nods, and takes another bite as he stands, "Then it is good that you brought such a portable lunch, Envoy!" He grins.

Envoy says, "Do you have any equipment you need carried?"

Roho thinks a moment… "Not offhand, until I know more." He checks to make sure he has his herb pouches.

Envoy picks up the basket again, "Do you want to run ahead and let your mother know we are coming, Kaela, or will you escort us?"

Kaela pauses a moment in thought. "I'd better let them know you're coming… "

Envoy nods, and tells Roho the kit will be going on ahead.

Roho nods, "So long as you know the way!"

Envoy says, "I know the way."

Some time later, Envoy and Roho reach the townhouse of Lord Titus haut Mikide, nestled in the Noble Quarter of Rephidim City, and being in the center of a pretty sizeable grounds for a "townhouse", complete with a garden and orchard that could pass with some imagination for a small jungle.

The front door is framed by a skull of some forest beast above it, and long curling horns that run down the sides. Other tacky little decorations that seem to scream, "An adventurer lives here!" can be found here and there, many overgrown with vines … or, that is, covered with vines that have been strategically placed to make for that "authentic overgrown" look.

Kaela is waiting for Roho and Envoy outside the servants' entrance, which is located around the corner from the front door.

Envoy tries hard not to be distracted by the ornaments as she leads Roho towards Kaela.

Some cheetahs work at trimming the shrubbery. One cheetah boy, his fur smudged with dirt, snips at a hedge that has been shaped to resemble a leaping predator. He glances in Kaela's direction and flashes a grin before returning to his work.

Envoy smiles to Kaela, "Is your mother awake?"

Kaela nods. "She's awake," she signs, "but she's not really paying much attention to things… " She looks a bit worried.

Envoy tells this to Roho.

Roho nods, "Well, I should probably look anyways… "

Envoy says, "Lead on, Kaela."

Kaela anxiously gestures for Roho and Envoy to follow her, then hurries in through the servant's entrance, through a kitchen busy with Savanites preparing meals, and up a narrow staircase. She knocks twice on the door at the top of the stairs before opening the door and stepping into the room beyond.

Laying in the bed is a female cheetah who displays the symptoms described by Kaela. Next to her, on a short table, is a partially emptied body of "Doctor Kural's Wonder Oil". It would seem it hasn't worked too many wonders for this one.

Roho walks a couple of steps, then sniffs deeply…

Kaela looks back towards Roho, swallowing hard. "Can you help her?" she signs.

Envoy says, "She asks if you can help her mother. Do you need any help?"

Roho shakes his head, and approaches the older Savanite, "No, nothing yet… " He kneels down beside her, "And I'll tell if I can help as soon as I know."

Envoy looks over the ailing Savanite herself, making a diagnosis of cancer. She doesn't share this with the others.

Roho wrinkles his nose a little, and picks up the bottle of oil, "You using this?"

Kaela looks up at Envoy nervously, swallowing and shuffling her feet around on the floor. Eventually she just clasps her hands tightly and tries to hold still.

Envoy says, "Kaela purchased it for her mother several days ago."

Abana stirs somewhat, and shifts in the bed, but doesn't evidence notice that she has visitors, even though her eyes flutter open on occasion.

Roho nods, "It won't hurt her, but it won't help, either."

Envoy offers Kaela a baked apple, hoping to distract her from the examination.

Kaela swallows hard. "The salesnaga said it would help… "

Roho picks up Abana's limp paw, feeling the wrist. He listens to her breathing with one huge ear, and gently prods at her abdomen.

Envoy signs to Kaela, "Not everything said in the Bazaar is trustworthy."

Kaela's tail twitches with anxiety. She takes the baked apple, but can't bring herself to take a bite of it. Instead, she just holds on to it between both paws.

Roho sighs as he finishes his examination, "I've seen this before. Her body is devouring itself, it is called cancer usually."

Roho rasps, "I've never been to Rephidim before, but it was my understanding that the magic that causes it wasn't common here. Has she ever been to the surface?"

Kaela fidgets. Still holding out some measure of hope, she signs, "Can you help her?"

Envoy rests a hand on Kaela's shoulder, and asks Roho, "Is there a treatment for it that you know of?"

Roho sighs, "Well… yes and no."

Roho rasps, "I can help her pain. And with a more thorough exam, I could try to remove the areas of her body that have gone to the cancer. But I would probably kill her in the process; you need a healer with sight."

Envoy says, "The Temple has advanced medical technologies. Would you be able to use those?"

Kaela wipes at her eyes, swallowing, and hunching her head down between her shoulders.

Roho rasps, "I don't know, I've never been to the Temple. Are their technologies available to all?"

Envoy frowns, "I don't know. I will have to ask."

Envoy says, "They may demand a fee."

Kaela doesn't look enthusiastic. The folks at the temple usually aren't thrilled about going out of their way to help slaves.

Kaela quietly signs, "They won't help."

There's a light rap on the door.

Envoy blinks at Kaela's sign.

Kaela glances towards the door, then goes to open it.

Roho nods, "Well, I can't do anything with that now. Envoy, can you find out what would be available to us?" He digs through his herb pouch, drawing out six large, velvety leaves, slightly dried, "Place one of these in freshly boiled water every morning, and let her breathe the vapors. That will aid her breathing, I hope." He takes out some smaller leaves, "And try to get her to eat two or three of these at every mealtime, whether she takes a meal or not. They will help with the pain and swelling."

A taller cheetah, dressed in silks, with a matching headband going across her forehead, smiles down at Kaela.

Envoy says, "I will make sure someone does so, Roho."

Envoy smiles to the newcomer.

Roho raises his head as the new cheetah walks in.

Jezebel signs, "Pardon my intrusion, but I was curious at Abana's having so many guests." She looks about, scrutinizing the blind fennec and the winged alien.

Kaela backs a few steps back, her tailtip flicking nervously. "We just brought a healer to look at her."

Envoy says, "Master Roho has come to examine her, and has provided some herbs to ease her difficulties. Are you responsible for looking after her?"

Jezebel snorts, then signs, "No, that is not my duty."

Envoy smiles, "Who is? There are special instructions regarding the herb treatments."

The silk-garbed cheetah signs to Kaela, "You've done well to enlist the help of a healer. But herbs will only go so far." She looks back to Envoy, as if pondering something.

Kaela shakes her head, before she even suggests it. "You will not use your magic on her," she signs to Jezebel.

Envoy watches the conversation in silence. She knows not to mention Savanite magic in front of Roho.

Jezebel's eyes squint as she looks to Kaela. "I have no magic to use on your mother," she signs. "But since no one is really tending to her, I would be willing to offer my help. I will tend to the herbs. Lord Titus has been busy as of late and has little interest in me until his expedition is underway."

Kaela shakes her head quickly. "No," she signs, distrustfully. "I will keep the herbs."

Kaela still stands between Jezebel and the others in the room.

Envoy says to Roho, "I am in your debt for seeing to Abana, Master Roho. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

Roho chuckles softly, "Well, do you have any more of that fruit?"

Jezebel shrugs. "Very well then," she signs. She looks about the room, her gaze lingering upon Envoy for longer than it does upon Roho or the recumbent Abana. "Have a pleasant day," she bids with a mildly unpleasant expression, and she turns around, heading back to the door, her tail swishing behind her.

Envoy signs to Kaela, "That one seems very disrespectful of you. Is she an enemy?"

Envoy hands Roho one of the baked apples.

Kaela swallows hard as Jezebel leaves, and wobbles a bit as she wanders in no particular direction. Finally she abruptly sits down on the floor near a corner and drops her head into her hands, her shoulders shaking.

The door closes, and Jezebel's departure can be heard as she descends the stairs back down to the main work area of the servants' quarters.

Roho takes the apple and stands, "I'm sorry I can't do more, but I'm not a surgeon anymore, a surgeon needs eyes. If there's anything else I can do, you know where to find me… particularly if the Temple agrees to help."

Envoy says, "Of course, thank you again"

Envoy glances at Kaela, wondering if she should leave her alone to guide Roho back to his ship…

Roho places a paw on Envoy's shoulder, "I can find my way back, you stay with her if you wish… "

Envoy smiles, "You are very perceptive for one without sight, Master Roho."

Kaela wipes at her eyes, sitting on the floor miserably.

Roho smiles softly, "It doesn't take sight to tell when someone needs a hand … take care, both of you."

Roho carefully makes his way back out the way he came.

Envoy sits on the floor next to Kaela.

As the fennec passes, some of the Savanites pause in their work to "whisper" to each other in signs, marvelling at this healer who came to look at dear old Abana … even though everyone knows that kit Kaela has no shekels to offer…

Kaela snuffles softly, mopping at the fur around her eyes and nose. She doesn't look up at Envoy, but just sits there quietly, staring downwards.

Envoy wonders what she can say or do to keep Kaela from losing hope. This isn't something she's encountered before.

Abana stirs a bit, shifting under the covers, which are a tangled mess.

Kaela swallows hard, her eyes downcast. Finally, her hands move in a vague series of signs, "Everything's falling apart." Her hands tremble slightly in their motions.

Envoy signs back, "What do you need, Kaela?"

Kaela swallows again and wipes at her eyes. "I… we have to go back to the City, Mama and me. That's all that's left… maybe they could help her there… but if we go, I'll never be able to come back. And Azhtar… terrible things will happen to her… " Her tailtip lashes from side to side.

Envoy signs, "Who at the City of Hands will help?"

Kaela bites down on her lip, struggling to retain control. Crying doesn't help anything.

Kaela signs, "The Twelve-times-Twelve. They were some of the most powerful mages… and they're still alive, in the warding hands… That's what Princess Emerald-Eyes told me in my dreams… "

Envoy signs, "Every day carries Rephidim further from the Savan. You would need something faster than an airship. Do you know of any such vehicle?"

Kaela shakes her head quietly.

Envoy signs, "Did the ancient Savanites have any means of air travel? Something that might still survive in the City?"

Kaela swallows. "There… was an airship shaped like a Creen… it was fast… But I don't know where it is, if it's still there… "

Kaela signs, "We couldn't come back even if we had it… they… they don't treat escaped slaves well… even if they come back… "

Envoy thinks, before signing, "Can you be purchased away from Titus?"

Kaela pauses. "Only if he wants to sell us," she signs.

Envoy signs, "Do you know how to release the Twelve-times-Twelve?"

Kaela shakes her head. "But there has to be a way," she signs. "There has to be."

Envoy whispers, "You need a mage then. Someone who can counter the old magic."

Kaela signs, "They did it to themselves… turned themselves into the warding hands… to keep the Priest-King inside. Maybe they can even get themselves out… Maybe they already have… "

Envoy signs, "The deformed one that came here, she knows magic?"

Kaela nods slightly, her expression going numb. "She betrayed us," she signs. "She told the slavers where to find our clan. For her own profit."

Envoy signs, "But does she know magic? Could she discover if the ancient mages have freed themselves?"

Kaela pauses a moment. "She knows magic… but… but I don't trust her… "

Envoy considers this, then signs, "Your choices are limited. If you ally yourself with this person you do not trust, you may achieve your goals. If you do not ally yourself with her, then she will be a potential obstacle."

There's a thump against the wall outside – probably a ladder being rested against the building to access the roof, or else for cleaning the windows.

Kaela shakes her head. "If she learns the plans… she will tell my Master if she thinks she'll gain favor for it… "

Envoy signs, "There are risks in any solution to your dilemma. As a leader, you must choose which risks are acceptable to your long-term goals."

Kaela's eyes begin to moisten and reflect some amount of fear, and she suddenly looks like a very small, frightened little kitten. "I don't want to be a leader," she signs.

Envoy signs, "That is good. Those that want to be leaders are seldom qualified."

Kaela makes faint, petulant motions of her fingers. "I just want Mama to be okay… more than anything else… "

Envoy smiles, and signs, "Then do what must be done."

Kaela stares down into her lap. "Maybe Azhtar would come with us… so she wouldn't be punished when we disappear… "

Envoy signs, "Are you certain you can release the old mages if you get back to the City?"

Kaela looks down. "No," she signs. "But I don't know what else to try."

Envoy hesitantly signs, "What will you do if your mother dies before you can get her into the City? The way is harsh."

The sunlight is dimming outside. Some voices can be heard, yelling at whomever is ascending the ladder. "… almost dark, no time to start that NOW!" By the sound, it's probably one of the wolf guards. The sounds of someone climbing back down the ladder can be heard, then a scrape as it is pulled away from the outer wall of the manor.

Kaela begins to shiver and cry again. "She won't," she shakily signs. "She can't. I… I can't just leave her here. They can't help her here and I have to do something to make her better… " She ducks her head deep between her shoulders, huddling into herself.

Envoy listens to the voices, and assumes it has to do with the decorations she saw being put up earlier.

Envoy wraps a wing around Kaela, and whispers to her, "I will talk to the Temple. Maybe Inquisitor Melchizedek can get your mother treatment."

Kaela miserably signs, "You shouldn't. We're… only slaves… He wouldn't help us anyway. And I don't think he likes me, anyway. And if we do go to the City, he'll know why we left… and maybe will guess the rest… " The tears finally spill out of her eyes and trickle slowly down her cheekfur.

Envoy pulls the kit to her and rocks.

Kaela cries freely, held close to Envoy.