The Freedom's Dream continues through the mid-day, now passing over jungle, having passed the not-very-well-defined borders of the Savan Territories some time ago. Wynona seems to have been doing better insofar as not sneezing, so Boghaz has gotten brave enough to allow her to try some morebold air spells to get the ship moving at a faster click. Given the occasional sniffle, though, the estimated time of arrival is still uncertain.

Envoy sits on the shoulder of the Vartan figurehead, watching the jungle pass below.

Relheyz, a tan-and-black Eeee in sailor's clothes, works on coiling up one of the spare ropes.

Janus lounges against one of the upper rails, some few yards from Envoy. He is watching everyone on deck, as if trying to absorb their histories with his attention.

A bat patrol flutters in, every member gasping. "Ew! Hard to keep up with the ship! No sign of any ships following us at this time."

Janus swears as a random gust of wind whips his cape around to slap him in the face … again. He reaches and unclasps the chain, wadding it up into a ball and stuffing it out of the way in a pile of rope. "Should have done that a long time ago."

Envoy looks back over the railing to the patrol bats, "Did you see anyplace a ship that size could have landed?"

Some more flying forms come back in, these a fair bit faster, since they're coming from the forward patrol.

Janus grins a bit, overhearing the bats.

One of the rear patrol bats shakes his head and squeaks, "Not safely, in the thick of the jungle like this – at least, not anywhere close."

Relheyz coils and coils… it's boring work, but something that has to be done. He listens to the conversation idly.

The forward patrol bats tumble onto the deck. "PATROL SHIP!" one squeaks, then gasps for breath and adds, "THE INTIMIDATOR!"

Janus looks up at Envoy curiously … then back at the bats. "Huh? Patrol ship?"

The forward patrol bats lie in a scattered pile on the deck, panting and gasping.

Relheyz utters a word not fit for polite company, dropping the rope, and rushing to the patrol. "The Intimidator? Here? NOW?"

It takes a moment for the news to register with some of the other bats. "SQUEAK?" one remarks.

Envoy says, "The Temple must have it here to enforce the Quarantine… "

Envoy climbs back onto the deck.

Janus pads over and starts helping the forward patrol bats to stand up. "You should get something to drink."

One of the patrol bats nods his head weakly. "Far ahead," he coughs. "Good distance, at high altitude, but (gasp) real big, you know?"

Janus asks, of no one in particular, "This 'Intimidator' is going to try to stop us?"

Envoy dashes below-decks for several minutes…

Relheyz nods to the patroller… "I've only heard, but… " he pauses. "I have to tell the captain." He rushes below-decks to find Boghaz.

"Only if … (gasp) it catches us crossing the blockade line," one of the patrol bats answers.

"Of course," one of the bats mutters, "the blockade line is usually, 'If we see you, you're too close'."

Janus hmphs. "Well, I guess the best thing to do is not get seen. I've been on my share of crashing airships already."

Envoy comes back on deck, covered in her trenchcoat and big hat. She's darkened her muzzle with coal dust as well.

Boghaz comes rushing up. "Is it sighted yet? Has it sighted US yet?"

Janus makes sure that the bat has got his breath back before moving to the bow and scanning for signs of a big airship.

Relheyz follows a few steps behind the captain, running fast to keep up with him.

One of the bats hops up, and salutes Boghaz. "Korr, reporting in, sir! The Intimidator has been sighted over the jungle, and we don't think we're spotted yet. However, even if we turn now, we're likely to encounter one of the patrol corvettes."

Boghaz glowers. "Let's keep a wide berth anyway. If we alter course for Safar now, will we still run into them?" He marches over to the navigator's booth.

Janus turns around and sees Envoy. He chews on his lower lip thoughtfully. "OK. Who are you supposed to be now?"

Envoy stands up on her toes to look taller. There's no way she can make her horn look like that of a true Aeonian though, nor can she make it blue…

Envoy says, "Who do you think I am?" Her voice is that of Inquisitor Raphael Melchizedek.

Several bats SQUEAK and jump at Envoy's voice. "I didn't do it! I swear!"

Janus scratches the side of his head. "Now THAT would be a useful skill."

Envoy drops the deeper voice, "It's only me, Envoy… "

Janus says, "Of course … why would Melchizedek be on an airship out over the Savan without a big Temple escort?"

Envoy says, "But from a distance, shouting across to another ship, I hope it will be good enough to fool any patrol we meet."

Envoy says, "Secret Mission. Which is true, after all."

Another bat wings in from a quick flight out, looking exhausted, but not entirely out of breath. "One of the patrol ships is changing course! We're gonna have company!"

Janus chews on his lower lip. "Don't stretch that one too far. As lies go, it gets pretty thin, pretty fast."

Envoy says, "My experience thus far tends to make me think most people would rather not know what an Inquisitor is doing, much less why."

Relheyz waits by the captain, listening for orders. His crossbow hangs by his side, a sign he stopped by the armory before telling Boghaz… just in case.

Azhtar comes over and signs to Envoy, "I had best get below-decks. They may have gotten word that I am 'missing' by now."

Janus nods and leans against the figurehead, "Oh you're probably right there, but someone will wonder. And you'll probably bring down a lot of trouble for this ship if anyone on those ships ever wakes up and realizes how implausible that is.

Envoy nods to Azhtar, then signs, "Do you have the papers the Inquisitor made up before?"

Azhtar nods. "I will fetch them," she signs. The cheetah quickly dashes off, below-decks.

Janus looks around slowly, gauging the level of activity to see if everyone has reached 'frantic' yet.

Frantic. Definitely.

Janus grins a bit and looks back at Envoy. "You seem to be the expert at impersonating someone you aren't. What else do you think you'll need to pull this off?"

Envoy thinks, then answers, "Not being detected by the patrols at all."

Janus laughs softly. "Too late. How about something we can produce?"

Envoy says, "Azhtar has Temple papers that were meant to allow her safe passage. They have Melchizedek's seal on them."

Janus narrows his eyes. "Use one or the other. If you produce papers that guarantee safe passage supposedly written by you, you'll bring down all kinds of trouble."

Envoy says, "If they send over a flyer though, I'll need to be sitting down. Even on my toes I don't think I'm tall enough."

Janus looks Envoy up and down. "No. Probably not."

An approaching airship is now visible, gliding along over the jungle … and heading for what appears to be an intercept course. As soon as the call goes out that it's visible, the winds that bear the ship forward at full speed die down in intensity, until the ship is almost stopping … Nonetheless, Wynona is still chanting.

This airship definitely is not "The Intimidator". It's a standard Temple patrol vessel, flying white sails with the red emblem of the Star-and-Anchor.

Janus rests his forearms on the railing and watches the other ship close in. Any uncertainty he may be feeling is well hidden.

Azhtar rushes back up, papers in hand.

Envoy takes the papers and signs to Azhtar to hide somewhere.

Janus looks up at Azhtar, then back at the approaching ship.

While the other ship is still outside of bow-shot distance – but within range of the ballistas faintly visible on the other deck – a series of horns blow from the other ship, answered by a series of bellows from the Freedom's Dream.

Kaela sticks her head up from below-decks, where she'd been asleep in a stateroom somewhere.

Azhtar quickly heads back down below-decks, not anxious to be seen, even at this distance.

Kaela moves to join Azhtar, signing, "What's going on?"

One of the bats at the horns turns back at an answering bellow, and says, "They're sending someone over." He looks nervous.

Azhtar signs to Kaela, "There is a patrol vessel that noticed us. Envoy is going to try to impersonate Melchizedek to get us by the blockade. I only hope that Melchizedek is still in good standing back at the Temple right now."

Janus turns around and grabs his rumpled cape from the rope he had stuffed it in. As he swings it back over his shoulders he mutters something about it being safe enough to wear, "… sitting still, after all."

Envoy sits down on a bench near the pilot station, and tucks the papers into a pocket of her coat.

A bat flutters over from the patrol ship, then spreads its wings to soar a good portion of the remaining distance.

Janus leans against the figurehead again, sparing a glance to Envoy and muttering, "I hope she knows what she's doing."

One of the Freedom's bats cries out, "Attention! Representative of the Temple, coming aboard!"

Janus opens his mouth to yell something, but thinks better of it quickly.

Then, the patrol ship bat touches down, dressed in white and red of the general Temple forces, though without the armor associated with the main Temple Guard.

Envoy remains in her seat, face shadowed by the brim of her hat.

The patrol ship bat squeaks, "Sergeant Jaramia of the patrol ship Fire Blossom. May I see your Temple representative!"

Envoy says, "That would be me," in her Imposing Inquisitor Voice.

Janus conceals a lopsided smile.

The bat does a double-take, then gulps. He salutes. "Arch Inquisitor Majoris Melchizedek! Your presence does us an honor! We are pleasantly surprised by your arrival!"

Envoy grumbles, "No, you are not. I am not Inquisitor Melchizedek. He was never here. Do you understand?"

The bat gulps again, then salutes. "Yes, Inq – Yes, sir!"

Janus shifts his weight and settles both shoulders against the figurehead.

Envoy says, "You do not need to know why we are here, but you will double patrols in this area after we have passed. A pirate airship is going to attempt to run the blockade."

"Yes sir!" squeaks the bat, still saluting.

Janus chews on his lower lip.

The bat is frozen in position, as if he's waiting for something, and nervously so.

The bat squeaks, "Is there anything else, sir?"

The bat looks very nervous at the silence, and then squeaks, "Of course! You aren't here, so there's nobody to dismiss me. Terribly sorry. We won't delay you any longer!" With that, he bows, and flutters back to the patrol ship.

Once the patrol ship moves away, there's a collective Eeee sigh across the ship.

Janus smiles a little bit. "You people get too uptight."

Boghaz wipes at his brow. "Good work, Envoy. You had me wondering about you myself."

Envoy says, "Thank you, Captain."

Envoy waits for the patrol ship to move on before moving from her spot, though…

Janus waits until the patrol ship moves on, "You got lucky. I thought you'd give him those papers with some directions to tell the ship master … Can you imagine the reaction that kind of story would get?

Relheyz pshews, going back to coiling rope, in the hopes everything is safe again…

Envoy says, "Hopefully there won't be a story."

The patrol ship is but a speck now, and the Freedom's Dream moves on toward its intended destination in the Savan jungle.

Janus chews on his upper lip, "There has to be a story. He had to tell the 'master' something, or they wouldn't have moved on."

Envoy pulls out a handkerchief and wipes the coal from her muzzle.

Janus watches the patrol ship disappear, "I wonder if they'll try to tail us."

Kaela finally moves up above-decks and looks about.

Envoy says, "Well, it will probably just make the Arch Inquisitor more fearsome then, being in two places at once like that."

Janus shakes his head thoughtfully. "Well, we'll find out … one way or another."

Janus sees Kaela and signs a greeting when he thinks she might be looking.

Kaela apparently wasn't looking. She just walks over towards Envoy.

Envoy smiles to Kaela after removing her hat and trenchcoat.

Janus shrugs and removes his cape again, wadding it up and tossing it into a pile of coiled rope. "Thing is beating me to death."

Kaela grins up at Envoy.

Janus moves over to Envoy, "Anyway, despite my griping, that was well done. Thanks for saving us the experience of being shot out of the sky. I think I can live without that."

Envoy rubs her muzzle. "You don't think I can get in trouble for this, do you? I mean, I told the truth about not being Melchizedek."

Janus grins. "You told them something, knowing that they would believe something else. I'm not worried about you getting into trouble. I'd be more concerned for the ship."

Envoy says, "The ship survived for hundreds of years without any crew. It would seem therefore that the ship can care of itself."

Janus blinks, "What?"

Janus shakes his head, "The crew then. If it gets out that someone on board was impersonating an Inquisitor, and that they didn't try to turn you over to the Temple, they might get into trouble.

Envoy smiles to Janus, "You didn't know? This ship was found floating abandoned over the ocean. It was once the legendary Silver Bell piloted by the Vartan captain, Shokar."

Janus shakes his head at that, "No. I didn't know that."

Envoy says, "You should ask Zoltan about it sometime."

Janus hmphs, "No thanks. I don't care much for Vartan."

Envoy blinks three times at Janus. "You are an odd person, Janus."

Janus arches an eyebrow. "Coming from you, I'm not sure if I should feel good, or insulted."

Envoy smiles, then goes to see how Kaela and Azhtar are doing.

Kaela has been standing out near the railing, just watching the trees drift by beneath the airship.

Azhtar has only recently come back above-decks, and a bit reluctantly at that.

Janus watches Envoy walk off, his brow slightly furrowed. "And she calls me odd."

Envoy signs to Kaela, "Do you know where Azhtar is?"

Janus shakes his head slightly.

Kaela points over towards Azhtar as she steps back up onto deck.

Envoy turns and smiles to the taller Savanite. "Are you alright, Azhtar?"

Azhtar nods, and signs, "I was very worried, but you have done well."

Janus sits down in the spot Envoy just vacated and watches Envoy, Azhtar, and Kaela.

Envoy signs, "Thank you."

Kaela reaches to give Envoy a gentle hug.

Envoy smiles and snugs the kit back.

The remainder of the daylight passes more or less without event. The crew does not exactly breathe easily, for the shape of the Intimidator can be seen looming high above, keeping a watch over a wide range of the jungle, no doubt, and certainly aware of their presence within that circle. But the air mage does not sneeze again … and at last the ship reaches a river that it follows for some distance … and then slows to finally hover over a clearing at the river's edge.

Several bats take off in the darkness, fluttering down to secure mooring lines.

Envoy watches over the railing.

Boghaz approaches Envoy. "We cannot remain here for very long – just to unload. We need to go to Safar to get more supplies, and then we will return."

Envoy nods.

Envoy says, "We will hopefully have your map by the time you return."

With a creaking of pulleys lowering ropes, some bundles are lowered down to the ground, containing the supplies for the trek through the jungle.

Boghaz nods. "I certainly hope so. I worry that if we stay too long, our little deception will be found out at last … or they may have some reason to come and ask questions."

Envoy says, "I am more concerned about the black airship than the patrols."

Boghaz nods, and takes a deep breath. "We will keep watch for that as well."

One of the bats squeaks, "Okay! We can start taking the landers down on the platform!"

Janus walks over to the platform. "Down it is." Janus' ears are laid back slightly as he gets on the platform.

Envoy thanks the former prince once again, and goes to see if Kaela and Azhtar are ready.

Azhtar walks up to the platform a bit timidly. She nods to Envoy, and then steps on.

Zoltan trods up to the deck, his back laden with supplies.

Janus mutters softly, "At least it'll be better than the ride up. It has to be."

Zoltan hops up to the railing and grins at the group on the platform. "I meets you at bottom… make sure no thorn-vines or piggies wait for you."

When at last all the "landers" for this particular expedition are on board the platform, it slowly lowers by rope down to the surface, and the passengers disembark, plus a few Savanites who help to move some of the supplies out, and then ride the platform back up again. The fennec ship's doctor shuffles off to gather some herbs to replenish his supplies, while the others locate the path leading to the nearby, abandoned village.

Envoy says, "We should be safe in the old village tonight."

Janus watches the Savanites ride the platform back up to the ship and grimaces, unable to suppress a little shiver.

With well wishes from Boghaz, the crew of the Freedom's Dream bids farewell to the party on the ground, and as the mooring lines are loosened, it starts to drift away by sail, until their sneeze-prone air mage can start up another ritual. That leaves the ground party to make the short march through the jungle to an abandoned village that is out of sight of the mooring point.

Janus turns to look at Envoy, "Right. As safe as the original occupants were."

Zoltan helps with the effort of setting up the camp. He pulls out a bottle of pickled 'rations' and makes a face.

Envoy pokes around the huts, looking for any wildlife or corpses.

"Watch out for shiny stones that run away!" the Vartan scrawks to envoy.

Fortunately, there are no corpses to be found. The village consists of several very very tall and thick trees a walk from the mooring point, with several huts at their bases, some of them actually cutting into the bases a bit.

Janus pads over and tosses his belongings into one of the huts with an absent, almost familiar, movement.

Toward the center of the ring is a fire-pit, and a short distance from that is a larger hut that stands away from any of the tree bases.

Janus turns back to the village and looks around, picking out another hut and moving toward it.

Most of the huts are fairly plain, but there is one that is adorned with lots of "shamanic" paraphernalia – beads, skulls, masks, talismans and the like.

There are also a few abandoned supplies to be found, as well. In the rush to vacate the premises during the last expedition, some extra rations and the like were left behind. Unfortunately, some of them were discovered by some of the jungle's inhabitants, but some appear to be intact.

Envoy says, "Zoltan, will you help me with something? I'd like to cover the mooring point with vegetation."

Zoltan finishes with the supplies, (besides… the Savanites seem to be doing a better job at organizing them than he is).

Zoltan looks at the strange hut, making a mental note explore it further, and goes over to help the Aeolun.

Zoltan pulls up some bits of dead vegetation to use in hiding the moorings. "Envoy… you see hut with strange decorations? Was that here when we last here, or is new?"

Envoy nods while dragging a large frond over. "Yes, it was there. I don't know who decorated it though."

Zoltan's ears go back, "So fancy things is new?" He feels a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach.

Envoy says, "The decorations are from last time."

Zoltan places a few dead vines. "Hrr… you remember crystal hands I gots from Titus' house? Was looking at them all… and found that hands we use in Map room no there. Is any chance others might work same way?"

Envoy hmms. "That depends. The Star and Base hands are needed for tracking Rephidim, but there may be more at the city still."

Zoltan shakes his head. "Is hope so… otherwise Captain Bog-has take us all way here for nothing. I maybe give him hands at end of everything to make up for trouble if we not able to use map room." He pauses, a few ferns in hand. "Envoy… is any chance you could teach me hand-sign? I pick up few things on own, but think that if I goings to be any good here, I needs to learn better… with teacher."

Envoy smiles, "I'd be happy to teach you, Zoltan!"

Zoltan pats a few more plants into place, "Thanks… I appreciates."

Envoy heads back to the village with Zoltan.

Janus stops at the entrance to the decorated Shaman's hut and slips inside.

Inside the decorated hut, Janus finds unlit, dark candles, hanging wooden masks, woven articles, bead jewelry, feathers, talismans of leather and bone and herbs. A chair in one corner, however, doesn't quite fit in with the decor. Nor does a cot and an open footlocker.

Janus pads over to the footlocker and looks inside.

Janus shakes his head and pads back outside, looking to see if anyone has lit a torch or a fire in the central pit.

Yes, indeed, there's a fire blazing in the pit just now. Azhtar works on unpacking some of the supplies in the firelight, and re-packing a few supplies that will be needed to carry along in case of a rushed exit from the village camp.

Janus looks around and picks up a likely brand, walking over to the fire to light it. "Gets pretty dark in the jungle, doesn't it?

Azhtar only smiles in response, and keeps working, her hands a bit too full to easily sign something in answer.

Janus turns the stick in his hand until it is well lit, and then goes back to Third Eye's hut to look around.

In the better lighting, it's easier to see further into the hut than the ambient light from the fire-pit would allow. The footlocker contains remains of some clothes that have been nibbled on by some of the jungle inhabitants, along with some grooming apparati.

Janus kicks the locker hard enough to irritate anything that might have moved in.

Janus reaches down and searches under the pile of clothes.

Nothing bites Janus, though a silvery pebble skitters away.

Janus hmms and looks around. "Now where did these come from?

Janus looks over the locker, searching for some sign of previous ownership.

The locker bears the seal of the Mikide Estate.

Janus hmms softly. "That looks familiar."

Janus clucks his tongue softly.

Azhtar waves to Envoy and Zoltan as they finally enter the ring of huts and trees. It would seem she's fixing something warm to drink, to help keep away the chill of the night in the jungle.

Zoltan follows at Envoy's heels. "I not have five fingers like Savanite… that going to cause problem with hand-sign?"

Envoy thinks about that. "A little, but probably not more than your beak causes you problems with speaking."

Envoy says, "There is a trick to learning sign language, where you learn to 'baby-talk' first. That way, you don't need to know every nuance."

Zoltan chuckles as he walks up to the fire-pit. "Is figure… no-beak language no made for Vartan mouth. No-beak hand-sign no made for Vartan hands."

Janus stands up and moves back to the entrance to the hut to stick his head out, "Envoy … do you know if anyone used this hut during the first expedition?

Envoy says, "Almost all of the huts were used."

Janus mms and looks back inside. "OK. Thanks."

Janus ducks back inside the hut and slumps down into the chair-that-does-not-belong. "Well, dummy. What did you expect? A sealed scroll labeled 'CLUE'?"

Janus sighs.

Azhtar walks up to the hut and pokes her head inside, rapping on a wooden support to get the cat's attention. "Care for something warm to drink?" she signs.

Janus blinks and looks up at Azhtar, for a moment so lost in his thoughts that he forgets who she is. "Uh … what?"

Azhtar repeats her signs, and gestures toward the fire-pit.

Envoy says, "Do you think we should make our main camp inside the City itself this time, Zoltan?"

Janus blinks again and stands up, "Yes … thank you, that would be very nice."

Azhtar nods and smiles, and heads back to the fire-pit, returning to her seat there to check on the cocoa.

Zoltan gestures at a place next to the Savanite, "You mind if a fool sit with you?" He says with a wink.

Envoy smiles to Azhtar as she returns. "Azhtar, would you mind if I gave you a voice to help Zoltan learn the hand sign language?"

Azhtar grins wryly to Zoltan, then looks to Envoy with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?" she signs.

Meanwhile, the Savanite fills some cups with some hot cocoa for each of the others around the circle.

Janus stops at the entrance and looks inside Third Eye's hut again before going back to the fire and tossing his makeshift torch onto the flame. He accepts one of the cups with a smile and signed thanks.

Envoy says, "What do you mean?" for Azhtar, using a lower voice than normal, with a bit of a purr in it.

Zoltan chortles!

Azhtar blinks for a moment, and then she wiggles her ears, shaking her head at herself for taking a moment to catch on.

Zoltan squawks, "Is saw Kavi do that in Bazaar once. Except he had little wooden doll… "

Envoy says, "I haven't learned ventriloquism yet. It might be useful to, though."

Azhtar signs, "I would be delighted to teach Zoltan sign, with your assistance."

Janus looks into the jungle, apparently staring off into space.

Envoy echoes Azhtar's signs vocally as she makes them.

Azhtar blinks at the thought, and silently ponders what sort of trouble Envoy could create!

Zoltan looks back and forth between Azhtar and Envoy. He clumsily tries to repeat the signs that he thinks represent his name.

There is a crashing and rustling noise from the trees. Some Creens trill and cry, awakened from their slumber, and flutter through the semi-clearing.

Envoy repeats the proper gestures for Zoltan. Her fingers don't seem to count as much as the way the hands are moved. "Do you think that was another hog?"

Azhtar smiles, and mimics the gestures as well for Zoltan.

There are some more crashes, but it dies away. Whatever it was must not have been headed this way.

Janus stands up and stretches, turning around in a circle.

Zoltan's ears perk. "No think so… unless hog live in trees." He lowers his voice, "But something maybe scare lizard-birds and cause to fly off?"

Janus kneels down next to the fire and refills his cup. "We were being watched."

Azhtar looks as if she's about to sign something, but then stops herself, glancing at the trees out of the corner of her eye.

Zoltan looks around as well, he hopes the firelight is enough to help him see past his beak.

Envoy says, "From where, Janus?"

Janus sits back and sips his drink. "Whatever it was is gone now. It was in the trees.

The firelight illuminates the huts and the trees, but there are many shadows in which real or imagined creatures might be lurking.

Envoy asks Azhtar, "Do you know of any native animals that it might have been?"

Janus says, "If it was an animal, it wasn't anything I'm familiar with. It was an excellent climber, and fast in the branches.""

Azhtar shakes her head. "I am sorry," she signs, "but I was not raised in the jungle. I know little of what dangers we will face here. There are not many books on the Savan."

Envoy echos that for Zoltan.

Kaela hurries into the firelight, looking a bit shaken. She quickly makes her way over to sit very near to Envoy's side, her eyes scanning the tree-tops nervously.

Envoy puts an arm around Kaela. "Do you remember about any animals that live in trees, Kaela?"

Zoltan frowns, nursing his mug in his hands. He continues to look at the tree-tops, chasing shadows with his eyes.

Kaela looks up at Envoy and shakes her head softly. "I don't know what it could be… "

A low, keening moan echoes through the jungle, then is joined by another and another.

Janus snaps his head up and looks into the trees again.

Envoy cocks an ear, trying to place the sound.

Janus stands up slowly. "Douse the fire. I think I know that sound."

The sounds are coming from several sources, and are serving to drive every Creen and bird into a fluttering, noisy frenzy, as the fliers flap out of the clearing.

Azhtar hurriedly grabs the pot and dumps its contents over the fire, resulting in a cloud of steam and a quickly dying flame.

Zoltan jumps to his feet, his mug falls from his hands and it's contents splash on the ground.

Janus looks around, "If I'm right, then there is a group of hunters nearby."

Envoy says, "Are they Savanites, Janus?"

Kaela remains very near to Envoy, the fur at the back of her neck beginning to rise.

"I wonder what they hunting… " Zoltan murmurs.

Janus waves his hands toward the huts. "Get out of sight. They're coming.

Janus backs up toward the hut where he dumped his gear.

Azhtar fumbles around in the darkness, and bumbles into Zoltan.

A few spots of light appear, filtered through the hanging vegetation and past the trees. Torchlight.

Janus moves forward quickly and takes ahold of Zoltan and Azhtar's hands, whispering softly, "Come on … be quiet."

Kaela doesn't have to be told twice. She darts into a nearby hut and searches about for something to hide under.

A few flickering flames arc through the air and land in the clearing.

Envoy follows after Kaela.

Zoltan moves as quietly as he can muster, keeping his eyes on Azhtar.

Azhtar hurries after Zoltan, scrambling for the hut. She's definitely out of her element.

Janus pushes Zoltan and Azhtar into the hut and ducks in himself. He hisses softly, "Stay away from the door. They'll see your eyes."

Zoltan leans as close to one of the walls as he can, he drapes a wing over Azhtar hoping that his black feathers might help to conceal her a bit better.

Several digitigrade, feline forms dash into the clearing, fur painted in bold slashes of color, and adorned with jewelry of bone, wood, leather, claws and thorns. Their face markings are fairly effective at giving them a wilder look than they might otherwise have.

Kaela takes cover beneath a chair inside the dark hut, shivering softly.

Janus half-lids his eyes, to shield the whites from view, and watches the action in the clearing as best he can.

Envoy stays near the entrance to Kaela's hut, watching. Unlike the others, her retinas don't need a reflective underlayer.

Rattles shake in the hands of some of the Savanite warriors, as another figure strides into the clearing – a female whose markings suggest black lightning running across golden fur. Her eyes seem to glow in the reflection of the torch flames. She slaps her hands and makes wild sign-gestures to the warriors, but they are very fast and short, not recognizable as Savanite sign.

Janus narrows his eyes, trying to make out any other markings on the female.

The warriors immediately begin spreading out, creeping along, spears at the ready, as they watch the entrances to the hut. The braver ones rush up to some and wave their spears around inside. Some pick up torches and carry them along to aid in the process. No one has been discovered just yet, though.

Envoy watches the deployment in fascination. Of course, she watches just about everything that way.

Zoltan keeps an ear rested against the wall of the hut. ( They're getting closer… )

Kaela watches Envoy worriedly. Come away from that entryway!

Envoy moves back a little further into the hut.

Janus tries not to growl. He counts the Savan that are visible, not liking the odds even a little.

The female's attire and her bearing suggests that she holds some sort of authority over these others – a shamaness, perhaps? Every move she makes seems part of a dance, yet it holds meaning for the tribesmen as well, as they scurry about as if propelled by each gesture. She frequently claps and snaps and takes up a skull rattle, shaking it in her left hand.

Zoltan whispers as softly as he can possibly muster, "If they get too close… I can rush out and distract." ( It'll probably mean a spear in my chest… but it'll give the rest a fighting chance at escaping. )

Two of the spearmen scramble over to the hut where Envoy and Kaela are hiding.

Envoy takes a deep breath, and makes a noise that is very rare on this world: the roar of a dragon.

Kaela cringes!

Zoltan's feathers *poof* out in surprise at the noise!

The spearmen certainly halt at this. All of the warriors back up into a defensive position, spears bearing toward the noise. The rattles shake with greater intensity.

Janus's head snaps up and he clamps down on a reflexive growl.

Envoy looks about the hut quickly, and then up at the roof.

The roof is mostly thatch, or a close equivalent, with a few gaps that could use some fixing.

Envoy looks at the chair Kaela is hiding under, judging whether she can boost the kitten up through one of the gaps.

The warriors slowly begin to creep forward, crouched down, spears ready, toward the "dragon's" hut, the shamaness standing behind, shaking that rattle.

Zoltan shrinks down to the floor, gently pulling Azhtar down with him. The Vartan's muscles tense as his hands grip the ground.

Janus shifts slightly and looks outside, trying to see if he could sneak out.

Azhtar is evidently nervous, but she doesn't resist the Vartan's grasp.

Kaela is just quietly cringing beneath that chair, not even considering the possibility of escape.

The warriors seem to be intently focused on that "dragon" hut. It is quite possible that someone at one of the other huts could make a break for it.

Janus slips out of the hut and into the nearby shadows.

Envoy looks between the frightened kit and the approaching warriors. No sense in wasting all of the attention being aimed her way, she figures, and steps out of the hut.

Several hisses emit from the mouths of the warriors, as they jerk back at Envoy's sudden appearance. Immediately, they spread out, to form a half-circle around the entrance of the hut.

Envoy smiles to the warriors, and steps a little closer to them.

Zoltan flinches at the sight of Envoy. Should he stay and guard Azhtar or rush out to Envoy's aid? With a mumbled curse he begins crawling out, trying to push Azhtar along. He looks around for Janus.

Without warning, several spears fly … at a dark cat trying to sneak up toward the shamaness.

Kaela curls slightly, wishing she could just vanish…

Envoy blinks at all the sudden movement…

Zoltan freezes.

Janus swears and drops to the ground, rolling forward and under the flight of spears. "THAT was smart!"

The warriors around Envoy are momentarily distracted by the display, as several spears thwack into wood and earth near Janus.

Envoy starts singing like a Creen, hoping to cause more distraction.

Janus rolls to his feet and runs toward the Shamaness, screaming at the top of his lungs.

Zoltan tries to further his escape with Azhtar, his eyes continue to dart back towards Envoy. "Can you hide yourself?" Zoltan whispers to the cheetah.

The shamaness regards Envoy strangely, but then turns her head and makes several violent hand motions. She is evidently not scared by a screaming cat. The warriors spring into action.

Those warriors who have already thrown their spears charge at Janus, teeth bared, hands poised.

Janus flips one of the knives over in his hands and skids to a stop before throwing it at the Shamaness. He turns and looks at the onrushing warriors. "This is gonna hurt."

Envoy wonders why Janus is trying to attack? She follows the warriors.

Envoy says, "Why are you attacking them, Janus?"

The knife hurtles through the air – hits – and the shamaness goes down.

Janus backpedals, not sparing the breath to answer Envoy.

This has a frenzying effect on the warriors. All of those around Envoy immediately leave her behind. Every living being in the forest, it seems, is making a beeline for Janus. That is, aside from Envoy, Zoltan, etc., of course.

Zoltan growls and stuffs Azhtar into a hut, pointing to a shadowed spot she can conceal herself in. He rises to his feet and rushes towards Envoy.

Kaela just huddles beneath that protecting chair, shivering quietly. She hasn't even been watching the events…

Azhtar obliges and tries very hard to make herself very, very small.

Janus spins on his heel and makes a beeline for the trees. "And that was even smarter."

Envoy sees Zoltan and points to Janus, "Can you carry him??"

Zoltan looks at the fallen shamaness; is she dead?

Zoltan squawks, "Can probably carry Azhtar and Janus… but not very far. can you carry kitten?"

Envoy says, "Just try to save Janus for now… "

Envoy goes over to the fallen shamaness.

Janus dives into the night-black jungle, running as fast as his legs will carry him.

Unfortunately, cheetahs – especially ones on their home turf – are pretty fast, too.

Nonetheless, they seem to be having some difficulty finding the black cat in the jungle.

Envoy hmms. "Nevermind, Zoltan. Where is Azhtar?" She leans over the cheetah, looking for the knife.

The shamaness lies on the ground, bleeding. The knife lies nearby.

Zoltan tries to keep his ears tuned in on the crashing noises. "I leave Azhtar in hut to hide. Is shamaness alrights? I think there medical supplies in things left at camp."

Envoy puts pressure on the wound, and leans close to the cheetah's head to listen for breathing.

Janus takes to the trees as soon as he is able.

The shamaness isn't dead just yet, by the sound of her breathing.

Zoltan frowns at the jungle. ( Why on Sinai did he attack? They were probably just afraid we were slavers… )

Envoy says, "We'd better carry her to the big hut, she's still alive."

Envoy says, "We'll need her to convince the others not to hunt down Janus."

The shamaness' eyelids flicker. She looks up at Envoy, and her ears flatten back.

Zoltan leans down and as gently as he can muster, lifts the Savanite shamaness up in his arms. As he sees her move he winces a bit… expecting to get a few scratches before he sets her down again.

Roho wanders onto the scene, bringing some freshly picked herbs. "I heard quite a commotion, what's going… " He falters as he arrives on the wounded shamaness.

Zoltan gingerly carries the Savanite towards the hut. "You understand any of their signing, Envoy?"

Roho rasps, "I smell blood … is there anything I can do?"

Envoy says, "Stab wound, Roho."

Kaela cautiously moves towards the doorway to the hut, peeking out.

Roho nods at Envoy, "Okay, where's the victim? And what was he stabbed with?"

The shamaness, as she's carried toward the big hut in the center of the clearing, suddenly starts being far less passive about being carried. She hisses and thrashes about, struggling to get free.

Envoy guides the healer's hand to the bleeding slash. "They were using something else, Zoltan. Hunting code, I suppose. They used noises to communicate as well."

Zoltan balks and backs away from the hut… almost dropping the shamaness. "Yark! Why you go so crazy?"

Envoy blinks at the struggling cheetah. "Better knock her out."

As Zoltan backs away from the hut, the shamaness doesn't quite claw as much, but she still hisses, ears laid flat back, her face looking pretty wretched with all that fur-paint.

Kaela slowly moves from the hut and glances around.

Zoltan continues to backpedal. "Easy! We trying to help!" He blinks as he notices the Shamaness calm down a bit. "Okie… you no want to go in big hut… we go to smaller one then." He looks around, trying to locate a hut that might have a bed or a table inside.

The cheetah lets out a low growl, but seems too exhausted to pose much of a threat just now. At least not while being carried by a big black Vartan.

Kaela moves over towards Envoy. She signs, "What happened?"

Envoy says, "Should I restart the fire?"

Zoltan goes into one of the huts that have been set up for camp and gently places the shamaness on one of the beds. He motions to Roho and scoots down to make room, but remains at the bedside.

Azhtar gingerly pokes out of her hiding place, now that the scene has gotten much more quiet, and she dashes over toward the others.

Envoy turns to Kaela, and signs, "Janus wounded the leader and drew the others off into the jungle."

Zoltan squawks, "Probably no good idea, Envoy. Might alert tribesmen again."

Kaela blinks! "Why?"

Zoltan waves to Azhtar and points to the 'guest'.

The shamaness looks at Kaela, and just stares at her dumbly.

Envoy can only shrug to Kaela in answer.

Kaela moves over towards the shamaness. "I'm sorry," she signs. "The cat shouldn't have done that."

The shamaness makes no more response than a weak growl at the fennec doctor's ministrations, but she quiets as Kaela "speaks" to her. She winces as she tries to raise her hands.

Envoy watches the wounded cheetah to see what she's going to sign.

The shamaness signs, "Emerald-Eyes?" Her eyes squint, trying to make out what little can be seen in the ambient light that filters into the hut.

Kaela blinks. Twice. Then, slowly, she nods. "Do I know you?"

The shamaness' mouth curls into a grin. Her hands shake a bit, signing only, "Storm-Hand". With that, the strain is a bit too much, and she reluctantly lets her hands drop back to her sides.

Envoy uses one of the dropped torches to light a lamp in the hut.

Zoltan looks back and forth between Kaela and the Shamaness… once again REALLY wishing he understood sign.

Kaela's eyes widen. "We've little time," she signs. "Three-Eyes is returning… she has magic power, and is going to try to become Priest- King… "

The shamaness' eyes look glazed, and she seems to be hardly 'listening' to Kaela's signs. She weakly tries to raise a hand, reaching out toward Kaela.

Envoy tells Zoltan, "This one, Storm-Hand, recognizes Kaela."

"Careful… you should rest." The Vartan scrawks, half knowing that the shamaness doesn't understand him. But perhaps his tone alone can convey his words.

Azhtar looks to Roho, nods, then rushes out to set right the pot that had been dumped previously, and to start heating up some water.

There's a clatter, and Azhtar comes rushing back into the hut, signing, "I see lights in the jungle! They're coming back!"

Kaela gives her elder sister (is there no end to her siblings?) a gentle hug, staying as much out of Roho's way as she can manage. Pulling away again she signs, "I thought Three Eyes… sold you into slavery… with the rest of us… "

Envoy looks out of the hut. "There's nothing we can do but wait for them now."

There's a long pause, but then Storm-Hand slowly shakes her head, and signs, "I escaped." She looks up and toward the doorway, then back to Kaela. She signs choppily and hurriedly, "Tell who you are. They will understand."

Zoltan rises and exits the hut. He hopes the cheetah's have lost most of their fight after chasing Janus.

Kaela nods quickly, and moves into the doorway.

Thwock! Thwock! Thwock! A few spears in the ground warn Zoltan not to approach any further.

Envoy says, "Kaela's going to talk to them, Zoltan. Everything should be fine."

The blind fennec doctor doesn't look terribly encouraged by the events transpiring outside, but he determinedly keeps up his ministrations to the wounded cheetah.

Zoltan stays as close to Kaela as he can manage. "Is better be alrights." ( If they so much as scratch the kitten… )

Kaela makes a large gesture over her head, signing, "Wait!" She hopes those cheetahs catch it… and maybe pause for long enough for her to talk to them…

No spears have been hurled Kaela-ward. Hopefully that's a good sign.

"Where is Storm-Hand?" signs one of the warriors. "The Devil-Khatta will pay for this!"

Kaela signs, "I'm Emerald Eyes; Storm-Hand is my sister. Please don't attack us!" Well… that about covers it, right?

Zoltan keeps one ear facing Envoy, hoping that she'll keep the translations going.

That gives several of the warriors pause for thought. A few spears lower, and a few cheetahs look at each other. Many hand-signs are exchanged. A few comments along the eyes of "green eyes" can be observed.

Kaela signs, "She's inside… the doctor is helping her… "

The same warrior looks as if he's about to sign the question again, but then he nods, and strides toward the hut.

Envoy whispers a running translation to Zoltan.

Zoltan tenses and looks to Kaela as the warrior approaches. "Should I lets him through?"

Envoy steps aside for the warrior, "Yes, he's going to check on Storm-Hand."

Kaela nods to Zoltan, turning to follow the warrior in.

Zoltan pauses at the entrance to the hut, so he can keep an eye on the warrior inside and an eye on the warriors outside.

The wild-eyed warrior steps in, and for a moment goes tense as he sees the fennec leaning over Storm-Hand … but at a shake of the head from his shamaness, he refrains from doing something so brash as shoving the blind fox aside, and instead lowers the spear again, walking up and signing, "Is it true? Is this your sister?"

Storm-Hand smiles faintly and gives a weak nod.

The warrior signs, "Give the sign, and we will strike, and free you and your sister from the slave-holders! We are all outside, and outnumber them."

Zoltan's hackles rise as Envoy translates that last bit.

Storm-Hand looks confused, but shakes her head. She seems too weak to try any complex reply, however. Her reaction (or lack thereof) – and that of the warrior – seems to indicate that neither of them realize that Envoy is translating their signs.

Storm-Hand at last signs, "Only the black Khatta attacked. These harm me not."

The shamaness takes a deep breath, letting her hands drop a bit, but then tries again, signing, "Yes, my youngest sister, Emerald-Eyes… " and she gestures to Kaela.

Envoy adds, "Isn't that a pretty name, Zoltan?" to the translation.

Zoltan blinkblinks? "Hrr… is appropriate. Kitten has eyes same color as pretty green shinies."

Kaela quietly signs, "Rest." She looks towards the warrior, signing, "I do not know … why the Khatta attacked her. I don't know that I trust him, but… I don't think he should be killed… "

The warrior growls, then signs, "Anyone who tries to kill the shamaness must be punished! If we capture him, he will wish that we killed him quickly!"

Zoltan sighs. This Vartan's learned the hard way that you don't go into trouble with talons slashing. He hopes the black cat learns it soon as well.

Envoy signs and says, "We need Janus. He will delay Jezebel. He hates her."

Zoltan squawks, "Tell them we punish Janus for them. Maybe we make him sleep in big hut, yes?"

The warrior shakes his head, and signs, "I do not know some of your signs. What do we need? Who will delay what?"

Kaela looks to the warrior. "Three Eyes. The Khatta will delay her. She is returning to seize power and become Priest-King."

Zoltan watches the sign conversation intently. It seems he's getting a Savanitesign lesson after all…

The warrior blinks at this. "She returns? But her village was destroyed! And why will the Devil-Khatta oppose her? He is evil, like her! Or does he wish to capture us all for himself?"

The shamaness starts at Kaela's warning, and coughs, trying to right herself on the bed.

Kaela shakes her head. "She seeks to unite all the villages… under her."

Zoltan tugs at Envoy's sleeve.

Roho pushes the Shamaness back down gently, still tending to her wounds, "Please don't… "

Envoy turns to Zoltan?

Zoltan squawks, "Envoy… ask them why hurt cheetah so scared of big hut?"

The zig-zag-painted warrior looks to Storm-Hand, then thumps himself on the chest and signs, "Never! We will not serve those who bind us, who put us in the Hut of Suffering, and send us to the Sky Gods!"

Envoy asks Storm-Hand about the big hut.

Envoy signs, "What is the Hut of Suffering?"

Kaela quickly signs, "She will have the Twelve-times-Twelve… the priest- shamans of old… unless we get to the City of Hands before her."

Envoy also wonders why Kaela hasn't told Storm-Hand that their mother may be with Three-Eyes, but doesn't sign or say anything.

The warrior points out through the doorway, as it looks like Storm-Hand is too weak to answer at length. He points at the big hut toward near the center of the clearing. "The Hut of Suffering is there. Those who were captured by Three-Eyes were bound in there, then taken to the Sky Gods."

Storm-Hand, meanwhile, is evidently paying close attention to Kaela's signs, and certainly looks to be taking the news seriously.

"This place is cursed with many ghosts," the zig-zag warrior signs, "and many evil spirits summoned by Third-Eye. It is not safe to stay here. Storm-Hand must come with us to our village."

Envoy looks out at the large hut now, and tells Zoltan what it was used for.

Kaela looks to Storm-Hand. "We are of the royal line… Three-Eyes is going to try to force Mother to support her, so the Twelve-times-Twelve will follow her… "

Storm-Hand winces as she raises her hands to sign, "Mother?" Her hands drop again, and she gasps, lying back.

Zoltan nods to Envoy.

Envoy asks Roho how safe it is to move Storm-Hand.

Roho rasps, "I wouldn't. But she won't die if you do, if that's what you're asking."

Zoltan's ears go back. "Hrr… so we stay here and get to meet 'evil spirits' while everyone else get to go home… "

Storm-Hand looks to the zig-zag warrior, and weakly motions him over. As he does so, she signs to him, "Protect Emerald-Eyes. If I go on to the Lands Beyond, respect her as you would me. She is Marked, and is Seventh Daughter of the Seventh."

Envoy blinks at Zoltan, "No, I think we should all go to their village."

Kaela glances to the warrior. "Is it far?"

The zig-zag warrior shakes his head. "Not far. We should be there before sunrise," he signs.

However, given that it's not THAT late in the night "we should be there before sunrise" would still entail a pretty good trip for some.

Envoy remembers the area on the map that was the one unconquered settlement.

Zoltan looks around, perhaps we could fashion a hammock of some sort for the wounded.

Kaela frowns a little, glancing towards Storm-Hand. She signs to Envoy, "Do you think it's safe?"

The warrior looks back outside the hut. "I must go to them. They wish to hear of Storm-Hand," he signs, then heads out the hut's entrance.

Envoy says, "Safer in among an armed force than on our own, yes."

Kaela nods softly. "All right," she signs, before following the warrior out to the rest of the group of Savanites.

The warrior relays the news to his fellows, and sends several of them off to send advance word to the village to prepare for their arrival with the wounded shamaness.

Zoltan catches up with Kaela and kneels on the ground. "There all sorts of things to hurt little feet, you want to ride on shoulders?"

A couple of warriors come to carry the shamaness, using her cot as a stretcher. Others stand by with torches to light the way, and others with spears at the ready in case any enemies – Devil-Khatta or otherwise – might attack.

Kaela blinks at Zoltan, then shakes her head. "I should walk," she signs. Not that Zoltan will understand her. Undoubtedly, though, he'll wind up carrying her at some point during the night when she finally gets too tired to keep up with the rest of the group.

Envoy sticks with Roho and Azhtar, to make sure neither get lost.