Edge of Beshret the Razer's bivouac – Early Morning

It's still quite dark out, though the stars and Procession are getting harder to see, the barest hint of sunrise washing them out. Amidst a clump of stones and broken pillars, a golden Kiriga and a golden feline hide in deep shadows. Drokkar and Dromodon can be heard (and smelled) nearby, pawing at the ground, chewing their feed, or snorting at one another.

"I will not be gone long," Kin reassures Long-Shadow in sign as she motioned for the Savanite to kneel beside her. "And before I go, I would like to give you something."

The Savanite makes no attempt to disguise the worry on his face, searching Kin's eyes. He takes hold of Kin's hands so he can do some of his signing by touch, it being a bit dark to see his hands easily where they're hiding. "Do not take needless risk," he signs, using certain stresses to indicate it's more a plea than command. "I know better than to ask you to turn away, so I will only ask this."

Kin slips her hands from his and reaches up to his ear. With quick and gentle touches of her fingertips, she ties the small braid of white mane that she made earlier to the band holding Long-Shadow's feathers in place. Her hands then slide back down to his. "I only seek information here; I will not seek out those that hunt me now. I will try to blend in and merely listen to what is occurring in this place and what they seek. If I learn that quickly, then I will slip out as soon as I am able. In any event, watch the camp at noon, I will try to signal with the mask by reflecting light upward. I do believe it should be visible. If that signal does not come, then I may be in trouble," she signs in his hands. And now one hand slips free and brushes over the braid of white that now hangs down lightly against his neck. "And even if they capture me, they will not have all of me. I leave with you part of myself so that in even the darkest moments, I will still know your comfort."

There she stops signing and looks into the feline's dark eyes for the short time she waits before she leans in and kisses him, golden scales to dark lips, in the shadows. "I will not say goodbye, we will see each other again," she signs in his hands.

The pathfinder looks surprised, but his eyes soon calm, and he puts his long, lanky arms around Kin, her white braid draped around his shoulders. He seems to savor the contact, and though the kiss is a little awkward, it's warm. When it breaks, he draws his hands up along the Kiriga's sides and puts them together again to sign. "Soon," he says. "I will be watching and waiting."

Kin reluctantly pulls herself away from the Savanite. She unwraps the mask that she brought and faces away from the camp less its reflection catch any attention. Her eyes linger on her companion for another minute before her eyelids slide closed. The mask then comes up and its cool touch soon settles across her face, eclipsing the Kiriga once more in its dark embrace. Now well practiced with securing it, her hands slide behind her head and slip strap into buckle and cinches it down one strap at a time. When that is complete, she takes some time to pull and adjust her mane until all the straps disappear beneath the silky white hair. Next comes out the crystal and her fingers trace over it, familiarizing herself once again with its shape. Once the 'iris' is located, she tilts it towards the ceramic mask and waits for the strange work of art to once again fall across her 'sight'.

Fall it does. This time, in the dark, cool, deep blues dotted with dancing orange paper fires slowly spreads across Kin's field of vision. Simply-drawn tents, mere triangles really, dot the scene, filled with slumbering forms. A herd of brushwork Dromodon and drokkar mill about, tended by a few herdsmen, caricatured shepherds with long crooks.

Satisfied when her sight becomes functional, if not rather strange, Kin does the final bit of preparation for her infiltration. The obi that was bundling the lens is slid around her thighs and to her knees. there she ties it off with a slipknot. To the observer, the obi will slow her gait as well as alter it, but such must be done since the handmaidens all wore them when not fighting. Crystal firm in one hand, she reaches over and squeezes Long-Shadow's with the other. And with that, the Kiriga eases herself back to her feet and starts her slow slink into the camp. Her walk is deliberate and delicate, each step gliding forward to place one foot in front of the other as she goes. Her path is obvious enough, a circle outward and into the camp, trying to keep to the lower light areas and out of view of the shepherds.

The shepherds don't seem to notice Kin, intent on their duties of scattering little dots of feed, or filling troughs. The animals themselves don't seem to pay Kin any mind as well, either finding comfort in numbers or simply acclimated to the people around them. The livestock area seems to be made of up makeshift corrals, with wagons loaded with feed and other supplies near the draft animals, and grooms tending to the riding animals. Though they don't have anything in the way of barding, there's saddles and tack here and there.

Mentally, Kin tries to count out how many animals, saddles, and weapons collections she sees as she slinks slowly and into the camp. Her hips have to sway side to side to balance out against the bindings on her legs. "So far, so good," the Kiriga thinks to herself, "But the real challenge will begin when I get further into the camp, closer to that main ruin." So, that is the direction the Kiriga goes. Her slow rate of movement affords her time to roll and rotate the eye as she goes, teying to 'see' everything that surrounds her. Her webbed ears also flick and perk as she listens for any sounds or words that may be worth spying on.

The bivouac is gradually coming to life as Kin minces along. Soldiers and laborers emerge from their tents and seem to go about their daily rituals. The lens paints them all nearly identically, men standing straight and tall, plain but pleasant-enough looking, girded for battle with neatly kept armor and shining weapons. The laborers are dressed simply, hard-working looking fellows that haul bales and boxes around. Some of the laborers carry digging tools resting over their watercolored shoulders. Kin can tell she's being looked at from time to time, but none of the looks register surprise or worry. Perhaps admiring.

Kin continues her slow walk and graceful walk, her tail held off the ground and sweeping gently behind her to keep her balance. She tries to show no sign of worry or concern that others are looking towards her as she does her lazy patrol; as if she belongs amongst them. "It is interesting how Hakuu's mask shows the soldiers and laborers, as if they are noble warriors in a just cause," she thinks. "And I wonder if any would speak with me if I spoke with them. So … she starts looking for ones that look particularly young and perhaps away from some of the others."

Most of the men seem clumped up as they go about their business. Soldiers have begun to gather around the fires to prepare their breakfasts. The workers already seem to be at their tasks, the camp beginning to have some hustle and bustle to it. Kin can catch snatches of conversation as she passes groups of them. "… more digging at the temple today… " "… Haven't seen much yet… " "… Think it'll rain soon? Hot out in the upper areas… " "… Nice and cool underground, though… " "… More supplies coming in… "

The workers that tend to be away from others are generally ones hauling something. It seems there's already baskets of grain being moved to the livestock, and large jugs of water being toted around.

The comment about supplies and being underground catches Kin's ear. "Perhaps there are caves we could use outside the camp to connect up with where they work," she thinks. She ends up deciding to risk talking to one of the workers and makes her way towards one bearing large jugs of water. Her free hand slips down and slides out one of her fans. With a limp flock of her wrist, she unfolds it and begins to fan her 'face' in mimic of how she saw the women earlier doing. Her head is held tucked down a bit, as if averting her eyes as would be expected of a woman in Jadai. When she is close enough, she says in a whispery quiet and melodic voice in imperial, "~Excuse me, but my honored Lord wishes a report on the progress of the camp. Have you anything you wish to report?~"

The porter, a skinny-looking brown lizard, seems to be concentrating on the sloshing contents of the heavy jug, and nearly drops it when he finally notices Kin. He stands there in shock for a moment, eyes so wide that the brushwork stroke gives way to a couple little dots with the eye drawn around it. "I… er… uh… we… " He starts to look confused. "We, uh… we're taking water to the… uh… men. And animals."

"~I see. And has anything out of the ordinary happened recently? Or have things been progressing smoothly in this section?~" Kin follows up with in the same whispery, lilting, tone. "I see they are not used to being talked to. I must keep this short," she thinks.

The porter seems to be trying to decide whether he should put his jug down to talk or look busy by still holding it. He eventually settles for kneeling down a bit while still holding the jug. "Um, n-no ma'am, nothing strange. We're settling in pretty good. Working hard."

"~Good. Who is your foreman in this section? I may wish to speak with him as well,~" Kin asks the porter. The Kiriga remains standing, very prim and proper with her feet close together and her tail lifted so it hovers mere inches off the ground.

"S'suvis," the man answers. Some of the jug has slopped water onto his vest. "He tells us where to take the stuff. Then we go back and get more stuff. Gotta keep everyone fed. He's with the ships."

"~Thank you. You may go about your duties. When I return to my Lord's side, I will tell him things are progressing well~," Kin tells the reptile. Her head dips to him and she slides off with her hobble-enforced gait. She can't help but flick her ears backwards in case the man she just left makes any comments. "It may be worth looking at the ships. I wonder how many they have here." she thinks.

Kin catches the lizard making a relieved sigh, "Whew!" and the porter hurries off again with his load. If doesn't seem as though the conversation was noticed, at any rate.

Under the mask, Kin smirks slightly. "I never thought of myself as intimidating," she thinks to herself. Along the reptile continues in a slow, winding, path. Her next stop, the ships if she can find them, as she makes her way through the camp and towards what she suspects is the temple mentioned in conversation. Again, she listens to what goes around around her and keeps her attention out for anyone who watches her with 'too much' interest.

As Kin makes her way deeper into the camp, she finds soldiers becoming more commonplace. These ones are actively patrolling around or standing guard, though despite some curious looks they don't bother Kin. As she passes a pair, one of them comments in a voice he apparently thinks is low enough, "You hear they're stepping up patrols? Vurth told me he saw some of the weird women coming back in sorry shape. Must've found somebody out there." His companion says, "Shut up, she'll hear you!"

Kin stops where she is. Her masked head rolls slowly around to focus on the two guards speaking. The rest of her body soon follows the turn ans she walks towards them. Again her head is lowered in typical jadaian female submissive posture as she approaches. "~You two. Tell me what you have heard regarding my 'sisters'~" she says, once again using her whispery tone.

Kin's search takes her closer to the center of the bivouac. The ruins around her become thicker, larger slabs of stonework, and sometimes even complete buildings. Though nothing appears to be a 'temple' per say, the more permanent looking buildings in the Jadaian style seem to be near the center of the most activity, its banners flapping crisply in the developing breeze. The soldiers look startled, and the one shoots an accusing look at the other, who stammers, "I just-… I mean, I heard you… uh… my buddy saw some of them, I guess they were hurt."

"~My Lord does not appreciate rumors being spread in camp. It would be to your benefit to keep such tales to yourselves, lest you draw his attention,~" Kin tells the two in her quiet tone. "~Where did your friend say he saw my sisters go?~"

The soldiers both swallow, and the gossipy one says, "Warlord Beshret's pavilion, sir. Ma'am. Milady."

"~Thank you. I recommend you forget that you saw any of it and tend to your assigned duties. Your gossip will not be reported to my Lord this time,~" Kin tells the two. Her head dips to them and she turns, walking away and towards the more permanent Jadaian style buildings in the center. Her attention to the people around her and ahead becomes more and more focused as she looks for anything or anyone she may recognize. "Careful, Umeko. You may be getting close to Hakuu's lair," she thinks.

The guards exchange glances as Umeko glides away. "Since when do they talk to us?" "Shut UP, you're going to get us in more trouble!"

"And quit talking to them," Umeko thinks to herself. She shifts and adjusts her 'eye', trying to again get a wide view of the buildings ahead and what may be the pavilion they spoke of. Her guess is that it is the one with the banners.

The banner-bedecked place, a very large and sturdy tent covered in hides, looks to be the pavilion the soldiers spoke of. Despite the patchwork nature of the hides on it, it looks quite rich, adorned with claws, tusks, shields and spears. Though the walls of the tent, her crystal eye allows her to see several Naga inside. Two large constrictors, a python and boa, flank a smaller but more ornamented cobra. Instead of the customary spectacles on the back of his hood, he apparently has tattooed a series of stylized flames, and his shoulders are mantled in heavy furs depicted by ticks of the paintbrush. His face is described by the paint with sharp strokes, giving him a sleek and deadly look. Though the brushwork does not reveal what he's looking at in the tent, he appears to be hunched over something, perhaps reading.

Crosshatch around his torso seems to indicate some sort of banded mail armor, and a long curved sword is strapped to his back.

Kin stops a fair distance from the pavilion and peers at it, particularly the Naga. "That must be the Razer. I wonder what he may be reading," she thinks quietly. She looks around at things near the pavilion, idly wondering if anything looks as if it could be disturbed to make enough noise to get a chance to look at what he is reading. "Though that may be a needless risk," she admits to herself.

So, she glides slowly closer to the pavilion, trying to stay hidden from view by staying on the outside of a tent wall. She lifts the crystal a bit higher as she takes a step, then pauses and looks, before taking another step hopeful the brushwork will show her a glimpse of what he may be reading if she gets just a bit closer. "Not too close," she thinks, "Careful, Umeko, careful." She also keeps a look out with each step for any of the other women. If they are near, Kin will need to retreat quickly.

Nobody challenges Kin's approach, though she's able to find her way to one side, backed by some rubble which is fairly out of the way. A guard stands near the tent flap looking bored. Even as close as she is, Kin can't see what the Razer is looking at, but she is close enough to hear him. "… Then you'll lead your war band around this way, and shore up our flank. That should be more than enough."

Kin stops where she is and lowers the crystal a bit. Here she is content to listen for the moment. "Ah, he is laying siege or battle plans. It isn't what they are looking for in the ruins … but it is useful information non-the-less," she thinks to herself.

The python, a heavy-set snake with tiger like stripes on his back, says, "Very well, Beshret. We expect little to no resistance. That worm of a governor has already all but surrendered, and will do anything to keep his body behind his desk and his head on his neck."

The boa, built similarly, but with zig-zagged diamonds on his back, hisses, "We have had reports that the Imperial army is on the move."

"Shows what you know about the situation. We rescued the imperials and informed then on what you're up to," Kin thinks rather smugly. Her attention, though quickly returns to the snakes when they begin speaking again.

Beshret laughs harshly, his voice even hissier than most Nagai, and his tail twirls in a loop of amusement. "The Imperials coiled on their hands too long, they're much too late now. My men have occupied parts of the Band and all available staging areas from here to Viper's Hold. They don't know we're here, and they don't know where our supply is coming from. All we need to do is cause devastating enough losses for it to become too costly for the Empire to sustain any operation here, and they will withdraw."

"Aha, so that is their strike plan. Well, if we diverted the Imperials to here … well, that would be a shock. Now, if we can isolate off their supplies too. I wonder if Xander could cripple their air yards," Kin ponders as her mind starts racing through possible strike points. "It is also good they do not seem concerned about what happened to Hakuu's guard."

"What about the spies?" the python asks. "They haven't been caught yet."

"Thinking a bit too soon, it seems," Kin thinks grimly. "I wonder how much they know about us and how much the women said."

This does give the Razer some pause, and he looks annoyed, his brows becoming an exaggerated X over his beady eyes. "Still? How hard could it be? Redouble patrols. Get Hakuu's wenches back out there."

The boa glances over his shoulder, flicking his tongue. "They're not in the camp anymore. After they limped back here, they went to rejoin Hakuu in the temple dig. I doubt he'll lend use of them after what happened to them."

"We won't be able to stay much longer, it seems," Kin thinks, "And if he pushes those women too hard they will die. We did not leave them in great shape. I shouldn't care but … they are still Kiriga. And ah, Hakuu is here. In the temple. I need to locate that place. Though if he and they are there, it is doubtful I can get close."

"Pfeh," spits the Razer. "No matter. I didn't care for them anyway, gliding around and staring blindly all the time. We've more than enough warriors to handle our own here, and enough surprises to sting the Emperor's men as hard as we need to. The desert giants alone will give them pause. Viper's Hold is ours, and it will stay ours."

"It would be a pity if someone cut the giants loose on her way out of the camp," Kin thinks and her lips pull back in a momentary grin under the mask. "But, do not get ahead if yourself. At least this one cares not for the identity of who struck, and that is good. They do not know, or care, about Umeko Tsuguri"

The two constrictors nod, and Beshret produces a trio of daggers from somewhere on his person. "Set up your camps here," he stabs a spot on an invisible table, and the dagger disappears, then another "and here. The airships from our 'benefactors' will be here, and lend support." Stab. "If they manage to escape the sand lions, we'll be able to ambush and rout them."

"Understood," say the Razor's seconds.

"I wish I could see the map. Perhaps if they all leave the tent I could sneak in, remove the mask, and get a look. Or better, take the map," Kin thinks and frowns. "We need those positions to give to the Imperials."

Thinking furiously, Kin starts looking around again for something she could use to cause a serious distraction and grab the map. Very risky, but … it could mean life and death.

"Then go," hisses the cobra, and the two constrictors bow deeply, and turn in their coils, slithering to the tent flap. They pass through, quietly discussing what they've gone over, and make their way back to the soldier concentration.

Kin grows completely still when the seconds leave the tent. She hopes that they do not notice her from where she's standing. She doesn't dare move until those two have gone on. "And what to do about you, Razer," Kin thinks in the meantime. "Could I fight you alone? Doubtful. Will you leave your tent long enough to allow me a chance to see your map? So close to real help for the Imperials."

The Razer tilts his head a few times, cracking and popping his long neck, then takes some things from the table, a carafe and goblet appearing in his hands. Violet watercolor spreads from the carafe into the goblet, and Beshret coils over himself, reclining and looking lost in thought. It doesn't look like he's going to leave of his own volition, at least not anytime soon.

Kin tilts her head. Then under her mask, she smiles as an idea forms. She looks around for the guard that was near the entrance to the Razer's tent. "I wonder if this would work… " she thinks. "I wonder if he would leave if I told his guard to inform him that 'My Lord' wishes to speak with him immediately at the dig. Of course I can't go tell him that for he would expect me to accompany him to the dig."

Kin leaves her place of spying and glides back out and does a wide arc so it appears she is approaching the tent flap and its guard from elsewhere in the camp. She stops within twenty feet of the entrance and motions for its guard to come to her. "Careful, Umeko. This is a dangerous game you now play," she thinks.

The guard is a four-armed Rokuga fellow, his lower set of arms resting on the pommels of some swords, while the top pair support him leaning on a spear. He looks like he's been bored up until a few seconds ago, when the sight of Kin strikes him with uncertainty. He glances over his shoulder nervously, then back at Kin, pointing to himself as if to say, "Me?"

Kin only gives him one short nod and repeats the approach gesture to him. She then stands motionless, feet together and tail raised properly above the ground. She could almost be a statue with how still she stands.

The 'doorman' hesitates again, but then makes his way over. "Uh… yeah?"

Adopting the whispery quiet, lilting, Imperial voice, Kin says, "~I bear a message for your Lord. My Lord wishes to speak with him urgently in the temple and he requests that Lord Beshret join him there as soon as possible. That is all.~"

The guard blinks nictating membranes, then nods, turning around and hurrying back to the pavilion with a great jangle of his armor and weapons.

"Cue to leave," Kin thinks and glides off as if she is in no hurry. She arcs around again and tries to return to the spot she was spying from, figuring she could slip under the side of the tent when it is clear. "If it clears," she reminds herself.

Back in her original position, Kin can see the Rokuga leaning down to converse with his leader in hushed tones. Beshret already looks annoyed, the hatching of his brow deepening, and what appears to be a throbbing vein popping up at his temple. Still, he gets up, setting his goblet of wine aside, and eventually slithers his way back outside, and leaves his guard once more standing at the entrance.

Kin waits a few minutes to give time for the Naga to slither off. Taking slow and quiet breaths, she kneels down and tries to lift up the base of the tent so she can slip inside. "I hope this was wise, Umeko," she thinks.

The pavilion's edges are tightly staked together, but pulling one up seems to allow enough slack for Kin to squeeze under the edge. She finds herself getting a face full of fur when she peeks under the gap, discovering the inside of the tent to be floored with fuff'nar pelts. Pillows are piled up around the tent's interior, and the center of the room is dominated by a low wooden table bearing a carafe and several goblets, as well as three daggers stuck point-down.

Kin tries to slip herself under the edge of the tent without making too much noise in doing so. She's thankful for the pelts and pillows as they should help muffle any movement noise as well as provide hiding places. "I hope there is paper and brush in here. I should copy the map on the table, not just take it, if there is time," she thinks as she looks around for such supplies…

Once inside, the lens 'eye' shows her a piece of tanned hide stretched across the table, pinned at the four corners with 'tacks'. (They might as well be called nails.) There are several ink pots of different colors, but no parchment to be seen.

With no parchment, Kin looks for some spare hides … or even a spare shirt that may be the property of the Razer that she can use as a makeshift map.

The fuff'nar hides are plentiful, though one side is all fuzzy. While Kin finds writing material, a glance at the map affords some idea of what she'll be copying… the map is quite beautiful as portrayed by the lens, actually. Troop movements are shown artfully as tiny armored figures crossing swirls of sand. A tiny version of the bivouac is rendered in minute detail, and labeled 'temple of being'. Viper's Hold is further south, wrapped in the coils of a viper-naga woman.

"I do not need to be so creative in the map details, I merely need to mark the locations relative to each other and the dagger points where he said troops will be," Kin thinks as she searches out something she could roll up and conceal inside her kimono sleeve or beneath her robe. She's also thankful now for the many hours of calligraphy practice her father made her do; it should hopefully allow he to make a reasonable rendition from the map.

Despite being bulky, the fuff'nar hides are soft and supple. They look easier to write on than Beshret's laundry, but less easy to bundle up. There are some war banners standing around the room, but they might be rather conspicuous in their absence.

Kin finds a relatively small hide to write on then and goes about her task using the inks and brushes at hand. Her goals are twofold; one to make a copy … the other to memorize the map. So if something happens no one can erase it from her mind. The opportunity to get some real information has a steadying and calming effect on the Kiriga; allowing her a moment to not be in constant worry. Her brush strokes as she copies are artistic and beautiful in her own right. Not that her 'husband to be' would ever acknowledge it.

The map is formidable in its detail, but Kin's focus and steady nerves allow her to quickly transcribe, albeit without some of the unnecessary frills. Starting from the camp around the Temple of Being, finds herself radiating outward methodically. Several strange symbols resembling mouths with antlers are dotted around the camp, then further out are numerous satellite camps with approximate numbers of war bands, hidden supply and weapons caches, and noted choke points and ambushes that the faster forces can harry. Study of the map makes it clear that the Beast Lands themselves were not much farther north, that they were perhaps even at the very edge.

"We need the Imperial army to deal with this place," Kin thinks as she works. Also as she works, an idea crosses her mind and she looks for markings that imply underground tunnels that may lead into the very temple they seek. She pauses for a moment to reach up and rub at her cheek … which quickly reminds her that she is still within her self-imposed restrictions. She was almost getting used to it. She takes a moment to look around the tent and see if anyone may be coming before she resumes her copy work.

There is no indication of tunnels, but the map seems more concerned with tactical information, the temple itself seeming to be a point of interest mostly as an object of value. Several symbols recognizable as airships have odd symbols next to them that are not so readily recognizable. The Kiriga's speed and accuracy serves her well, as when she brings her lens back up for a moment, its wide-angle viewpoint affords a glance through the pavilion's walls… and at several approaching forms. Beshret she recognizes, now flanked by numerous men, those stylized veins still throbbing at his temples. Striding next to him, however… is a god.

"Time to go!" Kin decides very quickly when she recognizes the people approaching … including Hakuu. Away goes the brushes and she rolls the map up, then tucks it away. Trying to remain calm, she slinks back to the far side of the tent and tries to slip back under.

It doesn't prove easy to take the lens off Hakuu, nor for some reason does it feel that easy to dismiss his image as cynical egomania, even though it should. He practically glows in his glory, attended by his beautiful handmaidens, clothing and hair wind-stirred around his chiseled face and regal bearing. Disturbingly, he seems to be looking directly at Kin, as are the handmaidens. Still, even staring at him, Kin is able to worm her way back under the pavilion's edge, fuff'nar hide map bundled up to her chest.

For one of the few times in her life, Kin feels panic. "Gods, he can see me. He knows I'm here. They know I'm here. I am just glad he cannot hear my thoughts," she thinks, "Focus, Umeko. Focus. Think of Long-Shadow, think of Xander, think of Anisa and Lilac. Just don't think about him." She tries now to head in the opposite direction of those that approach and 'disappear' as it were into the crowds as best she can.

The figure of Hakuu stretches out a divine hand… and Kin is struck blind.

"Dagh," Kin thinks and reaches back, hands fumbling rapidly at the strapping. "I've got to get this off now."

The watercolor seems to wash away, and soon even the parchment fades to blackness. Thankfully, Kin's practice with the straps (not to mention her sharp claws) make it a reasonably simple matter to get the mirrored mask off, though each second brings the original owners a step closer.

Kin works rapidly and frees the mask. She blinks rapidly as she tries to clear her vision as she reaches down to pull the slip-knot on her leg 'bindings' to free them for running as well. "I can't be caught now. They will kill me and the information I sought will be for naught."

With the mask off her face, Kin can see the camp as it is, stark and bleak after the rich colors of the crystal lens. Kin is surrounded by what can only be described as barbarians, grit-dusted warriors in earthy colored pieces of worn but well-maintained leather armor. Racks of weapons and tall war banners stand near tents and campfires. A weapon smith stands by a stone grinder, halfway through knapping an edge to a spear point. All of the warriors who've bothered to look up have looks of surprise on their faces.

Kin, now free of her confines, lurches forward and back into the direction of the livestock area where it was mainly workers. "If I can cause a stampede, I can get out in the chaos," she thinks. Fumbling with her removed sashes, she sort of piles them in her arms over the mask and lens to cover them. One thing panic also helps with is her body immediately switches over into its endothermic mode and her muscles fire to life.

Though the warrior woman isn't especially fast in a full-on sprint, her ability to dart back, forth, over, and nimbly between surprised bodies lets her filter through the busy camp with remarkable speed, though she gets a few remarks of 'hey!'. Casting a glance back shows some of the more alert soldiers giving chase, bowling over laborers in their way… without Kin's advantages, they're hard pressed to keep up. Something else catches the Kiriga's attention, however… bright glints of reflected sunlight occasionally bob above tent level, tailed with flashes of vivid color. They seem to be moving considerably faster than the men.

"The women. Of course. They can move like me. Dang, if Xander were watching, would he know I was in trouble and fire?" Kin thinks as she presses on as hard as her legs will push her. She almost considers looking for a place to hide in … except she knows form experience she can see through the tents in those masks. "You may not make it, Umeko. But … if Long-Shadow is on the edge and I can pass the map off to him, perhaps he can. It is a worthy de … no, do not think that way. You have already lost if you do." So, instead as she runs, she looks for anything that might be useful as a distraction as she runs. Anything explosive, perhaps, or flammable.

Unfortunately, the only thing nearby that seems to be on fire is Kin's lungs, and the flashes of color and light behind her seem to be getting closer. Pushing herself this hard hasn't been fruitless, though… up ahead, some of the paddocks come into view, Rughrats, shiikans, and other feedstock telling Kin she's closing in on the livestock area.

"Dagh. Go, Umeko go," Kin pleads with herself as she presses onward in spite of the fire in her lungs. "If you can free these and spook them, it may slow them down."

The small, lizardlike shiikans squawk and scramble as Kin charges through them, but they don't seem much of an obstacle. The Rughrats stare in confusion only slightly more stupid than their herders as Kin flashes by. Up ahead, drokkar paw nervously, and Dromodon snort, hitched to posts driven into the ground.

Kin's mind snaps to an idea and she diverts to one of the drokkar. She actually tries to talk to it calmly as she unties the mount and catch her breath. "I need you help, runner in the wind. Great demons chase me and I must flee," she says to it and pats its shoulder. Quickly, the Kiriga tries to turn it in the direction away from her pursuers and mount it. If she makes it on, a 'polite' nudge of her toeclaws is what she hopes is needed to make it run flat out.

The drokkar that Kin picks out snorts, eyes going wide and rolling, and it canters nervously around its hitching post as Kin undoes the bind of its reins, but something in Kin's voice seems to soothe it. Perhaps its training as a war mount affords it some discipline, but it settles down a bit, champing at the bit, and pawing the dusty earth as Kin mounts up. At her urging, it immediately takes flight through the paddocks, scattering herdsmen and bursting from the corral with Kin on its back!

"Fly, Umeko, fly," Kin urges herself as she instinctively hunches over on the drokkar and hangs on for dear life. "Now, if I can just scare the desert giants into scattering around, it may be enough. May my ancestors grant me that it be enough." Kin's own mane whips backward, the long white hair thrashing like the crest of a wave as it falls upon the shore.

And fly she does, her steed's hooves pounding the packed dirt below her. Yurts, tents, paddocks, and complaining livestock flash by in a blur as Kin gains ground, and some hills hove into view through the haze of dust. No, not hills… hides… scaly ones rising twice again above the tents and things.

"What will startle these things?" Kin has to think as she charges towards them like a woman possessed. Thinking furiously, she decides to at first just try to get their attention. So … the Kiriga whistles loudly towards them!

Shriiiiiiii! The beasts don't seem to notice. Only a couple even bother to move, lifting gargantuan armored heads up to blink. Forked tongues as long as Kin is tall slither out and wave languidly in the air as Kin closes in on the area the giants have been given. Behind her, the glints and flashes of color seem to be further away after her hard riding, but above the milling herders trying to get their livestock back in order, she can see other riders approaching now, trying to struggle through the chaos Kin has already left in her wake.

Kin holds tight to the saddle with one hand and reaches down with the other to pull out a couple arrows into her hand. She tries to just keep her steed on a straight course towards the giants, eyes narrowing. "I wonder if they'll notice an arrow shoved into the flesh of their leg," she thinks. "If that fails, I would be best served to jump off the steed after a bit more distance and just let it continue on while I climb the valley wall. They will hopefully pursue it… "

Thundering along, Kin's mount doesn't balk at riding up to one of the giant's thick legs, and with a powerful punch, Kin jabs her arrow into the beast's hide! It elicits a strange noise from the creature, who doesn't otherwise move. "Hhhhhhsssssssssroooomf… ?"

Cursing, Kin continues on and hopes a strike on the next leg might be motivating. So, the Kiriga lowers down and pulls another arrow. This time she thinks she should aim more towards the rear of the leg where the flesh should hopefully be softer or more sensitive. "If this doesn't work, just ride, Umeko. Get a bit further then jump off and climb… " she thinks.

Drawing another arrow, Kin passes under the shadow of the monstrous lizard, and with another strong punch drives it between plate-sized scales and into leathery flesh. It sinks in deeply, driven with such force that the shaft snaps off and leaves a short, feathered length in her hand. "Hhhhhsssssssshhhhhhh!!" The beast's massive leg lifts up and shakes, and it takes a few steps away, making the sandy ground tremble beneath it. When it turns its head, its beady eye is glaring balefully at Kin, and its jaws open to let out a guttural bellow!"

"Dagh," Kin thinks as the creature turns on her! She gets one last ditch idea. She tries to turn her steed around and point it back towards the camp. If she can manage that, she's jumping and running for the valley wall! "Please chase the drokkar. Long-Shadow said your kind was dim," she pleads inwardly.

Having ridden past the desert giant to get its attention, Kin finds she'll have to ride around it to lead the angry beast back toward the camp. As she describes an arc around, she can catch a glimpse of something out in the distance… dust rising from the edge of the canyon. Riders approach from the opposite direction!

Kin continues her arc. She knows she has no chance against the huge beast, but its rage may save her life if it follows her steed back into camp. "If I fall, I pray my ancestors accept that I died as I have lived, in an attempt to live honorably," she thinks grimly. Her legs draw up slightly in anticipation of leaping from her drokkar's back once it has turned and is heading towards the camp again.

Kin's steed pounds along, now seeming as much in fear for its life as it is for doing what Kin is telling it to! The giant thunders after it in the wide circle that something of its size needs to maneuver, and as Kin gets midway through her arc, the riders leap the paddocks at the edge of the camp, getting close enough to make out. Sure enough, Anisa and Lilac lead the pack!

"Gods, what are you doing here?" Kin worries when she recognizes her allies heading towards her! "You shouldn't be here!" Her arc committed, her legs draw put to the back of the drokkar and she shoves herself upward and to the side, trying to throw herself clear of the beast that pursues her and her ride. Her arms wrap protectively around the bundled mask, crystal, and the map she drew earlier. She tries to arc away gracefully and land on her feet; hopefully well enough to run.

Years of training kick in as the Kiriga arcs through the air twisting as she glides. Within moments, her feet touch the earth and her claws dig in. Still gripping her belongings protectively, her head snaps around and tries to orient herself.

The terrified drokkar continues without Kin, arrows spilling out of the quiver on its side! The desert giant, either its vision being poor or its brain being very small, continues after the larger target, still slavering and snapping its cavernous jaws in rage! Quick Kirigai reflexes keep Kin from getting stomped on as the enormous lizard gives chase, the drokkar fleeing toward the 'safety' of the bivouac… and a rather surprised line of mounted soldiers who judder to an uncertain stop when they see what's coming their way!

Ears perking up in surprise as Kin goes one way and her mount the other – with monster in pursuit – the doe redirects Buttercup towards the Kiriga. "Kin! Jump on!"

When Kin dismounts, Lilac breaks off from chasing the drokkar to running to Kin's side!

"Where is Long-Shadow and the others?" Kin manages out and then breaks into a brief fit of coughing; her body getting close to the limits of strain she can put on it for an extended period. To Lilac, she says, "We have to get out here now. Hakuu may be coming and he's the mage. I just hope what I got was worth it."

Anisa holds a paw down to Kin, offering to help her up in the saddle. "The boys are behind us – except for Long-Shadow. He never came back to camp, we assumed he stayed near to watch you!"

Lilac, in her beast form, barks back at Kin in what must be agreement. She circles around Anisa, Kin, and her drokkar, apparently anxious to be away!

And once her coughing ends, Kin accepts the offered hand and pulls herself onto the back of Anisa's steed. "I am sorry. This was not what I had planned for," she apologizes. Upon hearing Long-Shadow had not returned, her expression completely falls. "Gods, no. Don't let them have found Long-Shadow," she whispers weakly. "Please no."

Leaning up, Lilac tugs at Kin's leg a moment at the mention of Long-Shadow. She cocks her head, then paws at the woman. "Arf?"

Anisa frowns, swiveling Buttercup around to head out of the camp. "Dagh take it… we could circle the camp and look for him. Where did you see him last?"

Xander finally starts to catch up, and keeps his eyes peeled for the telltale reflection-flashes of Kin's pursuit.

"I thought he came to tell you what happened. How else would you have known? I saw him last near the paddocks of their animals when we parted in the morning," Kin whispers as she lays her forehead lightly against Anisa's shoulder. "Gods I hope he is safe. If he has been killed because of me, I'll … I'll tear out Hakuu's throat with my claws."

Lilac makes another "arf," pawing Kin's leg with her foot. She circles the pair once more, then darts off!

The dust settles around the group while the angry desert giant charges after the hapless drokkar, men scattering around it. From the edge of the chaos come the glints Xander is looking for and probably hoping not to find. The handmaidens have arrived, but they keep a respectful distance for now while the soldiers and herdsmen try to deal with the desert giant in their midst. The other giants around the area look on dully.

Kin looks up. "Does Lilac know where he is? Can she scent him?" the dragon wonders, "Anisa, I have no right to ask this of you but can you follow? If not, I understand. We must get out of here."

The Fire Mage heads for Anisa's droklar, holding his held spell up over his head as he gets ready to activate it.

"I don't know," Anisa answers the Kiriga, "but we can find out! Buttercup! Hya!" Spurring her drokkar on, the doe begins to take off after Lilac. "Xander, get out of here! There's too many of them!"

Lilac changes directions more than once, nose to the ground as she seems to try and sniff something out. Then, she suddenly pauses and barks out, tail wagging, before bolting off the way the group entered!

Anisa keeps her mount tight on the canine's tail, nervously glancing back over her shoulder towards the enemy camp every few seconds. "What did you learn? Anything?"

The desert giant tramples a yurt and several tents in its bid to catch the fleeing drokkar, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake… but it's a wake that's closed around by men on drokkar-back, and not all of them are interested in the lone, ship-sized lizard! A number begin galloping toward the group to give chase, notching arrows as they do!

"Hey, wait for me!" Xander finally calls as the others start riding off again!

Kin reaches into her kimono to feel the hide map she made. "I have copied a map which shows where all their troops are located, positions of their airship support, locations where they can ambush, and where the temple of being is," she manages out. "If we can get it to the Imperials, they may be able to dismantle the Razer's army. If. We are not out of danger."

At the sound of Xander's voice, Anisa skids her drokkar to a halt. "Carrots, Xander's back there!" The doe pivots her steed, and heads back to the buck. "We have to get him first – Lilac can protect Long-Shadow!" she calls back to Kin.

Seeing the angry, armed mob coming around the desert giant, Xander can only mutter, "Women… " under his breath… until he sees Anisa turning towards him again.

Kin nods at that. "Lilac, protect Long-Shadow," she calls after the dark beast. Holding her bundle in one hand, her other drops to draw out one of her fighting fans and snaps it wide.

Responding with a bark, Lilac continues running at full tilt. No longer needing to wait, she puts on the speed, leaving a visible trail in the sand that's easy to follow.

The charging group of cavalry draw their bows, and unleash a volley! Black shafts cross the clouding sky, and begin raining down on the rag-tag band of adventurers!

"Hurry hurry hurry!" Xander chants as he runs towards the drokkar. "Gottabetogether!"

Anisa's heart sinks as the sky darkens above her, but she grits her teeth, making a beeline for the fire mage. "Ohdaghohstarohdaghblastfirstones… "

Kin's fan twirls and whips in her hand around Anisa and herself. Perhaps she can deflect some of the arrows, she thinks. Perhaps not. She cannot, however, not try.

As soon as the drokkar is close enough, Xander thrusts his right arm upwards, palm flat, and utters the final word of his spell. The little fireball in his hand flattens out into an expanding, if thin, ring of fire that sweeps out to twenty feet across, and then drops to the ground. As it goes, it leaves behind a shimmering distortion that doesn't fade out.

Giving a start at she and her companion are enveloped inside the fireball, and yet unharmed, Anisa refocuses her gaze on Xander. As she closes the distance on the buck, she leaps from the drokkar's saddle, and clumsily skids to a halt next to him. "Hotfoot! Get on with Kin – I'll follow!"

Whumpf! That thin sheet of flame mushrooms away and makes the sand begin to shimmer, the air seeming to go thick with heat, images beyond wobbling and swirling into currents. Sensitive Lapi ears can pick up whistling as the arrows speed down and in!

The Mage does as he's told, and clambers into the saddle. He then starts chanting and gesturing to make a relatively clear patch of visibility through the distortion ahead.

"I did poorly," Kin ends up whispering to Xander when he gets on the drokkar's back. "I'm sorry."

"Later, Kin!" Xander says, and tries prodding the drokkar with his heels. "The soldiers should only see a mirage now, but the handmaidens can probably see us."

Fszit! Soot sprays Xander in the face as the arrow that was heading for it is immolated, and the arrowhead leaves a shallow cut where it nicks his ear, instantly cauterizing the notch it leaves. Kin fares better, the arrowhead missing her and the soot from the cindered shaft merely getting her robes dirty. More soot powders Anisa, but the arrowhead simply bounces off her, leaving a scratch on one of her biceps.

Shielding her eyes from the soot, and wincing at the arrowhead, Anisa gives Buttercup a swift swat on the hindquarters, then sprints off in the direction Lilac was headed. "Hurry you two, you can chitchat later!"

Kin winces and instinctively ducks down when the incinerated arrows fly by and powder her with soot. Not the best rider by any means, she wraps her arms around Xander's waist and just holds on.

"Stay inside the bubble!" Xander warns, then has to try and control the Drokar.

Even without the protection of Xander's bubble of fire, Gibson and Long Tooth fare quite well, the old master perched on the rump of the drokkar and swatting away a couple arrows with gnarled hands. "Gibson bellows over his shoulder, "C'mon, let's go!"

Far ahead, Lilac slows, moving to circle around something. Several barks later and she's turning back around!

Xander realizes he has to keep a safe distance from Gibson and Tooth now. "Anisa, can you lead this thing from the ground if I throw you the reins?"

Vap! Sfitz! A couple more arrows are consumed by Xander's magics, but each arrow that is immolated seems to take its toll, the bubble shrinking back bit by bit. Fortunately, several that were on target wobble away, deflected by rising air currents and embedding themselves in the sand near Anisa's feet harmlessly.

Just barely catching Xander's words, Anisa stops just inches from the bubble's perimeter. Quickly running back to the duo, she holds out her paws. "I can try! Toss them to me."

"Let'sjust go. If we stay much longer your spell will fail," Kin says worriedly when she sees the bubble around them start to shrink.

Xander tosses the leather lines to Anisa, and immediately begins chanting in an attempt to open up the barrier in front of them so that more energy can be used above and behind them.

Catching the reigns, Anisa once more takes off for the edge of the bivouac, trying to catch up with Lilac.

Far, far ahead, Lilac's form seems to be growing – she seems to be coming back!

If anything, Anisa proves to be FASTER on her own two feet than she was on drokkar-back, powerful leg-muscles bunching and tightening her breeches, though it's likely she lacks the stamina of the riding beasts.

Pausing in his chant once the spell is in a more useful shape, Xander asks Kin, "Do you still have the mask and crystal?"

"I do, but I do not think it is useful. Hakuu disabled it when I was in the camp," Kin admits to the Lapi.

Back toward the bivouac, if the zelak's nest wasn't stirred up before, it's swarming now. Behind the wall of soldiers beginning to ride out, the occasional shred of tent or pieces of yurt go flying up into the air, presumably the desert giant still out of control.

Lilac almost arrives in the same trail of dust she had left only minutes ago. In her mouth appears to be a long stick – no! It's Kin's long sword! The beast circles past the drokkar Kin is on, rushing back along beside it and cocking her head so that Kin can take the sword.

"Figures," Xander mutters, then blinks and asks, "Hakuu disabled it himself?"

"Lilac," Anisa calls back, "where's Long-Shadow? Did you find him?" The doe's words come thorough rough, as she presses her legs hard, trying to go as fast as she can, but not outrun Buttercup.

"From what I saw, he lifted his hand and it shut off," Kin explains, as she reaches down and takes a hold of the scabbard of her weapon, "Of course through the mask he looks like a God. It was impressive. It may have just been a device tough the mask filtered out." It's then she realizes she just took her sword and her eyes go big. "where did you get this?" she ends up asking Lilac.

Lilac barks in response to Kin, which may be yes, or it may be no. She does duck her head and seem to point back the way she came, though.

The hardwood of the scabbard shows its quality, bearing no tooth-marks from Lilac's powerful jaws… though it is a bit moist.

Xander grumbles. "If Hakuu made those masks… he's a lot better at magic than I am!" the Lapi admits.

Shaking her head briefly, Kin says, "I will understand later. Let'sget out of here. Now. Before more come after us and we have no hope of losing them." She sounds practically pleading.

Gibson doesn't have to be asked twice, well ahead of the group. An arrow has punched through the broad part of one of his ears, dangling there, and he and Tooth shout unintelligibly at each other.

Through backwards facing ears Anisa hears Kin's comment, and nods to herself in agreement. Pressing her legs harder, the doe takes off as fast as possible, practically dragging Buttercup along with her.

Lilac zips off ahead now, pausing only long enough to glance behind herself at the others. Then, she's running right back the way she came – again!

Kin slips her sword firmly into her obi. She can't help but look behind as well into the chaos. She feels her stomach sink again as the vivid memory of Hakuu flares to life in her mind. "What are you thinking? What do you want with me? I am just a minor noble. What is so important about me?" she wonders.

The wall of warriors continues to spread, and the cloud of dust they kick up with it. Even with the distance, their whooping and hollering is enough to carry across the sands.

"Have they stopped shooting yet?" Xander calls to whomever might be able to see around the heat-distortion at this point.

Fft! Zip! Thwick! Fwiss! The feathered rain continues. Xander gets another face full of soot, and his other ear gets a matching notch, if a bit unevenly placed. A wisp of smoke sizzles away from where the cut was left. Kin and Anisa only have to lean a bit to keep from getting punctured, arrows disturbed in flight by waves of heat. Gibson isn't hurt, but his drokkar suffers an arrow in the flank, while Tooth himself grunts, "Mmf!" an arrow sprouting from one of his arms.

Nearly missed in the cloud of dust kicked up behind Lilac is another yellowish cloud… this one with black spots. In his hands… Floating Blossom.

Folding his ears down, Xander winces and tries to concentrate on chanting again to bolster the spell's power.

Anisa spies the cheetah, and her spirits lift. "Kin! Look!" The doe chances a smile over her shoulder to the Kiriga, then continues on with her sprint, trying desperately to add more distance between her group and the soldiers. Her labored breathing, however, probably isn't a good sign.

Kin's head snaps around … and at seeing Long-Shadow, Kin's spirits surge for the moment. "Thank the Gods," she murmurs to herself, resisting every urge to just leap from the drokkar and hug him. She even allows herself to smile. Now if only the group can get out of here.

Perhaps sensing the groups indecision, Lilac slows a bit, looking over her shoulder and keeping that look. She whines apprehensively, watching for a reaction.

The Savanite sizes up the group quickly, glancing at the two drokkar. His hands quickly come up to sign, "Not enough room for me! Go, run! I'll hide!"

"Will you be able to find us?" Kin signs back worriedly to the Savanite, "I do not want to lose you." To the others, she says, "Can we try to lose the soldiers then slip into the camp to let this pass? When the storm hits, we should head out under its cover."

Gibson looks worriedly back at the mob approaching, a storm on the ground to match the one in the skies. "We can lose pursuit in the cliffs, but I don't think we could hide for long!"

"How far behind us are the soldiers, and how wide is their front line?" Xander asks quickly.

Breathing heavily, Anisa nods to the others. "How do we… lose them? Should we… split… up?"

The Savanite throws his arm out, running to the drokkar's side and raising Blossom to her owner. Hands free, he signs again, "I will find you again! Don't worry about me! The savan is my home."

Lilac's panting now, showing signs of wear. She tries to shake it out, but she's beginning to sag. It doesn't look like she can keep running around like this forever.

Kin gratefully takes her sword and slips it into her obi as well. "Let'shead into the cliffs to lose them, then continue on. Long-Shadow, do you remember where we left the wagon back in the desert? Let us regroup there. We cannot rest until we have lost our pursuers. I hope the storm comes, it may buy us some time. They will have difficulty tracking us in a storm," Kin offers, "And decide quickly, we do not have time to debate!"

"I can leave the fire wall in place for them to run into," Xander offers. "If I know how far back they are, I can probably time it to explode."

"If you think we can survive without it, then do it, Xander," Kin says quickly, "But whatever we do, we have to do it now. Now. The more we debate, the harder we're pounding our coffins shut. I saw we go into the cliffs, then back out into the desert."

The cheetah bobs his head once, and quickly lopes away, angling toward a break in the cliffs. Though not as speedy as the others, his long legs seem to carry him effortlessly.

"Head for the cliffs then," Xander says, and starts chanting again. He has to thin out the shield considerably to get it to a useful size – around eight feet high and sixty feet long. It won't stop arrows, but it will still burn anything that touches it. As a final command, Xander sends the wall moving backwards towards the approaching army, rather than wait for them to catch up to it.

Wordlessly, Anisa does as the others say, and changes her direction for the cliffs. The strain begins to show on the doe, who's most likely not even able to speak now.

Lilac shifts direction, too, keeping pace with Anisa rather than running full tilt. Her tongue lolls from her mouth, and she begins flapping her wings to create a breeze against herself.

"Kin, look behind and tell me what they do," Xander asks, and then starts chanting the detonation sequence for the spell.

Kin snaps her fan out again with a hope to deflect any arrows that may descend. She watches the approaching soldiers, her expression growing more and more panicked.

The wear is indeed telling on everyone who's been on foot by now. As the wall of fire spreads away, then begins marching to meet the horde behind them, Gibson slows down a bit, looking back at his sister. "'Nisa, saddle up with me! The old man barely weighs anything, c'mon!" Tooth himself doesn't protest, grimly putting his hand around the arrow embedded in his arm, and snapping the shaft off.

Looking back to her companions with a expression that seems to say "I'm sorry", Anisa tosses the reigns back towards Kin, then speeds up to run along side her brother's drokkar. Using what stamina she has left, the doe leaps up into the saddle with Gibson and the old man, practically collapsing onto the animal's back.

Splitting her attention between those behind and going ahead, Kin catches the reigns and gets the drokkar moving again. She's no expert rider, to be certain, but she can manage to point the create in directions.

Lilac sticks to the ground, quite likely unable to ride drokkarback even if she wanted to. No longer needing to keep pace with Anisa, she picks it up, rushing faster towards the cliffs.

Gibson snaps the reins, urging the drokkar on again and quickly picking up speed despite the addition of Anisa's weight. With everyone decided, the group heads for the cliffs, while Long-Shadow vectors off on his own. Just before he clears detail range, he holds up his hands so Kin can see them. "Burn bright, Sun-Scale!"

Xander barely notices when Kin takes the reins, but he does turn to look back over her shoulder at the pursuit.

Breathing hard to catch her breath, Anisa leans heavily on her big brother, closing her eyes as she lets someone else manage the steering for a while.

Kin catches Long-Shadow's sign out of the corner of her eye. Part of her fears that may be his way of saying goodbye. But the other part refuses to believe it. "I just hope what I found was worth this. If the map is useless, then … No. I refuse to believe it is useless," she tells herself and pushes forward with the drokkar. "We can still win. We can still stop them."

It only takes a scant few seconds for the onrushing horde to meet the haze of Xander's freed shield. There are shouts of pain amidst the war cries, but the men scorched by the last vestiges of the magic are quickly swallowed up by the mob of horsemen.