It's not often Lilac has a fair bit of coin dumped into her hands, but that is exactly what happened, with instructions to wait at Viper's Hold in case Anisa and Gibson should arrive. It was reasoned that Lilac's ability to fly and her keen nose would allow her to catch up quickly if need be, and guide the adventurers together once more. As fate would have it, there's still been no sign of the black Lapi or his snowy sister.

One might think that, with being so poor, Lilac would be frugal and careful with her money. If one were to think this, one would be mistaken: having so much money has inspired Lilac to eat and buy. She's bought herself a new flute of the local style, some new clothes, and more 'mammal-style' meat treats than she has any right to be capable of eating. Full, and feeling lazy, she sits on a wooden crate down by the docks, fingering her flute and feeling bored.

"I am so bored," she says.

The airfield does little to alleviate the boredom. It's all but abandoned, warehouses nearby standing empty. The Melan Collie has long since departed, the captain in a rush to dodge any more aerial dangers while possible, and no ships have arrived since, or seem expected to arrive, given the state of the place. The wind blows curls of dust off the field, gradually filling in old anchor holes.

Lilac's cast off skewers lay in a organized forest beside the empty crate she uses as a seat. Over a period of hours, she's alternately arranged them in to hearts, krenn faces, musical notes, letters, numbers, and several fantastic animals, before leaving them in the shape of a Lapi head. "Well, this isn't going anywhere," she tells the wind as she suddenly sits up. Sitting around makes her restless, and even gorging herself on meat skewers can't fend off her need to move forever. "I'm going to wait just a little more, then I'm leaving!"

The wind answers by spinning around into a little dust devil, which dances capriciously for a few seconds before whirling itself apart.

"Well, that settles it – even the wind wants me to go." Lilac pushes herself off the crates and dusts her bottom off, then turns and sniffs the air. "Kinny, Kinny … Where'd you go?"

Scents on the wind tug Lilac back toward town and the gate. Beforehand, a map was seen, and it was indicated that the party would be traveling southeast. The sun begins to climb down from its zenith.

Lilac shields her eyes to peer up at the sun. "I guess I'd better go faster," she murmurs to herself. Recalling the map and the direction the others left in, the woman begins walking on out the gate. Once outside, she takes a moment to bat her ears and shake some sand from them before stretching. Her wings unfold from her her cloak, sore from being hidden too long, and then she's racing forward. Using her wings to catch the wind, she flaps, and then she's off in to the sky.

The ground falls away, and the still-warm earth creates thermals that quickly bear Lilac aloft and upwards. Tall golden grasses and areas of scrub become patches of yellow and earth, dotted by the occasional green of a tree, or darker spots where herd animals roam. The earthen domes of Viper's Hold and its jagged palisade retreat into the distance, and the sun warms the hexed woman's back and wings, currents carrying her without too much effort needed on her part.

Well, it's a lot easier to fly out here than in Sylvania, the winged woman muses. A few years ago, the thought of flying anywhere would have seemed impossible to her. But, here she is, musing on how much easier one part of the world is to fly in than another. The idea makes her laugh, and she extends her arms to catch the wind. Being cursed isn't so bad, some times.

The landscape creeps by below, and the sun creeps down above. It's quite relaxing, though perhaps a bit tedious, as there isn't much to see… no wait, there is something to see. Down below are some dots that don't look like herd animals, arranged in a circle. The sun has lowered enough that some of its light has waned, making it easier to spy the point of orange light flickering in the center of the circle, illuminating the plumes of smoke wisping away from it.

Campfires? Now, Lilac doesn't know much at all about this region, and she's quick to remind herself the people below may range from caravaners to cannibals. Still, the people below may also be with Kin, as the dragon woman would have been much more likely to encounter this camp on the ground. Shrugging at the thought of danger, Lilac descends to try and get a better look.

Dropping in altitude brings the camp into better focus, though there still isn't much detail to be seen. The bardess can make out some tents and a number of people milling about, plus a few larger dots that are probably animals. No activity in the camp seems to indicate Lilac has been noticed, though if she comes much closer or lower, she might be seen.

I guess I'd better land – I can't hide behind anything in the air,// the flying woman decides. She breaks off, aiming to land farther out and approach by land to avoid alarming the people below.

A patch bare of scrub seems a likely spot of cover, and dust spreads away from Lilac's point of landing. In the distance, the glow of the campfire illuminates the sides of tents and the figures around them.

Lilac mantles her wings and sneaks forward on foot. It strikes her that she does a lot of sneaking, too. She never expected life as a bard would involve so much sneaking. I hope Kinny is okay. Her ears flick. Maybe I shouldn't have left her alone with Hotfoot.

With the fading light, it's fairly easy to stay unseen, and the camp dwellers don't seem to expect much scrutiny out here. It doesn't take long to skulk to a clump of scrub nearby, where she can get a good look at the reptiles seated around the fire. They seem to be taking supper or just resting, and are quiet as they do so. Despite baggy wraps over their heads that look to keep the sun off, their garb and armor looks familiar… guards from Viper's Hold."

They look like allies. I hope they're allies. Lilac takes a deep breath, then decides to make herself known. She steps around the bush and begins to walk forward in the open. "Hello," she calls out in greeting, waving a hand.

The guards are on their feet almost instantly, spilling plates of food that were on their laps, their hands going to their weapons… then stopping as they see Lilac. They exchange confused glances, and another of the shigai sticks his head out of a tent to see what's going on. He stares at the woman as well, looking equally surprised."

Alas, this isn't a reaction Lilac is unused to. All throughout the world, she has startled random groups of camping people, townsfolk, and guards by popping out of seemingly nowhere, looking as she does. She resists the urge to sigh. "Um, well, that was totally unnecessary," she insists, waving at the spilled food as she walks closer. "I'm from Viper's Hold, I work for the governor." It strikes her she should inquire if they speak Standard, they she decides that would be silly, because they wouldn't understand the question anyway. I am such a savvy traveler.

"Uh… " says one of the guards, and they all glance at each other again. Eventually, they look askance at the one half out of his tent, and this lizard emerges. "Er… yes, we remember you. Ah… we didn't expect to see you out here. Was your journey slowed?"

"I remained behind, to cover supply matters and see to some sna- … other matters." Shifting her shoulders so her wings can get comfortable, Lilac smiles at the guards. "I'm just catching up, now. Did you happen to see a golden Kiriga and, or, a Lapi mage head out this way?"

The apparent leader shakes his head, while the other guards go back to their campfire and salvage their meals, blowing grit off various bits. "Erm, no. We haven't seen anyone," says the lizard in charge. "Are you lost?"

"Oh, I'm never really lost," Lilac insists. She gives the leader a grin and a wink, then adds, "I'm sorry about your meals. I was trying to be very obvious in my approach! But, well, you know." She cocks her head to the side, asking, "Do you need any help from me, or so? Otherwise, I'd better get going."

"No, no we're fine. We're just, uh… on patrol." The leader rubs his neck uncertainly. "You probably better catch up with your friends, I guess. They might need you."

"Ohhh, on patrol, I see." Lilac grins a little more. "Well, thanks anyway! Good luck on your patrol!" The woman wiggles her fingers in a wave, then unfolds her wings before leaping in to the air again.

The leader nods. "Yeah. Bye."

Once in the air, Lilac returns to the direction she had been flying. I hope I'm going the right way. She sniffs at the air, keeping lower to the ground in the hopes she might catch Kin's scent easier.

Taking to the skies again, Lilac continues on her way. The sun has lowered to touch the horizon, and continues to sink lower, Primus becoming a deep orange, then a bloody red, tinging clouds on the horizon. Happening on the guard camp was a brief injection of interest, but traveling starts to fade into tedium again, and as the hours slip away, so does the sunlight. Lilac has to land a few times to pick up Kin's scent, but it is there to follow, and soon Lilac can see more bright dots in the distance, fires against the dimming horizon.

Whew, at this rate I thought I was going to be flying all night, and I don't think my wings can take that. Again, Lilac decides to approach from the ground. The fading light gives her a distinct advantage, for it's in darkness that her abilities truly shine. I just hope they don't drop the dinner, that's no way to make friends.

It's another camp alright, but this one seems different. The structures are more simple… thin wood frames supporting lean-tos of painted and decorated hide. Bonfires dot the whole of the place, casting ample light over the dwellings and sand. The edges of the camp seem quiet, but at the center, there seems quite a crowd… lithe spotted felines dancing around an absolutely towering fire, and percussive music played on hollowed wood, gourds, and other such instruments reaches Lilac's pointed ears.

"Who are these people," Lilac whispers to herself aloud. She's heard of the wild Savanite tribes, but has never seen one before. She isn't quite sure what to make of them, having only met relatively domestic Savanites back in Sylvania and in Rephidim. The idea of cannibals crops up again, but she also wonders at their music. It is kind of catchy, and it smells like Kinny was here – so maybe some music would help where "hello" and waving didn't? Lilac gets out her flute, and tries to match the tune.

The tune is simple but energetic, and it's not long before the bardess' practice with music finds her able to harmonize. As she does so, a giddy feeling of energy creeps into her. This close, she can definitely pick up Kin's scent, and Xander's is even stronger, almost overpowering.

He must be worked up again – sweating, probably! Lilac sneaks forward, then tries to insert herself in the merriment before anyone notices.

The Savanites seem raptly focused on their dancing, and when Lilac slips among them, she finds herself swept up with them, brushed by spotted bodies that manage to keep from interrupting her playing. Then she sees a flash of gold as Kin whirls past her. Then Xander, stripped to the waist, leaps past, a tongue of flame from the bonfire seeming to leap with him…